by dragonfly_stories@yahoo.com
« Back To Free Stories Archive
I'd been friends with Kyle for almost two years when the accident happened.
I still call the accident, although it wasn't accidental. Unintentional
perhaps, but not accidental. No, that word wouldn't fit. I bore far too
much responsibility to accurately label it an accident. But I never was
good at facing up to responsibility anyway, so I've always called it the
accident. And I've regretted it from the beginning, though not for the
reasons you may have imagined.
Kyle is two years younger than me. A little leaner and truthfully much more
handsome. He has dark hair and dark eyes though they don't look common. He
has beautiful unblemished olive skin that makes him look tan all year
round. He's just six foot tall but perfectly proportioned. He used to wear
glasses but he doesn't now. Straight, white teeth form an angelic smile
that hid a side of him from me that first two years. Though temptation has
corrupted more angelic souls I'm sure.
I could say, I don't know why I did it but that would be a lie. I did it
because I'm arrogant. I thought I knew better then everyone else. I always
do. Some people only learn the hard way. That used to be just an expression
to me. Not anymore.
It was last summer. A few friends getting together at Kyle's house. A
little barbecue, a little fun and a little drinking. Except for Kyle. He
rarely drank in those days. I used to wish he'd loosen up. I always had
more fun when I wasn't so up tight and I wanted Kyle to enjoy that too.
Tonight, at my insistence, Kyle drank one beer. He sipped it slowly and it
was clear he wasn't going to grab another. So much for my plan to have him
loosen up. When I kidded him about it, he just smiled that angelic smile
and said he was fine.
If only I'd listened. We make decisions all the time with so little
information. We're rarely in possesion of all the facts. We never really
know what's going on with other people and yet we tromp along making choice
after choice never thinking about all the myriad possibilities that exist.
I didn't know he' been to the hospital that afternoon. He'd never said a
word about any tests. I knew his father had died of cancer some years
before I met him, but I didn't know he had yearly checkups. I didn't know
that he'd been in for some scans just hours before or that he'd been given
a barium solution. I don't even know if any of that made a difference. All
I know is that I wish the hell I'd left him alone like he asked.
Instead, I decided to get everyone involved at the party in a drinking
game. I figured that would get Kyle in the mood. I made up the rules on the
spot and of course virtually everything resulted in taking a drink. It was
sort of a combination drinking game and truth or dare. Soon everyone was
laughing and having a great time. Even Kyle had chugged a little.
Eventually his turn came again and it was my turn to dare. He had a choice
of downing two rum pineapple concoctions that someone had invented or
taking my dare. He chose the dare. I was kind of irked. I wanted him to get
drunk and have a good time at his own party. I suppose that's why I made
the dare so stupid. I wasn't really worried about him drowning. Kyle's a
good swimmer. Much better than I am. But diving off the board blindfolded
was a stupid idea. Maybe if he hadn't had a few drinks he would have
refused. Maybe if I hadn't dared him in front of his friends he would have
refused. But he he just gave me another smile and as the gang cheered and
led him to the pool I decided to make it tougher.
"You have to dive across the net!" I shouted above the crowd.
The net was stretched across the deep end of the pool about six feet from
the board. It had been left there a little earlier from a few folks who'd
been playing water polo or water volleyball or some such damn game.
From the side of the pool, I saw Kyle blindfolded with what looked like
some girl's bikini top being helped up on the board. He was naked to the
waist. As he slowly edged out on the board the gang took up chant.
"Kyle! Kyle! Kyle!"
The board wasn't high. Just maybe two feet over the water which was eight
feet at this end. He just had to make it out past the net. I suppose that's
why he made with the superman dive. Trying for distance. He almost made it.
In one smooth motion he took half a step running and then dove straight out
over the water. He got just enough spring into the board to give him a
little height. That's why his foot caught the wire. Not a wire really. An
extension cord. An extension cord with Christmas lights wrapped around it.
The extension cord hadn't been long enough to go around the pool so someone
had strung it up between the house and a tree on the far side. It ran
across the pool and plugged into the stereo that pounded out music as
Kyle's foot caught it and pulled it loose from the tree branch. The colored
Christmas lights reflected prettily in the water. Until Kyle fell in. Then
there was great emptiness of sound as the stereo fell silent. The crowd
fell silent almost at the same instant. And the colored lights that were so
pretty above the water winked out as they touched it. But it wasn't dark.
No. Not dark at first. Great flashes of light came from the water. It lit
up the droplets as the flew into the air. It lit up the bottom of the pool
where greeny- blue tile reflected it back. And it lit up Kyle.
Three times it lit him up. Twice like a strobe light scene in a haunted
house. And once from inside. Yeah, inside. Not like a skeleton or anything.
More like the reddish pink light you seen when you shine a flashlight
through your hand. How it lights up the fleshy parts. All lit up.
And then dark. And then a scream. And then a splash. Or maybe two splashes.
It got noisy then. Anguished cries from some of the women. And maybe some
of the guys. I'm not sure. I do know that I didn't make a sound. I was
frozen. I knew Kyle was in the water. Knew he'd been shocked. Knew he
needed help. And knew that I wasn't a good enough swimmer to get him out.
Someone found the main outside lights and it was suddenly bright. And I saw
two guys and a girl hauling Kyle out of the water. Too many people rushed
over and the girl waved them away. Kyle wasn't dead. He wasn't even
unconscious. He was coughing up water, but he was most definitely alive.
"I'm fine." he coughed as he struggled to stand.
Someone clapped and a few others joined in. But it was weak and quickly
died out. In the next half hour, Kyle got into some dry clothes and
reappeared to reassure everyone that he was okay. Assurances aside, the
party was definitely over. People almost fled the scene. One or two stayed
to help clean up the mess but Kyle said he'd rather just leave it and go to
bed. Soon I was the only one left.
Kyle had changed into a pair of tan shorts and a black T-shirt but he was
still barefoot. He'd toweled his hair dry but it hung in damp bangs that he
combed back with his fingers. He wasn't wearing his glasses and I wondered
for a moment if they'd been lost at the bottom of the pool before realizing
that he wouldn't have been diving with his glasses and that he must have
taken them off before.
"You okay?" I asked more for me that him.
"Yeah. Stop asking."
He walked over to the side of the pool and stared at the dark water. I
didn't know what to say or do. I thought maybe he was still spooked over
the whole thing. I know I was.
"Wanna go for a swim?" I joked feebly.
He didn't reply.
"You sure you're fine?" I asked. He still seemed dazed.
"I'm better than fine." He said quietly.
"What's that mean?"
"It means I feel great. Fantastic. Fucking super." He didn't say it with a
tone of sarcasm. It was more like amazement. And it made me shiver.
"Well maybe you should try shock therapy more often." I quipped.
He turned slowly and smiled that angelic smile.
"I'm not kidding Jeff. I can't describe it. I just feel great."
"How?"
"I dunno. Energetic maybe. More than that. Alive. Like I've been asleep my
whole life and just woke up."
This was sounding more that a little strange and I slipped back into a
worried state. Kyle was obviously still suffering from the accident.
"Maybe a good night's sleep would be a good idea." I suggested.
"Didn't you just hear me. I don't feel sleepy dammit. I feel like I'm ready
to run a god damned marathon." He snapped.
"Okay then. I'll shutup."
I don't know what caused the change. The voltage alone or maybe it in
combination with the alcohol and the barium still in his system. Or some
cosmic force that chose to punish me in an unusual way.
"I'm sorry." I offered.
"For what?" He seemed genuinely perplexed.
"That stupid dare and all. Look it was my fault." I stopped not knowing
what else to say.
"You feel guilty?" Was that a hint of amusement in his tone?
"No." I quickly replied. "I mean, well, yeah. Sorry."
He turned back to water and stood silently for a moment. And then then
suddenly turned and walked to where I was standing about 6 feet from the
edge of the pool. He stood toe to toe with me and looked directly into my
eyes.
"You aren't a very good swimmer are you Jeff?"
"Umm. Not really." I wondered if he was ticked I hadn't jumped in after
him.
"Truth or dare?" he asked with a grin?
"What?" I asked momentarily confused.
"Truth or dare?" he repeated still grinning.
I thought I understood. I had dared him up onto the board. I think he
wanted to get even with me. I couldn't blame him I suppose. Not with what
he'd been through. But his question about my swimming ability made me
nervous.
"Uh, truth I guess." I decided.
"Okay, truthfully, do you think I can dump you in that pool in 3 seconds?"
The grin widened.
I got it. He wanted a little revenge. And he probably deserved it. But not
by getting me into the pool. I'm not scared of water mind you. But I wasn't
about to let myself get thrown into the pool. Not if I had any choice about
it.
I didn't.
"Look Kyle..." I started.
"Time's up." he grinned.
I don't know how I got into the water. There didn't seem to be enough time.
But I felt Kyle grab me and then the sensation of being lifted off my feet.
Then water. Too much water. Only water.
I thrashed and realized that the reason I wasn't hitting air was because I
was upside down. I turned, thrashed some more and broke the surface. Great
gasps of air escaped from my lungs. I shook my head and tried to make sense
of my surroundings. I heard a voice and spun in the water to see Kyle
standing on the side of the pool laughing.
"Feeling better Jeff?"
"Very funny!" I shouted. But I wasn't terribly mad. Turnabout is fair play
I suppose. Kyle continued to laugh as I reached for the side of the pool to
pull myself out. But before I could, I suddenly felt a pain in my right
hand as I looked up to see Kyle's bare foot standing on it.
"Fuck!" I shouted as I yanked my hand out from under his foot. Only I
couldn't. It felt like it was pinned under a truck tire.
"Get off my hand!" I shouted as I continued to struggle.
"Okay." Came Kyle's calm voice as he suddenly lifted his foot and I fell
back into the water.
"What's the big idea?" I sputtered as I came up from the water.
"You didn't ask to get out of the pool." Kyle said matter -of-factly.
"Fine." I said curtly. "May I please get out of the pool." I really wanted
out so I could knock his cocky ass back in.
"No you may not." he said quietly.
I was quiet for a second. I hadn't expected that.
"Come on Kyle. Enough's enough."
"No. I need time to think."
I didn't know what the hell that was supposed to mean and I really didn't
care. I'd tried to be nice to him and he was obviously still mad at me. I
wasn't happy about that but I sure as hell wasn't going to sit and play
games in the pool all night long.
"Forget it then." I said shortly as I turned and struck off for the other
side of the pool. I wasn't a great swimmer but even I could get to the
other side before he could run all the way around. I'd be out by the time
he got there and having the weight advantage I'd toss his ass into the
water if he tried anything.
It took me just a few strokes before my right hand reached the edge. But
before I could pull myself out I felt that crushing sensation again and
looked up to see Kyle standing at the edge of the pool above me. His bare
foot pressing down on my injured hand.
"What the..." I stammered. I swiveled my head to look back where he had
been. As if I might seem him standing there still and this was another Kyle
stepping on me. The pressure was suddenly gone and pulled my hand back
against my body automatically as I swung my head around to look back up at
Kyle smiling down at me.
"Guess you're not fast enough Jeff." he chuckled.
"But how..." I trailed off. I couldn't believe he beat me.
"Okay Jeff, you can come out." Kyle suddenly offered.
Still confused I swam back to the side of the pool. Kyle crouched down and
stuck out his hand to help me out. But before I could reach for him his
hand shot out and grabbed me by the collar of my shirt. In one swift motion
he lifted me bodily out of the water with one hand.
Suddenly standing next to him I was speechless.
"Come inside." He ordered and turned to walk to the house.
"Yeah but how..." I began to ask as he walked away.
He stopped suddenly and turned around.
"Do you want me to throw you back in the pool?" He asked coldly.
I sensed he wasn't joking and a panic gripped me. For whatever reason, I
believed he could throw me back in the pool and would if I didn't cooperate
just now.
"No." I said softly.
"Then just shutup and follow me."
He turned to go back in the house and I followed somewhat meekly. But
determined to get some answers once I was away from that damn pool.
Inside the house he disappeared into his room for a minute and emerged with
a towel and some clothes. Another pair of tan shorts like the ones he was
wearing and a red T-shirt.
"Change." He ordered.
I stripped off my wet shirt and wet shorts and standing there in only my
wet briefs toweled off. I slipped the T-shirt on and as I picked up the
shorts realized that I was still wearing my wet briefs. I couldn't very
well ask Kyle to borrow his underwear. But I'd rub myself raw if I kept my
briefs so I chucked them and went natural. I slipped on the tan shorts and
turned to see Kyle watching me. But he wasn't "watching" me. He was looking
at me as if trying to decide on something.
"I'll just throw this shit in the dryer." he said suddenly.
"Thanks." I replied. The first words I'd said since he'd threatened me by
the pool. I sensed it somehow safe to speak. Maybe the distance from the
pool incremented my confidence.
"Follow me."
Another order. He was suddenly very dictatorial.
I padded barefoot after him into the kitchen and past into the laundry area
where he threw my things in the dryer and set it for half an hour. But
instead of turning back into the kitchen and the rest of the house as I'd
expected he went through the service door into the garage. He held the door
open for me and I understood I was to follow.
I stepped into the garage and immediately noticed how cold the floor was on
my bare feet. Kyle was also barefoot but didn't seem to notice.
"Notice anything?" He asked without looking at me.
I glanced around the garage I'd seen a hundred times before. Nothing
immediately struck me as different. Then I saw it. Kyle's MarkSmith IV
lathe and drill press unit had been moved to the opposite side of the
garage. It was relatively new. Kyle and I and 4 other guys had moved it in
here not more than two months ago. The thing weighed a ton. We'd maneuvered
it over by the workbench along the right side of the garage. But now it was
on the left side of the garage across from me.
"The lathe's been moved." I said.
"I moved it earlier."
"Earlier today?" I asked.
"No. When I came in and changed clothes after I fell in the pool."
I didn't say anything. What he was implying was impossible. The thing could
not be moved by one person. Not even scooted. It was too unwieldy.
"Tell me I couldn't have." Kyle prodded.
"You couldn't have." I supplied. I didn't know what the act was all about
but I was half convinced that Kyle's brain had short circuited in the
accident and half convinced that I didn't give a damn and was ready to head
home.
Kyle didn't say a word. He just walked barefoot across the dusty garage
floor and stood next to the lathe. He looked straight at me and reached out
a hand absently and grasped one of the thick steel legs. He didn't strain.
He didn't tug. He just lifted the lathe. Yes. With one hand. Effortlessly.
"There is no fucking..." But apparently there was. Because I watched him.
Watched him walk across the room and set it down as easily as if he'd moved
a book. Easier.
The ponderous thus it made as he set it down left no doubt that it was
real. But it couldn't be. What I saw couldn't happen. Couldn't be
happening. It was impossible. Except for the fact that he did it.
"How did you do that?" I finally managed to get out.
"I just can now."
"Yeah, but how!" I demanded.
"The accident." He said simply.
"The accident." I repeated dumbly.
"After I came out of the pool I felt different. Not sick or weak like you'd
expect after being shocked. I felt better. Better than I've felt in
well...ever."
He came over to where I stood and continued.
"I told you I felt 'energetic' but that's not really right. It's more like
'magnified'."
"Magnified?"
"Yeah. Or amplified. Something like that. Notice I'm not wearing my
glasses?"
I had noticed earlier. "Yeah, so?"
"I don't need them anymore. I can see fine. Better than fine. I could see
all the way to the bottom of the pool. All the little lines and cracks on
the bottom and everything. Through all the water."
He was talking faster now. Excitedly.
"And you saw how fast I was." He grinned.
"Fast?"
"By the pool. I was on the other side before you even got there."
"Yeah but..." I began and then stopped. It didn't make sense. There had to
be a logical explanation for everything. But I was too overwhelmed to think
of it.
"And it's gotten more intense."
"What?"
"My 'energy' or 'power' or whatever you want to call it."
"I had to move the lathe with two hand earlier. Now it's even easier."
"Kyle this is too fucking weird." I said turning around to head back into
the kitchen.
"No it's too fucking great." he corrected. But now he was standing in front
of me blocking the door to the kitchen. I don't know how he moved by me so
fast. It surprised me so much I took a step backward.
He just smiled at my amazement.
Kyle stood smiling at me. He was enjoying this little demonstration of his
new found abilities. Incredible strength, incredible speed. I was honestly
dumbfounded.
"Follow me." He commanded. Again that dictatorial tone.
"Hold up Kyle." I said with perhaps a bit too much anger.
"You're kidding right?" He asked with a surprised tone.
"No I'm not. I want to think this through and you can just cool it with the
orders." I said a little more calmly now that I wasn't so surprised.
Kyle expression was one of puzzlement.
"Don't you get it?" he asked in that same surprised tone.
"Get what?" I said hotly.
In response, he walked over to the workbench. He reached up and grabbed a
crowbar from the pegs above the bench. Holding it in both hands he turned
back to me.
"This." he said simply as he bent it in half like a straw.
I swallowed.
"Or this." he said with a smile as he pulled a cement block out from under
the workbench where it had been supporting a shelf. With the cement block
on the floor in front of him he placed his bare right foot on it casually.
Almost as if posing. And then with no visible display of effort he crushed
it underfoot. Not smashed it like karate experts do with a sudden blow. He
just crushed it underfoot. Slowly, easily. With a smile he ground the large
pieces into dust as if grinding out a cigarette.
He walked back over to where I was. He stood very close and with a very
wide grin asked, "Do you get it now?"
I didn't reply.
"I'm fucking superman. Get it?"
"I get it." I said softly.
"So if superman gives you an order what do you do?"
"Obey it." I said meekly.
"Now you get it Jeff." Kyle grinned.
"Kyle I just mean..."
"Jeff." Kyle interrupted. "Did you just watch me bend a crowbar in half?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Did you just see me crush a dammed block with my foot?"
"Yes."
Kyle seemed to be talking louder.
"Can you fucking crush a cement block under your foot?"
"No."
"Look at my foot Jeff." He ordered.
I looked down at his foot.
"Do you see the dust on my foot Jeff?"
"Yeah, I see it."
"How did it get there?" He demanded.
"You crushed that cement block." I said helplessly. He seemed angry but I
wasn't sure why.
"And how did I crush that block Jeff!?"
I answered the way I thought he wanted.
"Because you're fucking superman."
"You're dammed right! Now let's try this again. If superman gives you an
order what do you do?"
"Obey it." I repeated.
"So if I say 'Follow me' you fucking follow me. If I say 'Stand on your
head' you fucking stand on your head."
"I understand." I said quietly.
"Do you Jeff? I don't have to crush cement blocks with my foot. How'd you
like to be six inches shorter?" He didn't say it as a joke.
"Please Kyle." I said blindly. "I'm sorry. I'll do whatever you say."
"Your dammed right you will. Or else my foot my be the last thing you see."
"Please Kyle." I whined. "Whatever you say, I promise."
"Ok then." He said suddenly and stuck out his hand in a friendly gesture.
I didn't even think about it. It was automatic. I reached out and shook
hands with him. And then I began to whimper as he easily began crushing my
hand. Given his earlier demonstration this was no exertion at all and he
was obviously holding back. If he hadn't my every bone in my hand would
have been crushed, splintered, ruined.
But no. He apparently had complete control over how much strength he could
apply. And he was applying just enough to put me in agony without actually
breaking my hand. Although it sure felt like that was what he was doing.
I sagged to my knees. "Ahhhhh!!! Kyle!!! No!!! Please!! Please!! I'm
sorry!!!"
"What's the matter Jeff?" He asked innocently.
"Y-y-you're breaking my hand." I gasped.
"Oh. Sorry." He said with a laugh as he let go.
I quickly cradled my injured paw while Kyle laughed.
"Thank me Jeff." Kyle ordered.
"For what!?" I snapped out pain and anger.
"For *not* breaking your hand Jeff." Kyle said menacingly. "You don't seem
very appreciative."
"I'm sorry Kyle." I said quickly. "Thank you. Thank you for not breaking my
hand."
"Remember Jeff, when I give you an order you better do it."
"Yes Kyle. I'll remember." I said as I cringed before him still massaging
my hand and truly thankful that he *hadn't* broken it."
Kyle looked down at me and then looked up at the ceiling at let out a whoop
of delight.
"Fuck Yeah!" he bellowed. He looked down at me again obviously getting more
ideas every second.
"You've no idea what this is like Jeff!" he said enthusiastically. One
second I was his victim and the next he was confiding to me like his old
friend.
"A few hours ago I was just a guy. And now..." he trailed off. He looked
down at me. "And now," he continued, "I could make you do anything I
wanted." I looked up at him.
"Yeah," he went on, "you'll do whatever I say or I'll crush you like I
crushed that cement block." He was grinning wildly. He raised his leg and
held his foot over my head. I nearly fainted.
"Please Kyle." I begged, "I'll do whatever you say."
"Are you scared of my foot Jeff?" Kyle asked with a wicked grin.
"Yes." I whimpered.
"Good." He set his bare foot back down on the floor in front of me.
He looked down at me kneeling before him and shook his head.
"Jesus Jeff. You're groveling. Did you know that?"
I hadn't really thought of it that way but I guess it was true.
"Yes Kyle." I whined.
"Fucking groveling at my feet!" He seemed amazed at the power he had over
me. "And you'll do whatever I tell you, right?"
"Yes Kyle"
He just shook his head with a smile as he looked down at me kneeling before
him.
"Groveling at my feet? Taking my orders? Sounds pretty fucking pathetic
Jeff. What the hell does that make you?"
I wasn't sure really. It was all happening way too fast.
"I dunno. Your slave?"
Kyle laughed. "Oh shit! You're fucking kidding me. You're telling me that
just cause I'm fucking superman and I can kick your ass from here to hell
and back that you're gonna grovel at my feet and be my fucking slave?"
He made it sound like it was all my idea. But what fucking choice did I
have? He could kick my ass all the way to hell and back and I was terrified
of what else he could do.
"Yes Kyle."
"Well then," Kyle said laughing, "what does that make me?"
"Master?" I offered.
"Sounds like you're not too sure Jeff." I could see him start to raise his
foot again.
"No Master Kyle. I'm sure."
"Cripes. You *are* pathetic Jeff. But hell if you want to be a slave and
grovel then you better act like one."
I didn't know how to act like a slave but I tried. I was already kneeling
so I put my hands out and bowed to the ground several times like I'd seen
in the movies.
"What the hell are you doing Jeff?"
"Groveling at my Master's feet."
"Oh really? I don't think you know what 'groveling' means Jeff. It means
abject debasement and humiliation. Do you know what debasement means Jeff?"
"Lowering oneself?"
"Lowering oneself what?"
"Lowering oneself Master." I quickly corrected.
"That's better." Kyle smiled. "So start lowering yourself."
I wasn't sure what he wanted but I stretched out flat on the floor.
"That's better." Kyle said from above. "Now do you feel low?"
"Yes Master." I muttered.
"Are you humiliated Jeff?"
"Yes Master."
"Wrong again Jeff." Kyle said with a chuckle. "What does humiliation mean?"
"Shame?"
"Close. More like loss of self-dignity."
I certainly didn't feel very dignified on the floor.
"Hey Jeff, you're the one who opted to be my slave. Now if you can't think
of how a slave should treat his Master then maybe I should see if I *can*
make you shorter by crushing you under my foot." Kyle didn't sound like he
was making an idle threat.
I panicked. I was on the floor at his feet and he wanted me to act like a
proper slave and be humiliated. Right at my eye level I saw his right foot
start to come up off the floor. I lost it.
I kissed his foot. I kissed both his feet. And each time I kissed them I
whined and begged.
"Please Master. Please don't hurt me."
Kyle roared.
"God Jeff! This is fucking incredible. I can bench press a truck, move like
lightening and now I've got a guy on the floor kissing my feet and begging
me not to crush him into dust under my foot. This is *soooo* fucking cool."
"Yes Master." I managed as I kissed his feet.
"Do you enjoy kissing my feet Jeff?"
I didn't. But I wasn't going to tell him that.
"Yes Master."
"You do?" He sounded surprised. "You fucking like kissing my feet?"
I was confused. I had answered with what I thought he wanted to hear but he
seemed almost disappointed. But I was still to afraid to change what I'd
already said.
"Yes Master."
"Hmmm.. I never knew you like kissing dudes feet before." Kyle seemed
dismayed.
Suddenly he brightened. "But I'll bet you never kissed feet that can crush
cement blocks have you?"
Obviously I thought since no one else's feet in the history of the universe
have ever been able to crush cement blocks.
"No Master."
"Can you taste the dust from the cement block Jeff?"
"Yes Master." It wasn't a lie.
"Do you think a slave should let his Master's feet be dusty?" Kyle asked
wickedly.
I knew what he meant.
"No Master."
"Do you want to lick my feet Jeff?"
This time I knew to answer truthfully.
"No Master."
"Say it Jeff." Kyle ordered. "Tell me the truth and say it like you mean
it!"
"No Dammit Kyle, I don't want to lick your feet!!" I shouted.
"That's what I wanted to hear Jeff." Kyle said with a wicked grin. "Now you
can learn what humiliation is."
He folded his arms across his chest and stood with his feet slightly apart.
"Lick my feet Jeff!" He commanded. "Show me how a slave licks his Master's
feet or begging at my feet will be your full-time job." His voice roared
like thunder.
"Yes Master Kyle." I whimpered. And even as I licked the dust from my
Master's powerful feet I had a feeling that begging at his feet *would* be
my full-time job. I mean the guy was fucking superman for crying out loud.
And when superman gives you an order you obey it. Especially if that means
licking superman' feet.
Kyle's superhuman abilities had changed my life as well as his. Reeling
with his new found power he'd given me a choice between licking his feet
like a dog or being crushed under his foot as I'd seen him do to a cement
block just moments before. The entire situation was too unreal. Too
unbelievable. Too bizarre.
I licked his feet. Better that than risk his anger. He was just too off
kilter. Even now as I lapped at his dusty feet he was laughing
uproariously.
"Fuck yeah!" Kyle exclaimed.
Without orders to the contrary I was afraid to stop. Eyes closed, I
continued in this perverse amusement of his and I tried not to focus on how
humiliating this was.
"Follow me Jeff." Kyle suddenly ordered as he walked away.
Grateful for the release, I got to my feet and followed him back into the
house.
"Want a Coke?" he asked casually as we entered the kitchen.
Confused by the sudden change, I was silent for a few seconds before I
answered.
"Uh yeah. Sure, that would be cool." I managed.
Kyle fetched a couple of cans from the fridge and then headed into the
living room. He made himself comfortable in a chair and as I followed him
into the room, I paused. Unsure of what he wanted of me.
"Have a seat." He said as he waved to the couch opposite him.
I sat and busied myself with opening the can, waiting for him to speak
first. He didn't for a ferw minutes and the silence seemed awkward as we
both sipped our drinks. Only he didn't seem ill at ease. He seemed to be
thinking intently, almost oblivious of me. Finally he spoke.
"What do you think it was?" he asked.
I was cautious about answering him. "I dunno." Privately, I thought God was
punishing me but I wasn't going to share that.
"I wonder how much voltage it was?" He asked.
"I dunno, what's a regular line carry. 240 or so?" People got shocked all
the time. I didn't believe that alone could have done this.
"Maybe something at the hospital." He said almost absently.
"Hospital?" I asked genuinely curious.
He took another sip of Coke. "Yeah, I had my tests today. MRI and PET
scans."
"Tests?" I said uncomprehendingly.
"Yeah, once a year for cancer. Ever since Dad died." He said simply. I
hadn't known about that.
"And I drank something." He continued. "Boron or barium or something like
that."
"Barium." I answered. "It shows up under X-ray." I guess watching ER paid
off.
"Yeah, that shit. And maybe something else. I forget."
He paused and I thought I saw an opportunity.
"Maybe you ought to go back to the hospital." I said quietly.
His gaze shifted to me instantly. "Why?" He asked quickly.
"Well..." I stammered, "To check you out. Make sure you're ok and all.
Maybe even explain how you..." I didn't quite know how to explain it. "How
it happened." I finished lamely.
He thought about it for a minute.
"It doesn't really matter how it happened." He said as if coming to a
decision.
I pressed.
"Yeha, but if they could find out what's wrong with you then maybe..." I
didn't get to finish.
"Nothing is *wrong* with me." He said sternly.
I hastened to correct myself. "Of course not. I just meant that they could
learn more about your uh uh *condition*."
"No." He said after a few seconds. "I don't want that."
He seemed resolute and I had no wish to antagonize him.
"Sure. Okay. No hospital." I said. I made a pretense of drinking my Coke.
"Why do you think something is *wrong* with me?" He asked suddenly.
I felt uncomfortable. How do you tell a guy with super powers that he's out
of control? Involuntarily, my eyes darted towards the garage where just a
bit ago he'd had me groveling before him. He saw my gaze and a look of
understanding came over his face.
"Oh yeah, earlier." He said simply as if it were nothing. "Sorry about
that."
I was surprised but relieved to hear him apologize. "That's okay." I said
feebly although I didn't really think it was okay and that his apology for
humiliating me was more than a bit weak.
"No I mean it Jeff." He said more earnestly, "You're my best friend and I
just got carried away. It's just a bit overwhelming and all you know?"
"Yeah I guess so." I said. "It's hard to even imagine."
"Jeff you can't imagine it." He was looking intently at me now and I felt
the familiar air of my friend Kyle confiding in his best friend.
"It's not just the charge you know," he continued, "but the idea of what I
could do." There was a note of awe in his voice as if he still couldn't
believe it himself. Strange that I'd come to accept it.
"Yeah, well I guess I understand." I said as I relaxed a little now that he
seemed his old self. "I suppose under the circumstances I can see how..." I
trailed off as I suddenly felt embarrassed by what had transpired.
"How I made you lick my feet?" Kyle finished with a smile.
"Yeah." I said softly.
"Come on Jeff," Kyle said settling back into his chair with a smile. "I
said I was sorry. Let it go."
"It's cool." I said stiffly. I really didn't want to discuss it.
"You're embarrassed aren't you?" Kyle asked.
And though it was obvious I was, in typical male ego-driven fashion I
wasn't about to admit it.
"No I'm not." I quickly denied.
"So you're not embarrassed about being reduced to a groveling slave and
kissing my feet?" Kyle asked with a grin and tone that was clearly trying
to get a rise out of me.
"No that's not what I meant." But I really didn't know what I meant so I
didn't finish.
"Jeff you didn't have a choice. I'm probably 10 times stronger than you are
now. Maybe 20. You couldn't stop me."
"I suppose not." I said not happy that we were discussing it.
"Suppose not?" Kyle asked as if dumfounded, "Of course you couldn't stop
me."
"If you say so."
I wasn't in the mood to admit that I'd been helpless before him. Tru as it
may have been I really didn't want to face up to what I'd been reduced to.
"I do say so." Kyle concluded. "But it's clear you don't agree."
Truth was, I *did* agree. I certainly had been unable to stop him and I
don't know why it was so hard for me to admit that. Better that I had.
Kyle sat up straight in the chair and set his Coke down on the table next
to him. He stared at me.
"Lick my feet Jeff." He ordered.
I froze. This had to be a joke.
"Get over here and lick me feet Jeff or you'll regret it." Kyle ordered
again. This time I sensed the undertone of threat in his voice.
"Kyle you're kidding right?" I asked hopefully.
"No Jeff I'm not kidding. You've got about 5 seconds to get over here and
lick my feet or I will break you in half. And you know I can do it."
"But..." I protested.
"5" Kyle said simply.
"Dammit Kyle."
"4"
"I thought I was your friend!" I whined.
"3"
I broke. He managed to get to two before I got to him but not one. I didn't
cut it that close. I almost dived across the room. And as he sat in the
chair above me, his bare feet placed firmly on the floor I quickly licked
the tops of his olive skinned feet. Oddly, this time I noticed that it
tasted different. Before, I'd licked the cement dust from his feet and it
had filled my mouth with it bitter flavor. Apparently I'd done a good job
as there was no trace of the nasty cement flavor in my mouth. Only the
salty tang of what I gathered was the sweat from Kyle's feet.
"That's better Jeff." Kyle said smugly from above. "Now do you see how you
had no choice?"
"Yes Kyle" I said lowly as I continued to lick.
"Okay Jeff." Kyle offered, "You can stop now."
I quickly stood up before him. As if to deny that what I had just done.
He looked up and me and smiled. "Are you mad at me?" He asked innocently.
"No." I lied.
"You're lying Jeff." Kyle corrected. "You're ticked."
"Shouldn't I be!?" I exploded. "That's fucking twice now you've ordered me
to act like your slave." I avoided the foot licking part.
"I was proving a point." Kyle said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Yeah, well fucking give it a rest already." I huffed as I turned and
walked back over to couch.
He was still smiling when I sat and looked back at him. It made me angrier
thinking that he was amused by humiliating me.
"I'm not your fucking slave Kyle." I snapped.
"Not at the moment." He quipped. Had I been less angry I would've seen that
he was just making a joke.
"Fuck You Asshole!" I almost shouted as I stood up. "I'm outta here." And I
threw my half empty Coke can down at the middle of the floor. I was two
steps away from the entry hall when Kyle was in front of me.
"What did you call me?" He demanded with flashing eyes.
I stopped. Took one step back as he took one step forward.
"What did you call me Jeff?" He demanded again.
I felt sudden flashes of panic. I could tell he was mad. And he'd been so
unpredictable lately.
"I think you called me an asshole Jeff." Kyle said answering his own
question. "And I don't like that."
"Look Kyle..." I started.
"No." Kyle continued, "I *don't* like it. And I think you're gonna be real
sorry you said that."
I was sorry. But more for myself than any insult I'd aimed at Kyle. He took
another step toward me and I again stepped back. He continued walking me
backwards in the living room and when we reached the middle his hand
appeared from nowhere and grabbed the front of the borrowed T-shirt I was
wearing.
"Say you're sorry." He commanded.
"I'm sorry." I instantly offered.
"No." He corrected. "Say I'm sorry Master Kyle."
"I'm sorry Master Kyle." I said sadly.
"Now beg me not to kick your ass Jeff. And fast before I flex my new
muscles and put you through a wall."
"Please Master Kyle." I begged. "Please don't kick my ass. Please don't
hurt me."
He responded by tightening his grip on the front of my shirt till it pulled
taut and then easily lifted me into the air.
"Please don't hurt me Kyle." I whined. "Please, I'm sorry."
"Beg for real Jeff." He snapped, his smile vanishing as he suddenly hurled
me to the ground.
I lost no time in getting to his feet. And I continued to beg his
forgiveness as I kissed and licked his feet. He was silent as I groveled.
It must have gone on for ten minutes. Finally, he spoke.
"Okay Jeff. I think you've learned your lesson."
"Thank you Master Kyle." I said as I continued to worship at his feet.
And then he stepped on my back. Casually, as if I were a carpet and walked
over me back to his chair.
"Get up." He ordered.
I stood up and turned to look at him. Unsure what he expected me to do
next.
"Oh for cripes sake, sit down Jeff." He said almost irritated.
I headed back to the couch where I sat down slowly and painfully. It felt
like a truck driving over me when he'd stepped on me. Suddenly I was very
afraid of the immediate future.
One minute his friend, the next his target. I couldn't predict what Kyle
would do next. I'd gotten upset and embarrassed by how easily he could hurt
me and in a thoughtless moment of anger I'd insulted him. And I'd paid the
price. In retrospect I was probable lucky he hadn't broken every bone in my
body. Which, quite honestly, would have taken about zero effort from my
newly empowered (or was that super powered?) friend.
For now, he sat across the room and stared at the ceiling. I waited,
tensely for him too speak. I didn't want to risk him pounding me into
something about the size of a bottle cap. Finally, after what seemed an
hour but was more like 2 minutes, he looked at me and spoke.
"Dammit Jeff." he said with a sigh of exasperation.
"I'm sorry Master Kyle." I offered again, anxious to keep him happy.
"No, it's not that." He said with a wave of his hand.
I waited.
"Why did you have to make me do that?" He asked.
I surely hadn't made him do anything, but it was clear he felt I bore some
responsibility.
"I'm sorry." I repeated dully. Unsure of what to say.
"Yeah, I know your sorry Jeff, but I now I feel bad." Kyle said. I was
stunned.
He paused as if thinking.
"I dunno, maybe I feel guilty." He said to the ceiling.
"Do you know why I feel guilty Jeff?" He asked.
"No." I said simply but I guessed he was feeling guilty about his abuse of
power.
"Well I don't feel guilty for making you grovel just now so forget that."
He said it so flatly and suddenly that for moment it didn't register. I'd
been expecting another mood swing. Back to being his friend and confidant
and that he was about to apologize to me for getting out of control.
He saw the amazed look on my face and continued.
"In fact, you're lucky I didn't pulverize you. You smarted off to me and I
don't have to put up with that shit anymore."
He leaned back in the chair and stretched his legs out before him.
"No Jeff. You had that coming." He said dismissively. "But I do feel guilty
about how easy it was."
I hadn't expected that.
"You're no match for me Jeff. Fuck! No one is." He stopped and smiled at
the thought.
"Do you realize that's three times you've groveled before me in the last
half hour?" Kyle asked suddenly.
I looked at the ground. "Yeah." I said softly.
"It's too fucking easy Jeff." He said shaking his head. "You have no idea
what it's like to know, I mean absolutely fucking *know* you have complete
control over someone."
I felt a chill.
He had his Coke can in his hand, apparently empty as he held it upside down
and with one hand crushed it. Not crushed it like you and I crush a can, I
mean he closed his fist and compressed it into a small ball about the size
of a marble.
"I could crumple you as easily as this." He said casually as he flicked the
small aluminum ball onto the carpet near me. "And not even work up a
sweat."
"Yes Kyle." I agreed numbly.
"We're too unequal now." He went on. "You can't even disagree with me or
I'll probably just get pissed again and pound you into the ground ."
He suddenly gave me an intense look.
"I'm sorry about that Jeff." He said it almost wistfully. "I'm sorry we
can't be friends anymore."
I almost slumped with relief. I could do without Kyle's kind of friendship.
I just wanted to get out of there before he lost it again.
"I understand Kyle." I said sympathetically.
"It's nothing personal." He continued.
"Yeah, well I guess I better take off then." I said standing up.
"You're not leaving Jeff." Kyle said simply.
"What?" I asked suddenly perplexed and worried.
"Well you can't leave. You're the only one who knows about me and if you
leave then I've got no one to talk to about this shit."
I didn't understand. First he tells me we can't be friends anymore and then
he tells me he needs me to hang around and chat with him. He seemed
confused.
"But you said we couldn't be friends anymore." I finally said breaking the
silence.
"Jesus, maybe I'm smarter too." Kyle said almost to himself. "Or maybe I
knocked you senseless accidentally." He grinned at his own joke.
"It's not that," I denied, "I just don't understand what you're getting at.
I mean, I understand your reasoning for not being friends. Truthfully, I am
a little worried about what I say to you." I paused at my own candidness
and then plunged on. "I mean worried that I might say something
inadvertently and upset you. You're right. We are unequal. You *are*
practically fucking superman now and you could crumple me like that can."
"Right so far." Kyle said almost lazily.
"Yeah, well then I don't understand what you mean when you suddenly say I
need to stick around and be your buddy and chat about your super powers." I
said somewhat testily.
"I never said you were going to be my buddy." Kyle corrected.
"Well what then?" I asked throwing up my hands. "What am I supposed to do?"
"You're going to live here."
"I'm what."
"Live here." Kyle said. "Move in. I need to work out this whole situation
and you're the only one who knows."
"Well tell someone else then!"
"No." Kyle said resolutely. "No, I've decided I don't want anyone else to
know about this."
"So I'm just supposed to move in here?" I asked incredulously.
"Yeah."
"But I'm not your friend?" I countered.
"We went over that Jeff." Kyle said as if talking to a small child,
"Eventually you'd say something I didn't like and I'd end up hurting you."
"So I'm just gonna live here and not be your friend?" I went on still
confused.
"Yup."
"And if I say something you don't like?" I wondered aloud.
"That would be bad for you." Kyle said with a grin. "But since you're not
my friend anymore I don't have to feel guilty about it."
I was speechless. He seemed absolutely serious. What he was proposing was
ridiculous. I couldn't go along with it. I had a life. I just didn't know
how to tell him. I spent a full thirty seconds considering the
preposterousness of it all and then exploded.
"So you expect me to just fucking move in here. But let me get this
straight, I'm not your friend so you can beat up on me whenever you feel
like and not feel guilty about it?"
"Yeah." Kyle said as if it made perfect sense.
"So what I am supposed to be around here, your fucking punching bag?"
"Of course not." Kyle said with surprise. "Criminy Jeff, what kind of a guy
do you think I am?"
I was hesitant to tell him exactly what kind of a guy I thought he was.
Fortunately, he continued before I could.
"I didn't say I was going to beat you up for fun, I just said that if you
ticked me off then I might end up hurting you. That's all." He said it like
it was normal.
"So I'll just be a guy living in your house who's not friend?" I asked
certain that absurdity would be evident to him.
"I don't think that would work Jeff."
Well, at least he was seeing the sense of things now. The whole thing was a
pack of nonsense.
"No that won't work." Kyle continued. "We'd both fall into old habits and
I'd start thinking of you as my friend again.&
