Twisted Roads – Twisted Horror Stories by Matthew Tonks

Lightning

He sits down and looks across the room, past the fools dancing on the floor, past the groups of people chatting along the side, and finally, to the bar where she is. She looks around the room, laughing and talking to her friends. He doesn’t know what they’re talking about, but he can tell she’s not really interested. She looks his way, and they lock eyes for a moment. She is grabbed back into the conversation and laughs again but makes a point of looking his way and smiling. Blushing, he smiles back at her and raises his glass. One of her friends looks over, and she whispers something into her ear. They head off towards the bathroom. He follows them with his eyes until they disappear from view, then he turns back to the bar and orders himself another drink.

“I’d keep my distance if I were you,” says a voice from behind. He turns to face a large, tanned man, wearing a silk shirt and slacks. Money, probably his daddy’s.

“Sorry?”

“You don’t need to be sorry, just find someone else to leech off tonight. She’s out of bounds.”

“And you are?”

“I’m the guy who just told you how it’s going to work tonight.”

“And if I don’t take your advice?”

“If you don’t take my advice, then you’ll see why they call me Lightning,” he says as he takes a step forward. He sits on his seat and looks around the man and across the dance floor, past the people and into her eyes. She looks frightened, scared even. He gives her a wink, then looks back at the man.

“So, correct me if I’m wrong. If I really wanted to find out why they call you Lightning, I should go over and say hello to the pretty lady?” he says as he waves to her.

“What?”

“I said,” he says, as he stands up and stares into his eyes, “if I wanted to find out why they call you Lightning, I should go talk to the pretty lady over there.”

“You don’t want to know WHY!”

“But what if I do? See, therein lies your issue, doesn’t it?”

“What? Are you serious?”

“I’m as serious as your daddy’s money. So come on, tell me, why do they call you Lightning? And please, don’t whip your cock out and start jerking it. If you got the name Lightning because you thump it off like a racing car and always finish first, I don’t want to know.”

They stand there staring at each other for a moment. He can tell he’s confused him enough to rattle the poor rich boy’s mind. He can see it in his eyes before it happens. He ducks the sloppily thrown punch easily, and the second one as well. Then he shoves him away and smiles.

“So it’s not for your boxing skills.”

“I’m going to rip your head off!” Lightning screams as he throws another sloppy, undirected punch, which he easily outmanoeuvres. He puts his hands up in the air, laughing.

“I’m not interested in fighting you, Lightning, honestly,” he says.

“Then stay away from my girl!” he growls.

“I am not your girl,” she says, standing behind them. He turns around, his face red and ready to burst.

“This is a conversation between me and you, not this piece of trash!” he says. “So you go back over there, and we’ll discuss it after!” He shoves her away, and he feels it, a slight sensation, followed by dizziness, and then the floor suddenly comes up to meet him as he crashes to the ground.

“So that’s why they call you Lightning,” he says as he offers the girl his hand. “The name’s Johnny,” he says with a smile.

“Madeline,” she says as he helps her to her feet. “I’m so sorry about Frank. He’s having a hard time since the breakup.”

“I can see. Would you like a drink?”

“Shouldn’t we help him up?”

“Do you want to?” Johnny asks.

“Not really.”

“Then, would you like a drink?”