Hell on a Two-Lane Blacktop
Originally published in the anthology: Slashers by Thurston Howl Publicationshttps://www.amazon.com/Slashers-Horror-Anthology-Thurston-Howl/dp/1945247428/
Another story from my upcoming collection Carnage.
The bar radio played Creedence lowly in the background. He sat at the end of the empty bar, his darkened blue fur barely visible under the low lights. Rick stuffed a handful of nachos in his mouth, cheese sticking to the lighter blue of his chin and lips, his fingers matted with grease. The blue panda was gulping each sharp tortilla chip down as if it were his last eating contest and this was the finish line. Beneath the slow twang's of the music, the bartender heard Rick's throat choke then a large sigh of relief escaped it as the mess poured downward. Rick grabbed a handful of napkins and wiped the mess of his fingers and mouth, then pushed it back to the bartender. "Where's all the hot tail in this joint, Sheila?"
The bunny turned around, her khaki fur ruffling underneath her tight pink maternity shirt. Her ears hung low behind her head, draping down to her ass, her belly nearly exposed. Sheila set her yellow eyes on the blue panda, and eyebrow half-cocked. "Rick, ain't no one here who wanna hop on your dick." She said, pouring a beer into a glass and slamming it down. She pushed it towards him, and he pushed it back.
"You know I don't drink and drive, sweetheart." Rick pushed the empty nacho basket towards her, his napkins piled on top.
Sheila rolled her eyes and put them behind the bar. "Then why come to a bar, crackhead. I got half a mind to break this bottle over your head and throw you out."
Rick put his hands up in defense. "Hey, I pay for my shit. 'sides, I come here for the food."
"Tony is the worst cook on this fuckin' planet, and you come here for the food? Shit, I bet if he cooked a pile of scat, you'd eat the damn thing."
Rick clicked his tongue and opened his hands wide, "Only the lord knows that, sweetheart. Guess we'll have to find out one day if he ever does."
Before the pregnant bunny could respond, a slender fox slams his body against the bar. He tried to take a seat, but failed, falling hard on the floor. Taking a moment, the young guy lifts himself up, his arms shaking, then finally secures his ass on the seat. Rick eyes stare the fox up and down. The blue panda was drawn to the boy's long, brown hair and how it matched his orange fur. His eyes traveled along the curves of the fox's hips, and he grunted when he took a long stop at his ass. The fox's tail flicked as he stared back. The newcomer gave him a wink then turned his attention to the bartender, "Hey, You know where I can get a ride home?" The words slurred from his mouth lazily. The fox leaned his head on the bar as if the alcohol was making his head heavy and needed to support it.
Sheila's ears swayed as she nodded her head in disappointment. "Boy, I am not your mama. You can call a gotdamn cab at the payphone outside."
Rick moved his hand forward and interjected, "Say, now, wait a minute. What's your name, kid?" He leaned over, turning his attention to the fox. His blue fur nearly stood on edge, eager to jump into the fox's pants.
The fox lifted his head slightly, smiled a bit at the blue panda, "Kurt." He tried to keep from saying much more for fear of all the night's endeavors spilling up from his gut and onto the floor.
"Well, Kurt, say I give you a lift home. What's in it for this ol' panda?" He cocked his eyebrow, a smile traveling far across his face.
Kurt lifted his head fully, smiling wryly at the blue panda. He let a hand travel onto Rick's leg, stopping right at his inner thigh and squeezing firmly. "I'd make it worth your while."
Rick turned his head to Sheila and winked at her, "No one to hop on my dick, huh?"
Sheila scoffed and turned away. Rick took his new companion and led him to his car. Their feet sloshed through the hard dirt and gravel parking lot. Rick turned his head upward, "No moon tonight. The perfect kind of sky for drivin'"
"Is that your car?" Kurt said lazily. Rick couldn't tell if it were disappointment or disbelief. He huffed at the question either way.
"You don't know your cars. This baby here is a 1969 Pontiac GTO. Fastest bitch alive. Runs them clunker Mustangs off the road and owns it."
Kurt stood staring at the old model car, rolling his eyes. "You're like my dad, lecturing me about this shit. What's with the paint job anyways?" His voice grew firm as he eyed the cars slick black paint and red hood. He walked around to the front of the car and put his fingers on the deep crimson, a claw tracing over the giant cock dripping pre etched into the paint.
"Biggest, baddest bitch in town." Rick let the comment hang in the air as he opened the passenger side door, waiving his hands to usher the fox inside. Kurt didn't waist any time by jumping in, eager to get home and sleep off the beers he guzzled down. Rick hopped in on his side and sped off. The wicked demon of a car roared as it spun out of the lot and veered left. The fox gripped at his seat, not expecting the quick shot out.
"Woah, man. I didn't even tell you where I lived!" He shouted, trying to talk over the engines vigorous noise. Rick shook his head and placed a hand on the fox's thigh.
"Did I guess right?" The fox only responded with a nod, indicated he had. Rick stepped on the pedal, pushing his car to go faster, well over the speed limit, the demon took the road as if it were its own. As he drove, Rick unzipped his pants and let his cock fly out. "Why don't you work on that compensation. My throb knob could use some attention, honey."
Uneasy at the speed they were going, Kurt hesitated. First only putting his hand on the man's shaft and stroking lightly. The car took a hard curve, forcing Kurt to nearly hit his window. "Woah man, can you like, slow it the fuck down?"
"It's all right. I've done this before. Now get back to work. Nobody rides for free in this baby." Still uneasy, the drunken fox pushed his head down the blue panda's shaft. The car sped faster, pushing well over 100mph. Rick's cock stood firm, adrenaline pumping through his veins, and a hot piece of ass on his dick. He couldn't have asked for a better night.
Kurt's nose burned at the scent of the panda's musk. A wave of disgust washed over his body at the stench. He didn't know how much longer he could handle it. He shut his eyes, almost torturing himself to push through, hoping the guy would cum quick. Kurt shot up, not able to handle the stench any longer, "Dude, when's the last time you showered?" Rick didn't say anything, as he sped down the long, narrow roads of C.R. 15. "Where even are we?"
"The bar's about forty-five minutes away from any town. You should know that since you were there. Don't you got work to be doin'?"
The fox shook his head, "I can't, man. When's the last time you washed that thing."
Rick slammed on his breaks forcing the fox to ram his head into the windshield. Kurt left a large web of shattered glass along the surface. Rick sped up again only to slam hard and veer around to the opposite direction. Kurt's head slammed into the passenger window, blood splattering across it. The fox groaned wearily. His hands rubbed along his head, the pain surging through. He tried to look around the car to get his surroundings, "Wha-" The blue panda jammed his knife into Kurt's throat. As he sped down the empty road, the twisted the blade, playing with his victim. Blood sputtered from the wound, then slowly oozed from the fox's mouth. Kurt could feel himself slipping into the darkness, the view of the starless night pouring out of his eyes.
Rick left the blade inside, grabbing his toy by the head and shoving his mouth over his thick member. His demon screeched down each sharp curve, tires thrusting away form the asphalt as he took the hills as his own. "FUCK! That is what I'm talkin' 'bout!" He screamed, his seed mixing with Kurt's blood as he emptied himself in the body's muzzle. He let the carcass rest in his lap as he sped maniacally through the night, engine roaring without fear. He rolled his window down, took in the gusts of air slamming in his face, "Now I gotta find someone new to play with."
***
Liam sped his Challenger into the gas station. His forest covered knuckles stretched over the steering wheel. His tires screeched as they met the uneven parking lot, the car kicking from his fast wheels. The wolf smoothed the green fur of his arms when he parked it, stretching his neck as if he had been driving across two states. He ran a hand along the darker green of his chin, then popped out of his speed machine.
Rick sat in his car waiting for the tank to fill. He hated waiting outside though the trips were always short enough. He guzzled the remains of his gas station pizza them moment the tank clicked signaling he was all full. Like a second-class gentleman, he wiped his grease-ridden hands on a couple of napkins, then drops the trash on the floor. Liam catches the make of Rick's car and starts to mosey around, whistling as if it were a hot young thing looking for love.
"That's a pretty big dick on your hood, people might think you're compensating for something." Liam's low southern draw oozed from his mouth. His eyes narrowed on the blue panda.
Rick shook the nozzle before removing hit from his car and returning it to the tank. His eyes focus on the lean wolf. He studied the definition of the wolf's stomach, seeing the toned, slim muscles underneath his tight black shirt. His eyes slowly curved upward, following the mixtures of light and dark green of man in front of him. "It's a homage." He answered swiftly.
"A homage to what, the last dick you sucked?" Rick's blood began to swirl inside him. He wanted to smash the wolf'skull down on the pavement. He wanted skull fragments to spit from his fur. He wanted to see how small of a brain this wolf had.
"Yo babe, how much am I putting in this bitch?" A voice called from behind the gas tank. A small, brown kitten emerged. Rick's eyes zeroed in, first studying the cat's short hair, the bangs curving to the side, his square glasses, and light chocolate fur. He exhaled a large breath, fighting the standing ovation that was fighting his tight pants. The kitten's tight shorts accentuated the curve of his ass, driving the carnal desires of the panda.
"However much cash we got, Mason. I'm sure we're good for a few bucks, and a few fucks." Liam responded, pulling the kitten in and kissing him slightly on the lips. Rick peered around and noticed the classic car sitting on the other side.
"What year is she?"
Liam smacked the cat on the ass then turned to Rick. He smoothed his hand over his head, "1971. I wanted white, but settled for the red. She's one beaute of a car. She'll leave anyone in the dust; don't even have to drive her."
The red panda smirked, the blue and white of his fur stretching wide with his lips. "Sounds like that's a challenge."
"Takes a lot of balls to challenge me."
They stood across from each other, eyes like two separate fires adding fuel to each other's twisted ego. "Well I got mine painted on my car, think they're big enough to take you down?"
Liam stepped forward as if to say mine's bigger. He put a hand on his hip, "You're such an easy kill, man. I could kick your ass on the rode while fuckin' the hot tail ridin' with me."
"Then own up to it. I bet my bitch could pass you up quicker than lightning." Rick's voice grew fierce. He wanted to demolish Liam on the road. He wanted to beat him in the race then watch his body get crushed by the car he drove. He stared the man down, tail flicking behind him in excitement as flashes of blood and fur painted the road.
Liam scoffed at Rick's statement then nodded to the empty highway. "See you in five."
The two drivers lined their cars side by side, the black demon and the crimson devil revving madly as they stared through each other. The wolf's boyfriend leaned over and started to unzip his pants. Mason slid his paw around Liam's shaft, and as he took a firm grip the two devils sped off. Mason pulled his body over and started to ride his tongue along the wolf's hardened member, Liam stepped on the gas and started to pass up the black devil. A smile traveled across Rick's face as they both took a hard curve, tires spinning flawlessly as the metal nearly touched. They sped tight next to each other, yet Liam was slightly head of the red panda. Before long, Rick started to get tired of the race, pulling his car away from the classic Challenger, then ramming his car into the deep red paint.
"Fuck!" Liam screamed. Mason lifted his head to see what happened before the wolf pushed him back down. "I'll take care of this, just don't leave me hangin'!" Rick slammed his car into Liam's again, this time making him lose control. Tires squeal as he skids off and into the empty pasture next to them. Liam turns his wheel violently into the skid in hopes to minimize the damage, yet the force was enough to lift his car slightly. Clods of grass and turn spit out from the wheels as he forces his engine to speed out of the green entrapment. His car jumps off the ground as he pummels back onto the road and away. They drive until Rick's car is out of sight from the rear mirror. "Jesus fuck!" Liam shouts again driving his way towards anything, everything just to be away from the panda. Mason lifted his head finally, turning his hair away from his face and wiping the seed from his mouth. "Forgot you were down there."
The cat smacked his brown paw against Liam's shoulder, then sat back in his seat. "What the fuck just happened?"
"I dunno. We were winning and I guess he couldn't take the loss so he started to push us off." Liam said as he slowed his damaged devil and pulled over. He sat back in against his hard, leather seat trying to calm his heart. The sun beamed over them, the wolf almost seeing it rise off the asphalt. Mason opened the glove compartment pulling out a small caliper gun and ensured it was loaded. "Babe, we don't..."
We don't know if he's coming back!" Mason shouted before Liam could finish his statement. "At least we'll have something." He turned his gaze outside of his window.
"Listen, he won't come back. He was just some nut job, we're clear now." Liam leaned over and pulled the cat into his arms. He kissed him on his forehead. "I got you." He said, his voice slightly hoarse from coming off the adrenaline high, a small wink jumping off his face. Yet Mason was still uneasy. The unnerving force wouldn't leave his chest. He tried breathing deeply, yet the sense of panic would not settle. His dark brown hand clutched the light brown of his chest fur and tight shirt. Liam held him tighter, taking the gun from his boyfriend. He gripped it tight, ready for anyone who wanted to fuck with his cat.
"Let's get out of..." A sudden force slammed into the crimson devil. Liam fires the gun upon impact, the bullet blowing through the door. The wolf slammed his head into the window. Mason hits the dashboard as their car was pushed far up the road. Quick to leave consciousness, their bodies fell entangled in each other on the seats.
"Looks like you're in a bitch of a place to be!" Rick shouted from behind them, driving every bit of strength into their now beat-up Challenger. His own car taking a huge chunk of carnage, yet the panda didn't care. He threw their car forward a few feet. The tires left dark skid marks on the road as it tried to resist being forced to move. Sun beaming down on them, Rick thrust open his door and set foot onto the burning asphalt. His feet could feel the imaginary flames beneath him, yet he trudged forward. His dark blue fur glowed beneath the afternoon light as his hand pulled the driver side door and pulled Liam's heavy, unconscious body from the vehicle. Rick's blood dripped down from his head, his body starting to show signs of damage from his actions. The wolf's body made a hard thud as he was dropped to the ground, then his shoes started to grind being drug to the back of his competitor's car. Bits of green fur flew from the wolf's limber body as Rick started to strip him of his clothes. In moment's Liam was exposed to the head and fire of the elements. Rick smoothed his hand over his victim's chest, feeling the definition of Liam's chest and abs. Smiling, he pulled the wolf's arms above his head.
Rick grabbed a bit of rope from his car. Before returning to the wolf, he glared to see if Mason had woken up. The panda scoffed at the boy in the car still knocked out from his impact. He let him alone and started to tie Liam's hands to the bumper of his car. When he was satisfied it would hold, he hopped in his car and started it up. The demon roared upon firing. Rick took a moment, thinking it would take a few tries, but impressed at how quick his prized speed demon awoke upon being called. The red panda adjusted himself, stepping on the gas to roar the engine again yet remaining in park. He let it roar wildly on the empty road.
The wolf slowly started to come to. His vision blurred at first, but quickly he started shouting as he felt the heat beneath him. "What the fuck! What the fuck, man! Where's my fucking clothes!" As Rick heard his victim wake, he sped off. Liam's cries sung loud, his body tearing. He tried everything to wriggle his hands free, dislocating his arms in the process. His ankle snapped. The wolf had never endured so much pain before, and Rick wasn't about to stop. Blood started paint the road like tire imprints from a car losing control. He pushed his car faster, driving until Liam's body started to tear open, his lower body being left behind and intestines spilling over the road.
He only made it as far as couple miles before stopping quickly and swerving the car in the opposite direction. The body swung hard after hitting the demon's frame. When the wails of his victim finally ceased, Rick knew he was dead, yet he kept the body hitched a moment longer to obliterate every bit of the man. He drove his car, watching the bits of flesh and fur fly behind him. Soon the mixtures of blood and green fur meshed with the oceanic sky. A heavy laugh burst from his mouth as the dopamine shot through his brain. He loved every bit of carnage he was leaving behind him. He wanted more. More blood. More flesh. He wanted to soak the whole blackened asphalt with his prey's body. It drove him wild; the kind of wild you feel when you're playing poker and you have the best hand at the table, and you know you're going to win the whole pile of cash while crushing every schmuck that came for you.
"I am the fucking Superbeast!" He screamed out of the window. He took one last look behind him seeing the blood was gone. The red panda inhaled deeply, smelling the metallic air. He rubbed his blue paw over his head, then down to his crotch. "Rock fucking hard!" the words charged out of his muzzle with a hefty laugh as he sped onward.
In the distance the Crimson Devil sat in its damage, yet the cat had finally awakened. He stood in the middle of the road, gun aimed at the Black Devil. "Son of a bitch!" he shouted, firing the only rounds he had on him, but the Devil kept going. Each bullet hit a random spot, one in the lights, another on the hood. The final bullet burst through Rick's windshield hitting hard in his chest.
"Fuck!" he screamed, not accustomed to having a piece of lead forced in his body. The blue fur of his hand meshed with his blood as he clutched at the wound on his chest. The ground squeals as tires skid off the road. With one arm he tried to regain control but couldn't steer his vehicle back. The Devil rode wildly through the field ramming through tall grass and dirt. In a quick shot of a second the car slams into a tree. Branches quake as if hurricane winds hit them. Before he could leave the car, the branches fall heavily, glass shattering like bone. Fragments poured over the hood and into the car, the roof collapsed down onto Rick's head splitting him open. In that moment of madness, Mason waited. He waited to see if the deranged killer would rise one last time, and when the wind soothed the bruises on his arms he decided he was finally free from the calamity. Another burst of the earth's breath hits his lean stomach, forcing a large wail to escape his mouth. His body wouldn't hold much longer, knees buckled then collapsed to the ground.
His eyes wanted to let rain fall from his face, yet all he could manage were dry heaves of pain and anguish. Each cry that escaped him grew louder--a syncopated pain that beat his whole body inside. Helpless, he left himself exposed to the road, hoping someone would drive by and rip him from the perversion of death unleashed upon him and his boyfriend. "Liam!" a long, pained moan roared from his belly and from his lips. He didn't want to understand how much he lost in those few short moments of his life. He didn't want any of it to be real. His mind raced with thoughts of it being all a nightmare; a momentary lapse of pure dreaming forcing him to live out any absurd fears in this world. Yet it was all real. The asphalt he laid upon was just as real as the bullet he shot through the strange madman.
In all his mourning, he never sensed Rick's presence behind him. Before the cat could smell the panda's stench, Rick grabbed him by his hair. Mason screamed between his sobs, trying to get back the will to fight but his body only offered weak slaps and pushes. Rick grabbed the gun from his victim, driving it hard across Mason's face. His body was flung away by the impact. The gun drover through his jaw wrenching his whole torso away from his killer. Teeth flew from his mouth as he landed on the road. He took the gun and tossed it aside. "I'm still alive, bitch." He said with a gruff anger bubbling in his throat, and before Mason could hoist himself up and run, Rick jumped on his body. He pulled his knife from his back pocket. Mason threw his arms against the red panda, pummeling his chest until he found the bullet wound. Barely able to scream he let out a quick "fuck" and pressed his thumb inside of the area. "Fucking bitch!" he screamed back at the cat beneath him, taking his knife and driving it hard into Mason's right eye. Rick twisted the blade around scooping it from its socket and throwing it aside.
The cat was fortunate he didn't drive it farther. Taking all of his strength he drove his fingers inside of the panda's wound again. He pushed them so far deep he could feel the bones of his rib cage. He wriggled them around trying to deepen the damage he dealt. Adrenaline pumping through his veins, he did everything to push the pain from his face and get the man off of him. His leg shot up quick, landing at Rick's balls. The red panda shouted again, losing his grip on his victim. The moment Mason saw the out he jumped up and pushed the man off. As if shouting to the gods above, he unleashed every painful, angered cry from his throat and started to beat the red panda. Punches landed on his face and chest, and when he could no longer hold the knife, Mason seized it and drive it hard into his attacker's chest. He stabbed over, and over not caring where it went. He just wanted the man dead. He wanted the man to suffer what he suffered, what Liam suffered. When Rick finally went limp, Mason delivered a final stab, leaving the knife in his chest. With the rest of his strength, he hoisted himself up, all the pain came rushing back to him. He couldn't take shear force of it. Falling back to the ground, he held his hands to his eye, crying madly as all his senses were attacked in a quick barrage of pain. He took as many deep breaths as he could, hoisting himself up again and limped to his car. He didn't wait to see if the man was alive. He forced the keys of Liam's crimson devil and made a few attempts to start it up. On the third try it woke, and without thinking he shifted the gear and sped away. He didn't look back, he just drove. He drove as far away as he could, blood oozing from his socket. He didn't care about the damage of the car, the bumper left behind. He just wanted out. He wanted to be free, and he was finally able to taste it after being at war for so long.
***
A slow country twang played through the bar. Sheila rubbed a dirt-ridden rag across the top of it while the near empty place settled before the rush. The one streetlight from the parking lot shown through as the door opened. Mason entered through the threshold, a patch covering his missing eye. It had been weeks since his ordeal, and he was finally able to leave his home after recovering from the damage Rick caused him. His fur still bruised, the cat limped to a stool and waived for a beer. The pregnant bartender popped one open and slid it down, sizing the cat up in her sight. She smoothed a hand over her swollen belly then snorted. "Shit, what the fuck happened to you."
Mason took a large chug of the bottle, setting it down when he felt satisfied enough. "Hell on a two-lane black top."
The rabbit shook her head, her ears swaying behind her as she continued to rub her belly, waddling over to the cat. "You mean, racing with Rick. Kinda think of it, I ain't seen that bastard in weeks. Wonder where he scooted off to."
Mason didn't respond with anything. He only finished the first bottle then waived for another.
The door opened again. A loud, thunderous roar emerged from the opening as it shut behind the figure, "the Superbeast has returned, baby! And he's eager to get his dick we--" The man's voice was cut off as Mason flipped his bottle and broke it over the bar. The cat set his eye on the new stranger that wandered in, yet he was no real stranger.
"I thought I fucking killed you!" Mason shouted, his hand shaking the bottle. All the fear bubbled up into his arms, unable to keep it steady as he sat on his stool. He tried everything to maintain the rest of his composure. Rick limped up to the bar and took a seat right next to his prey.
"You can't kill the devil, friend. He only keeps coming back." A sinister grin traveled across his face as he flipped a knife from his back pocket. "I'm still fit to boogie if you wanna finish what we started."
"Oh you two take this shit outsi--" Rick jammed his knife into Sheila's skull, then smashed it onto the bar. He pushed her back into the bottles of liquor behind her, grabbing his knife in the process.
"Shut the fuck up, Sheila. Tired of hearing your shit." He said as her body convulsed on the ground. Mason thrust forward, jamming the broken bottle into Rick's gut. Rick jammed his knife into Mason's shoulder. Mason pulled his weapon out then jammed it hard into Rick's skull, adrenaline surging through him as he twisted it around. Not able to fight back, Rick pushed himself away, his body slammed to the floor. Mason pulled the bottle out and let the blood splatter across the bar floor.
It only took a few moments for Rick's breath to finally leave him. Not satisfied with his kill, mason grabbed the fire ax hoisted on the wall and carried it back to Rick's body. With ever bit of force he had in him, he drove the ax into the red panda's neck, blood squirting from his neck. He pulled out and continued to hack until Rick's head was clean off. He then focused on the rest of man's body. Hacking at his arms, legs and crotch. He wanted to make sure this killer would stay dead. He didn't want to have to live in fear of seeing his devilish blur fur, hearing his gruff, bold voice. He took Rick's body apart with each new slash he made. He drove everything he had, and when he felt satisfied enough, a wave of exhaustion washed over him. "Stay dead this time, fuck." Mason shouted as he dropped the ax. He took a swig of a bottle of rum from the ground around the pregnant rabbit, then left the carnage behind him, hoping he would never have to see it again.