The Eyes Of Beyond

When FBI agent Jack Perry kicked open the back door of the Stoner family house, he was almost levelled to his knees by the unbearable stench of death and decay.
With his gun elevated in one hand and the other over his mouth, he entered the small kitchen. Two uniform officers had entered by the front door, making their way towards the kitchen. The kitchen table was a mass of bloodstains and left over rotting flesh – three plates strained red sat abandoned.
The two officers entered, one walked towards Jack and said “empty” Jack lowered his gun and begun to cough “they haven’t been gone long” his eyes pointing in the direction of a pot boiling on the stove top. The officer looked at it for a moment before removing its lid. He instantly spun and vomited, male gentiles boiled freely in the water.
2.
Five years later.

Early retirement for Jack Perry couldn’t of come soon enough. At only thirty-four he was aware he still had a long career in front of him but the Stoner family had been his first big case and he had worked on it for almost six years, seeing more in those years then anyone would after a life time. Retirement was still six months away; this was just simple short leave, a chance to break with his family – a holiday even some time to go over his files one last time.
They had all decided to go on a camping trip, Jack, his wife Nicola and his boys Jeff, fifteen and Adam, twelve. Jack’s partner had come as well bringing his sixteen-year-old daughter Kelly and eleven-year-old son, Nick. They have been partners and friends since they joined the force but Vincent Price had seen only half of what Jack had seen but has had it bad since losing his wife in a car accident eight months earlier.
They had set camp deep in the woods almost twenty miles away from the nearest town. It was getting late and there was a heavy chill in the air, so Jeff and Kelly went looking for firewood. Jack spent his time to view over some files he had bought along most of them were profiles

Name: Kevin Stoner      Name: John Stoner     Name: Alex Stoner
Parents: Deceased        Parents: Deceased       Parents: Deceased
D.O.B 17-02-1971        D.O.B 21-12-1972       D.O.B 01-07-1975

Three insane brothers who killed their own parents, Alex was only sixteen at the time and he ate his fathers eyes on toast with eggs for breakfast the following days. Jack closes his eyes the image is still there in the darkness of day and his dreams of night. “hope your not planning to work all weekend” Jack jumped his heart missing a beat, Nicola’s voice awakening him from the nightmare he can’t escape. She sat beside him and places an arm around his shoulder “ they’re long gone dear, no ones heard from them for over five years” he smiles back but its unconvincing.
They used to play games with him sending parcels of half eaten human liver and kidneys even sending an index finger to his home; thank god Nicola hadn’t opened the parcel. Once again he closes his eyes feeling the large scars down the left of his neck- five years… they almost got them.

3.
It was spring back then dry but cool, they’d been given a tip off from a farmer about an old house and strange noises at night five miles out of the city. Jack didn’t take it very seriously as sightings and tip offs of the Stoner family had been coming in by the dozen a day. That was until he kicked open the back door and was hit by a smell he knew so well since it wasn’t the first time he’d been inside a house once owned by this family.
Vinnie was on leave at the time so Jack brought two young officers, Nicholas Henry and Jason Brown. It had been Jason who had removed the lid from the boiling pot. As Brown headed out side for air Jack pointed at the black metal door to the right of the stove. Henry nodded, “looks sort of out of place” he said drawing his weapon as Jack slid the deadbolt lock across.
The smell was strong even worse than before a staircase descending down into darkness. Jack turned to Henry “the typical American basement?” “Maybe I should go get Brown” “Fuck him he’s more trouble then he’s worth – I’ll lead you cover my ass” “now that’s a plan”
Brown had lit up a cigarette, still outside with little plans of returning back to the house. “God damn FBI agents, think they know fucking everything!” his mind was else where so he didn’t notice the door opening behind him, a small passage way leading down to the basement.
Jack had reached the bottom of the stairs and now Henry begun to follow Jack looked around slowly his head turning left to right “go find Brown – call for some god damn back up” Henry took right off as Jack begun taking steps backwards. Bodies were hung in all directions – at least twenty of them, elevated by massive meat hooks through the backs looking like a cow slaughterhouse.
Henry ran out the back door yelling for Brown to radio back up – what he found was Brown laying flat on his back with Alex stoner sitting on top. With brown sting-like hair to his shoulders and teeth that had been filed to razor sharp points, Alex stood. Browns neck had been ripped open and part of it still rested in Alex’s hand, Henry reached for his gun but Alex charged knocking him to the ground.
Jack was just about to start re-climbing the stairs when a figure stepped from the shadows, Kevin Stoner, with dirt-ridden hair to the middle of his back and those same razor filed teeth. Jack pointed his gun and made a step forward “move one step and I’ll blow your fucking brains out” but Kevin just smiled with those blood stained teeth and it was at that point Jack knew he was in trouble. “shit” he cursed aloud and begun to turn but John Stoner hit him hard from the side, hitting under the ribs like a professional footballer.
When Jack had come to he was in City General Hospital. Vinnie had told him that he was found dumped on the side of the road one mile from the city. They had found Henry and Brown dead out back of the house and twenty-two half eaten bodies hanging in the basement but not a sign of the Stoner Brothers. They had cut the letters S F into the side of Jacks neck, a lifetime reminder of the Stoner family but an answer to his question, why did they spare his life?

4.
“what’s your son doing to my little girl?” Vinnies voice awakened Jack from his memory, he closed the file folder and stood up “I’m more worried what your little girl is doing to my son” The both smiled and Vinnie took a look at the name on the folder “Shit Jack, when are you going to let it go?” he didn’t answer happy that young Nick had walked over so that the subject could be changed “Where’s Ali?” Ali being their family dog, a small furry pain in the ass Vinnie called it “she went with your sister to keep an eye on Jacks horny son” “what is horny?” Jack laughed, “that’s what your dad is twenty-four-seven”
Jeff and Kelly had spent most their time making out, Ali had given them a strange dog like look before running off into the woods. Kelly had stopped twice - looking around, on the third time Jeff finally asked what was wrong “I feel like someone’s watching us” she started to rebutton up her shirt which made Jeff angry, he knew she wouldn’t continue now “Adam you shit if that’s you-“ he stopped mid sentence, looking out into the dark woods and suddenly felt an ice cold chill run down his spine, there was someone watching them but it didn’t feel like Adam. “come on” he said picking up the small amount of firewood they had gathered “lets get back to camp” “first I’ve gotta find Ali”
“Those two are taking a while” said Nicola walking up to Jack who stood sipping coffee dazing up towards the stars, Jack turned around “yeah I think its time I had a look”
“there she is” Jeff called to Kelly pointing ahead to Ali, Kelly called her name but Ali didn’t respond “what is she doing?” she asked, noticing Ali chewing at something in her front paws “I don’t know, maybe she got a rabbit” Jeff walked up and took a look, suddenly he let out a scream like a startled girl scout.
They all heard Jeff scream and it sent Nicola into hysterics, Jack who still hadn’t moved yelled to Vinnie “ get your gun and come with me”
Kelly was now also screaming Jeff grabbed her “Let’s get out of here” that is the moment the dark figures moved out of the shadows behind them.

5.
“My god Jack, that’s a human ear” Vinnie had said looking down at the object that Ali once was chewing on but now Ali lay beside it, her stomach cut open and her insides removed to lay spread around her.
“shit Jack you don’t think that ear belongs to –“ “no that’ things been here some time, so where the hell are they?”
Jeff head was hurting bad and he could feel the blood running down the side of his face. It was dark but there was some light from the cracks and holes in the roof above. He guessed he was in some kind of basement. He was chained by the hands, elevated off the floor, he saw Kelly to his left still unconscious. “are you okay?” a voice asked to his right, he turned “who are you and where the hell am I?” the man was in bad shape, many cuts and bruises covered his face, he looked to be in his forties but infact he was only twenty-seven, like Jeff and Kelly he had also been chained from the roof.
“my name is Michael but I can’t tell you where we are. I’ve been here almost two months, those things up stairs keep me alive by feeding me pieces of human liver and flesh, at first you’ll refuse but when hunger sets in you’ll eventually give in” Jeff didn’t know what to say but finally asked “why do they keep us alive, why chain us up?” “they like the blood to drain to the feet, they love human meat but not so much the blood. When they think we’re ready they’ll do that” he pointed by nodding his head, Jeff looked and saw a man, well what he believes was a man hung by a meat hook which entered through his back and stuck up through his chest. His chest plate and rib cage had been exposed with all meat removed. “that was once my brother, they’re finished with him now so I will be next. You see they feed us to ass extra fat.”

6.
The woods opened into a large clearing and there the house stood, two upstairs lights shining like yellow eyes in the darkness. Jack and Vinnie stood and looked, Vinnie not shy to show fear “Maybe I should go watch the others” “Nicola has a riffle and knows how to use it, I need you by my side” “shit Jack I’m scared” “shit Vinnie they have our kids” “how do you know it’s them?” Jack felt his scars “because they made me a family member” “don’t go getting all creepy on me now Jack!”
Jack knew, he could smell them – that same odour he had smelt back on that night.

7.
“Get your fucking hands off him” Jeff yelled, as Alex and Kevin unchained Michael and dragged him across the cold basement floor. Alex only smiled at him, a pure evil grin before lifting and slamming Michael onto a large steel hook, a hook so sharp it entered him like a hot knife through butter. He was screaming and his legs were kicking as Kevin lifted the butcher knife and plunged it into him, pushing it in under the rib cage in an upwards direction.
Jeff looked away as they started removing pieces of his insides and placing them into their mouths with the speed of young children who hadn’t eaten for weeks. Alex continued to smile at Jeff, blood covered his lips and dripped from his chin. Michael’s body twitched but with out life.
Both Jack and Vinnie entered by the front door, John Stoner stood in the hallway in front of them. He begun to turn but unlike the last time Jack offered no warning and emptied a full clip into John’s chest, each bullet hitting its mark and John Stoner fell to the floor without saying a word.
“Shit Jack! We made them to find Kelly and Jeff” “There’s still two more” Jack said replacing his clip with a fresh one “now they just know we’re here”
Kevin stopped chewing at the sound of the gun fire, a half chewed intestine dribbled from his open mouth before dropping to the floor with a splat that echoed around the basement.
Jack and Vinnie made their way up the dimly lit hallway until they came to an opening leading to the kitchen and a staircase heading up, Jack took the stairs as Vinnie entered the kitchen.

8.
The kitchen was dark, damp and cold, a chilly wind blew through an open window and water dripped from the ceiling. Up close Vinnie saw a slight reddish colour in the water. With his gun held in front he moved across the kitchen, with his back against the wall. Two pots boiled on the stove but Vinnie chose to stay clear.
Upstairs Jack found better light as both the hallway and bedroom were fully lit. The floor was strangely wet; in fact the whole hallway was flooded with strange reddish water.
After checking the large bedroom which fitted only one king sized bed but played host to all three brothers Jack came to a door, which opened, into the bathroom. Inside Jack found a naked nine-year-old girl dumped in t he bathtub, her chest plate, rib cage and lower intestines sat in a pile beside the tub. The cold-water tap was running causing the flooding Jack had found outside the door.
“I think it’s empty Jack” Vinnie yelled from the kitchen only seconds before the meat cleaver slammed in between his shoulder blades. He dropped to his knees and face first onto the kitchen floor. His body twitching and blood spitting from his mouth.
Alex Stoner had entered the kitchen by a small opening inside a fake kitchen cupboard which was in fact a small staircase leading down to the basement. He ripped the meat cleaver back out of Vinnies spine and begun to repeatedly slam it into the lifeless body. After sixteen hits he finally made his way back down to the basement shutting the cupboard door behind him.

9.
Jack could feel the anger growing deep inside him as he dropped to his knees beside Vinnies body. He had to find Jeff and quickly.
The Stoners were smart with their hands but little else, Alex had left behind bloody footprints from Vinnies body to the cupboard. Jack opened the cupboard and begun his descent to the basement.
It was dark, wet and cold “dad” a voiced yelled from in front, Jeff’s voice. “where are they?” Jack asked grabbing his son with both hands “I don’t know, I think Kelly is hurt” Jack moved towards her, checked and found a weak pulse “we’ve gotta get her out of here” he paused looking up at the chains “where are the keys?” “they must have them on them” Jack stepped back “okay part your hands as far as you can, this is gonna hurt” Jeff parted his hands, Jack aimed and fired one shot which split the chain and left burn marks on Jeff’s wrists.
“whata about Kelly?” Jeff asked rubbing his hands “I need you to hold her-“ Jack was suddenly pushed to the ground by Alex Stoner, a nine inch serrated blade in his right hand. In a lightning fast move, Alex whooshed the blade through the air and opened Kelly’s throat like a piece of fruit. Her eyes bulged open as she struggled for her last few breaths in spits of blood.

10.
Jack raised his gun but Alex was too fast, slicing the blood soaked blade across Jack’s hand forcing the gun to fall from his grip. Jack looked up into Alex’s dead, pale eyes and into the madness that laid beyond, Alex raised the knife and swung it down and across Jack’s chest- a sadistic smile crossed his face as he raised the knife once again setting himself for the killing blow…that never came.
Instead the left side of Alex’s head exploded outwards with a spray of blood and chunks of skull, the knife falling to the floor.
On two shaking feet Alex slowly turned around, a large hole entering the back of his head and exited from the forehead, he looked at Jeff, standing infront of him with his fathers gun at hand. He smiled a shaky but still evil grin before dropping to the basement floor – his head slamming and splitting against the cement tiles.
“how bad is it?” Jeff asked running to his fathers side “not bad” a lie he knew but they had to move on. He held his hand against his chest to slow the bleeding “where’s the third one?” “he left long ago, when he first heard your gun fire” Jack turned and looked at Jeff, thinking, “shit, the others, he’s goin after your mum!”

11.
“What part of hell did you escape from” Nicola gasped with loathe in her eyes as she watched Kevin Stoner sitting beside the fire chewing out the brains of Ali, the once family dog. He looked over at her not saying a word or moving his mouth from the top of the dogs head.
Nicola, Nick and Adam sat together, none had been tied as Jack emerged from the woods, his gun pointed at Kevin’s head. Kevin smiled “nice to see you again Jack, nice family you got here” in his hand he held a shot gun which he had pointed at Nicola’s head “I wouldn’t try anything, you may kill me but not without losing your pretty wife”
Jack never moved the gun off Kevin’s head, circling around him like a hawk hunting its prey “let em go, this can be just between us” “don’t work like that” Kevin said as he tossed Ali over his shoulder “so much more fun with a audience” Jack only smiled “I never was one for an audience”
As they spoke Jeff has made his way through the woods behind Kevin, Alex’s serrated knife in hand, he picked his time and ran at him. Kevin saw him coming but was unable to move the shot gun around directly into target, he let off a shot that only grazed Jeff’s arm but enough to make him fall, the knife only plunging  into Kevin’s leg. The wound split Kevin’s artery forcing him to drop to one knee, this gave Jack his window of time he needed.
Kevin looked up and made eye contact with Jack for a split second before Jack opened fire, two shots shattered his chest, the third hitting between the eyes and exploding out the back of his skull.

12.
Nicola ran and embraced Jack as he looked down at Kevin’s body, laying face down in a growing puddle of his own blood. After so many years it was finally over- but still Jack felt he had lost.