"Final Resting Place" by Dan McKeithan

Final Resting Place

by Dan McKeithan

Willie slammed the old Buick into park. The tires slid on the gravel covering the dirt road. It was overcast and the sun wouldn’t be out much longer. A mist sprinkled over the windshield. 

Pounding came from the trunk. Willie knew he didn’t have much time. He’d acted too rashly and grabbed this one too soon. His lust got the best of him. She’d been walking out of the store, listening to her ear buds. She never saw him coming. He had that part down to science. 

But that old man. He’d walked out of the store right as Willie threw her into the trunk. He was pretty sure he got away clean, but next time he needed to wait until night. 

Never break your pattern. That was one of the first things he’d learned on the dark web. Really it was the best place to make friends just like you. After taking their advice, he’d been pretty successful. Five young women, five graves. This one made six. 

The pounding from the trunk increased. She was a live wire. At least for the moment. Willie waited a minute, hoping the mist would stop. It seemed to be getting heavier, but he could use his rain slicker. The ground would be more malleable at least. Another thing he’d messed up this time. No grave ready. 

Still, watching Eddie Bumgarnder’s daughter enter the store, he wasn’t able to stop himself. She was small and couldn’t have been more than twenty. Just like he liked them.

Willie slid from the front seat, out into the steady rain. His glasses fogged with the humidity change. He grabbed the slicker and placed it over his head. Maybe he could instill a little fear in his friend. 

Willie popped the trunk. A boot lashed out and nailed him in the chest. He fell back onto the ground, struggling to catch his breath. This girl had some fight.

The girl jumped out of the trunk and took off. Willie grabbed her boot, and she fell to the ground with a loud grunt. That would show her. Before she could move, he was on top of her. Instead of fighting with him, she grabbed blades of grass from the side of the road. If that was going to momentarily blind, him she’d be very mistaken.

She was moving her lips, but no sound escaped. Willie jerked her to her feet and pressed his knife into the center of her back. 

“Walk easy, and I’ll go easy,” Willie said.

The girl turned to look at him. “You’re Willie, the caretaker at the park? My dad’s told me all about you from school.”

Willie had to restrain himself from ending her now. “You’re dad’s nothing but an overgrown child. He shouldn’t even be allowed to have children.”

“What was it they called you?” the girl asked.

“You’d better shut yer mouth,” Willie said. He pushed her forward into the woods. After a short walk he made her stop beside a large oak tree. “Check out this area.”

“Willie Filler,” the girl said in a sing song voice. “He can’t get the women because he can’t fill’em.”

Willie grabbed her hair and jerked her head back against the tree. “My name is Willie Fuller. Everyone knows that. Stop saying it wrong.”

“Willie Filler, always a spiller,” the girl said. 

Willie grabbed her head and turned it. He wanted her to see what was going to happen. A large clearing lay close to the tree. Five mounds of dirt rested on the ground. 

“See where you’ll be staying for eternity, my dear,” Willie said. and jerked her head to the mounds of dirt. “None of them fillies gave me as much trouble as you. Maybe I should make you dig your own.”

The girl turned her head back to his face and spit in it.

Willie jerked her hair and slammed her to the ground. “Your dad must’ve taught you to fight. If I’d ever had a child, that’s what I’d done,” Willie said.

The girl slowly stood and beckoned Willie to come toward her. “Leave my daddy outta this. I’m not his little girl anyways.” 

Willie took a step towards her, brandishing his hunting knife. “That don’t make no sense.”

“My momma slept with someone else, moron,” the girl said.

Willie rushed her and she kicked him in the stomach again. He had to stop letting her goad him like this. 

She stuck her hand out, trying to make him come after her. “Give it to me. Be a man.”

Willie lost his temper and threw the knife at her. It landed with a thud on the ground close to her. She grabbed it, but instead of advancing on him, she sliced a long gash on one of her wrists and let the blood pour out on the ground. 

Willie stood transfixed. She was getting ready to do all the work for him. He rushed her and knocked her into the soft mud. He tried to stand but kept losing his traction. Once he did, the girl lay on the ground, unmoving.

Willie pulled his shovel from behind the tree. After struggling with the water and mud for a bit, he was able to dig a small shallow grave. Not his best work, but it would do. 

The rain had slowed to a fine mist. Willie turned to see about the girl. His foot slipped on the edge of the hole. He fell in, landing on his back. After a moment of catching his breath, he tried to move. He was stuck fast. His pants were caught on a root or something. 

Then with a loud crack, the roots slowly covered his body. Dirt fell onto his chest. Willie looked up to see the hazy impressions of five women piling dirt on him from above. The girl directed them, and the roots took care of the rest.