The Little Things

Percy was out of options, his mind and energy in his body. His heavy breath produced a cold fog that seemed to match the temperature of the blood that coursed through his veins. It was done and so was he.

I didn’t have any other choice, right? I mean, what else could I have possibly done?

Percy tried to get to his feet, but his legs wouldn’t allow him to. Even when he stuck the shovel into the slightly damp ground and pushed off, it offered him no help. He just sunk back to the ground and rested his head against the hubcap of his muddy tire. Exhausted, Percy’s eyes slowly closed as he faded into unconsciousness.

“Sir! Hey, sir!”

Percy jolted upright and scared the old man who shook him. Percy’s attention went all over the place as he barely summoned the strength to get off the wet ground.

“Sorry if I scared you, son. I just saw a light on the edge of my property and I came over to take a look.” The old man noticed Percy was trembling and reached his hand out. “You okay? What’s your name, son?” Before Percy could try to answer, the old man looked down at the shovel in Percy’s hands. The man’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at the misty ground. “And what are you doing back here this late?” The man walked around until his foot slipped on the mud. The old man barely caught his balance before Percy swung the shovel and cracked the man in the nose. The old man fell to the wet ground and Percy slipped from the momentum of the swing, hitting his head on his trunk before fading out of consciousness again.

The sound of ripped paper and laughter jolted Percy awake. He sat up and looked around for the old man. He had hope that it was a bad dream before he saw the man lying unconscious a few feet away from him. Tears streamed down Percy’s face and he sighed before he crawled to the man.

Why did you have to be here, old man? Why? You weren’t involved in this! But now look at you. Look at me. You were probably someone’s father or grandfather. And now, instead of pushing your grandkids on a swing somewhere, I’ve got to push you into my mess.

Percy dug through the man’s pants and found his wallet. He opened it up to find a driver’s license and shook his head.

Remus Porter. I’m sorry for this, Remus. I really am. I didn’t want to have to do this. I didn’t want any of this. But no one can find out what I did. I can’t go to jail for one little mistake. I can’t be locked up the rest of my life for an accident. It’s a shame you’ve ended up here instead of somewhere more fitting for you.

Percy put Remus’s wallet down and grabbed Remus by his hair. Percy grabbed Remus’s pants with the other and shoved him across the mud with all his might. Percy dug in his heels as the body of Mr. Porter slowly slid across the ground. Just as Percy was about to run out of energy, gravity and nature took over and slid Mr. Porter’s body into the hole Percy had dug for the past hour and a half. Percy’s ragged breath was matched only by his lack of energy as he turned over onto his back. Percy’s gaze floated over to his trunk and he gritted his teeth. He knew he had more work to do. Percy’s anger flared up and gave him the surge of energy he needed to get to his feet. Percy opened his trunk and grabbed the body of a sheriff by his shirt collar and belt. Percy summoned as much of his strength as he could to lift the body out of his trunk. He took long hard steps to get to the hole as quick as he could. The sheriff’s shirt slipped out of Percy’s hands just as he made it to the hole. The sheriff’s body fell into the hole and landed next to Mr. Porter.

All he had to do was keep quiet. That’s all he had to do, Mr. Porter. I told him over and over again I didn’t want to go to jail. I practically begged him to not say anything. I signed it until my fingers bled. But do you know what he did? Do you, Mr. Porter? He laughed at me! Laughed!

Percy wiped the tears off his face with his forearm as he cracked his neck back and forth.

You didn’t have to end up here either, you know. All you had to do was help me. I asked for your help and you laughed in my face. You should have had a proper burial just like Mr. Porter there. Bagpipes, gun salute, the whole nine yards. But no. Instead of all that, you have to share an unmarked grave with Mr. Porter here.

Percy turned back towards his trunk and stepped with a purpose. He opened the trunk and stared at the last body inside.

And you. You should’ve understood more than anyone how afraid I was. You should’ve just sympathized with me, helped me cover it up. But instead, what do you do? You mock me. You, my best friend since 2nd grade mocked me instead of helped me. You started all of this. You should’ve just kept your mouth shut. We could’ve kept it between us. No one had to know.

Percy gritted his teeth and sucked in his breath as he grabbed the body and slung it over his shoulder. Percy carefully tread as fast as he could towards the hole and dropped the body on top of the sheriff and Mr. Porter. Percy cried as he stared down into the murky hole with three casualties of the biggest mistake he’s ever made in his life. Percy did his best to wipe away his tears as he grabbed the shovel from the ground. He drove the spade into the giant pile of dirt beside the hole he’d dug. As he threw a shovel of dirt on top of all the bodies, one thought raced through his mind with every grunt.

Rip one mattress tag and you’re suddenly a killer.