David sits at his desk illuminated by lamp light, finishing off the final preparations for tonight on his laptop. He can’t think of the last time he’s ever worked so hard, and he feels nervous but he knows it will all be worth it. He’s just about to log off when he hears a knock on his door.
“Come in,” David calls softly, as he pushes the screen of his laptop down. The door creaks open and his wife Cheryl waltzes in holding a glass of red wine matching the colour of her dress, which David recognises from their after graduation party. It had accentuated her body nicely and she’d received many compliments about the dress that had fueled her own love for it. Now, it looks too tight on her older body; clinging onto the skin in all the wrong places. The sleeves drape off her shoulders like curtains, showing her patchy tanned skin.
“Zip me up?” Cheryl turns her back to David. He gets up from his desk, pushes his chair in and turns off the lamp. He brushes Cheryl’s curled blonde locks out of his way before attempting to zip up the dress. He struggles to pull it closed as the fabric is pulled taut, and David begins to seriously question his wife’s outfit choice for the night.
“Pulling out all the stops tonight, are we?” David questions jokingly, bunching the dress at his wife’s back in an attempt to give the zipper some leeway. Cheryl gasps in pain at his roughness but continues swirling her wine as she answers.
“It’s a special occasion,” Cheryl turns around to face him as he finally inches the zip closed. “Why not bring out this pretty little thing?” She places her glass down on the desk and gives a twirl, showcasing to David just how ‘little’ the dress is. Of course, he knew she was wearing it for a special someone rather than a special occasion. And he also knew that someone was not him.
Cheryl lets out a girlish giggle, clearly proud of her accomplishment of still fitting in the dress, and reaches for her wine too fast. Red spills from the glass onto the slip of paper beneath, leaving behind a terrible stain of crimson. David lets out a noise of annoyance before rushing over to grab the ruined paper, yet Cheryl is too quick. She plucks the paper from the desk and holds it gingerly between long fingernails.
“Oopsie,” She says nonchalantly. She stares curiously at the paper and asks, “What have you been so busy doing in here lately?” She knew David would have copies upon copies of anything important, so she doesn’t feel bad for damaging it.
“I told you,” David snatches the paper out of her hands and shoves it into a drawer, locking it tight. “I’ve been doing extra paperwork for the higher-ups, you know they don’t let us IT guys get off easy.”
“Oh,” She decides to drop the issue, either bored or embarrassed at being confronted with how hard her husband works, which she does not. “Well, they’ll be here any minute now so hurry up and get ready.” She stalks out of the room, her high heels clicking annoyingly on the hardwood floor. Before following her, David picks up a white pair of suit gloves off his desk and slips them on to his cold hands. He then follows her out of the room and switches off the light, but pauses to look back one more time.
“Oh, I’m ready.” He says. Just as he shuts the door closed, the front doorbell rings. Cheryl claps excitedly as she rushes over to answer it, revealing four people. David stands back lurking in the shadows, watching.
“Hello!” Cheryl greets and hugs them one by one. First is Mark, a playboy back in his day, now a strikingly handsome bank teller. He places his hands around Cheryl’s waist as he hugs her, leaning in close, too close. As they pull away, their eyes lock for a few seconds until the next two guests enter.
“Cheryl!” Maddy squeals as she pulls her into a hug. “How are you?” Maddy is wearing a floral jumpsuit with her purple hair tied up in a bun. She is still as bubbly and energetic as always, something that has never changed about her unlike the colour of her hair. It is a wonder how someone as frivolous as her got stuck being a hotel receptionist.
“It’s so good to see you all!” Cheryl beams, now hugging Maddy’s husband Andrew as he struggles to keep his hold on a cake box. Andrew is the kind of guy that can keep you laughing for hours, and who you can rarely catch without a smile on his face.
“Watch the cake next time!,” he says exasperatedly before chuckling. “But it’s good to see you too Cheryl.” He winks at her cheekily and then proceeds to smooth over any wrinkles in his grey dress shirt. Finally, the last person enters the house. Sharon, who still has her beautiful long golden hair and perfect skin even after fifteen years. Cheryl smiles but says nothing as she hugs her. Sharon looks around with a confused expression.
“Where’s David?” she says, clearly puzzled why the man who had invited them all here was not there to greet them.
“Yeah, where is old Dave?” Andrew chimes in, clearly voicing what everyone else was also thinking. They had not noticed him standing in the doorway to the kitchen watching them, hidden by shadows. He steps out into the light.
“Sorry to keep you waiting guys, I was just checking on dinner.” David smiles at all of his friends as he greets them all with a hug.
“Dave, you’re looking quite dashing in that suit.” Maddy giggles as she grabs onto David’s arm.
“Hey now, just because Daves’ looking like he’s straight outta Mad Men doesn’t mean he’s free real estate.” Andrew playfully pulls Maddy away from David, causing everyone to laugh.
Random chit-chat and jokes ensue, but David stays silent. He feels a pair of eyes on him and turns to meet the gaze of Sharon. She offers him a small smile but he quickly turns away to begin chatting with Mark and Cheryl.
***
Something in David’s eyes unnerved Sharon, she thought she had seen a glimmer of darkness hiding within them. Perhaps it was just a trick of the light, or just a misperception on her part. However, a feeling deep inside Sharon is telling her something is wrong and nerves begin to bundle in the bottom of her stomach. Everyone sits around the dinner table, plates full of roast chicken and vegetables, chatting and laughing. Sharon watches David, noticing how effortlessly he blends in with the others, being loud, joking and making unnecessarily large gestures. She also notices how once he’s finished speaking and the attention is drawn away from him, his expression turns dark and his eyes cold. Looking at him, Sharon’s knife squeaks as it scrapes against the plate and his gaze shoots up to meet hers. His expression changes a second too late, yet he still smiles at her and returns to the conversation.
***
“Then he threw up all over my dress!” Maddy shouted, earning slaps on the table and belly holding laughter from the others.
“Oh! That reminds me,” Andrew began. “Do you guys remember that time we secretly put laxatives in Dave’s milkshake before that party?”
“Oh my god yes!” Mark smiles wide as he talks. “And he was hitting it off with that blonde chick but started shitting his pants!” Everyone laughed except David and Sharon.
“There was also that time when Mark pretended to be a girl and matched with Dave online. They talked for weeks! I think Dave might’ve even fallen in love!” Maddy cackled and the others joined in. The stories of how his friends had made a fool of him continue, as each one reminds them of another more funny than the last. Cheryl talks about how she and Maddy had forced him to go with them and their friends to a club. They had made him wear a dress and a wig, and even forced him to put on makeup. They had called him Daisy, a nickname that had stuck around for far too long.
At one point Maddy asks him, still giggling, why he even stayed friends with them. He had been shocked then, realising that they were aware they’d treated him terribly, and he gripped the sides of his chair in anger. However, he replied calmly, saying that they were the only friends he’d ever had, which was painfully true and something he would go back infinite times to change. Eventually the stories come to an end and the laughter slowly draws out to an awkward silence. Mark clears his throat.
“So, Dave, as much as I’m not complaining, why did you invite us all here tonight?” he asks. David laughs; a disturbing empty almost mechanical sound.
“It’s funny you asked… I was just about to show you all.” David gets up from the table and motions for them all to do the same. He leaves the room expecting them to follow, which they do, and end up inside his office. Chairs have been set up in a row in the middle of the room, facing the TV next to David’s desk. David clears his throat, “Now, if you could all take a seat.” They all share a look; clearly confused on what he was doing or what he was about to show them. Nevertheless, they all sit down.
***
“David, what’s going on?” Cheryl asks cautiously, unaware of what her husband is planning and worried as he had not once mentioned this to her. David looks at her and smiles. Her body jolts and the tiny hairs on her arm begin to stand on end. That is not her husband. Not once had she seen an expression so twisted, so evil on his face. Her worry soon grows into fear. Mark, Andrew and Maddy are completely oblivious to her alarm however, still joking around and sensing nothing is wrong. Cheryl feels a light tap on her arm, and looks over to Sharon seated next to her. Sharon raises her eyebrows in question, clearly wanting to know if Cheryl knew anything about this. Cheryl shakes her head, eyes wide. After rummaging around with his laptop, David finally speaks.
“So,” he begins, flashing another chilling smile. “The reason I called you all here tonight is for this moment.” He swallows. “A moment I’ve been waiting for, for a long long time.” Maddy and Mark laugh, finding his seriousness silly. Andrew raises his eyebrows confused and Cheryl and Sharon share another worried glance.
“Out with it then Dave, we don’t have all day.” Mark smirks, and leans back into his chair, crossing his arms. David’s eyes pierce into Mark, causing the grin to vanish from his face.
“You’re right Mark.” He says flatly. “So, without any further interruptions, I’d like to begin.”
David pulls out a gun. Shouts fill the room, Cheryl letting out a small shriek before clamping her hands over her mouth. Realisations flash through her mind; how much time he’d been spending in his office, his excuses of planning for ‘work’, his lack of affection or almost disgust at the sight of her and the reaction he had over the stained paper. She had not read the paper but noticed it was a checklist, which David never usually bothered with due to his uncanny organisation. A large pit sits in the bottom of her stomach, as she realises something is very very wrong.
***
“W-woah man, take it easy.” Andrew says, a slight tremor in his voice. Maddy grips onto his arm hard. Mark begins to laugh and stands up, waving his hands in the air mockingly.
“Good one Dave,” he points at David knowingly with a smile. “You had me there for a second, but you really expect me to believe sweet ol’ Dave is really gonna pull a gun on us?” He shrugs. “But what can I say, I’m proud of you for trying to get us back. He’s learned from the best, hey guys?” Mark turns to face the others and David shoots the gun, narrowly missing Mark’s left leg. A warning shot. David’s ears ring as he watches them all silently scream at him. He waits for his hearing to return before speaking, his anger building by the second.
“Now, if you will all listen.” He spits. “Ever since I met you guys, you have made my life hell.” Maddy lets out a sob. “You embarrassed me, you ridiculed me, you taunted me, you ruined me!” He roars through his teeth. He breathes deeply, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He stays silent, letting himself calm down. “And you know what guys? I’ve had enough.” He nods. “It’s time I got you all back.” He presses a single key of his laptop keyboard and faces them with a wild grin. The room begins to fill with chimes as notification signals play from everyone’s phones, which they are all quick to check with panic stricken faces. Screams of horror erupt and they each look at David in complete utter fear. He chuckles.
“Don’t worry, I’ve prepared a special slideshow so we can all share what you’ve all been up to.” He smirks as he turns on the TV, and Images pop up of a chat room conversation. One of the chat participants can clearly be identified as Andrew both by the username and profile picture, causing him to put his head in his hands. The person Andrew was chatting with was a fourteen year old girl who he then proceeded to have sexual conversations with. Maddy looks at him in shock to which he throws his hands up in defiance.
“All we did was talk okay!” he yells.
“Oh really.” David says, changing to the next photograph. It is another screenshot from the messaging app, instead this time it’s showing Andrew has sent a photo of his genitals.
“No!” Maddy shrieks. She looks at her husband with disgust.
“Oh, come on now Maddy,” David starts. “You’re not perfect either.” Now, the screen shows a video of Maddy wearing a very tight and short dress, at what appears to be a house party. In the video, Maddy is snorting white powder off of a table and laughing with the substance covering her upper lip. Maddy puts her face in her hands and begins to cry. Andrew doesn’t comfort her or say anything. Mark is the only one to challenge David, always the tough guy.
“Dave, what the fuck is this man? What the fuck are you trying to do?” he cries.
“Oh, Mark.” David says, faking affection. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you.” Again, the screen changes, this time showing screenshots of Mark’s bank account. Transfers of unusually high sums of money are shown coming from Mark’s workplace. “Tell me Mark, how much do you earn a week? You must be the best employee in the world to be earning that much!” David laughs.
“You fucking bastard!” Mark screams, jumping up from his seat, starting towards him. David points the gun at him.
“Ah ah ahh.” he chides, waving the gun around at Mark at which he stops and sits back down. “Now, some of you must be thinking, what does my wife have to do with this?” He brings his attention to Cheryl. “My beautiful perfect wife.” He sighs. “Turns out she’s not so perfect.” The screen changes and Cheryl screams. On the screen is a black and white video of her and Mark in bed, having sex.
“Turn it off! Turn it off!” she screeches hysterically.
“No.” David says. “I’ve known all along about you, and your little ‘girlfriend getaways’.” He uses his fingers to make quotation marks exaggeratedly. “I know you were off fucking that self-righteous bastard. I know you only married me because of my money. I know.” his voice cracks. “I know you never loved me.” Tears stream down his face silently. Cheryl rushes over to him, weeping at his knees.
“I do love you!” she cries. “I love you so much so please, please don’t hurt me!” David’s expression turns to disgust and he kicks Cheryl hard, sending her flying backwards. He brings his attention to Sharon.
“You’re very quiet over there Sharon.” Sharon says nothing and David clicks his tongue. “Just like always. You were always nice to me Sharon, but at the same time you just sat there as they ruined my life and you never said anything!” He shouts, his voice rising again. “And that’s why you’re no better than the rest of them.” Sharon looks down into her lap, ashamed.
“I’m sorry.” She croaks. David shakes his head.
“Sorry just isn’t fucking good enough.” He snaps. “Now, I’m tired of explaining so let’s just get to the main event.” David punches himself in the nose hard, earning a loud crack. He lets out a low maniacal laugh before proceeding to pummel himself, in the jaw, his eyes, stomach and ribs. All they can do is stare in disbelief as David destroys himself, while letting out that horrible deranged laugh. Finally David swings the last punch and stands there dripping in sweat and blood. His body is afire with pain, yet he feels nothing but pure joy. David shoots his laptop, causing its screen to turn black as well as the TV’s. He then points the gun at each one of them in turn, earning sobs and pleas and curses. It had been so easy to locate all of their sins, just another day at work for him. They don’t understand yet why he had uploaded those shameful things. They understood he’d acted out of revenge, yes, but they don’t know the enormity of that revenge. Finally David points the gun at himself, nestled against his temple. They all stare in shock.
“I’m ready now.” David says.
***
He pulls the trigger and his brain matter is scattered across the walls, his desk and the TV as his head explodes. The sound of it colliding with each surface is wet, like someone had thrown a damp sponge around the room. Everyone screams as David’s body falls to the floor with a dull thud. No one speaks for a single moment before Cheryl begins to crawl over to David’s limp body, choking and gurgling from the sobs heaving out of her chest.
“Oh fuck, oh shit.” Mark swears, pointing at the gun laying beside David’s remains. “That’s my fucking gun.” Cheryl turns to him, furious.
“Who fucking cares if it’s your gun, my husband is dead!” she screeches.
“Um guys,” Andrew says worriedly. “Did anyone else think it was strange he was wearing gloves?” They all look at David’s hands, where they lay unmoving and covered by white suit gloves. David’s body is unrecognisable; covered in blood and red marks from where he had beat himself already tinged with hues of blue and purple. An unnerving feeling of clarity arises out of Sharon and she clamps her hand over her mouth.
“He beat himself to look like he fought back… like we came here to…” she can’t bring herself to say it, but everyone’s eyes flash in understanding.
“But what reason would we have to do that!” Mark shouts, before his eyes widen in realisation. They all glance to their phones, still flashing with notification after notification. They stare at each other with dread.
“He’s framed us.” Sharon says. They stand in silence, as sirens can be heard softly in the distance.