Faces of death part#2

A boy was standing on the porch. He leaned with one shoulder against the porch swing and swayed it back and forth, kicking carelessly a dead rat.

The sun beat down, and a lazy summer wind kicked up dust which made clouds that looked like they was chasing people. The boy stood dreamily gazing as the dust seemed to pick and choose who to give coughing attacks too, like it had a mind of its own.

After a bit of time went by, a little dark-black fog came and placed it’s self right over a house across the street. That’s the house where JD and Jesse lived. With an intense wind blowing in with fog, but still this black cloud was magical almost. A short rope was dragging from the middle of the cloud and you could hear a dog barking and wimpering, leaves you wondering if it was around its neck. Occasionally he rope in the cloud would end up upon the end of something and would stiffen up but then it’s like it would wiggle it’s self free.

It stopped opposite of the child, and the two boys across the street popped out looking at each other, shrugging in awe. The dog sounds stopped for a moment, but presently they made no advances to see what was going on. The boy held out his hand and called them over. In an apologetic manner Jesse waved not happening. Then JD said as he came close to Jesse. ” The boy over there is Willy’s little brother Mikey. Do you think this is what he was talking about, making us see his face, look in his eyes. The revenge he said he’d get”. The boy became more enthusiastic with each moment of the some what of a viewing, from Jesse and JD. Until with his gleeful smile, made some threatening hand gestures. That he would come over to them. Then the boy lifted his hand again and made a gesture, and stuck his middle finger and blow a kiss to them.

This thing seemed to overpower and control everyone it comes in contact with. JD sank down into the steps in despair at the front of Jesse’s feet. When the wind started blowing it was repeated by different people. Even the animals made wirdo gestures to them. Together Jesse and JD needed to figure it out. with some childish sentences, JD said, “turned over in his grave that mother fucker did. He’s the reason this black cloud has everyone flipping us off. And why this black cloud won’t let us leave the yard”. Every time they did someone would jump in front of a car, or bus, train anything that could smash them. From the yard they could see everyone, and everything. The last one jumped off the tallest building in town. Witch happened to be a block away. They heard the sound of plop as the heavy set man became real skinny real fast. At the same time with each death the cloud would form into face like shapes, for just a moment. It’s almost like it had eyes to offer unforgivable glances.

Jesse looked so comical, and JD was holding his face peculiarly amused. JD was greatly amused but gave Jesse little to go on. Repeatedly it finds victims in the town and has them kill them selves. As if it was some sort of ancient spirit in the black cloud, and was getting bigger and stronger everytime. But the black cloud took this as chastisement in the most serious way, and no doubt someone would pay for it but not Jesse and JD, not yet. They considered themselves lucky to an extent. That they had committed some grave crimes in the passed few days. For the even got thier friend killed, and then dug his grave and tossed him in. contritely and they showed repentance in every way that was in their power. They pleaded with the black cloud and petitioned, and offered more people to die, if only they would be spaird. Of course it did not give off any sign of letting go of this town and it’s people.

At last the cloud grew weary of this amusement and turned up the street leaving JD and Jesse for a moment. The dogs in all the yards was being torn from the dog houses, and off the leads. All at the same time. They sat on the porch backs turned eyes open the sound if retreating and screams.

Presently the struggle to try looking away, when death was in every corner of town. It started after they got up. The later it got the faster they saw ways it would herd them in the yard to keep them watching the faces of the town’s people. Looking them in the eyes. Stopping at times to investigate various feelings, and reaction JD and Jesse would have. During one of these pauses Jesse discovered the little black cloud was like a dog who was following him with its air footpads.

The cloud beat its pursuers with a small burst of wind that capsized a stroller and had blown it in the street just as a UPS truck came flying out of nowhere. JD had found himself looking at Jesse and at that moment all you could hear was screams for the mother and truck brakes screeching to a stop. The mother and the truck driver all the sudden started to fight. The truck driver had a gun in the cab. Just as he was pulling it out, he was hit by another car dead on impact. The mother with nothing else to live for picked up the gun and said goodbye. Down the street JD and Jesse prayed until the cloud had finished, and resumed its journey back to them. Then they new if they ran it would scramble and take up the pursuit again, they could not out run it.

On the way to their home the cloud turned many times and beat the dogs and people, still in town. With childish face gestures like it was a game that it held then in contempt of. Unimportant to the cloud where or what they did they would see it’s eyes and see it’s faces of death. with no value of life. To try and save a moment of peace was impossible. For this quality of life was to live in quick sand, unfathomable to even think about breathing or moving. JD and Jesse was stuck watching everyone kill them selves, or somehow find their end. They apologized and expressed regret and sorrow. But the cloud continued stealthily to follow the children and parents around killing. It had a manner horrific any each death it caused. So very guilty they was that JD and Jesse felt like the assassin. They caused this, they brought the curse.

When the cloud reached the door-step, JD and Jesse was ambling a few yards in the rear. They became so agitated with shame when the cloud again confronted them. They forgot the dragging rope. They grabbed it and soaked it in gasoline. Acting like they was tripped upon it and fell forward they must now wait for opportunity.

The town was gone, everyone dead. So the black cloud had nothing left to do but watch them watching it make faces, and glare into their eyes. Jesse was telling JD someone had to hold it down and stake the rope. If not it would just twist in the air and blow itself out. But who would do it. They both knew the other one would be left by themselves. So they sat down on the step and the two had another looking and shrugging contest. During that time Jesse greatly exerted himself to please the cloud, it was time. He performed a few backflips, and other stupid stunts. With such abandon that JD suddenly saw the opportunity to be a valuable member of the team. He made a swift, avaricious charge and seized the rope.

It dragged him captive into a tree and up many long branches in a dark tenement. Jesse made a willing effort, but he could not reach very high up and grab the rope. It came over by the stairs because it was in panic and shock. Was a very small window and had to be on point. At last the cloud engrossed a flame and the flame grew so energetic that the cloud became panic-stricken. In JDs and Jesse minds it was being dragged toward the grim reaper of the unknown. JD let go and jesses eyes grew wild with the terror of it. He began to move his head frantically and to brace for JDs impact.

The cloud redoubled his exertions. And now seemed like it was eating the fire. They had to battle it on the stairs. The cloud was victorious because it was completely absorbed in flames. Jesse and JD dragged it finally with triumph across the threshold of the yard and set it all ablaze.

No one was going to win this one. The cloud engrossed itself with fire. And JD and Jesse got down on the yard and made balls with their bodies. Instantly accepteing the fetal position. They beamed with affection looking at each other and they shrugged. In a short time they were firm and abiding comrades, brothers, family.

When the cloud finally blown up it had killed everyone in that town. JD and Jesse had to watch the faces of family and friends, and everyone else’s. Except their own. family appeared every time they closed their eyes. They made a great go of it.

The parent, the kids, the pets. Would all haunt them they were definitely the faces of the dead.

They always would be seeing the faces of death