Quiet Enlightenment

Part 1, Chapter 21 - Fights and Futures

Friday, August 8, 2014

Cameron slid the rarely used key into the lock of his father's house. He wasn't exactly the most comfortable with being by himself in the less-than-savvy part of town, but he was proud that his father was able to see that he was mature enough to take care of the house for the two days that he was going to be out of town with his brother. He walked into the living room and reached for the light switch when he felt himself getting struck in the back of the head.

"You shouldn't have come here."

Cameron felt his head throb as he regained consciousness to see his brother in front of him with an older woman further back.

"Why're you here?" Cameron said as he tried to stand up. He almost got to a complete standing position when he realized that his legs were shackled to a water pipe. This wasn't the living room.

"You really bought that crap about me going to a specialist? I'm better than ever." William said as he smugly stood before him. Cameron looked down at the ground in disbelief that he could have fallen for this. He was supposed to be better than this. What would Elias think of him right now?

"What do you have to say? Going and hanging out with Elias's lover-boy and his trailer-park hoochie-mamas. Pathetic. Now you're going to get it."

"Why'd you do it?"

"Do what?" William asked.

"Put those animals in Kenton's mom's restaurant."

"I'll take this one, dear." Andrea said as William stepped back. "That's not 'Kenton's mom's restaurant'. That's my restaurant. That she stole from me."

"Because that's what they do." William chimed in. Andrea raised up her hand and gave a shush sound.

"So, you're the 'lady'? What are you, forty?" Cameron sneered. Andrea raised her hand and ran it across the boy's face.

"Don't talk to me like that."

"You two are something else..." Cameron said as he shook off the slap.

William growled and plowed his fist into his younger brother's stomach. Cameron found himself sliding to the ground as a bicycle rack sliced into his back. William then got down and grabbed the boy by his throat.

"You better watch your mouth if you don't want to die here."

"Yeah, I don't think so. People are going to notice if I go missing. What about Mom?"

"Don't worry... I've already taken care of that. You're spending quality time with you beloved brother." William said as he waved Cameron's phone in front of him.

"Screw you. The only brother I truly had was Elias. He loved me, unlike you!"

William growled yet again before saying "Babe, can you get it for me?"

"It?" Cameron thought as Andrea reached into the car parked into the garage and handed William a bag. Every thought that was going through Cameron's mind changed when he saw what came out of the bag: a pistol.

"If you don't want to die here, I would suggest you watch your stupid little mouth."

Cameron had no response. Only fear.

Present Day

Charmaine's car sped down Muscox street and Kenton felt relieved he could see that there was only one house on the street otherwise occupied with trailers. Charmaine parked the car into the driveway and the two ran up to the door. They knocked and knocked before the door opened and Charmaine found herself staring her old (former) friend in the eyes once again.