Assorted Abominations Oneshots

It was just like any other visit. Andi’s feet were curled under her as she lay on the couch, one arm free of her blanket so she could reach the cookie plate. Kyle sat pressed against her, one arm around her shoulders. Tonight they were watching Failure to Launch. Andi thought it was pretty funny. Kyle never seemed too into Rom Coms, but he didn't complain. 

Although this visit seemed like all the others, it was different. Or at least, it wasn't until the door smashed open and an angry Carmelo burst into Kyle’s living room. 

Andi let out a sound between a yelp and a scream, immediately jumping off the couch and tensing up. Kyle was on his feet in an instant, one hand extended slightly behind him towards Andi in a protective gesture. Carmelo came closer, his face laced with anger. He pointed a finger at the two of them as he took another step forward. Kyle stepped back, his hand falling into place across Andi’s shoulders and collarbone He pressed gently, forcing her to retreat backwards as well. She couldn't see Kyle’s face from where she was, but she could tell he was glaring at Carmelo with an expression that read something along the lines of ‘I dare you.’ Andi was shaking. She could hear Kyle’s breathing, could see his fingers twitching. He was scared too. 

“I knew it!” Carmelo yelled, still pointing an accusing finger at the two of them. “You knew where she was the whole time! You lied to me! You've been plotting against me, haven't you?” His voice grew louder with each sentence, causing Andi to wince at his harsh tone. Carmelo was shaking too, but he wasn’t angry by any stretch of the word. He couldn’t contain his own fury, his entire body screaming at Kyle and Andi how angry -- and dangerous -- he was. He was wrong on all accounts -- Kyle still had no idea where Andi went home to. He hadn’t lied. And they most definitely were not wasting their small amount of time together plotting against him.

Kyle spoke. “Carmelo, calm down.” His voice was low and even, but it was breathy and Andi now had no doubt about how frightened he was. With Carmelo, the more angry he was, the more dangerous. Right now, in Kyle's townhouse, with Kyle standing protectively in front of Andi, he had never been more furious.

“I’m going to kill her,” Carmelo said, his voice now an eerie calm. He clenched and unclenched his fists, his teeth grinding. “And you’re going to move aside and let me, or you'll die too."

Kyle didn't even waste time responding. In a blue and black flash he flew at Carmelo, slamming into his chest and forcing the older man to the ground. Andi yelped again and backed up, hitting the wall and covering her mouth with her hand. Carmelo had recovered quickly and he shoved Kyle off. The two stood, facing each other. The door still stood ajar a few feet away as the two stood frozen for a moment. Kyle was five inches taller than Carmelo, but she could see that he weighed much less. He was definitely strong, but Carmelo had a decent amount of weight on him in addition to muscle. Carmelo took off his jacket, leaving him in only his blue flannel shirt. 

He and Kyle jumped at each other at the same time. Carmelo swung, but Kyle dodged quickly to the side, the punch grazing his blue hair. Carmelo was caught off balance and Kyle kneed him in the stomach. Carmelo grunted and straightened himself up, immediately throwing another punch at Kyle. This one hit its target, his fist connecting with Kyle's cheek. The force of the blow caused Kyle to stagger, but he immediately swung around and punched Carmelo in the temple. Carmelo yelled out something in a different language -- french? -- that Andi didn't understand. Kyle took the opportunity to grab Carmelo around the waist and force him onto the ground with a loud thud. Kyle repeatedly punched Carmelo in the jaw. Carmelo seemed dazed at first, then regained his composure and brought his feet up under Kyle, kicking him in the stomach and sending him into the wall next to the door. Carmelo stood quickly and grabbed Kyle by the front of his shirt, swinging him around and throwing him with incredible strength.

Kyle, driven by momentum, hit the coffee table and slid across its surface, crashing to the floor on the other side along with the plate of cookies and bowl of popcorn. "Agh..." Andi heard Kyle mutter, struggling to get his arms under his body to lift himself up. Carmelo was around the table in a flash, kicking Kyle in the side. Andi bit back a scream and reached for the lamp sitting on the side table next to the couch. She swung it at Carmelo and it shattered with a loud CRASH on his shoulder, causing him to lose balance and fall. Kyle was up now, kicking Carmelo wherever he could get him -- face, chest, stomach. After a solid five kicks, Carmelo grabbed hold of Kyle's ankle with an iron grip. A wicked smile flashed on his face before he suddenly yanked Kyle's foot to the side in a twisting motion. The sight was jarring and Andi nearly passed out as she saw Kyle's foot turn almost a full 180 and heard the sickening crack that seemed to bounce and echo around her head.

The cracking sound was replaced by a scream. Kyle collapsed, pulling his foot away from Carmelo. He had tears in his eyes, but he somehow looked even angrier. Carmelo lifted Kyle by his shirt, bringing them eye to eye. Kyle, taking advantage of this, headbutted Carmelo. Carmelo fell back and Kyle staggered to his full height, all of his weight on one foot. He reached forward and grabbed Carmelo's collar the same way Carmelo had just done to him. He swung and punched Carmelo once, twice, three times, before Carmelo shoved Kyle away.

Nearly falling but recovering at the last minute, Kyle stood again, his fists up and ready, his knuckles already turning purple from the bruising. Carmelo looked insane, shaking and bleeding from his mouth, nose (which looked broken), and several cuts on his face. He was already starting to bruise as well. "Enough!" he yelled, his voice strangled. It sent a chill down Andi's spine.

Then, out of his pocket, Carmelo pulled a knife. He flipped it open and Andi could see the blade -- silver, glinting in the light from the television, and slightly covered in a crusty brown coat. Andi's blood ran cold.

Kyle's eyes flicked down to the knife then immediately up to Andi. They made eye contact as Carmelo reared back. He mouthed one word -- run.

The knife came down through the air and Kyle jumped to the side. The blade caught on his shirt and tore the fabric, leaving a hole on the shoulder of Kyle's shirt. Andi wanted to run, hit Carmelo with another lamp, do something. But she had frozen, her legs replaced with lead, unable to be moved. She was snapped out of this state as she heard Kyle's voice, loud, commanding, scared. "Andi, RUN!"

And instantly it was as if the lead in her legs evaporated and she was heading for the door. As she reached the door she turned, unable to resist the need to look back. Kyle had stumbled again, unable to support himself on a broken ankle, and Carmelo was above him. It was in slow motion and fast motion all at once as the knife came down, Kyle's eyes closed, Carmelo's mouth formed another smile, then the knife was in Kyle's throat and there was blood, so much blood, and Kyle's body fell limp onto the carpet, and then Andi was running, running, running down the hallway, down the three flights of stairs and through the lobby, past a confused receptionist and out into the evening. 

XXX

The air was mildly chilly as Andi sprinted down the street in the general direction of her home. The image of Kyle's body on the floor was burned like a tattoo on the back of her eyelids, his voice yelling "Andi, run!" playing on repeat in her mind like a broken record. She was crying, and panting, and still running, unable to slow down now, terrified of Carmelo, terrified of what would happen if he caught her. She couldn't tell the police. Carmelo would tell them she was an affiliate and she would be locked up, too. She couldn't do anything. The one person in the world she cared about was dead, and she was running away.

By the time she finally stopped the sun had set and it was dusk. She still had her wallet in her back pocket, but her cellphone was still on the kitchen counter of Kyle's apartment. She couldn't call the police even if she wanted to. She flagged down a taxi and got in quickly, scanning the faces on the street as she got in. No Carmelo. The ball of anxiety that had formed in her chest breathed a sigh of relief, but it refused to leave as Andi thought about how Carmelo now knew where she was.

"Where to, miss?" The taxi driver asked. Andi stuttered out her street, her eyes focused on her hands. Not even two hours ago they were laced with Kyle's. 

It had been a month since her last visit. Kyle was worried she was coming too often. "Once a week is too much," he had told her as she was leaving the last time. "I'm afraid Carmelo will find out." She took his advice. She waited a month to visit him again. There had been no messages exchanged beforehand, so Kyle had no idea when she was coming back. They couldn't text each other plans, or hardly anything at all, because of the fear Carmelo would somehow find them. She had been so careful, waiting a full 31 days before hopping into a taxi, excitedly telling the driver the street, his street. She could hardly sit still the whole drive.

When he opened the door his face lit up like a christmas tree. He yelled out her name excitedly and she shushed him, afraid they would draw attention to themselves. Kyle paid her no mind, grabbing her around her waist and lifting her in the air, then he was spinning her and smiling and laughing. Her hands were in his hair, and he set her down and suddenly his lips were on hers, and she was on her tiptoes to reach him and he was bent over and he had his arms around her, pulling her close, holding tight. 

She had stopped counting the number of times he said "I missed you" or "I love you" that night. As he was baking he was smiling. He didn't ever seem to stop. At one time he clapped and flour went everywhere; an occurrence that would normally make him irritated and grumble about the mess he had to clean up. But this time he laughed, laughed like it was the funniest thing he had ever seen or done. He had constantly hugged her and kissed her while he was making the cookies, and by the time they were finished and ready to watch a movie, Andi's shirt was covered in flour. 

The scene was interrupted by the taxi driver's gravelly voice. "Here you are, ma'am." Andi paid the fee and thanked the driver, stepping out. The lead feeling in her legs returned as she entered her apartment building and made her way to the second floor. Everything was a blur and suddenly she was home in the kitchen, staring at the small flower that was sitting on the windowsill. It was dying; she had forgotten to water it again. For a moment she stood there staring at the wilted plant, then for the first time since she fled Kyle's house, she began to cry.

Her crying became sobbing and soon she was doubled over, holding the counter for support as her body was racked with grief. She cried until she couldn't cry anymore. She somehow found herself on the couch, having made her way there in a daze. By now she was numb, the only feeling the trobbing in her eyes and the wet streaks down her cheeks. Andi took a shaky breath and wiped one eye, completely at a loss for what to do.

For hours into the night she sat on the couch, staring at nothing, her mind too awake for her to get more than a few winks of sleep. Just when she would nod off, she would hear Kyle yelling at her "Andi, run!" and she would snap wide awake, sobbing again. Soon the sun was up and she was sitting on the couch still, her eyes red and puffy and her hair a mess. Her chest ached. She was sad, yes, but about halfway through the night something else had begun to consume her thoughts: Carmelo.

The more she thought of him, pictured his face, pictured him stabbing Kyle, she grew angrier and angrier. By morning she was shaking again, this time in fury. Before now, she had blamed herself for Kyle's death. She was visiting him, after all, and continuing to date him despite the danger it put both of them in. But as she began to run everything through her mind over and over, she knew that Carmelo was the root of the problem. He was the reason they had to hide away when they were together in the first place. He was the one that killed Kyle. It was his fault.

"I'm tired of running," Andi said. Her voice sounded pitiful in her apartment, her throat scratchy from crying. "I'm tired of running," she repeated, louder and with more force this time.

With effort, she stood. Her body protested, having been awake for almost twenty-four hours straight now, but she persevered. She wasn't going to let Carmelo get away with this. She wasn't going to stay in her apartment like a sitting duck and wait for him to come and kill her. She wasn't going to run away like a coward, not again, no. 

Andi was going to find Carmelo, and kill him before he could do the same to her.