Less Than Human by Tim Meyer Read Free Book Online

come back any minute. And when they do, they are going to kill us. Probably torture us, too.” His head craned toward little Emily, who remained quiet throughout the arguing. “Sexually, perhaps.”
    “ Hey now—”
    “ Why don't you shut up,” Josh told the kid, who looked no older than himself. “No need to freak everyone out more than they already are.”
    “ Oh, yeah, tough guy? What if I don't? Huh?”
    “ Then I'll have to make you.”
    Jason lunged forward, pressing his face against the kennel. “You're lucky this cage is here, or I'd kick your fucking ass, man!”
    “Sit down, clown,” Josh chuckled.
    “ I've had enough of your mouth, you shit-nose little punk—” Ross started.
    “ Oh, yeah?” Jason turned toward Ross, grinding his teeth together. “What are you going to do about it, old man?” 
    Ross rose to his feet. “Old man? I'll show you old—”
    Before anyone could tell them to relax, Jason lashed out, socking Ross in the jaw. Everyone gasped collectively when his fist rocked Ross's head backwards. He stumbled but kept his balance. Landry stood up, looking like he wanted to step in and take his father's place in what had become a steel-cage match. Ross shoved him aside gently. Jason wound his fist and took another swing, a wildly-inaccurate haymaker that Ross sidestepped easily. He jabbed the kid in the ribs, deflating his lungs. Jason stumbled sideways. Ross caught him with a hook across the chin. The energetic, rat-faced punk went down hard, spitting bloody mucus onto the concrete floor.
    A gunshot sounded, causing everyone's shoulders to buck. Hearts skipped. Ringing in their ears left them temporarily deaf to other sounds. They hadn't heard their three husky hosts enter the basement over their own outbursts.
    The Three Little Pigs, Josh thought.
    “ Well, well,” Otis said, chewing tobacco as he spoke. He spit a long stream of brown liquid into truck driver's cage, missing his feet by inches. The splatter touched his boots. “What we got hur?”
    “ Looky like we got ourselves a little alt-cation, Otis,” Cooter said.
    “ Hey, you... nagger.” Otis stared directly at Ross. “Yeah, I'm talkin' to you, boy. Get your monkey ass over der. You can't be goan round beatin' up erry white boy you see, sheet.”
    Floyd, the third and widest little piggy, rushed over and unlocked the cage. Cooter strolled inside and grabbed Jason by his neck, dragging him out. His knees and elbows scraped against the concrete as he cried out, but Cooter didn't seem to care. In fact, Cooter laughed, hacked a giant wad of snot and spat on his face. “Dumb sombitch,” he sneered.
    Otis and Floyd approached Ross, who backed himself into the corner of his cage. Landry tried to reach his father's side, but Floyd collected him against his chest with his flabby arms. Landry screamed, tried to kick himself free. The big boy's clutches were like a black hole, absorbing Landry with little effort. Ross instinctively reached out for his son, but Otis took the stock of his shotgun and jammed it into his face. Ross immediately saw stars and fell to the floor. He felt something warm trickle down his upper lip, into his mouth. He tasted copper.
    “ Looks like someone bought themselves a ticket to the game,” Otis whispered to Ross, who struggled to keep conscious.
    “ What game?”
    Smirking ominously, Otis waved his finger. “Ya'll find out soon enough.” He nodded to Floyd, who immediately let go of Landry. They exited the cage, Floyd locking it behind them.
    Otis turned to Cooter. “Bring that sumbitch.” Otis and Floyd trotted up the stairs and Cooter followed, dragging Jason behind him like a sack of Christmas presents.
    The prisoners listened to the kid scream his way to the top before wet slapping sounds silenced him forever.

 
     
     
     
     
     
              CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    TWO DAYS AGO...
     
    D espite his mother's plea to always park in the street, Josh parked in the empty driveway. He