LÍO

DESAFIO II

Rehan comes back from the kebab shop with a takeaway in her hands. She sees Adam storming across the street toward David and runs over to meet them both:

"Are you okay?" She asks Adam who shakes his head and closes the passenger door behind himself. "Adam?"

David gently taps her on the shoulder and says in a low voice. "He got into a fight with Zara. He's not in a great mood. "

"Oh." Rehan adds with a frown. "Would you mind bringing me back home again? I'll slip into the back and be very quiet."

David nods with a smile. "No problem. Where do you live?"

"The same complex as Adam. You can leave me outside the store and I'll walk down." She adds, putting her seatbelt on as she closes the door behind herself. "Thanks, Dude."

"No problem." David says, preparing himself to drive. Starting up the engine, he lets out a sigh as he turns to Adam. "Are you okay?"

Adam closes his eyes over and lets out a groan. He rests his hands on his thighs, zoning out in a stupor. His heart begins to beat faster than it's ever done before. Red and blue lights harass his mind, flickering across the darkness of his conscience. The soundtrack to his night follows suit.

The word 'defiled' appears across his mind in black, bold writing, growing bigger and bigger, until it eventually explodes. Falling into another room, Mahmoud's facing him, dressed as a judge on a podium in a courtroom.

Adam stands before him, shackled and dressed as a prisoner. Two giant men are holding him tight, making sure he can't move.

His family and friends are looking at him, disgusted and confused, murmuring to themselves about his charges.

Mahmoud stares through his soul and asks. "Answer me this honestly. Are you a homosexual?"

Before he can answer, an intense gust of wind blows them all away. He can feel his entire body, weightlessly floating through the eons of space rocks, intrusive thoughts and obstacles the size of galaxies.

Bouncing into 'faggot', he loses his balance and falls into a pot of boiling honey and begins to suffocate as he sticks to the bottom. His body's melting. His soul's crumbling. His bones are breaking.

He just wants the torment to end as quickly as it begun.

Screaming for the last time, he wakes up again in cold sweats, trying to regain his composure. Stuck to the seat, he breathes heavily as David pulls over to the supermercado:

"Are you seriously alright?" He asks with a sigh, stopping the car. "Do you want some water?"

"I can buy you some with my discount if you like." Rehan adds with a smile. Adam shakes his head. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, but thanks for asking." He replies back hoarsely.

She nods. "Thanks for the ride, I'll see you later."

"Bye." Adam adds as she leaves.

David waves at her. "Aren't you getting out too?"

Adam laughs. "Heck no. I'm waiting to go to your place."

"Cariño, you don't look well and I'm worried about you."

"I don't want to leave... I don't wanna go back home." Adam starts shaking and gripping onto the seat. "Don't abandon me."

"I want you to be safe and sleep."

"Will you come inside with me... and not leave me like everyone else does?" Adam asks between tears. "... Please? I don't even care if Mahmoud's there."