Master of Plagues, D. B. Reynolds [best books to read fiction .txt] 📗

you’re going to meet this beauty on time, we better get a move on it.”
“I’d hate to miss out on the biggest night of my life.”
“So would we, Stuart.”
“Give me a minute to grab my things in the back.”
“We’ll be right here, buddy.”
Stuart walked towards the back of the store with a prideful strut. No one in all of New York City could’ve been happier. To prey on someone’s insecurities was outright cruel. Taylor and John and the others simply didn’t care. The graduate students knew they wanted to have some big fun. With Stuart in the back gathering his belongings, Taylor and John were spared enough time to go over final arrangements.
“We should give the guys at the motel a call,” John suggested, keeping a sharp eye towards the back of Pet Emporium.
“Good idea,” Taylor presumed. “They should know that we’re on our way.”
Taylor pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. Using swift finger movement, he punched in the number for the master conspirator himself.
After two rings, the crumbled voice of Anthony Greenstein answered. “Taylor, talk to me, buddy.”
“Stuart’s in the back getting his things,” Taylor informed Anthony, carefully monitoring his voice.
“Everything’s set up here at the motel.”
“Again, you guys are at The American Shore Motor Lodge at 720 East 33rd Street in The Bronx.”
“That we are.”
“Traffic here in Manhattan isn’t too bad right now. Once we get on the freeway, we should be in The Bronx before you know it.”
“Perfect!” Anthony applauded. “Everybody’s ready to do their part once you guys get here.”
“We’ll see you at the motel.”
“Alright, later.”
Taylor flipped his phone shut. A reflection of his acne-scarred face was seen from a huge aquarium holding a baby shark. An unexpected wave of fright shot through him like jolts of lightning.
“Something wrong?” John asked Taylor, noticing shaking motions from his arms.
“That shark in that tank gives me the creeps.”
“Unless it’s able to eat through that glass, or jump up and bite us in the face, then there’s nothing we should worry about.”
“Would you like to know what really creeps me out?”
“Please tell me.”
“Sharks!” Taylor buzzed. “I wasn’t even born when the movie ‘Jaws’ came out, but when I saw it for the first time, I almost jumped out of my skin, only to leave my bones and muscles to defend for themselves.”
“So, you have a fear of sharks?”
“Their slippery-rubbery skin, their big, razor-sharp teeth, their long pointed noises, and their big wide fins, just scares me almost into my grave.”
“Jaws is definitely one of your classic Steven Spielberg movies. I’d watch it over and over again.”
“Not only does the shark in Jaws creeps me out, but the music played in that movie gives me nightmares.”
John tuned his voice as he took in a deep breath. “You’ll never guess what I’m afraid to death of.”
“Leprechauns?” Taylor chuckled, the humor rippling up his spine.
“Hurricanes!” John grappled. “Watching those waves of water pound, those strong winds blow over everything in sight, just scares me into oblivion.”
“Then stay out of the Gulf Coast region.”
Stuart came from the back of the store with his coat and other belongings. He carried a smile big enough to swallow up the entire borough of Manhattan. Supposedly, with a beautiful date lined up, he was about to fulfill his lifetime fantasy. The drought of being a virgin was about to come to an end. So he thought. Eight of the most atrocious conspirators had something totally different lined up for him.
“Ready to begin your big night, Stuart?” Taylor asked, a profound look of mischeviousness lined across his acne-ravaged face.
“Readier than I’ve ever been,” Stuart grinned, sheets of blush waved over his face.
“This beauty we’ve got for you is mindblowing.”
“Then let’s go see her!” he shouted, happier than he’s ever been.
Stuart got in on the passenger’s side of the gray BMW owned by Taylor. John climbed into the backseat while Taylor fired up the car. The group of three NYU students were on their way to one of the biggest setups known to mankind.
Poor Stuart Duffelmeyer.
If only he knew what the night had in store for him.
The noise of the violence from around The American Shore Motor Lodge in the Bronx calmed down long enough for Anthony and the others to put their plans into action. Everything set up to make the prank a success was in place. Taylor and John came around to the back of the polished BMW and opened the door for Stuart. Good actors they were. They had to be given an A-plus for pretending like Stuart deserved such star treatment.
“Are we in the Bronx?” Stuart asked Taylor and John, staring around at the harsh urban elements up and down the street.
“The Bronx we are in,” Taylor replied with such an astute tone.
“A lot of these people around this motel look like they’re homeless or drug addicts.”
Stuart studied the troop of street warriors going in and out of the motel. He felt uneasy. Being a native of Rosebeck in Staten Island, he wasn’t used to witnessing this type of madness.
“This motel houses a lot of homeless families from around New York,” Taylor explained, cutting his eyes over at John.
“Why’d you guys pick out such a dirty motel in such a bad section of this borough?”
“We didn’t wanna draw any unwelcome attention. Are you ready to meet the drop dead gorgeous woman we picked out especially for you?”
“Sure!” Stuart hailed, more excited than a big lottery winner.
Taylor and John led Stuart up to the door. John tapped on the door four consecutive times. The taps were softly executed. Those on the inside understood rather clearly. The knob to the door turned with seduction. Taylor and John interlocked arms with Stuart and led him to the front of the motel room. The low-lit Christmas lights flashed from one end of the room to the next. Abdullah flicked the lights on and off from inside the walk-in closets.
“Are you Stuart Duffelmeyer, baby?” asked one of the most seductive women voices.
The sexy voice actually belonged to Megan Piccirillo. She delivered on her promise to Anthony. Her voice crept out of a closet on the opposite side of the room.
“Yes! Yes! I’m Stuart Duffelmeyer!” Stuart heaved, growing more excited by the second.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Stuart. Damn, you are one sexy man.”
“Hope you don’t mind me asking. What is your name?”
“Rachel, but my friends all call me ‘Desire’.”
“Desire, huh?”
“Yes, you’ll desire me in every way.”
The lights flicked on and off. The voice only got sexier.
Abdullah and Megan worked their perverted talents like clockwork. A wave of soft love music faltered into the room. Speakers were placed in opposite corners near the bed. David handled the music by hooking a set of jacks into a laptop computer with i-tunes downloaded onto the hard drive.
“Mind if I come closer?” Stuart proposed, his libido in full throttle.
“No, babe, not at all.”
Taylor and John pointed over to the bed. It was their signal for Stuart to make his move.
“Your voice sounds sexy as ever.”
“Why thank you, honey.”
Stuart came within inches of the bed. The flowing blonde hair overlapped the covers. The missle-like breasts made a print which caused Stuart to water at the mouth. The curves of her body brought a high gloss to his eyes.
“Like what you see?” the sweet voice asked.
“Love what I see!” Stuart snuffed, his breathing much greater. “But I’d really love to see your face away from the covers.”
“You will, honey, just be patient.”
“Looks like you have a gorgeous head of hair.”
“Like threads of fine blonde silk.”
Stuart threw his head upwards. The most inquisitive look came upon his face. “Your voice sorta sounds familiar.”
“Like who, sweetie?”
“Like someone I attend NYU with.”
Megan tuned her voice to higher, more seductive octaves. “Who’s this person you’re talking about?”
“I’d say Megan Piccirillo, but that’s totally absurd.”
“No, that’s not me. Like I told you, my name’s Rachel, better known as ‘Desire’.”
“Can I come closer?”
“Sure, why not.”
From inside the same closet as Megan, Anthony was eager to execute his plan. The mechanical controls to the centerfold fantasy love doll were at his disposal. With the push of a couple of buttons, the arms and legs on the doll moved. Megan heckled out a series of moans and groans to entice Stuart. The music changed from one soothing love song to another. With Megan providing the voice, Abdullah providing the lights, David providing the music, and Anthony providing the movement of the fantasy doll, things operated smoothly.
“Don’t be shy, darling. Come closer to me.”
“Looks like you’ve got a very pretty face.”
“Like that of a Hollywood starlet.”
“Who, for instance?”
“For instance, Brooke Shields or Jennifer Aniston or Charlize Theron.”
“Boy, do I like them.”
Taylor and John waved hand signals for Stuart to make his move. And a big move he made. He invited himself to sit at the middle of the bed. Without being told,