Page 42 of Starving Butterfly
Our boots crunched across the snowy yard as we walked up to the house; in the window, a large Christmas tree glowed with reds, greens, and golds. It was decorated with garlands made of silver, as glass ornaments hung from the branches. Cole turned the door, and it opened silently as the warmth greeted us. “Merry Christmas,” he muttered as we wiped our boots on the mat and snuck towards the voices in the house.
“What about the family?” I hissed, not sure if I could stomach killing them along with the judge.
“Let’s hope the doc has something for them, he did say give him five minutes.” He whispered back as we crept through the house, pistols raised.
There was a loud crash, and we crept towards the room. Cole stepped in front of me as we rounded the corner, and I rolled my eyes.
“What took you too so long?” Karter laughed as he secured a rope around the chair, his lip bloodied and the faint signs of bruising appearing. “The wife had one hell of a right hook.”
I looked over to see the wife and daughter hogtied and passed out on the opposite side of the room.
“Who are you people and what the hell are you doing in my house?” The judge asked, full of concern.
“Well Nathan, you don’t mind if I call you that right?” I spoke, waving the gun in the air, thinking out loud as I walked towards the man.
“I’ll pay you, just don’t hurt my family.” He urged.
“Hurt your family like you hurt mine?” Cole rumbled, coming to stand beside me.
Karter just sat on the couch watching and putting a cold pack to his face.
“He had it coming, talking about removing her eyes,” Nathan cried.
“Eyes, really man?” Cole asked with a confused look on his face.
“Guilty pleasure,” Karter chimed, rummaging through his bag.
“You paid someone to kill me” I tapped the pistol against his knees, once then twice. The trigger happened to bounce on my fingertips as a shot fired into his kneecap.
“Ahhhh!” he screamed as blood pooled from the wound.
“Are you done lying now or should we get down to brass tax.”
“You’ll end up in jail if I have anything to do with it.” He blubbered, and the noise was scratching against my mind. I didn’t hesitate before I blew his other kneecap off.
“Jesus,” he yelled.
“No, I am afraid you’ll have to make an appointment, he’s busy.” Cole chuckled while standing guard.
“How far up can I shoot him without killing him?” I asked no one in particular.
“Eh, you’ve got a bit more time if you want me to tourniquet it, but if you want the most information I would suggest the carving knife. They were having such a lovely dinner.” Karterspoke with a sigh, his eyes landing on the open dining table behind the judge.
“Ooh ham,” Cole said gleefully, already moving towards the knives in question.
Karter wordlessly applied tourniquets to the judge, which earned him a few curses, and Cole came back with a plate of food and the knives.
He offered me some cranberry sauce, and I swallowed the deliciousness before grabbing the large knife and stabbing the man in the leg again.
“Could have used some sugar,” I said as the man screamed again.
“Try the green bean casserole, it’s dripping with butter.” Cole held a fork to my lips, and I pulled the green food between my lips, a moan slipping out as I chewed and swallowed.
“That is good, perhaps the mashed potatoes next?” I asked withdrawing the knife as another set of curses flew from the old man. Cole spooned some mashed potatoes into my mouth as I raised the knife to my chin in thought, considering the flavors.
Hints of iron permeated the air, adding the perfect amount of flavor to the combination. I swallowed the mashed potatoes as blood dripped from the handle onto my hands.
“Superb,” Cole agreed, having finished his own bite.
