The Fright Factory Read online

  “What is he talking about, Wesley?” Robin whispered when she was sure Jesse was in the kitchen.

  They could hear Jesse and Brandi having sex in the kitchen. It sounded rough and embellished for the camera.

  “Wes, who is coming out here?”

  Wesley hesitated and then he said, “No one.”

  Robin knew he was lying. Not to her, but so Jesse did not know what to expect. The thought of her friends caught up in this nightmare was more than she would allow herself to contemplate. She hoped and prayed her sister Jennifer and brother in-law were not making the drive. Not in her condition.

  Jesse barked, “I’m coming baby oh shit yeah!”

  Robin expected Jesse to charge into the living room looking for answers. She couldn’t see him for a minute and then he was next to her. She heard a metallic click and then the cold metal barrel of a gun. She stared at the weapon waiting for what was next.

  “Meet my friend, Mr. 44 Magnum. AKA a Colt Anaconda! Now this Anaconda,” he said as he waved the revolver, “is just itching to do some damage. Just like this one.” He grabbed his crotch and thrust it toward Robin. “You think I’m fucking around here?”

  Robin shook her head, never taking her eyes off the enormous weapon.

  “You think that because the candle bomb was a trick that I won’t blow you away? Hmm?”

  “No…”

  Jesse turned on his heel and pointed the revolver at Wesley. “So who is coming out here?”

  “No one,” Wesley said. “It’s just us.”

  He spun again and pointed the barrel at Robin. “Who is coming out here?”

  “I don’t know.” Robin’s voice was weak.

  “Bullshit! The wife always knows what the fuck is going on.” She shook her head. Jesse pointed at Wesley and then pulled back the hammer on the revolver.

  Wesley gasped. There was an eruption of sound as the revolver exhausted smoke and fire as a huge hole was blasted into the cast iron fireplace.

  A second later, Brandi screamed from the kitchen.

  “Fuck, Jesse, you killed the fridge too, look! Could have hit me, you fuckin’ asshole!”

  “Whoa,” Jesse said, laughing. “That’s a mean ricochet.” He looked at Wesley. “Okay. We’re having company and I want to know who and when the fuck I can expect them.”

  “I invited a few friends out to celebrate our anniversary,” Wesley said.

  “Who is coming?” Robin asked.

  “Tom and his wife Rebecca, and Derrick and his wife Nicole.”

  “Who else?” Jesse asked.

  “That’s it. Everyone was either busy or not interested in driving out this far.”

  “Not Jenny and Mike?” Robin asked.

  “No, they have a soccer tourney for Travis,” Wesley said.

  “Tell me about Tom and Derrick. Big guys or pussies like you, Wes?”

  “Tom is huge. He’d kick your ass in a second,” Robin said, and then immediately regretted her outburst.

  “Is that right? A real bad mudder-fucka, huh? I’ll need something special for him. What about the other guy?”

  “He’s smaller than me.”

  “Okay, when is this lil’ get together scheduled to happen?”

  “Anytime after noon. I expect them all by two or three today,” Wesley said, lowering his head. Robin felt anxious as she thought of the others to arrive.

  “They have the cabin number?” Jesse asked after a few seconds of silence.

  “Yeah,” Wesley nodded.

  “Perfect. I’ve got a few hours to get ready.” Jesse stepped back and spun away and headed for the kitchen.

  Robin could hear lively conversation coming from the kitchen. Brandi sounded as though she was still upset about the stray bullet slamming into the fridge door.

  “Forget about the fuckin’ fridge. We’ve got us four guests dropping by for a glass of wine and stimulatin’ conversation with Wes and Robbi. Hmm, it’d be shame if somethin’ horrible happened to those fine folks,” Jesse spun the cylinder of his revolver.

  Chapter 7

  Wesley thought about the four lifelong friends who were expecting a nice relaxing weekend, with no idea what they were about to walk into. He and Robin had known Thomas and Rebecca since high school. Tom was the athlete of their group. Football, hockey, and rugby before injuries mounted and he had to give up any notions of an NHL career. Rebecca was a nurse and proud mother to their three teen daughters.

  Derrick was a chef and had worked for Wesley for eight years before opening his own restaurant in 2009. Nicole was a stay-at-home mom to two children under twelve and bookkeeper for the business. In a few hours the four would be in the same life and death struggle as he and Robin.

  Brandi was nudging his shoulder. Then she was shaking him. Wesley opened his eyes fully expecting to be struck or stabbed or worse. Brandi had a knife in her hands and was shaking Robin awake as well.

  “Look,” Brandi said with urgency. “Jesse is going to kill us all. He’s crazy!” She began to cut the straps on Robin’s arms and legs. “I know you don’t trust me right now but he will kill us all.”

  “Kill you, Brandi?” Wesley asked. “Is this a trick?”

  “No trick. He’s fucking insane.” Brandi pointed to the scar across her cheek. “I know he’s going to kill me in the final scene. I read the script.”

  “Where is he?” Robin asked, whispering.

  “Asleep.”

  Wesley rubbed his wrists and ankles to restore circulation. “Grab his phone. It must be getting a signal.”

  “It’s in his pocket. It’ll wake him if I try for it.”

  “What about his laptop?” Robin asked. “We can email our friends.”

  “It’s locked with a password and I don’t know it.”

  “Can you get us our cellphones?” Robin asked. “What did you do with them?”

  “Jesse smashed them,” Brandi said.

  “How about my car keys? We could drive out and head for the local police in Brandon.”

  “He has your wallets and keys in his pockets.”

  “What’s the plan then?” Wesley asked.

  “Run for the cabins on the far end of the lake. They’re private homes. Someone will be there to help us.”

  “Come on, let’s go then,” Robin said.

  The trio moved for the rear door of the cabin and quietly stepped out into the drizzle and fog. It was nearly noon and Wesley thought it would take about an hour to reach the cabins on the north end of the lake. From there, they thought they should be able to find a phone to call the police and call Thomas and Derrick to tell them to turn around and head for home.

  Brandi led them along the road, away from Jesse and the cabins. Wesley saw a sign pointing to the trail head and later another sign that said Lake Loop trail. The distance was six miles to the north end of the lake. The trail quickly began to gain altitude.

  To the left was deep, dark forest and on the right, Loon Lake occasionally could be seen through the trees and bush. Brandi set a quick pace and Wesley was breathing in long, deep breaths, pushing hard to maintain the pace.

  Robin often paused to straighten her back. She was next on the trail and seemed to have no problem keeping up to the younger woman. The trail continued to climb and Wesley’s body begged for a short break. He stopped for a few seconds and held a hanging tree branch for balance. He gasped for breath and his heart pounded.

  “Come on, Wes. Jesse will be coming for us. He hikes way faster than I do and will gain on us at this speed.”

  Wesley wasn’t sure if he trusted or believed that Brandi suddenly wanted to escape her husband. Her plan was sound and Robin seemed to be on board. He pushed on, moving much quicker than was comfortable for his fitness level.

  In a few minutes he caught up to Robin, and Brandi glanced back at her new followers. There was something very familiar with the way Brandi paused to look back at him.

  “Come on, Wes. Let’s pick it up.”

  The trail gradu
ally worked its way down toward the lake. It flattened to almost straight and Brandi started to jog on the smoother path. Robin did the same and in a few seconds Wesley was running to catch up to the women.

  When Wesley came to the shore he found Brandi and Robin staring at a fiberglass rowboat. Brandi was working to untie the bow line and was motioning for Robin to get on board.

  “Hold up!” Wesley said.

  “Hurry up and get in!” Brandi said.

  “Let’s go, Wes,” Robin waved to him from a middle seat in the boat.

  “There’s nowhere to hide out on the water, guys,” Wesley said.

  “What are you talking about, Wes?” Brandi said with irritation. “If we take turns rowing it will get us to the north end much quicker.”

  “If we go out in that thing, Jesse will just blast us from shore. We’ll never be out of range of that cannon he has.”

  “Shit, Wes is right. The lake isn’t wide enough for us to get out farther than he can shoot.”

  “That’s fuckin’ nuts! Let’s go!” Brandi ordered.

  There was a booming roar and then the boat lurched as a bullet struck the hull below the water line.

  “Robin!”

  Robin stood and jumped overboard and began to swim for shore. Wesley didn’t hesitate. He began to run toward Robin. He grabbed hold of her and pulled her to dry land and they both began running. He made a few glances to openings in the trail hoping to spot Jesse.

  Jesse was bellowing about killing them all. Wesley noticed Brandi was running just a few feet behind him. He found the trail and sprinted along as the others continued to increase their speed. The trail switched back as it gained altitude. Jesse fired three more times but didn’t seem to have a clear shot.

  Brandi retook her position in the lead and Robin was just a few steps ahead of Wesley.

  “Brandi! You-are-fucking dead!” Jesse hollered.

  “Come on, Wes. Let’s keep moving,” Robin said when she saw Wesley lagging.

  His lungs were burning, his legs ached, and he was falling behind the women. He struggled on. When the trail leveled off he stopped and turned to see if Jesse was on the trail. He could not hear the killer behind them. However, he did not believe Jesse had given up. He turned and began to jog along the now straight trail.

  Three minutes later he found Brandi and Robin stopped on the trail. He looked to both for answers. “What’s going on?”

  “Shut up, Wes!” Brandi hissed.

  “He’s in front of us,” Robin said.

  “What, how?”

  “There must be a lower trail. He’s coming straight for us,” Brandi said and then she turned and began to run in the direction from which they had just come. Robin followed and Wesley took up the rear once more.

  “I see you, Wes. You sack of shit!” Jesse was only yards behind.

  Wesley glanced over his shoulder hoping to catch a glimpse of the madman and fully expecting a bullet to slam into his spine.

  He found some extra strength and began to sprint. As he caught up to Robin he said, “He’s right behind me!”

  “Hurry up you two!” Brandi ordered. “He’ll shoot you.”

  The switchbacks down to the lake were much easier and quicker downhill. Wesley was able to keep up Robin’s pace as the three were only a few feet apart.

  Jesse continued his insults and promises of a painful, slow death for each. Robin stumbled and Wesley slowed for a second to make sure his wife was okay. Robin nodded and took off sprinting again.

  The revolver exploded and the bullet smacked into a nearby tree. The next round sent a cloud of mud spray only a foot ahead of Wesley. Wesley stumbled on a root that crossed the trail. His body impacted the path as his legs and arms called out in sharp pain. Another bullet slammed into a root, spraying his face with debris.

  “Get up, Wes, please!”

  Wesley’s eyes were full of wood fragments and dirt. He stood and Robin steadied him and then began to pull him along the trail. He was limping and wiping at this face. Dirt and sweat stung his eyes and blurred his vision.

  Brandi stopped suddenly and twisted quickly. She balled up her right hand into a fist and drove it straight into Wesley’s face.

  “Oh, the double-cross is in!” Jesse shouted and laughed.

  Wesley was stunned. Punch after punch from Brandi snapped his head back. Jesse was hurling insults as Brandi continued to pound punches into his face. From the corner of his eye he saw Robin charge toward Brandi. Brandi made a last second sidestep and as Robin moved by, Brandi tripped Robin face first into the path. Brandi kicked Robin in the ribs, once, twice, and then she turned for Wesley.

  “Robin!” Wesley stood motionless as Brandi moved toward him again. He swung out with all the strength he could gather and struck her in the eye. Brandi stumbled backward and as Wesley reached back to strike her again he felt the barrel of the revolver pressed against his temple.

  “That’s just about enough, Wes,” Jesse said in his ear.

  “Robin?” Wesley turned from Jesse to see Robin stand to face him. She was bleeding from her nose and a gash on her chin. Wesley walked toward her and held her close.

  “Oh, Wes.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “What-the-fuck? You don’t walk away from me,” Jesse said as he took hold of Wesley and yanked him away from Robin.

  “Fuck off, Jesse!” Wesley glared at the younger man through swollen eyes. “Just shoot us and enough of this fuckin’ bullshit!”

  “Oh, I’ll shoot you, big guy. When I’m fucking good and ready. Don’t you worry ‘bout that!”

  “Fine,” Wesley said. He turned away from Jesse to look at Robin.

  With the barrel of the revolver jammed into his spine, Wesley was prodded along by Jesse. Robin was next with Brandi taking up the rear.

  “Let’s go meet your friends. They should be along shortly,” Jesse said.

  Wesley knew in a few short hours he would be dead. To his left was a steep incline and deep woods. To his right were bush and forest and a few hundred yards to the lake.

  “I need to pee,” Brandi said.

  “Hold it to the cabin,” Jesse ordered. He stopped and removed the revolver from Wesley’s shoulder blade.

  “I can’t. It’ll just take a second.”

  Wesley glanced over his shoulder and noticed Jesse had stopped on the trail and had his back to Wesley. Wesley launched himself to his right and crashed through some blackberry bushes. The prickles scraped at his face and arms.

  The revolver erupted once, twice, and then Jesse began to shout. “Your wife is dead, Wes!”

  Wesley paused and heard the revolver click-click. It was out of ammo. He began to run. He hoped Robin was doing the same. He charged toward the lake not sure what his plan was.

  “Get her—fuck!” Jesse yelled. “I’ll get him—you get her!”

  Wesley knew Robin had made a run for it as well. He could hear Jesse gaining on him as he pushed through the bush. He caught a glimpse of the lake and decided his only chance for survival was in the water. He would swim out as far as he could, keeping low in the water to make himself a difficult target for Jesse’s bullets.

  When he emerged from the bush he saw he still had several yards of beach to cover. He ran over the rocks and when he reached the gravel he kicked off his shoes and charged for the water. The revolver exploded from behind and to his left. He felt an incredible pain in his left hand just above the wrist. When he brought his hand to his face he saw that a bullet had passed straight through his hand. He gripped his damaged hand with his right hand and stood staring through the hole and at the blood pouring from the wound.

  Jesse placed the revolver on his waist belt and began to tear Wesley’s shirt off. Jesse tight-wrapped the shirt around Wesley’s wound and then began pushing him toward the trail. He slowed to gather Wesley’s shoes and then dropped them at his feet.

  Brandi emerged from the bush. At first she looked shocked when she saw the make shift bandage and then she
smiled when she noticed blood now dripping from Wesley’s fingers.

  “You find her?” Jesse asked.

  “No. She came this way,” Brandi said. “You didn’t see her?”

  “No, I didn’t fuckin’ see her. Take this asshole back to the cabin and tie him in good. Try to stop him from bleeding to death if you can.”

  “What are you gonna do?”

  “Fuck you think? I’ll find the woman and then we need to get ready for the others.”

  “Brandi!” Wesley said. “You stupid whore.” She moved toward him, her fists balled and ready to strike. When she was close enough he spat in her face. She turned away and wiped her eyes with her shirt.

  “You gonna take that, baby?” Jesse asked.

  Brandi swung a long, low punch that caught Wesley in the testicles. Pain exploded throughout his abdomen and down his right leg. The throbbing was worth it. Robin now had at least another minute to get away.

  Jesse handed the revolver to Brandi and then he smirked when he pulled a long hunting knife from a sheath on his leg.

  Wesley couldn’t believe the pounding pain in his mangled hand. He was feeling faint and Brandi didn’t hesitate to smack him across the skull with the revolver whenever she felt he needed it. Somewhere out there was Robin with Jesse a few yards behind with a knife in his grip that would have made Rambo proud.

  Wesley shuddered and said a quiet prayer for Robin. He hoped she would press on and make it to the north cabins. He hoped to never see his wife again.

  Chapter 8

  Robin was making much better time without Wesley tagging behind. She didn’t want to believe it but in her heart she knew Wesley was dead. That last shot and then silence was all she could think about. Her heart ached for the only man she had ever loved.

  “Oh, Wes. I love you.”

  She believed his attempt to flee was more of a diversion for her to make an escape. Wesley knew he could not outrun Jesse. Wesley had died so she might live and she wasn’t about to let the sacrifice be in vain.