Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Revenge - Chapter 23 – Part 1 of 2



Revenge
By Karen Singer


Chapter 23 – Part 1 of 2

On Tuesday morning, fresh from his shower, Steve faced his underwear drawer.  He only gave a very brief thought about not wearing what Monica wanted him to.  Sighing dejectedly, he grabbed a pair of panties, pantyhose, and a bra, and put them all on.  He was getting used to wearing a jacket to work now.  A few people had commented favorably on it.  None of them knew the real reason he was wearing it. 
He had made love to Carla again last night.  And it had been wonderful!  Mostly.  He didn’t remember anything that happened from the time he arrived there until he suddenly woke up kissing her, but the lovemaking had without a doubt been wonderful.  At least he had thought so.  He had thought she had enjoyed it as much as he had.  Actually, he had been fairly sure that she had enjoyed it more than he had.  But in the end, she had kissed him off with a finality that left him no doubt as to him ever doing it again with her.  She had said…never again.
What had happened to his life?  His wonderful life that he had been working so hard to build for himself?  All of it was suddenly gone.  Or as good as gone.  His life amounted now to nothing more than a bit of trash that was waiting to be thrown out with the rest of the garbage.  All because of…that witch!  Monica!  And she had practically admitted she was a witch to his face. 
He’d kill her if he could just figure out how.  The only thing stopping him was her magic.  She was just too powerful.  Incredibly powerful!  How the hell did you fight someone like that?  Actually, there was only one answer that came to mind.  A gun.  As far as he could see, the only way out of the mess he was in, would be to shoot her.  And then what?  Would he get sent to jail for the rest of his life?  Was it worth it?  Just then, as far as he was concerned, it was worth it.  Anything would be better than what he was living with now.  Anything!
The only problem was, he didn’t own a gun.  He had never even fired a gun.  He didn’t know the first thing about them.  But if kids could get their hands on one and accidentally shoot someone else, then why couldn’t he get one, or buy one, and figure out how to shoot – an evil witch! 
Question – could he actually kill a witch with a gun?  According to the history books, they used to burn witches.  Oh how he’d like to do that to Monica!  Oh how he’d like to burn her for the evil witch that she was.  Oh how he’d like to get back at her for all the humiliation she had piled on him.  He’d like to kill her for ruining his life…his perfect life.  All gone now, for her evil amusement. 
Gun, or burn the witch?  Those were the choices he was considering as he drove to work.

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

Susan stared at the computer screen on her desk.  Her first client wasn’t due for another hour.  She had things to do, but her mind was too preoccupied with the email she had gotten from Karen the night before.  Evidently, the Carla woman had made love to Steve again – after he had cleaned her home.  She knew from prior emails that Steve and Carla had gone out many times in the past, so they had a long history.
Susan didn’t mind that Karen had turned her body over to Steve once she realized what Carla was doing.  Susan didn’t mind that at all.  Nor did she mind the fact that Carla had told Steve afterwards that it was something that would never happen again.  Instead, there were now several other things that worried Susan.
Karen had actually felt crushed, along with Steve, when Carla had told them never again.  Karen had felt like she had done something wrong in the way she had manipulated what Steve had been doing while they were making love to Carla.  And now Karen was feeling inadequate because of it.  Not for Steve’s sake, but for her own.  Once again, Susan was reminded that Karen was like a child.  She didn’t have the years of experience that Steve had, despite their shared memories.  Karen was a new creation.  A personality that Susan had crafted from taking a few of Steve’s more latent memories, and then implanting false memory on top of false memory until she had created something much bigger.  Karen was in all too many ways, nothing but false memories and experiences, none of which were based on actual experiences.  For as much as Karen knew and was able to do, Karen needed time to grow and learn.
And then there was the other little problem Susan was facing.  Her bigger problem.  Would Monica finally realize she couldn’t win?  Would Monica finally release Steve and not bother him again?  As far as Susan was concerned, there was only one way she could possibly find out.  She would have to ask Monica – directly.  She would have to send Monica another email.  She pulled her computer keyboard closer to her and got busy.  Something…simple.  Something…to the point.

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

Monica’s life was finally starting to feel normal again.  Somewhat anyway.  She still wanted to basically kill Steve, but she was now doing her best to put him out of her mind, along with everything he had done to her.  A normal life.  Trying to live a normal life.  But the reality of it was that she was trying to emulate what she had always thought a normal life should be.  Her life was anything but normal.  Not since she had married her husband.  And especially not since she was now a murderer.  A normal life.  A happy normal life.  Her dream.  She just wasn’t sure what a normal life was anymore. 
But she had a new job now.  A good job.  One that paid a lot better than waitressing.  She had a new home for herself too.  As crummy as it was, it was still far better than what she had been living in before.  Or at least, it used to be.  Since what Steve had done to her, she still had nightmares every time she walked into her apartment.  And leaving it every day to go to work felt like all too much of a relief.  But it was still her home, and it was still better than where she had been living.  Now she was only hoping that it would all soon start feeling like a normal happy home for her again.  A safe haven for her.  A place she could relax and feel good.  She was hopeful she could feel that way again, but she was all too afraid she never would. 
She had murdered her husband.  She had murdered another living being.  Did she deserve to feel happy and safe?
The door to the shipping department opened and she noticed Diane coming in.  She smiled.  Diane had become a good friend since she had gotten here.  Diane might be a bit kinkier than she originally thought, but Monica certainly couldn’t hold that against her.  Diane had proven herself many times now to be a good friend.  Proven it!  And that meant a lot to Monica. 
She looked around.  The shipping department where she worked was fairly large.  She was one of five people who worked there.  She and Diane did a lot of the small everyday stuff and wound up delivering small packages to people all over the building.  There were three other guys who worked in the department, including her boss, who all handled the heavier stuff.  Monica didn’t mind.  They all got along well.  Her boss had even been very sympathetic and understanding after her apartment had been trashed.  That meant a lot to Monica too.  And Mike upstairs had called her several times since that night asking how she was…not to mention asking her to go out with him again.  He too appeared to be a good guy.  So basically the new company she worked for was filled with good people. Except for Steve.  One rotten egg, amid a company of good people.  One very rotten egg.
“Lunch?”
Monica looked up and saw Diane standing in the little office doorway.  She smiled.  “Sure.  Let me check my email first.  She opened up her email.  She often got company emails asking her to pick something up or to watch for a particular package.  She and Diane did things like that all day long.  It was something they had to stay on top of.  But when she checked for new emails, she immediately saw one that brought all her anger and troubles crashing back.
“What’s wrong?” Diane asked, noticing the sudden change in Monica’s face.
Monica pointed to the screen.  “The Sorceress,” she said.
As Monica opened the email, Diane walked around so she could see as well.

Monica,

I hope by now you realize that there is no way you can win against me.  I hope you realize how futile anything you can possibly do to Steve would be.  I have fixed him so that no matter what you try to do to him, he will only love it. 

Will you please back away now and leave him to me?  I am better prepared to take care of him, and I can assure you that I will more than adequately handle what needs to be done with him.  So please do me the courtesy now of leaving him alone.  Forget about him.  I was there first.  He’s mine to play with, not yours!

Thank you,
The Sorceress

Monica had been feeling somewhat good all morning – until now.  Now she felt angry all over again.  And no small measure of it was because the Sorceress had been right.  As far as she could see, all her efforts to get back at Steve had been completely thwarted…somehow. 
That is, if it really was the Sorceress doing it.
“What are you going to do?” Diane asked.  “Say yes?  Because as far as I can see, she’s really screwed him up.  No matter what we did to him this weekend, he only wound up loving it more than ever.”
Monica didn’t answer.  Instead she started a reply to the Sorceress.

Sorceress?  Ha!  You’re not fooling me one bit Steve.  I know it’s you.  It’s always been you!  This made up Sorceress scheme isn’t going to fool me at all.  It’s all nothing but a lame excuse to make people feel sorry for you.  Well I’m not buying it!  So stop it!

And Steve, since you insist on trying to use this silly scheme against me, I expect you down here again after work tonight, and we’ll see just how much of a Sorceress you are then!

Monica

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

Because of the time difference Susan found Monica’s reply just before she herself went to lunch.  A lunch that was somewhat ruined by the anger she now felt against Monica. She quickly wrote back.

I am not Steve!  How can you possibly think such a silly thing?  Now please leave him alone!

The Sorceress

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

Monica found the Sorceress’s latest email early in the afternoon.  She had been fairly perturbed by her first email all during lunch, and she was even angrier about it now. 

How can I think you’re Steve?  I don’t think – I know!  Only you yourself Steve could possibly put on such an act as you’ve been showing all of us these last few days.  Only you yourself could know to do the things you’ve been doing.  Now stop this lame excuse!  If you like wearing women’s clothes and you love being humiliated that much, then just come out and say it.  Stop pretending it’s someone else that’s doing it to you.  And if you want that kind of humiliation, then trust me, I’m more than angry enough to give it to you. 

And don’t forget.  After work!  We’ll all be here then.

Monica

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

Susan read Monica’s latest email and got even angrier.  Of all the dumb stupid women in the world.  What was it going to take to convince her? 

Monica.  What will it take to convince you that I’m not Steve?

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

Monica read the latest email.  So Steve was still trying to play his little games.  She wrote back quickly. 

If you’re not Steve, which I find it impossible to believe, then tell me who you really are!  I’m not buying any of this Sorceress crap!  I know it’s you Steve, so stop pretending.

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

Susan was becoming more irked with every email she read from Monica.  The damn woman!

Monica.  I will not tell you who I am.  Steve will NEVER know who is doing this to him.  NEVER!  May I suggest you find some way to get Steve where you can see and watch him.  Then email me again.  I promise I’ll write back to you.  That should convince you. 

And Monica, I would very much prefer that Steve continues to know nothing at all about me.  As far as I can tell, despite the difficulties between you and me, he still knows nothing about me.  He does however firmly believe that you are a very powerful witch and that it’s all somehow you that’s done everything to him. 

Steve can be a very vengeful person.  He has never had a problem with being downright cruel.  That is why I am punishing him.  But you might want to consider, for your own safety, and if you want that small bit of protection to remain, then don’t let him know anything at all about me.  Allow him to continue to believe that you are a witch.  Believe me when I tell you that he truly is afraid of you.  It’s why he continues to do whatever you want.  It’s also why he hasn’t done anything more to try and strike back at you in an even worse way.

So please back away now and leave Steve to me to play with.  I am far better equipped to handle him then you are.  He is my puppet to play with from afar. 

If you still aren’t convinced, then if it’s convenient for you, I can be free for about an hour at four o’clock your time.  I will be more than willing to exchange emails with you then.

The Sorceress

            --- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

Monica read the Sorceress’s latest email.  As she did, several things jumped out at her.  First of all, this Sorceress was punishing him because he was cruel?  Had Steve done something to her in the past…or more likely, fairly recently, since she was just now trying to get back at him?  She remembered what Steve had done to her apartment, not to mention letting the air out of her tires.  Yes, there was no doubt about it, Steve could be cruel.  Very cruel!
And then there was the mention of another time zone.  Was this Sorceress really that far away?  Or was it just some way for the Sorceress to try to disguise that she was really much closer than she wanted anyone to think.  That seemed much more likely.  She would have to have some way of knowing what Steve was doing – if it wasn’t actually Steve himself.
Monica also noted that the Sorceress went out of her way to remind her that Steve still thought she was a powerful witch, while at the same time, the Sorceress didn’t want Steve to know it was her that was doing anything to him.  Was the Sorceress that afraid of him, despite how much control she seemed to have over him?  It didn’t make much sense, but it was all she could think.
And finally, Monica noted that the Sorceress seemed to think that Steve believing that she was a witch, was the only thing that was keeping Steve from striking back at her somehow.  And after what Steve had already done, that was something that Monica firmly believed could happen.
As Monica wrote back, she realized one more thing.  It was looking very likely that the Sorceress may not be Steve at all.

Sorceress, I will play your game.  I will try to get free around four o’clock – my time!  And I will try to find some way to also keep an eye on Steve to make sure it’s not him returning my emails. 

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---



No comments: