Twisted Roads – Twisted Horror Stories by Matthew Tonks

Today’s story is brought to life by the following prompt…

This is my submission for the Only Murders In My Mind Weekly Writing Prompt.

Desperately Seeking Starvo

“BULLSHIT!” Starvo spits as he slaps a photo onto the table, showing the man sitting before him, carrying a briefcase. “I don’t believe a FUCKING word that is spilling from your lying lips. Now, look again and tell me what you did with MY briefcase, Mister Alexander, or can I call you Agent Eighty-Five?”

Alexander swallows nervously as a fresh sea of sweat runs down his brow. He widens his eyes and looks down at the photo once more. “I-I-I, I agree,” he says, nodding his head as he looks up into Starvo’s wild eyes. “T-T-The man holding y-your missing bag in—”

Starvo slaps the table again. “It’s a BRIEFCASE, MISTER ALEXANDER, A BRIEFCASE! A bag is something you throw over your shoulder or carry shopping in! THIS! THIS IS A BRIEFCASE!” he roars.

Waves of sweat pour from Alexander’s flesh, and he blinks anxiously. “S-S-Sorry,” he stammers. “T-T-The man c-c-carrying your b-b-briefcase in the photo definitely l-looks a lot like me. B-But as I said before, I was no—” He doesn’t get to finish his words as Starvo pulls him from his seat and thrusts him against the wall.

“STOP LYING TO ME, DOG! STOP LYING AND TELL ME THE TRUTH, OR I WILL START TAKING PIECES FROM YOU UNTIL YOU DO!” he roars.

“I-I-I,” Alexander stammers, “I c-can’t tell you w-w-what I d-don’t know!” he sobs pathetically. “I-I-I, I can’t!”

Starvo’s lips curl, and his left eye twitches. “I believe the word you should be using is won’t, Mister Alexander, not can’t.”

“P-P-Please, l-listen. I-I-I, I might be a-able to find out w-who t-the man i-in the photo is, i-if you l-let me go,” he cries desperately, as tears stream down his face and the smell of urine fills the air. “I-I-I, I know people. P-p-people who could help.”

Starvo smiles broadly and releases his hold on Alexander, who drops to the floor in a heap. Perching himself on the corner of the table, Starvo looks down at Alexander and smiles wryly. “Well, Mister Alexander, why didn’t you say you knew people? It would’ve saved both of us so much time,” he says with a heavy layer of sarcasm. “Now, tell me, who are these people? Tell me, and I will find them, and make them answer my question. And, if they can answer what you cannot, then I will let you and the others go free. Agreed?” Starvo says as he holds out a hand to shake.

Alexander smiles momentarily as he props himself up to take Starvo’s hand before his brow furrows and a cold shiver runs up his spine. “O-Others?”

Starvo smiles broadly. “Yes, Mister Alexander, the others, the ones you came here with. The ones you used as cover, the family.”

“DON’T YOU DO A FUCKING THING TO THEM!” Alexander screams as his whole demeanour changes, and he launches to his feet, only to have Starvo’s henchmen wrestle him to the ground.

“Hit a nerve, have I, Mister Alexander?”

“Don’t you FUCKING hurt them,” he spits as he tries to wrestle his way free. “I-I-I swear, i-i-if you even harm a hair on their heads, I will bring everything down around your knees, and then, after all that, I will take your FUCKING head as a trophy!”

Starvo smiles as he leans over Alexander. “Finally, Agent Eighty-Five, you have decided to join us.”

“FUCK YOU, STARVO!” he spits.

“That would be something saved for the second date, Mister Alexander, and this, this is only our first, and I do not put out for just anyone. Although, I do have an affection for distraught maidens,” he scoffs.

“W-What the FUCK do you want?” Alexander growls through gritted teeth.

“I want what I’ve always wanted, and that is my briefcase, of course.”

“I SAID I don’t have it! Why can’t you understand THAT?” Alexander snaps.

“Because,” Starvo snarls as he raises the photo once more, “this picture says otherwise.”

Alexander closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and exhales it with exhausted fanfare. “T-T-They weren’t supposed to be involved. T-They, they came without me knowing, t-they wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Well,” Starvo says with a broad grin, “think of how surprised they must be right now, watching from the other side of the glass,” Starvo scoffs as he looks towards the mirrored glass.

“I-I-I, I swear, I’ll kill every last one of you, if you’ve hurt a single hair on their heads.”

“Trust me, Mister Alexander, they are unharmed, and as a sign of my goodwill, I will allow you to see them,” he says as he nods his head. “Turn on the light, and show our friend his family is safe.” Seconds pass quickly into minutes, and the light fails to come on.

“W-What’s happening? Where’s my family?” Alexander asks desperately, as the door to the room opens, and one of Starvo’s henchmen stumbles in.

“What is happening? Why have you not turned on the ligh…” His words trail off as the henchman whispers in his ear. Starvo stands back, and a look of annoyance paints itself across his face. “What do you mean, you’ve already killed them?”