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RED

Hey there... the name is Jack. A disclaimer before I start: this is not a warning to anyone to not come to where I live. Please do. It's a very nice small town, urbanized only slightly but not too much to where you can not see the stars at night... its perfect for the person who loves the life of the city, but the peace and quiet of the country. The town, I'm talking about of course, is Cedar Rapids, Iowa. You might have not heard of it, of course, there was film made after it... terrible film if you ask me. There is another town near us, Hiawatha.. which is kinda a town lodged at the edge of Cedar Rapids... like inserted at the last minute. Anyways... there's only one rule I go by when I live here... do not go out in the rain. I mean... nothing will hurt you out there.. though you'll be frightened anyways.... I suppose I should start from the beginning.

I just got a new job, my mother, Mary reccomended it to me. I was tired of being a grouchy, rundown manager of a local Burger King and did not get paid more than 7.85 an hour. This job pays a decent ammount, almost 12 bucks an hour. I was ecstatic. It may not seem much to you higher ups, but when you have worked 5 years under a penny pinching corperation such as Burger King, you'll appreciate any extra dollar you get. Though no longer a manager with any type of authority, I became a janitor. Now before you think I am some old man who's life was total s**t and so bad that my mom had to find me a new job... I am only 21 years old. I pay my own bills, rent, loans, etc. I'm single, yes but by my own choice. But anyways, a new better paying job, doing even less than what my manager position required. I'll miss my old friends and colleagues, but, hey, money talks! I soon pitched my old tattered BK uniforms and went into the buildings I was assigned... a car sales company warehouse, of whos name I will not mention for... certain reasons. My new boss, Jay, introduced me to my coworkers, Tony and Justin who cleaned the building daily. He said with me being there now, Justin could be switched to the swing shift. I understood that, and they showed me the basics. How to operate the scrubber, proper mopping techniques and the like. I got into it quickly, and soon, becoming a lead of the buildings. Coworkers came and left, either being fired for stealing, drugs, being late, etc. My other boss, Steve, started working with me during the rainier season, spring. I love rainy weather, nd for some reason, always perked up my spirits...until I saw it.

I was sweeping a spot near the garage door while Steve was on the phone on the other side. The rain was pouring harder than ever, and thunder boomed outside, making me relaxed. Rain always meant for some reason, easy cleaning. It was a nice change to the usual wintery weather from the previous season. If you live in Iowa... you know how bad winters are. But I saw something outside... close by another building. It walked like a man, though he looked injured. I couldnt see any clothes besides a small bit of red cloth, covering his crotch. He was very far though, the dark and rain blurring my vision any further. I was puzzled I was about to ask Steve when all of a sudden, the figure looked directly at me, and started running towards me. I quickly locked the door, remembering we left it unlocked so Steve could go smoke. The thing tackled the door with great force, clawing at it. It was a very starved man, his jaw opened in an unnatural way, its tongue licking the glass, blood dripping down the glass with the rain. I jumped back, screaming in utter terror. Steve jumped and ran up to me, putting a shaky hand on my shoulder. 'Relax! He can't get you from out there...' I calmed down a bit, but suddenly looked at Steve in a panic. "What the HELL is that?!" Still breathing heavily. Steve looked at the window, and then sighed... "I was looking forward to smoking..." he then looked at me, still waiting for an answer. "I'll tell you in a sec..." He walked away, grabbing a cigerete from his pocket. He looked back at the abomination at the glass door window. It stopped clawing at the door wildly, looking at me in a downward motion, glaring, waiting. Upon further inspection of the creature... he was indeed what looked like a man... though very starved. You could see his bulging yet skinny exterior, revealing ribs and very lean muscle. His teeth, were blackened, tongue pink as it normally would be and his eyes, just wild, black pupils staring right at you. But what stook out the most... was his deep, lobster red skin. It looked flaked and terribly burnt. It's a wonder how he was standing, as any normal human would die from pure pain and shock. After noticing the deep, crimson redness of his skin, he stared at the creature in horror at his arms. Though fully muscular, he was missing his hands... the only indication of them remained a sickenly ivory white, sharp nub of his arm bone., They looked evenly sharpened, and then he noticed as he looked back at his face, the creature got agitated. "Don't look right at its eyes Jack... it only make's him angry." He came back with a huge, raw steak, presumably from the employee freezer, and I stood back as he nonchalontly unlocked the glass door. "Steve! What are--" He shushed me, his cig in his mouth as he slowly opened the door, the creature stood up, and Steve, not looking at the creature, put the bloody steak in its gaping jaws... and then, it ran off into the distance, by the Used car building.

I was dumbstruck, and he motioned to come out with him. "I'm not going out there with that thing , are you ******** nuts?!" "It won't hurt you, just do NOT look into it's eyes..." He walked out, not a care in the world, into the rain then into his car. I hesitantll joined him, knowing very well the creature was out there. I got inside his car quickly and then turned to him. "What the hell is going on?!" I stammered, my face as pale as a sheet. He looked at me, taking a a drag on his ciggerette. "Jay didn't mention it? I ahte it when he miscommunicates like this..." He sat for a moment, messing with his phone as always. "Well ********... how do I explain?" "Start by telling me what that THING is!" I yelped, getting a bit irritated. "Alright alright... you ever wonder why we get paid so much to clean this place?" This was an odd question, but it did make me think. "Well, it is because no one else will. Our contract with our cilent specifically mentions this... guy. The higher ups call him, 'Red'. We were never informed about details... but we think he was a former mechanic manager." He paused, lighting his second cigerette, I listened intently. "A while ago, or so we think, 'he' had a major accident, and his full intent was to file major lawsuits against McGrady, the president, for compensation. It made a big stink a few years back, and looked bad on the family of dealerships." He took a drag again, looking towards but not directly at the monster, only a few yards from the car. "The case was mysteriously dropped by the family... no one knew why. They say McGrady had some help in... 'silencing' the former manager. It would explain his burned skin and his lobbed off hands." I interupted, "But why have I not seen him before this?!" Steve chuckled. "It's the first rain of the season! He only comes out when its raining... because it soothes his burnt skin." I nodded in understanding, but it did not make me feel any better. "He only comes out to feed... wether it be on that steak, a rodent or two.. or anyone who crosses his vision with thiers. He comes aorund here because its where he was 'normal' last." He finished his cig, tossing it out the window. "He won't hurt the innocent... he only hurts to feed. Just do not look him in the eyes. Otherwise, he won't hurt you, you could leave the door wide open, but will not come in. That would mean leaving the rain. I'll see you inside... I need to finish the windows." He left for the front door into the rain. I stayed there for a minute, frozen. None of which he said made sense... though it was clear. That thing was REAL.

TBC...