Not So Different by Shaun Jeffrey
Not So Different by Shaun Jeffrey
The blare of a horn startled Daniel Gerard from his slumber. He opened his eyes, unsure where he was – then it all came back as quick as the road along which he hurtled at the wheel of his Mitsubishi L200 truck. His heart turned to a block of ice, pumping cold blood through his veins. The car horn sounded dangerously close, and a quick glance in the rear view mirror revealed a car that flashed its lights to indicate an imminent collision. Daniel grimaced. His truck had already strayed across the road, and he quickly turned the wheel, steering back into the nearside lane.
Daniel let out a huge sigh; felt devoid of strength. Up ahead, a sign indicated a rest area, and he signalled and pulled over.
That was just too damn close. He covered his mouth with his hand and yawned, then lowered the window to let some fresh air in, but smelt only pungent exhaust fumes.
According to the dashboard clock, it was seven o’clock. He should have been home by now, but a problem at work and a traffic jam a few miles back conspired against him. He glanced in the rear view mirror, saw blue eyes ringed black and his curly hair looking more wayward than usual.
The passenger door suddenly opened and a cold draft of air filled the vehicle, followed by the musty smell of an unwashed body.
“Good of you to stop,” a middle-aged man said as he threw a rucksack into the back and clambered into the passenger seat. “I’ve been trying to get a lift for hours.”
Daniel stared at the man, surprised. “I…erm.” He took a breath to compose himself. “I’m sorry, but I think you’ve made a mistake. I stopped to take a rest, not to pick you up.”
“Well, now that I’m in.” He shrugged and took a packet of cigarettes from the breast pocket of his dirty green army jacket. “You don’t mind if I smoke.” It sounded more like an order than a question.
“Yes, I bloody do. Now get out.”
The man turned and glared at Daniel, cigarette drooping from the corner of his mouth. His pinched features gave the impression of a weasel, a facet accentuated by his brown ponytail, and for the first time, Daniel felt a moment of panic.
Despite Daniel’s request, the man lit the cigarette.
“Look, I said I didn’t want you smoking. Now get out of my car.”
“It’s not technically a car,” the man said.
“I won’t tell you again.”
“This is a truck – makes you feel like a right stud I bet.”
Realising the man wasn’t going to leave, Daniel leaned across and opened the passenger door, his head almost in the man’s lap. Despite trying not to breathe, the smell of body odour was powerful enough to taste.
“And how much do you charge for a blowjob?” he asked as Daniel sat back up.
“Just get out.” He turned to retrieve the man’s backpack, but the man grabbed his arm and jabbed the cigarette on the inside of his wrist. The glowing tip sizzled against his flesh and he let out a little scream and yanked his hand away.
“What the hell are you doing?” he said as he rubbed the afflicted area.
The air smelled faintly of burned flesh and singed hair.
The man sucked on his cigarette, exhaled and said, “That’s my property. You don’t touch it. Understand? Now drive.”
Daniel shook his head. “You’re crazy. Just get out of my truck.”
“I won’t tell you again, drive.”
“The hell I will. Now I’m asking – no, I’m telling you to get out.”
The man flicked ash over the dashboard. He grinned laconically. “You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that, but if you want to keep them, I’d suggest you drive.”
Daniel tried to swallow through his constricted throat. He turned the ignition off and opened the driver’s door to step out. “Well, you can sit there all day. I’m not driving anywhere.”
He swung his legs out, but the man grabbed his arm again. “I’ve got a date with destiny, and I don’t want to be late.”
“You can’t order me around, now get your filthy hand off me and get out.”
The man squeezed harder and Daniel flinched. He bit his lip against the pain and reached across to prise the man’s fingers apart, but his grip was too strong.
“If you don’t let go, then I’m going to punch you. Now let go.”
The man laughed; reached into a jacket pocket. “I warned you,” he said.
Daniel watched as the man pulled out a short, sharp blade. He gulped and his heart did a crazy little dance. This was unbelievable.
“Now just shut the door, start the truck and drive.”
Realising it would be foolish – perhaps even fatal – to say no, Daniel did as he was asked. The man pulled his own door shut and Daniel turned the ignition key, bringing the engine to life with a rumble.
“I’m supposed to be home already. My wife will be worried.” Daniel despised the small tremor in his voice.
“Change of plan.”
Daniel felt his heart pound at his chest like a boxer’s fist. This was crazy. He looked at the knife, turned the headlights on, indicated to pull out, and eased onto the road.
The man put his feet on the dashboard. “So what’s your name?” he asked.
“What the hell should I tell you for?”
“Because if we’re going to spend time together, I need to know what to call you.”
Daniel frowned. “We aren’t spending time together. You tell me where you’re going and I drop you off. And that’s it.”
The man waved the knife like a conductor. “Just tell me your goddamn name.”
Daniel shivered. The man scared him more than he would like to admit.
“Daniel. My name’s Daniel.”
The man nodded. “You can call me Soul Man. That’s not my real name, but when someone knows your real name -” he turned and stared at Daniel with an intensity he found unnerving, “- they have power over you.”
Daniel felt claustrophobic, could hardly breathe.
“So, Daniel, tell me about your wife.”
Daniel shook his head. He had already given too much away by telling him his name.
“That wasn’t a question. It was more of an order, you understand?”
Daniel tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Swallowed to wet his throat.
“There’s nothing to tell. We’ve been together eight years, married for six of them.”
Soul nodded. “She got a sweet pussy? She like me to taste it?” He grinned.
Bile rose in Daniel’s throat. Just the thought of this man looking at his wife made his skin crawl.
“Look, just tell me where you want to go and I’ll drop you off.”
Soul cocked his head. “Now, now, Daniel. Who’s in charge here?” He waved the knife. “I ask the questions, and you answer. Okay. Now this wife, what’s her name?”
Daniel bit his lip; had to think fast. “Julie.”
“Nice, now like I said, would she let me taste her pussy?”
“No, she damn well wouldn’t.”
“That’s a pity. I could do with a bit of pussy about now. How about we ask her? You know, let her tell me that herself.” Soul prodded the knife into Daniel’s ribs. “I asked you a question.”
“She’s not at home.”
“Now ain’t that strange, considering only moments ago you told me as she was waiting for you, would be all worried about where you were.”
“I’m meant to call her when I get home. She’s at her sister’s.”
“She’s got a sister. Hot damn, I bet you’ve thought about taking the two of them together – now don’t lie to me, I can see it in your eyes, you dirty dog. How’s about we call on them instead of phoning. Wouldn’t that be a surprise. Hell, we could have a foursome.”
Daniel knew he’d added fuel to Soul’s lecherous thoughts. “She lives miles away.”
“Well it’s not as if we’re not mobile. Just think, you could be banging the wife’s sister while the wife watches. How hot is that.”
“I don’t like my sister-in-law in that way.” Unlike his wife, his sister-in-law possessed the scruples of a sewer rat; he was certain she had somehow gotten her father to change his will before he died so she inherited everything.
“What’s her name, the sister-in-law?”
“Emily.”
“Pretty name. But I don’t believe a word of it…”
Daniel flinched.
“…What man hasn’t imagined boning his wife’s sister?”
“You’re sick.”
“This ain’t about me. Now how about we head right on over to Emily’s house.”
“I told you, she lives miles away.”
“Then you’d better drive fast.”
The lights of a roadside cafe appeared up ahead, a comical bright red neon picture of a chef propped on the roof.
“If I’m driving a long way, I’ll need to use the toilet,” Daniel said.
He felt Soul staring at him, but kept his gaze on the road ahead.
“You wouldn’t want to be trying something, now would you?” Soul said mockingly.
“I just need the toilet.”
“Okay, but listen very carefully. You try anything, and I’ll gut you. Then I’ll track down your wife and use the blade of my knife as a dildo. Can you imagine what this blade would do to her insides? Man, she would bleed.” His voice rose an octave as though he were getting off on the thought.
“I won’t do anything. You have my word.” Daniel found it easy to lie; had to make Soul believe he could be trusted.
He indicated and pulled off the dual carriageway into the car park. He stopped alongside a BMW and switched the engine off.
Light from the neon sign bled across the tarmac in front of the building. Daniel opened his door and started to slide out when Soul grabbed his arm.
“Remember what I said.” He waved the knife in the air to add substance to his warning.
Daniel gulped and nodded.
Soul loosened his grip as he shuffled across the seat to step out behind Daniel.
Daniel started walking, each step difficult, Soul an anchor at his side.
Tall trees bordered part of the car par. Beyond the building, he saw nothing but inky blackness. Through the window of the cafe, he noticed people sat around tables; all oblivious to the threat he was about to bring into their midst.
The door opened smoothly and without ceremony. Daniel stepped inside. The aroma of food and coffee rushed into his nostrils like water to a drowning man. His mouth salivated and his stomach rumbled.
The cafe wasn’t large, and although people occupied five of the eight tables, it didn’t seem packed. Yellow Formica seemed to be the decoration of choice, with splashes of red thrown into the mix.
Daniel couldn’t help noticing the trays of cutlery by the till, of which the knives seemed to shine brightest.
On the far side of the cafe were two doors for the toilets. No one in the cafe seemed to take much notice of him – he didn’t know whether that was a good thing or not. Soul trailed like a shadow.
The toilet contained two cubicles and two urinals and smelled of disinfectant.
He faced the first urinal and stood, cock in hand. He felt Soul staring at him; became self-conscious, which delayed the act of going for a piss until Soul prodded him with the knife, providing the incentive for his bladder to empty itself whether it wanted to or not.
Once finished, he washed his hands and stepped back out into the restaurant. “Mind if I get something to eat and drink?” Daniel asked.
Soul grinned. “Sure, get me a coffee too. Black. No sugar.”
Daniel nodded and walked to the counter, selected a Danish pastry and poured both coffees from the machine before paying the bored looking teenage girl at the till. If she thought anything of his companion, she didn’t mention it, didn’t even look at him as she passed him his change before returning to picking her fingernails.
Daniel carried the coffees and pastry across to the corner table and sat with his back to the wall, secretly hoping to make eye contact with one of the other customers and in some way relay the state of his danger by facial expression alone.
Soul sat opposite, his gangly frame obscuring some of Daniel’s view.
Daniel sipped at his coffee and bit a chunk from his sugar coated pastry. Although both should have tasted good, the present situation left a bitter taste in his mouth that the food and beverage couldn’t disguise.
“You’d like to fuck that slut at the till, wouldn’t you,” Soul said. “That’s why you sat there, so you could stare at her titties when she leans forward.”
Daniel denied the accusation, but he couldn’t help stealing a glance across at the girl, at the creamy swell of bosom above the top of her dress.
“What man wouldn’t,” Soul continued. “She’s hot. I bet she could suck the lid off a tin.”
Daniel glared at Soul. “You need help.”
Soul laughed. “How would you feel if I were to slice some of these nice people? You know, cut them up into little, itty bitty pieces.”
Daniel looked around, hoping someone would notice that his companion was armed, but no one seemed to look across. “I think you should put the knife away.”
Soul’s expression said otherwise. Behind Soul’s shoulder, Daniel noticed an old man with calloused hands look up from his newspaper, glance across, frown distractedly, and then hide back behind the headlines.
Feeling all alone despite the customers’ presence, he pushed the drink and food away.
After a moment, Soul said, “Time to hit the road. My sacks are fit to burst.”
Daniel cringed. He couldn’t let this filthy beast anywhere near his wife. He stood too quickly, the room spun. He staggered, reached to the table for support and knocked his cup over. It hit the ground and shattered, sending hot coffee and shrapnel flying in all directions.
The girl behind the counter blew a bubble of gum that popped loudly. She stood with a sigh, her breasts jiggling as she moved from around the counter. Soul stepped aside to let her pass. He winked at Daniel and brandished the knife behind her back.
Oblivious, the girl crouched down and mopped at the floor with a cloth before picking the pieces up. Daniel crouched beside her. “I’m in trouble,” he whispered.
The girl looked across at him, masticated chewing gum sheathing her tongue as she blew another bubble.
The bubble popped and she worked the gum back into her mouth. “Don’t worry, plenty of cups get broken,” she said before standing and walking away.
Daniel stood and followed her across, hoping to more eloquently express the seriousness of his situation. At the counter, he dropped the crockery in the rubbish bin and turned to the girl, but she was busy serving another customer. About to turn away, Daniel noticed the knives in the cutlery tray. He licked his lips. Could he sneak one into his pocket without Soul seeing?
Thinking it worth the risk, he reached out, grabbed a knife and slid it into his front pocket, covering it quickly with his jumper. The knives weren’t especially sharp, their design not that of a weapon, but with enough force behind the blade, he knew it would puncture flesh.
“Time to leave,” Soul said in his ear.
Daniel jumped and turned, felt his face flush with colour. Had Soul seen?
He cast a last, hopeful glance at the customers, but none of them looked across. Then he walked toward the door and exited the building.
The temperature seemed to have dropped dramatically since he entered the cafe, and his breath misted the air. He rubbed his hands and hurried across to the truck, hoping he might be able to start it and drive away before Soul could stop him, but Soul reached the truck ahead of him. He stood beside it, a knowing grin on his face.
“We’re not so different, you and me,” he said.
Daniel snorted. “I think you’ll find we are.” He fumbled with his keys and unlocked the vehicle. Soul slid inside and shuffled across, pulling Daniel behind him.
“No, really,” Soul said. “I can tell you have thoughts, man. You know, dark thoughts.”
Daniel tried not to listen and started driving,
“So how long’s it going to take to get there?” Soul asked. “I can only maintain a boner for so long unless I get a little help.”
Daniel glanced down at Soul’s lap. The intermittent flash of streetlights illuminated a tented protuberance in his trousers, and he turned quickly away, his face draining of colour.
He swallowed. Licked his lips. After a moment he said, “It’ll take another hour at least.”
“Man, that’s a long time to sit with a hard on. They had better be worth it; you know what I’m saying.” A sliver of light reflected off the blade, made it seem to smile in the darkness.
Either the taste of bitter coffee lingered in Daniel’s mouth, or fear took a firmer grip.
Daniel pulled into the driveway, the headlights chasing shadows along the hedge lined gravel. He felt his heart pound, his breaths coming in short, uncontrolled bursts.
Light radiated from a downstairs window and a face appeared at the glass and then disappeared.
As he switched the engine off, the front door opened and two figures emerged, bathed in a rectangle of light.
“Well let’s get this party started,” Soul said before he exited the vehicle. Daniel stepped from the truck and took a deep breath that chilled his nostrils.
“Daniel, is that you? What are you doing here?” one of the figures shouted. Daniel struggled to reply. He didn’t want Soul to misinterpret anything he said and fly off the handle.
The tip of the stolen knife prodded his thigh, a physical pain. He resisted the urge to use it.
“Emily, I erm…”
“Wow, they’re both lookers,” Soul whispered, nudging Daniel in the ribs. “Winner, winner, stick it in her,” he chuckled.
Both women had brown hair. Emily’s was long, Julie’s medium length. The family resemblance carried through into their blue eyes, their heart shaped faces and slim figures. Personality wise, Daniel knew they stood poles apart. His wife was more maternal, his sister-in-law hard faced and bolshy, which was why he didn’t particularly like her, and probably why her husband divorced her.
“Who’s that with you?” Emily asked.
“Careful what you say,” Soul whispered in Daniel’s ear.
“It’s a colleague,” Daniel said as they reached the porch.
Both women frowned. He couldn’t blame them. Soul looked like a vagrant.
He saw Soul’s lecherous eyes admiring the two women.
“What are you doing here?” Emily asked.
“I thought I would surprise the two of you.”
“Any chance we could discuss this inside?” Soul said, offering a crocodile smile, “only my toes are going cold.”
Julie stepped aside. “Of course. Just didn’t expect you, that’s all.” She stared at Daniel with a quizzical expression.
Daniel bit his lip; hesitated a moment before Soul jabbed the tip of the knife into his back. He winced and then stepped inside.
His sister-in-law’s house had the trappings of her inherited wealth, from the plush carpet to the rich furnishings. Even the air seemed tainted by the smell of money.
Daniel led the way through to the living room. Once they were all inside, Soul shut the door. It sounded almost funereal.
“I’m not going to beat around the bush, just fuck it,” Soul said as he produced the knife.
“Daniel, what’s going on?” Emily said, her voice shaking.
Daniel grimaced. “If we just do as Soul asks, everything will be okay,” he said.
“Do what?” Julie said.
Soul grinned. “Well, for a start, I want you all to strip.”
“Is this some sort of joke, because if it is, then it’s not funny,” Julie snapped.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Soul said.
Daniel clenched his fists. “Just do what he says.”
“This is ridiculous. I’m not taking my clothes off,” Julie said.
Soul grinned. “Feisty, just the way I like ‘em.” He stepped towards Daniel and grabbed him around the waist and put the knife to his throat. “If you aren’t bare ass naked in twenty seconds, Daniel here is gonna be sliced from ear to ear.”
Both women exchanged fearful glances. Emily started crying.
“Time’s ticking,” Soul said. As if to emphasise his point, he drew the blade across Daniel’s throat enough to break the skin. Daniel winced, felt warm blood trickle down his throat.
His wife started stripping first. All colour drained from her face. She grabbed the bottom of her t-shirt and pulled it over her head to reveal a red lacy bra. She looked at her sister, who cast a defiant look at Soul before starting to remove her clothes.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Daniel started to feel aroused. His reaction made him feel ashamed.
“Now this is what it’s all about,” Soul said as both women tried to cover themselves as best they could with strategically placed hands. “What do you say, Danny boy? Ready to get it on?” He removed the knife from Daniel’s throat. “Now which one of you is the delectable Julie?” he asked.
Julie stared at him defiantly and said, “I am.”
“Nice taste, Danny boy. Now Julie, get over here.”
Julie shook her head.
“I’m not going to say it twice,” Soul said.
“Julie, please,” Emily said. “Just do as he says.”
Julie stared at her sister and pursed her lips. Daniel could see she was fighting to hold back the tears. After a moment, she walked towards Soul.
“Right, now you and me are going to sit here on this nice leather settee and watch while Daniel fucks your sister.”
“You’re crazy,” Julie said.
Emily shook her head. “Please…don’t do this.”
Soul dragged Julie onto the settee beside him and pushed the tip of the knife into the soft flesh of her right breast. “Unless you want me to perform a mastectomy on her, I’d suggest you cut the chat and get down and dirty.”
Daniel approached Emily and put his arm around her. “It’s going to be okay,” he said. “Trust me.”
She looked at him for a moment and then closed her eyes. Then she nodded almost imperceptibly.
As he expected, Emily was drier than a desert, the intercourse painful. She kept wincing, unable to look at him during the act. He felt guilty that one part of him found it pleasurable. He glanced across at Soul and Julie, watched as Soul made her perform lewd acts. Despite trying not to, seeing them together heightened his pleasure until moments later, he came.
“That’s my boy,” Soul said. “Now I don’t like long goodbyes, so I’m afraid I’m going to have to cut the party short.” Without warning, he sliced the knife across Julie’s throat, spraying the settee with blood. Julie gagged, clutched at her neck. Blood gushed between her fingers and she slumped to the ground, her hands dropping away as her last breath gurgled through the ragged wound. Soul stood and approached Emily. She screamed and scuttled across the floor. Daniel lunged for his trousers, fumbled for the knife and withdrew it from his pocket. Preoccupied with Emily, Soul failed to notice as Daniel leapt towards him and plunged the knife into his back. Unable to disguise his surprise and pain, Soul gasped. He spun, waving his knife in the air, but Daniel jumped aside.
Soul collapsed; hit the floor with a thud.
Emily looked up, eyes wide with shock and fear.
“It’s okay,” Daniel said as he grabbed Emily’s clothes and helped her dress.
Soul was right. Knowing someone’s name does give you power over them. He took Emily’s hand, squeezed, and then led his wife out of the room.
We’re not so different, you and me.
Daniel grinned; wondered if his sister-in-law had made a will.
