Hometown Demons - Episode 5
by Cade Scott
Danny parks her car a block away from her childhood home.
It’s 11:45 pm.
Only 15 minutes until midnight.
Gun in hand, she sneaks through the dark toward the house.
The porch lights are on.
But all the window shades are drawn.
She can’t see inside.
Sticking to the shadows…
Danny eases around the house.
And jumps the backyard fence.
The house hasn’t changed much over the years.
She can still picture her mother’s tomatoes growing in the planter box…
Even though now it’s overgrown.
Danny shakes away the nostalgia…
And steps onto the deck.
She crouches near the back door, looking inside.
There’s a shadow on one of the living room walls…
A shadow of a hand…
Holding a knife.
Danny steps back…
And just like at Preston’s farmhouse…
Kicks open the door.
Glass and wood shatter.
She runs in, gun up.
Moving quickly down the hallway…
She turns the corner…
To find Preston…
Standing over 2 bodies.
A husband and wife.
Multiple stab wounds to their torsos.
And some of their limbs cut off.
Right on time, my love.
What have you done?
They were in the way.
And were trespassers in YOUR home.
So I took care of them for you.
But I’m the one you want.
You are…
Why?
I think you know why…
Why play this…this game?
I wanted to stump you with a riddle.
Just like old times…
You’re sick.
Preston’s face scrunches.
I’m sick?
He takes a step forward—
Pointing his knife at her.
I’m not the one to blame here…
You’re the one who left!
And the way you did it…
Sneaking off in the middle of the night.
It DESTROYED me!
I remember the EXACT date.
And each year that passes breaks me even more…
I told you I’m sorry—
Everyone HATED me…
Blamed me for you leaving.
I’d be walking downtown and people wouldn’t even look at me.
Let alone talk to me.
You could’ve moved away…
Like I did.
Started a new life.
No, Danny…I’m not like you.
I’d never let someone take me away from MY home!
But what happened to you?
How could you murder all these people?
Why now?
News traveled quickly…
About how you had MADE it.
How you were this big shot FBI agent now.
That’s all anyone ever talked about…
Even my parents.
They’d talk about you, again and again.
Just to spite me.
Well, I’d show them.
That’s why I went after the livestock too.
This pathetic farm town needed to hurt like I have.
So I tore apart their livelihoods.
Preston—
I know how much you used to like our games.
I figured you’d enjoy this one.
A kind of 12-year anniversary celebration.
Complete with gifts.
Dismembered humans and animals…
Symbols of how you left me in pieces.
But you’ve gotten smarter since the last time we played.
Apparently I can’t stump you anymore.
But what about the attempted kidnapping?
You were all beaten up.
I had to sell it.
You did that…to yourself?
Danny steps back…
And shakes her head.
And Callie?
You two were together!
You could’ve moved on!
Some people are just pawns…
Preston steps forward.
It made you jealous didn’t it.
Learning about what she and I did…in our old spot.
I saw it in your eyes…
You still have feelings for me.
It’s okay. I forgive you, baby.
We can be together now.
NO!
It’s over, Preston.
Suddenly, a voice shouts from the back door.
Detective Hayes?!
Hayes are you in there?
Danny whirls her head to look down the hallway…
Detective Jones is at the back door.
Detective, stay back!
Danny swivels her head back to Preston…
But he’s gone.
Damn it!
Detective Jones runs into the room.
What?!
Where is he?!
Who?
Preston!
He was just here.
Oh my God…
The detective gapes at the dismembered couple on the ground.
Did he do this?
Yes.
And now he’s gone.
Where?
I don’t know…
But he couldn’t have gone far.
Danny checks her watch.
Midnight.
Because it’s time.
Before she can take a step to give chase…
Someone rushes up behind her…
And a blunt object smashes into the back of her head.
Danny stumbles to the ground.
Her vision blurring, filling with stars.
As she tries to catch herself—
Her gun flies out of her hand and skids away.
She turns over on her back, wincing in pain…
Preston stands over her, smiling.
His hand tightens around his knife.
Everything in Danny’s mind slows.
And she thinks to herself…
This is it.
In a twisted way…
Maybe she deserves this.
For running away.
For agreeing to marry Preston in the first place.
For never truly confronting her demons.
If I can’t have you…
He raises the knife above his head—
No one can.
Then he jerks the knife forward.
Danny closes her eyes.
But before she feels the pierce of the knife…
She hears a shout—
And then a gun shot.
Danny opens her eyes.
Preston stands over her…
His knife at his feet.
Both of his hands are pressed against his stomach…
Blood spewing over his fingers.
Preston drops to a knee.
Revealing Detective Jones standing behind him…
Gun raised and smoking.
Preston glares at Danny.
Danny stands, reaching for her phone to call an ambulance.
But with a scream—
Preston whirls around and lunges at Detective Jones.
Grabbing and wrestling him to the ground.
Danny leaps toward her gun on the floor.
She snatches it, twists, and points her gun at the 2 men.
But Detective Jones’ body is blocking Preston.
Preston has the Detective in a chokehold…
And in his other hand…
Is Detective Jones’ gun.
Drop it!
Or I’ll kill him!
Don’t do it!
QUIET!
Preston thumps the detective on the head with his gun.
You, my lovely fiancé…
Danny squares Preston in her sights.
It’s a small window.
You, I will keep alive just long enough…
To cut you apart piece by piece.
12 pieces for 12 years of agony!
Preston, it doesn’t have to end this way.
Oh, but it does.
Preston points the gun at Detective Jones’ head.
Danny settles her breathing.
Goodbye, Preston.
Danny aims.
Then her finger pulls the trigger.
The gunshot shatters her ear drums.
Both Preston and Detective Jones fall back.
Danny runs over to the 2 men.
And kneels down next to Detective Jones.
Detective?
Talk to me.
Detective Jones’ eyes are squeezed shut.
Whether in pain or death, Danny can’t tell.
But then…
The detective groans…
And rolls off Preston.
He stands up…
Holding his head, blood dripping from where Preston hit him.
Nice shot.
Risky. I felt the heat…
But nice shot.
They both gaze at Preston’s lifeless body.
A sadistic smile still etched on his face.
I’m sorry I accused you.
And didn’t tell me where you were going…
I was in shock.
I wasn’t thinking clearly.
No worries.
I knew where to find you.
Danny pauses and takes a breath.
I really am sorry.
I pointed my gun at you.
Look, I get it…
He fooled us both.
I’m just sorry you had to go through this…
Not exactly what I imagined for my first assignment.
But I guess he was right.
Who? Preston?
I had to come back here—
Danny looks down at Preston.
And face my demons.
Killing them once and for all.
App