Facing the Past

The water feels so good on my sore muscles. The killer thinks, slipping further into her hot steamy bath. Closing her eyes, she replays the events in her mind.

The light sways gently back and forth in the cool morning breeze. The barn door opens and closes in the wind as Penny finishes her task. Blood is streaming from Steven's mangled body as he struggles to breathe.

"Please, I beg you, please just kill me, and end my misery." He begs, gasping after every mumbled word.

"I'm not done with you yet. Not until I know you've suffered the way my sister did." She notices his eyes starting to roll to the back of his head. "You're not dying on me yet, you weak son of a bitch." She slaps his face hoping to bring him back. "Come on, you bastard, take a breath." Penny smacks him again.

His eyes open as he draws in air. The sound makes Penny giddy. Steven exhales. His head falls to the side.

"No." She pounds his bloody chest, the way she saw them do in the movies. Blood splatters everywhere, but his heart refuses to start.

I wished I'd done more to you for everything you've done to Beth, but at least you know now some of what you put my baby sister through. The best part is you'll never be able to hurt her or anyone else again. She chopped off his extremities and fed them to his hog. She then sliced up his remains and fed them to the pigs. The nasty creatures had devoured all of Steven's remains by the time she'd finished up with Beth.

Penny then pictures her sister lying peacefully in her grave, dressed in her favorite red velvet dress. Penny washed all the blood from her sister's hair and styled it into a messy bun the way Beth liked. Penny then applied makeup to hide the discoloration on her sister's pale, battered face. She covered her baby sister on a satin sheet and carefully laid her to rest in her grave. Penny then picked roses from Beth's garden that Beth loved so much. She arranged them into a fragrant bouquet and placed them in her baby sister's hand, saving the prettiest rose for Beth's hair. I love you, Elizabeth Rose. Penny wept as she put the final touches on her baby's sister's grave.

She's gone. Beth is gone. Penny sobs as happy childhood memories replay in her mind. She needed me to save her from that horrid man, but I didn't. I didn't do anything to help her, so he beat her over and over again. I failed her as a sister, failed her miserably. Beth was the only person that stood up for me when Steve tried to have me committed. She was the only one to see me in that dreadful place. Beth was the only one who cared about me. She was the only one who pushed me to do better, and I turned my back on her when she needed me the most. Oh, Beth, I'm so sorry. Sorry for not helping you. I'm sorry for not being there for you when you needed me, for not taking care of him when I had the chance. Please forgive me. Please, please forgive me, she bawls. Wrapping a towel around herself, Penny falls to the bed and cries herself to sleep.

She's woken a few hours later by pounding on the door. Go away, she thinks. Rolling over, she puts a pillow over her head.

"I know you're in there, so open this damn door before I let myself in. The motel owner warns.

The last thing I need is for that sleazeball to see me in a towel. She got bad vibes from him the day she checked in. "I'm coming," Penny says, grabbing the first thing she can find to throw on. Penny opens the door.

Glaring at her, the man pushes past her. "I want my money, and I want it now." He slams the door too.

"I'll have your money tonight, I promise." Penny stampers, backing up.

"That's what you've been saying for the last three days."

"I thought I could get it to you sooner, but it hasn't worked out how I planned."

"No money, no room. So get your shit and go." He says, thumbing over his shoulder.

"Please, just give me until tonight," she begs.

Seeing how pretty she looks in her satiny nightgown, knowing what beauty hides underneath, a thought comes to mind. The manager has been watching her from the cameras in her room. The memories of her trotting around naked make him hard. Adjusting his bulge, the manager says, "I can always take it out in trade. He smiles and adds, "Three days at $85 a pop would give me six hours with the fancy dames. So do me twelve and call it good for the week. That seems fair, right? If we go all night, you're bill will be paid up for two. Three weeks if you're good." He smacks her butt and says, "So show me what you got, girl." He shoves her on the bed.

Penny scoots back, trying to get away. "I'll get you your money tonight, I said."

He grabs her ankles and pulls her to the end. "Pay up or your out." He unzips his pants, pulls his manhood out, and smiles. "Like what you see, don't you, baby?" He winks and adds, "All girls do."

She kicks him as hard as she can. His body flies backward, crashing against the dresser. Getting to her feet, Penny he runs for the door.

He grabs her arm and slings her across the room. Childhood memories resurface as she falls to the floor.

~~~

Penny's parents died in a car accident when she was five. Her sister Beth was still in diapers. Uncle Bud heard the news and graciously agreed to take the girls in. The state didn't realize at the time he planned to use them in his child porn ring.

"Come here, angel, and give Uncle Bud what he needs," he slurs, staggering toward the frightened child.

"Please, don't make me do this again," she begs, darting across the room. With the only exit to the room padlocked shut, Penny's only hope is to play a game of chase until her Uncle passes out. She can then take the key from him and escape like before.

He stumbles toward her, "You either do what I say, or I'll lock you up again."

The last time he locked her in the small cage in the barn, she had to entertain a group of his friends to get out. She was so sore for weeks afterward that doing simple household chores hurt.

"Either them or me, you're choice." He says, stripping down to his birthday suit.

~~~

Penny shakes her head to bring herself back to the present. He finds the manager naked on top of her, fondling her breasts. "I'm not that helpless child anymore. Grabbing a glass ashtray from the bedside table, she whacks the manager over the head.

Glass shards fly across the bed as the unconscious manager falls on top of her. Rolling onto her side, Penny pushes him away. I wonder how many other women you've done this to, she thinks, watching the manager sleep. I'll make sure you never try it again, and then I'll find Uncle Bud and give him the same.