#3

"Flesh Wounds"
by Dallas Lee

“Jesus Christ!”

“Close, but no cigar,” said the man. “You did get the initials right, though.”

“Who are you, stranger?” asked Swamp Thing.

“Jimmy Coffey at your service,” he said, bowing.

“It was you,” stammered Alec Holland. He pointed down to his open grave. “It was you who… you know… brought me back to life.”

“You know it, buddy,” replied Jimmy. “Ain’t you having fun?”

“Fun, my ass,” said Alec. “Why did you do it? What purpose does it serve for me to be shambling around in this rotting body?”

“I thought it was pretty funny,” said Jimmy. “You should’ve seen the looks on the face of those grave robbers. It was worth the price of admission alone.”

“You brought me back as a joke? What kind of fucking shit is that?”

Swamp Thing reached out and touched Alec’s bony shoulder.

“Be calm, my friend,” he said. “I’m sure there’s a rational response for all that’s happening.”

“Nope,” said Jimmy. “I DID bring him back as a joke. It was a simple cut-and-run.”

Swamp Thing sighed. He could feel the rage swirling around inside Alec’s corpse.

“Why have you come here?” asked Swamp Thing. “What purpose do you serve?”

Jimmy looked down at the sandals on his bare feet. There was mud climbing up between his toes. He wore jeans with holes in the knees. He was also wearing a Molly Hatchet t-shirt. His hair and beard were both golden from the sunlight peeking through the swamp foliage. He dug a crumpled pack of cigarettes out of his pants pocket and put a twisted smoke between his lips. He lit up and exhaled a ring of smoke that filtered over his head like a halo.

“That’s a good question,” said Jimmy. “And I’m glad that you’ve asked it.” He kicked at the mud. His feet were filthy. He turned around and stared back through the swamp. “Mary!” he called. “It’s okay. Come on out, now.”

From the brush, a woman dressed in a blue dress emerged. She had a hood over her head. She came up and stood beside Jimmy.

“This is Mary,” said Jimmy. He cupped his hand over his mouth and whispered: “She’s kind of my groupie.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mary,” said Swamp Thing.

Mary shrugged her shoulders. A faint smile crossed her face.

“Now,” said Jimmy. “Where were we?”

“You bringing me back to life,” stammered Alec. “You were arousing me from my beauty sleep.”

“That’s right,” said Jimmy. “Whenever you’re ready, just jump back in the hole and lie down. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Are you going to fix my broken coffin, too?”

“Not a problem,” said Jimmy. He waited for Alec to climb back into the hole. As Holland lay down, Jesus moved his hands and began to rub his palms together. Then he snapped his fingers. The lid flipped over and covered the coffin. It was as good as new.

“Easy peasy Japaneasy, so they say,” said Jimmy.

Swamp Thing nodded. Then he put out his own hands and covered the grave with dirt. The soiled sod rested down onto Alec’s coffin.

“You’re pretty good at that,” said Jimmy. “One day you’re going to have to teach it to me.”

“Enough” said Swamp Thing. “Tell me why you’re here.”

Jimmy walked over and sat down on a stump. He pushed his feet out as Mary knelt down onto her knees, sinking into the marshy ground. She began to clean his feet. “I’ve seen into your future,” said Jimmy. “You’re going to need me, and soon.”

“And why is that?”

“Just listen to me,” said Jimmy. “And take me serious. You’re cool, right now. But things aren’t always going to be this peachy keen.” He stubbed out his cigarette and lit another. “I’m going to be one helluva accessory when the time comes.”

“I have no idea of what you speak,” said Swamp Thing. “But I WILL take you serious.” He sighed. “I’ve never met you before, but I’ll take you at your word.”

“That’s a boy,” said Jimmy. “I’m glad that you can see it my way.”

“Who are you Jimmy Coffey?”

“I’m everything and nothing,” said Jimmy. “I can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. Take your choice.”

“I’ll be proud to call you as my friend,” replied Swamp Thing. “But I’m another who doesn’t like to be crossed.”

“No worries there.”

Jimmy put his arms on Mary’s shoulders. He lifted her pretty face up to his, kissing her on the cheek.

“Now, it’s time for me to split,” said Jimmy. “But you’ll be seeing me, again.”

“Of that I have no doubts.”

Smiling, Jimmy pulled out his left eyeball. It came out with a splattering PLOP! He smiled. “I’ll keep my eye out for you.”

Abby looked at Barbara. She could still imagine her squatting over Johnny’s face as she… as she…

It was too much for her to think about, right now.

Suddenly, her mouth felt very dry. She got up from her desk and walked over to the water cooler.

Barbara followed her over.

She put her hand over Abby’s as she filled a cup of water.

“Listen Abby,” she said. “I’m really sorry for what happened. I didn’t think you’d take it so strongly.”

Abby flashed a small smile. “It’s alright,” she muttered. “I’ll live.”

“I hope this doesn’t change anything between us,” said Barbara. “I still very much want to be your friend.”

“It doesn’t change anything,” said Abby, maybe a little too fast. “I’ll always value you as my friend, Barbara. You should know that.”

“Sometimes I just worry.” She glanced back over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “It was Johnny’s idea,” she said. “I never thought we should do it.”

“Well, we did,” said Abby. She reached out and put a hand on Barbara’s shoulder. “Let’s just forget it, huh?”

Barbara smiled.

“How was the girl this morning?” asked Abby. “She didn’t look very good.”

“You know how it is. Her boyfriend beat the living shit out of her, but she still loves him.” Barbara sighed. “Sometimes I feel our job is so useless.”

“We just have to think about the ones we DO help,” replied Abby.

“True.” Barbara glanced back over her shoulder. “Listen,” she said, “I have more than enough paperwork to do. I need to get back to it.” She winked at Abby. “We need to do lunch, sometime.”

“Sometime,” said Abby.

“Okay. Well, I’ll leave you alone. I’m swamped.”

As Barbara went back to her office, Abby thought about the word “swamped”. She felt a patter in her heart she hadn’t felt in quite some time. He was still out there, alone. One day she was going to have to go visit the Swamp Thing. She was going to have to go and share her love with him. It had been so long.

Suddenly, she felt an itching: DOWN THERE.

She glanced around, making sure no one was watching, and rubbed gently at her crotch. It was scratching at her groin.

Abby crossed the office and went into the restroom. She went into the stall and pulled down her pants. She gently sat down on the toilet. It was cold.

“Oh my God,” she muttered, staring down between her legs.

Invading her groin was a mess of red bumps. Some were fat and ready to burst, while others made her look like a pink-spotted leopard.

She reached down between her legs and began to itch feverishly.

Johnny’s face flashed before her eyes. It’s him, she thought. And what about Barbara… did she know? How could she be smiling at her and not know that Johnny had a venereal disease?

Abby reached down into her crotch, again. She itched until blood began to run through her fingers in small rivers…

Tefe was sporting a black eye and split lips.

“My God!” said Abby. She got up from her desk and ran around the counter. She took Tefe into her arms. “Baby, what has happened to you?”

“Blaze” was the only word she could get out.

“That bastard,” said Abby. “Come on. Let’s go into my office.”

Abby put her arms on Tefe’s shoulders and led her into the room at the back of the abuse center. She helped to sit her down in a chair.

“Can I get you anything?” asked Abby. “Would you like a glass of water?”

“No,” said Tefe. “But thanks.”

Abby sat down behind her desk. She sighed. Everything was happening so fast. First there was Johnny and Barbara, the V.D., her thoughts about Swamp Thing, and now this. What else?

“Do you want to tell me about it?” asked Abby.

“What’s there to tell?” said Tefe. “Blaze gets mad and then he beats the holy living shit out of me. End of story.”

“Oh baby,” said Abby. “This is awful. What are you going to do?”

“Isn’t that what you’re for?” snapped Tefe. “You’re the one who’s supposed to be able to tell me that.”

“What would happen if you just left him?”

“I have no idea,” said Tefe. She shrugged. “Maybe he’d try to kill me.”

“Do you really think he’d go that far?”

“How the fuck am I supposed to know?” Tefe sighed. Her shoulders dipped down. “Sorry about that. I’m just uptight, right now.”

“I understand,” said Abby. “Just let it all out.”

“I’m glad you said that,” replied Tefe. “I’m thinking about going to daddy for some help.”

There it was, again, thought Abby. The Swamp Thing…

“Don’t do that,” said Abby. “I don’t think that’d be a very good idea.”

“And why not?” asked Tefe.

“You’re father might not be too stable,” said Abby. “There’s no telling what he might do.”

“How would you know? It’s not like you ever go to visit him.”

Abby sighed. There was no way around that one.

“There has to be another answer,” said Abby. “And one that doesn’t include your father.”

“What about me?” asked Tefe. “I could take care of it in a swipe, too. I’ve got powers myself, you know.”

“I know,” said Abby. “And I can’t stop you from using them. But be careful. You don’t know what you could be capable of.”

“Are you saying that you condone me using my own stuff?”

“I’m not saying anything,” replied Abby.

“But you are,” said Tefe. “You hate this son-of-a-bitch as much as me. You’d like to see him get his comeuppance, too.”

“Do what you have to do. Just don’t include me in it.”

Tefe stood up. A wry smile cracked open her wounded features. She felt better than she had in days.

“Mom,” she said, “thanks.”

“There’s no way I’m going to say ‘welcome’” replied Abby. She closed her eyes. “I think it’s time for you to leave, now.”

As Tefe left the office, she had to laugh. This was going to be fun.

Buck Clark was naked. He was bound, spread-eagled, by metallic claspers onto a medical table. Goosebumps arose on his flesh from the coldness in the room.

He’d just awoken from whatever poison Pilate Voorhees had given him.

“What the hell are you doing to me?” he asked as Pilate appeared beside him.

“Just relax, Mr. Clark,” said Pilate. “Your time for immortality has arrived.” He smiled. “I’m about to turn you into my first super-human.”

“You’re crazy!” Buck struggled against his restraints. “Let me out of here. This is madness.”

“Are you calling me ‘mad’, Mr. Clark?” Pilate let loose with a laugh that gave Buck more Goosebumps than the cold sterile table. “Maybe yes, maybe no,” said Pilate. “That we are about to find out.”

Buck glanced next to him. Strapped down to an identical table was a monster from hell. It glanced at him. Buck thought he could see tears welling within the creature’s three eyes.

“I’m going to come back and get you,” Buck told Pilate. “If it’s the last damned thing that I do, I’m going to make you pay for this.”

“And that’s exactly why I’m trading your brain for this one,” Pilate said, referring to the monster. “You will be obedient.” He sighed. “I honestly don’t understand the hostility, Mr. Clark. I’m going to make you stronger than your wildest dreams. And I will treat you with the utmost respect.”

“You’re full of shit.”

“I’ve had enough of you for now, Mr. Clark,” said Pilate. He studied the I.V. snaking its way into Buck’s arm. Green bubbles began to flow into Buck’s veins.

“That’s a laugh,” said Buck. “You’ve had enough of me? Ain’t that a bunch of bullshit.”

Pilate studied the tools he had lying beside the table. Like a child picking out a toy, he calculated which one he needed. When he turned back to Buck, he had a small saw in his hands. He pressed a trigger and the tool began to whir.

“Stay away from me with that thing!” cried Buck. “Please!”

“Just relax, Mr. Clark,” said Pilate. He went to the top of the table and placed the tool against Buck’s forehead. Again, it began to whir. “This is going to hurt.”

Buck screamed…