Forgive Me, My Love ~ ReddNook

Chapter 56

"Look who shows up!" Redd reached the hidden place behind the train station and was already expected by his father. This time two foxes accompanied him. Brady - the brown fox who was there the first time- and a gray-white fox he didn't know.

"Do you have the money?" John asked with a greedy look. "Yes, yes..." Redd grumbled and hesitantly handed the old man the bells that had originally belonged to Tom. His father tore the bills out of his paw and started counting.

"500,000 bells," he growled satisfied. "I am very thrilled about you, my son!" He patted the younger man on the shoulder. "Don't touch me!", Redd hissed and shook off his heavy paw.

"Why are you doing this to me? What do you need all this money for? Spit it out!" John pocketed the money and grinned again. "You want to know? You really want to know?"

"Damn it, tell me!" The black fox wagged his tail happily. "Well, since this was our last meeting anyway, feel free to find out." Redd looked at his father in astonishment. The last meeting?

"You know, Redd, when I sent you out on the street, I thought I would never hear from you again," the old man began in a calm tone. "But then - twenty years later - I find out that you have a great life on a fancy island."

He spat these words out scornful. "While I have a shitty life in this cursed city and almost broke, you are enjoying the sheer luxury!" John fixed his son angrily. "That really made me mad!"

That's called karma, you bastard!
"And what does that have to do with the money?", Redd snapped at him. The spiteful look on John's face returned. "I thought you didn't deserve a life like this. That's why I wanted you to lose everything."

His grin widened. "I wanted to see you suffer. You should feel what it's like when you have nothing more." Redd was horrified. This guy is crazy!
"Are you serious ?! You didn't need the money for any particular reason? You just wanted to ruin my life ?!"

John laughed dirty. "Exactly. And I see I've achieved my goal. As soon as Nook finds out about your theft, he will definitely not want you on Te Fiti anymore." Redd gritted his teeth angrily.

"And since you have hardly any money, you can't afford a new home either," his father purred on. "Then you have to live on the street again, as you used to. And I very much hope that this time you will rot miserably, just as I wished you would twenty years ago!"

Redd was speechless. The incredible hatred behind those words offended him more than he wanted to admit. This man is supposed to be my father? Impossible.
"What's wrong with you?" The younger one mumbled, shaking his head.

The old man stared at him in silence for several seconds. "That's exactly what I wanted to see," he said softly. "Pain, Despair, and Fear." He snorted mockingly. "How does it feel when you've lost everything?"

Redd's head pounded with anger. His body reacted first than his mind. He attacked his father and pulled his claws over the pitch-black fur. John was so perplexed that he didn't defend himself in the first few seconds.

His son punched him mercilessly. Scratched and bit him until he felt warm blood between his paws. "It's all your fault!" The red fox yelled. The old man growled and grabbed his son by the throat, tried to strangle him.

But Redd pulled himself out of the grip and wanted to dug his teeth into John's neck. But suddenly he was attacked from behind and dragged down by his father. "That's enough now!" It was Brady and the gray fox. Redd lashed out wildly.

"Let go of me, you bastards!" He yelled. "Shut up!" The other hissed. "Or do you want someone to hear you, damn it ?!" A rough paw cupped his mouth while two more paws held his arms. Redd was unable to act.

John got up with a groan. Blood ran from his nose and mouth. With threatening steps he stomped towards his son. He pulled something shiny from his belt. It was a knife. Redd screamed, but it sounded muffled.

His father pressed the cold blade against his victim's neck so that it penetrated only lightly through the skin. "Who do you think you are, huh ?!" He came very close with his face. Redd's brief adrenaline rush was gone. He felt weak and helpless again.

"I think it's time for you to leave," John continued. "And don't you dare tell anyone about this, understand?" Redd made no peep. He was paralyzed with fear. "Did you understand?!" The old man repeated, this time louder.

Redd whimpered and nodded vigorously. John snorted. "Good." He leaned over his son. His hot breath brushed his ear. "Otherwise you will regret it bitterly," he whispered. The sharp knife moved away from Redd's neck.

"Let go of him," the black fox ordered his accomplices. The rough paw disappeared from Redd's mouth and he could breathe freely again. "Now, fuck off," John muttered, waving his paw in disapproval. Redd backed away, fur bristling, but kept an eye on him.

"And remember my words," his father added darkly. Redd shuddered and involuntarily touched his neck, where there was a thin cut. Then he hurried along the asphalt at a quick pace, towards the dock.

He just wanted to get away from here. A few seconds later he began to run, so fast, that his throat started burning.