The Third Parent Read online

  “So why me…why has he taken such a special interest in ME? Why didn’t he kill ME instead of my sister? Doesn’t that go against his…his fucked up parental code?”

  “No, Jack…and again, this comes from my own flaws. When I dreamed up Tommy, I modeled him after the male sex. They were simpler, easier to understand than females. That lack of understanding bled into Tommy. He can’t relate to women in ways a sane human should. He sees them as…expendable. If he enters a family and there are children of both sexes, he will always turn his attention on the male more than the female. And that’s because he relates to them. He feels a bond with them and that young boy because of the focus of his desires. Everyone else is collateral, if it comes to that. And only if he thinks, in his warped, violent mind, that in some way he can imprint some lesson or balance into the boy’s life.”

  “This is absolute…insanity,” I said, closing my eyes.

  “Tommy Taffy is a being composed of constantly shifting ideals and values. A consistent clash of logic and shocking violence. He is a multi-layered nightmare birthed from a desperate desire to be one of you…and to be part of a family.”

  “Rez,” I muttered, “I don’t know what to say…I don’t know what to think…”

  A long pause of wavering static filled my head as Rez sighed, “I’m so sorry, Jack. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen…you must believe me.”

  I snorted, feeling the walls of my mind strain beneath the influx of information, “I don’t know what to believe…” I ran my hands over my face and sighed. “Can I ask you something else?”

  “Of course.”

  “Why me…? Surely there are other versions of Tommy out there right now, terrorizing homes…so why did you pick me to talk to?”

  “Because, Jack…you were the one who answered the phone.”

  I sat up, shaking my head. “You hadn’t tried to contact anyone else until then?”

  “No…you were the first. Jack, you have to understand…I was terrified of what I had done to you. To all of you. To everyone who suffered under Tommy’s oppression. It took all the courage I had to call that day. But even then, I wasn’t ready. I tried to talk to Tommy…to convince him to stop. Do you remember?”

  My mind soared back and I nodded. “Yes…I remember.”

  “When I realized that Tommy wasn’t going to stop, I knew I had to do something. I knew I needed to reach out to someone. Someone who could one day help me stop Tommy.”

  “And I was the one who answered the phone,” I whispered.

  “Yes, Jack. It was you. A child…an innocent child. It was at that moment that I began to gather my energy and prepare myself to eventually come down and confront the monster I had created. But I knew in order to stop him, to kill Tommy, I was going to need another. And there you were…lying in bed with those headphones on…”

  I said nothing, Rez’s voice ringing in my ears. Seconds ticked away in my head like bombshells.

  “Jack?”

  “I’m here…”

  Rez fell back into silence, allowing me to contemplate everything. It was an overwhelming tidal wave of impossibility, and yet…what choice did I have but to believe him? I pictured Tommy smiling at me, his eyes glowing…knowing…

  “Rez,” I whispered, “Tell me how to stop him. Tell me how to kill him.”

  Static buzzed in the distance and I heard a low whistle, masked by a solemn horn.

  “There are two ways to get rid of Tommy. One option is to sever the family and end the bloodline. To extinguish the focus of his intent.”

  “You’re not talking about—”

  “Yes, Jack. You could kill Mason. Without him, Tommy has no purpose here. There is no child to be reared, no parent to compare himself with.”

  “That’s not happening,” I said angrily. “How could you even suggest something like that?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m merely presenting you with what I know. I’ve seen it done before…a pair of twins, in fact…”

  “Stop,” I hissed, “I don’t want to hear this. What’s the second option?”

  “The second option is the one I have been preparing myself for. To erase Tommy entirely from existence.”

  “We can’t let him continue,” I said quietly. “We can’t let him do this to any more families, Rez.”

  “I know. And I am prepared to do what I need to in order for that to happen. It grieves me to think it has come to this. That I have failed so completely in my dream. I know Tommy is a monster. I know he won’t stop. And yet, even so…I can’t help but feel utterly defeated that it must end this way. I so hoped he would change…that eventually, he would become the creation I intended. I am connected to him in the most intimate of ways. I even named him after myself.”

  “Rez…” I warned.

  “You don’t have to worry about me changing my mind, Jack. I’m ready to do what I must.”

  I sat up and saw light now peeking in through the windows, a low simmer of oozing dark purple against the horizon. “What exactly is going to happen? How do we stop him? How do we end this?”

  “I will come to you tonight. I will stand with you before Tommy.”

  “And then what?”

  “And then you will kill me.”

  I leaned forward, voice hoarse. “What?!”

  “I can’t do it myself, Jack. When it comes down to it, I’ve realized that I am a coward. I’m going to need you to do it. I need you to do it in front of Tommy. I need him to see me die before his eyes.”

  “God, Rez, why?” I asked. “Isn’t there another way?”

  “None that I know of. I am the dreamer, Jack. I am his source of life. My prayer is that when I go, he will, too. But that is a very slight hope. Regardless of what happens, without me he will be forced to channel himself into a singularity. His grip on this reality has become strong over the years and I believe he possesses enough of my energy to remain even after I die. But Jack, he will be reduced to one. One final being. An echo of my dream. A shadow on your world. Smoke without flame. And it will be up to you to eliminate his final breath.”

  I ran my hands through my hair, shaking my head. “I can’t…Rez, I can’t do it. He’s too strong…he’ll kill me.”

  “Not if I’m dead. If I’m dead then Tommy will become severely weakened. It is in that moment that you must strike. You cannot hesitate and you must not doubt yourself. You can do this, Jack. You have to. You’re the only one left.”

  “Jesus,” I hissed, closing my eyes, “how has it come to this…”

  “Are you with me, Jack?”

  I opened my eyes as the sunlight crept into the room. I looked over at the bed, at Mason sleeping soundly. I thought of Liz, of Jason…

  …of Dad.

  Katie.

  “I’m with you, Rez.”

  Rez sighed gratefully. “Then we shall do it tonight. I must go now. This has taken a lot of energy out of me and I need to make sure I’m prepared to break through tonight. To descend. I will be ready when the time is right. Until then…stay safe, Jack.”

  “Sure…”

  And then my headphones went silent. I slowly pulled them off and wiped sweat from my ears. I rested my head against the wall and stared at the ceiling. Could I really do this? Did I have a choice? I looked again at Mason on the bed. No…I didn’t have a choice.

  I stood up and crawled into bed next to him. I leaned down and gently kissed his cheek. It was warm and soft and I smiled sadly.

  “We’re going to make it through this,” I whispered to him, “I promise you.”

  And then I closed my eyes and finally…mercifully…I slept.

  Chapter 12

  I awoke as something brushed against my face. I turned over, trying to swat it away. A second later, the same something was tapping my cheek. Groaning, I forced my eyes open, shielding them from the blinding sun that now hung high in the window.

  Mason sat next to me, his finger poised for another poke.

  I ran my hands over my
face and forced myself into alertness.

  “What’s up, little man?” I asked, voice groggy.

  Mason put a finger in his mouth, “Where’s Ma?”

  I sighed heavily, the reality of our position flooding back with crushing weight. “She’s…not here right now,” I said cautiously.

  Mason pouted and then changed the subject. “I’m hu-u-ungry.”

  I sat up in bed and looked at the clock. It was already 6 PM. My head felt thick and a numb kind of hollowness sat in my chest.

  “Shit,” I mumbled, getting up, “I’m sorry, buddy. I bet you’re starving. Have you been trying to wake me up?”

  Mason nodded, wide-eyed.

  I stood and went to the door. I pressed my ear to it and listened. I gave it a full thirty seconds before I was satisfied. I didn’t hear Tommy which was both a relief and incredibly concerning. Where was he? What was he doing?

  Cautiously, I unlocked the door and peeked out. Nothing. I looked down and saw a box of animal crackers. I quickly snatched them and closed the door again. I turned around and offered them to Mason. A smile lit up his face.

  I sat down next to him and opened the package. As soon as I did he plucked the box from my hands and began jamming crackers into his mouth. Crumbs flew as his small teeth chomped down with a vengeance.

  “Easy, kid, easy,” I said wearily, “slow down or you’re going to choke, ok?”

  Mason scrunched his face up at me and stubbornly continued his conquest. I sat back against the headboard and pulled him to my side. Content, he leaned against me, plucking little animals from the box. About halfway through he suddenly stopped and held one up to me.

  “Want one?” he asked, his voice curious and pure.

  I smiled, taking it. “Sure. Thanks.” Satisfied that he had done his due diligence, he turned back to the box and proceeded to demolish the rest.

  “How long have you been up?” I asked, brushing crumbs from his shirt.

  Mason just looked up at me and blinked.

  We sat like that for a while, Mason’s stomach poking out from under his shirt. When he was finished eating he placed his small hands on his belly, almost proudly. He seemed content to just stay by my side, resting comfortably against my arm.

  As evening came, I noticed the sky changing outside. Clouds began to form in front of the sinking sun. An hour later and the clouds turned dark and angry. In the distance, I heard the rumble of thunder. An urgent wind had developed and I listened as it passed through the long grass outside. The room grew dim and I felt Mason sinking next to me. I looked down and saw he was fighting to stay awake. I pulled his shirt down over his little belly and watched him drift off. It was…soothing.

  When full dark entered the room, I scooted off the bed and lowered Mason’s head onto a pillow. After a second, I pulled a blanket over him and ran a hand through his hair.

  “I think it’s time,” I whispered down to him. “I promise I’ll end this and get you out of here.”

  Rain began to tap against the window panes as I stooped to retrieve my headphones. In minutes, the rain began to throw itself against the house. The walls moaned beneath the developing gale and I shuddered.

  I went to the door and listened for Tommy. When I didn’t hear anything, I slid the headphones on.

  “Where is he, Rez?”

  “He’s outside,” Rez answered almost immediately. “I think he knows.”

  Quietly, I opened the door and peeked out into the hallway. The house was dark and the storm grew around it. Lightning flashed and ignited my surroundings. In that moment I saw Tommy Taffy hiding in every corner, watching me. I ran a hand over my face. My imagination was on high alert and I shook the images away.

  I crept down the hall and into the kitchen. Rain lashed against the windows, a drumming, insistent sound. Thunder groaned outside and I felt the blasts echo in my head. I went to the counter and began rummaging through the drawers.

  I needed a weapon.

  In the second drawer, I found a large steak knife. I picked it up and felt a little better. The blade gleamed as lighting sparked the sky and lit the windows. I kept searching, hands fumbling in the dark. In the last drawer, I found a scattering of household tools. I pushed aside a couple of wrenches and found what I had been hoping for.

  A hammer. I picked it up and slid it into my waistband behind my back. More thunder boomed overhead and I turned to the front door.

  “He’s waiting for us.”

  I nodded, the headphones resounding with the weight of what I was about to attempt. What we were about to do. I walked to the door, each step heavy with dread and looming fear. Could we really do this? Could we kill Tommy Taffy? Could we destroy six-six-three-five-eight-Rez…forever? Images rose in my mind, memories of my childhood. My head became a picture book for every terrible thing Tommy had put us through, every scream, cry, and drop of blood…

  “Focus, Jack.”

  “I am,” I muttered, brushing my disturbed thoughts aside.

  I opened the door and let the night in. Rain crashed to the earth in heavy sheets and the wind whipped past me, carrying the gale with it. I stepped out onto the front stoop, heart racing. In seconds my hair hung down in my eyes, soaked and dripping.

  “Where is he?” I whispered.

  “In the field across the street. He’s watching us.”

  Goosebumps formed along my arms. I squinted in the darkness, knife gripped firmly in my hand. I stepped down onto the front lawn, rain lashing against my skin. I didn’t see him…Christ, I didn’t see him…

  My nerves bunched and screamed with frantic adrenaline, like at any moment Tommy would come roaring out of the night, hands reaching for my throat.

  “I don’t see him!” I hissed desperately, trying to control my panicked mind.

  “Across the street, in the tall grass. Wait for the lightning.”

  My fingers tingled at my sides and my legs felt weak and heavy. I blew moisture from my lips as I squinted against the onslaught of rain. Come on, come on…

  Lightning ignited the world.

  My heart skipped a beat and I felt my throat close in terror.

  Tommy was standing thirty yards away, facing me, eyes glowing a brilliant blue. He was immobile, the grass reaching his waist, rain pelting him as he waited in the night.

  And he was smiling.

  “Shit,” I said shakily, willpower waning.

  Tommy began to slowly walk toward me, that horrific smile frozen on his lips. Thunder growled and I took a step back.

  “Rez, where are you?” I asked urgently.

  Muffled static echoed in my ears.

  I swallowed hard, “Rez?!”

  A faint whisper, “I’m coming.”

  Tommy was twenty yards away now, his fingers running over the top of the grass. A roar of thunder shook the earth and I wiped rainwater from my face, knife shaking in my hand.

  “Has it really come to this, Jack?” Tommy called, his voice rising with the storm. He was getting closer. I backed up, my heels hitting the front stoop.

  “Rez!” I cried, pressing the headphones against my head.

  “Is this really what you want!?” Tommy called, his voice harsh on the wind.

  I exhaled rain from my lips and readied myself. My heart echoed like the thunder in the sky. My clothes stuck to me soaked through. My hair hung in strands across my face. The hammer dug into my back and the knife handle was slick in my hand.

  “Where are you, Rez?!” I asked through clenched teeth, “REZ!?”

  And then his voice came to me, clear and unbroken: “Look to the sky.”

  I turned my eyes to the heavens and felt the blood drain from my face, “Holy shit…”

  Tommy stopped walking and turned, noticing the change.

  A corner of the sky had ignited a luminous, pulsing blue tear that pushed the ebony night away. From the center of the light came an incandescent streak of cobalt fire that pulsed like the sun. It rocketed toward us at an incredible speed, trailing
sapphire smoke in its wake. It grew in my vision, a cannonball heading directly for us. The sky shook as an earsplitting blast cracked the storm clouds, a devastating, shrill whistle that echoed into a skull-crunching bellow, like a low horn calling down to us from the night.

  I stood paralyzed as the roaring trail of cyan fire hit the earth between Tommy and myself, a missile of raw power that shuddered through the ground, causing me to stumble.

  Blue smoke enveloped the impact and my ears rang from the collision.

  And then, slowly, Rez emerged from the glow.

  My blood turned to ice as I gazed upon him.

  He stood nine feet tall, an imposing tower of alien design. He was humanoid in shape, his arms and legs extending from a torso composed of the darkest black. Wrapping his figure were coils of squirming wire and cable, a metallic, living machine that pulsed with intricate, meticulous purpose. Hundreds of gears protruded from the lines of complexity that engulfed his body like pieces of an engine carefully assembled into human form.

  His limbs ended in rounded caps like logs of iron and steel. Running up his back was a long, neon tube of electric blue fluid wrapped in a translucent casing. Upon his shoulders sat a cage, a square block of grated metal. Through the bars, I saw his head, a large, circular nest of contorted, moving machinery. His eyes were massive and round, two spotlights of dazzling blue, the light cold and brilliant. Stretching from his mouth was a long cable that snaked between the bars of the cage and connected to the neon tube along his spine.

  “Hello, six-six-three-five-eight,” I heard Rez say through my headphones.

  He was standing directly between Tommy and me, a titan of glowing power. As he spoke, I saw something exhume from his eyes, a small cloud of blue smoke. As his words filled my ears, I saw the strange cloud pulse with light.

  That’s how he communicates, I thought in awe.

  A bolt of lightning extended across the sky and I saw Tommy’s eyes grow wide. He took a step back, shock etched across his face.

  “Rez…” he breathed, his smile vanishing.

  “It’s over, six-six-three-five-eight,” Rez said, my headphones buzzing, that eerie cloud of pulsing light emanating from his eyes. “It’s time for you to leave.”