Retirement Home Alone

With a curious mind but a tentative step, Marcus pushed the kitchen door slightly ajar. He'd been smelling his mother's famous chocolate chip cookies for hours, but hadn't his parents left for vacation the day before?

Just then the timer went off. How could the cookies be ready if no one was home? Marcus glanced out the kitchen window at his empty driveway. Was he allowed to open the oven? Was he really home alone? Right as he put on the first oven mitt he heard a thud come from upstairs.

Marcus barged through the second floor bedroom door to find his friend’s grandma incapacitated next to a spent aerosol can. As he started putting the pieces together he felt strong grip of someone’s hand on his shoulder. I guess he wasn’t home alone at all

"Holy shit, that was some kind of party!" Marcus recoiled at the man's breath, which smelled of stale beer and rancid taco meat. The man before him couldn't have been younger than 80 years old, and for some reason, was completely naked, holding a gun aimed right at Marcus' head.

"Take it easy, old man," said Marcus, slowly backing away from the deranged elder. He kept backing up until he met the corner where he knew stood his coat rack. He also knew his blazer pocket contained his trusty throwing stars.

Marcus slyly reached into his sport coat and pulled out his secret weapon. In one motion he threw the razor-sharp projectile at his geriatric intruder. But his aim was off. The whirling device severed the cord of a hanging lamp, sending it crashing down on the breakfast table.

And like that, poached eggs and the hot slop of steel cut oatmeal was strewn about the coral shag carpet. Face to face with the elderly stranger, he noticed this man’s respirator gauge was running dangerously low. Would Marcus turn the knife or call for help?

he plunged the knife into the old man’s chest, cracking the sternum and sawing away until he found what he was looking for. After a few calculated yanks, a bright red heart sat In his palm. It was perfect for the ritual tonight. What he didn’t know, is someone wanted that heart.