Chapter 5: The Fiend Awakens

I returned home.

The house was dark, the windows shuttered. I could smell rain on the wind.

But Dad wasn’t in his room, and even the crosses were gone from his door.

I checked every room, heart pounding. The silence was heavy, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder.

He must be hiding.

He’d always been a coward at heart, quick to run when things got tough.

But he couldn’t hide—because the crosses would give him away.

I followed the faint scent of burning wax, the trail of crosses leading me to the woodshed.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, I sensed where he was.

The air was thick with fear and sweat. I pressed my ear to the door, listening to his ragged breathing.

He was hiding in the woodshed.

I pictured him crouched in the dark, clutching the crosses like a lifeline.

I didn’t let on. I went back to my room, grabbed my backpack, and climbed onto the roof to wait for the right moment.

The shingles were rough beneath my hands, the night air sharp and cold. I watched the yard, waiting.

Down below, Dad was venting his anger in his room.

His voice drifted up through the window, full of venom. I could hear him pacing, muttering curses.

“Those two damn women, why aren’t they back yet? Can’t even do a simple job. When they get back, I’ll beat them!”

He slammed his fist against the wall, rattling the picture frames. I pressed myself flatter against the roof, heart pounding.

He was as hateful as ever.

His anger was a living thing, coiling through the house like smoke.

Soon, thunder rumbled overhead, a strong wind blew, and I sensed a surge of dark energy approaching.

The storm broke, lightning flashing in the distance. The air crackled with power.

A swirl of black mist swept in from outside.

It rolled across the yard, swallowing the moonlight. I shivered, clutching my backpack.

Surrounded by darkness, a familiar figure appeared.

She moved with a strange, jerky grace, her red skirt flaring behind her like a banner.

“Hank, I’m back, open the door…”

Her voice was a perfect imitation of Stepmom’s, sweet and coaxing. I felt my blood run cold.

She mimicked Stepmom’s voice outside.

I held my breath, watching as Dad fell for the trick.

“You finally dare to come back? I’ll beat you!”

Dad grabbed a whip and stormed out.

He stomped across the porch, the whip trailing behind him.

But as soon as he opened the door, he froze.

The sight before him was pure nightmare—a woman with a skull-like face, bulging bronze eyes, exposed fangs, surrounded by venomous bugs, and eight sharp limbs sprouting from her back.

A woman in a red skirt and jacket, with a skull-like face, bulging bronze eyes, exposed fangs, surrounded by venomous bugs, and eight sharp limbs sprouting from her back, stood at the door.

This monster was Aunt, now transformed into the infamous Blood Fiend after several nights of killing.

The bugs crawled over her skin, their legs clicking against the porch. Her eyes glowed in the darkness.

“You… you’re…” Dad was so scared his face turned green and he shook all over.

He dropped the whip, stumbling backward. His bravado melted away in an instant.

“My dear brother, what’s wrong? Don’t you recognize your own sister? Heh heh heh…” Aunt’s voice was distorted, as if mixed with the buzzing of countless insects.

Her laughter was a chorus of voices, old and young, sweet and cruel. It echoed through the night.

“You… you’re Mary Jean?” Dad stammered.

His voice was a whisper, barely audible over the storm.

Aunt said, “Yes, your sister is back to see you. Did you miss me?”

She took a step closer, her limbs scraping the porch. Dad whimpered.

Dad pulled out a cross and shouted, “Don’t come any closer, or I’ll send you straight to hell!”

His hands shook so badly he almost dropped the cross. He held it out like a shield.

“Send me to hell? Hahahaha!”

Aunt waved her hand, snatched the cross, and swallowed it.

The cross disappeared down her throat. She licked her lips, grinning wide.

Nothing happened.

The silence was deafening. Dad’s mouth hung open in shock.

Aunt sneered, “Honestly, that cross can’t hurt me. In fact, it helped me find you! You got played, hahahaha!”

Her laughter was a swarm of bees, buzzing in my ears. Dad dropped to his knees with a thud.

He collapsed, sobbing, hands pressed together in prayer.

“Mary Jean, I’m sorry! Grady tricked me into marrying you off. It’s all my fault! Please, forgive me!”

He groveled, tears streaming down his face. It was the first time I’d ever seen him beg.

Aunt scoffed, “Tricked? Please! Hank, did you ever treat me as your sister? To you, women are just things to be sold for money!”

Her voice was cold, cutting deeper than any knife.

With that, Aunt’s eight limbs clamped around Dad.

He screamed, struggling, but there was no escape. Her grip was iron.

“Remember when I talked back as a kid and you pulled out two of my teeth with pliers? It hurt so much I wanted to die. Today, I’ll let you see what that’s like…”

She leaned in close, her breath hot and sour. Dad whimpered, shaking his head.

She pinched Dad’s two front teeth.

Her claws dug in, and with a sickening crunch—

“Aaah!”

Dad’s scream split the night. Blood sprayed across the porch, pooling at his feet.

With a scream, his teeth were yanked out, blood spraying everywhere.

He choked, spitting blood, eyes rolling back in his head.

“How does it feel, brother? Hahahaha!” Aunt laughed wildly.

Her laughter was a storm, shaking the windows. I felt a twisted satisfaction. He deserved it!

Watching him suffer, I felt a twisted satisfaction. He deserved it!

I’d waited my whole life for this moment. Still, I couldn’t look away.

Dad begged, “Sister, for Mom’s sake, let me go. I’m sorry, really sorry, please!”

He crawled toward her, blood streaming down his chin. His voice was hoarse, desperate.

He was covered in blood, pleading pitifully.

He sobbed, clutching her skirt. Aunt shook him off with disgust.

Aunt sneered, “Let you go? Why didn’t you let me go back then? You knew I was raped by Grady, but instead of defending me, you used me as a bargaining chip! You knew he was a sadist whose wives all died from abuse, but you still forced me to marry him! Did you ever think of me as your sister? I even helped you kill people for land, but you still treated me like this!”

Her words were daggers, each one finding its mark. Dad shrank smaller with every accusation.

Aunt roared, and two limbs pierced Dad’s hands and feet, making him shudder in pain.

Blood poured from the wounds, pooling on the porch. He screamed, voice cracking.

“By the way, where did Lily and Stepmom go? Since I’m back, we should have a family reunion,” Aunt asked.

Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her eyes were dead.

“They… they went to the back woods. Mary Jean, if you want to kill them, I’ll help you—just let me go, I’ll kill anyone for you.”

He looked up at her, eyes wild with fear. He’d say anything to save his own skin.

He really could say anything.

His desperation was almost pitiful. Almost.

Aunt shook her head, laughing. “Hank, you’re a real bastard!”

Her laughter was sharp, bitter. She tightened her grip.

“How about this, I’ll burn all my money for you—just let me go!” Dad pointed at the wooden box under the bed where he hid his cash.

He crawled toward the bedroom, dragging himself by his elbows.

Aunt said, “What use is money to me? Since you love money so much, keep it for yourself!”

She grabbed the box, dumped out the cash, and stuffed it into his mouth, wad after wad.

She opened the box, grabbed a wad of cash, and stuffed it into Dad’s mouth.

He gagged, choking on the bills. Tears streamed down his face.

When his mouth was full, she stopped.

She wiped her hands on his shirt, sneering.

“Don’t worry, brother, I won’t let you die so easily. Didn’t you like to lock me in a water barrel and put bugs in it as a kid? Today, I’ll let you have a taste!”

Her voice was cold, matter-of-fact. Dad’s eyes widened in terror.

Aunt found a water tank, broke Dad’s limbs one by one, each time making him scream in agony.

The sound was sickening, bones snapping like dry twigs. I covered my ears, but it didn’t help.

After breaking all his limbs, she shoved him in the tank.

He thrashed, blood mixing with water. Aunt watched, unmoved.

But that wasn’t the end.

She smiled, slow and cruel. The bugs on her skin began to stir.

Aunt shook her body and countless venomous bugs crawled out.

They swarmed over the tank, eager for a new meal.

“Children, go, go play with your uncle!”

She cooed, her voice sweet as poison. The bugs obeyed, pouring into the tank.

The bugs swarmed into the tank and bit Dad furiously.

His screams grew hoarse, then faded to whimpers. The sound would haunt me forever.

“Aaah! Aaah!”

His cries echoed through the house, then fell silent.

“Hahahaha! Deserved! Deserved!” Aunt cackled.