THE RISE OF CAIN FAULKNER

three

figure 8 | elli goulding

"Look, I have no idea what's going on," I pleaded with him. "Just let my brothers and I go!" I brought my brothers closer to me and held them in an embrace. Just as I moved, the two German Shepard's growled and started circling us.

"Down, boys." The newcomer whose life I had saved whistled and the dogs plopped down on their hind legs and began wagging their tongues.

I felt eyes burning the side of my head so I turned to look at Leather-Jacket-Man straight on. Both of us refused to blink and I took this opportunity to look him over. He was still wearing his customary leather jacket but with a red t shirt under, instead. His body movements didn't show jerkiness so I assumed he had healed.

"C'mon Cain, we're wasting our time here!" Al whined and I shifted my eyes to him. Oh, so his name is Cain... huh, how fitting.

"Shoot the girl and we're done," he continued. "And we let go of her brothers, they look terrified already."

"No," Cain coldly ordered. "Change of plans. You all take the body and go on without me." He glanced at me, "I have something I need to do."

Al wolf whistled and called out, "You do what you need to, but remember, he's not gonna be happy you're late."

"He can go fuck himself in the ass, I don't care," Cain rolled his eyes. "He knows I'm the best he has, so tell him to stop acting like a spoiled brat." I had absolutely no idea what was going on so I just stood there, shielding my brothers as best as I could.

"Alex, I wanna go home," Raidon whispered and I squeezed him a little bit more.

"Shh!" Ryland hissed and also snuggled closer to me. The guys who were in the park slowly started trekking to where the slain man was, leaving my brothers and I with Cain.

"Take the dogs," Cain looked at Al. Something must've passed between them as Al hesitated a bit before softly saying, "I hope you know what you're doing." Cain nodded to him and turned back to me.

Al whistled and the German Shepherds took off after him.

"What are you doing at this park?" Cain spoke after a moment. I gestured to my brothers and took in a deep breath.

"I was enjoying an outing with my little brothers before that happened!"

"We don't seem to meet under favorable conditions, do we?" Cain frowned and gestured to the twins. After studying my brothers, he pursed his lips.

"What are your names?" He inquired, however, there was still a tone of danger lingering in his voice. It was as if he was warning my brothers. Raidon was the first one to introduce himself, as he was more comfortable meeting new people.

"I'm Raidon," he extended his hand. "Who are you and how do you know Alex?"

Instead of answering right away, Cain tested his name and grasped his hand to return Raidon's handshake. "My name is Cain." I wasn't the only one who noticed his blatant dismissal of the second question; Raidon squinted his eyes. Cain then let go of Raidon's hand and shifted so he was looked at Ryland.

"What about you?"

"I'm Ryland," he whispered and clutched my leg tighter. At his shyness, Cain nodded and ran his finger through his hair.

"Well, Alex," he drawled the word. His soft personality that he used with the twins switched and he was back to being the asshole I knew him as. With his next words, he got serious. "I'll tell you now that this park isn't exactly child friendly... don't come here again."