More Monsters

Ah, it's been a while, hasn't it? Again.

Feels like I end up starting more posts than not that way. But that's what life is when you're in the mob. Free time is a luxury for the younger generation. Not me.

Especially now that I'm dealing with an increasingly frustrated organization beneath Jessica. Things have really taken a turn for the worse. Can't say I'm terribly surprised. There've been plenty of warning signs, and although Ms. Carter's managed to keep her ring in check for many years, it was bound to at least start cracking after a while. The whole David debacle saw to that quite nicely.

It doesn't help that Jessica actually managed to rope in a number of recruits with that post of her's. Well, just one, really. She's been calling him "Jackrabbit", but the kid's name is really Kevin. Kevin something or other. He's so young I barely have a bead on where he's come up from in mob dealings. All I know is, he's young and nervous, he's brought a couple of his own hired guns with him, and he is absolutely puppy-dog eyed around Jessica. I've met some weird fellas in my day, but this kid gives 'em a run for their money. He acts scared shitless of her and everything we do...but I'm fairly certain he's in it for the thrill. 

He can't be older than twenty-five. Christ.

If things come to a head between Jessica and her own people, it'll be this kid's fault. He and his couple of guys have been increasingly insular with Jessica. Sort of her own private inner circle, if you will. I've managed to get close to them and tried to talk sense into her, but it really just isn't possible with that woman. Sense is not something she understands. Or maybe she does, and just hates it on principle. Fuck if I know.

All I do now is that talk is spreading that she's vulnerable. That if somebody really tried, they could kill her, finally.

This isn't the first time something like this has gone down in the past few years. I learned that recently, when I finished reading Bradley's Journal. Turns out the kid was involved in some big coup attempt. In the interest of time and making sure I actually relay the story, I'll just sum it up:

As mentioned, Bradley's pal Gavin came up with some scheme to lure Jessica into the path of this...Black Dog...thing. They concocted an elaborate plan to make it happen, and arranged some showdown between she and this monster. Turns out, someone had snitched or something, 'cause Jessica saw the trap coming a mile away. She's got a wicked trap sense on her, so I'm not surprised. Ah, anyway, after she fucked up their whole plan, the Dog made an appearance...only it didn't so much as look at Jessica. Phased right through her, in fact, on its way to slaughter everyone involved in the trap except for Bradley. She and it proceeded to frolic in the gore of her fallen guys, while Bradley got the fuck out of dodge as fast as possible without being seen.

My guess is, Jessica knew what happened, because the date on the last entry in Bradley's Journal suggests he started his blog up shortly after that. Considering she was pulling one of her typical intimidation routines on Bradley during his portion of this blog, I imagine it was a direct response to the attemped coup. But that's just an old man's theory. Could be she just liked the look of his eyeballs for dinner or something. Who knows?

What's interesting is Jessica's own notes on the subject. She has a certain amount of reverence for the Dog, if her notes can be believed. Not only that, but there's mention of a few more monsters that she's crossed paths with over the years...there's an entire page in Bradley's Journal written by Jessica, in which she details her encounters...first with some scary wooden marionette(the so called "Wooden Girl", I assume), then with a poisoned lake with tentacles(EAT?) and that freaky "Rake" monster, and finally something she calls The Hissing Woman(not sure on this one. A little help?)

In each of these stories, she recalls being utterly ignored by the creature at hand. Even one-on-one, the things don't pay her any mind. Phase right through her and keep right on after whatever else it is that otherworldly monsters keep on after. No idea what it could mean, but I admit, this is one subject where I'm still out of my depth. Probably never going to get a grip on that, to be honest.

Anyway, that's all I can think to report right now. Struggling to keep Jessica's people from rebelling effectively against her is becoming quite the hassle. But here's hoping, anyway. Ah, I mean, I guess.

-Mr. Flint