Is This What Hell Feels Like?

A Guilty Mind

“Do you think this was a bad idea? I mean come on Tim, he’s just a kid.” The second masked man from earlier mumbled while pulling his cloth mask off. 

His shaggy brown hair was quick to fall into his eyes as he shook his head, trying to rid it of the thick layer of sweat build-up. He glanced over to the other masked man, or ‘Tim,’ with a worried expression. Before he got the chance to guilt-trip the male, a hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back. Once he was finally done being thrown around like a rag-doll he focused his eyes on the russet brown ones that were staring into his soul.  

“Brian, he’s valuable to us, we need him. That’s exactly why The Operator wanted us to get him, don’t second guess his words.” Tim uttered in a menacing tone, “He can and will kill you for it.” 

“Shit man…sounds like you’re preaching about some god.” Brian lowered his head, partially in shame and partially because he knew Tim was right. 

He mumbled some more as he shook Tim’s hand from his shoulder. Although, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had done something terribly wrong. His thoughts went back to the image of Toby’s limp body, riddled with wounds and bruises. 

Normally Brian wasn’t one to be bothered by situations such as the current one, but something about it wasn’t sitting right with him. Maybe it had to do with Toby’s age. Before Brian and Tim had actually gone to get the young male they were given a file, it was all the information that had been gathered on him. From what they knew Toby was between the ages of 16-18. That was one of the youngest in the complex, aside from the little ghost girl, Sally. She didn’t count though, she wasn’t forced to stay in that place, she chose to. But Toby? Toby had no choice. 

Not only that, but if there was anything to know about Brian, it was the fact he wasn’t a fan of hitting children. Even if they were teenagers. Even if it was just an accident he would still feel guilt and carry the regret until the day he died. That was the biggest difference between him and the man he dubbed as his ‘best friend.’ Tim didn’t care about anything else but getting the job done. Nothing stopped the man. 

“You need to chill out a little,” Brian sighed as they two entered into the dim room from before, the one still covered in Toby’s blood, “Losing your temper like that can get you…nevermind.” 

He was stopped from any further speaking when he was grabbed by the front of his yellow hoodie and slammed into the concrete wall. 

“I really don’t give a shit,” Tim growled, “Maybe he should’ve shut his damned mouth.” 

Brian huffed and tried to pry Tim’s hands off of him, but Tim’s iron grip remained strong on his hoodie. 

“Get the fuck off of me!” Brian shouted as he kicked Tim’s knee. 

The man grunted and dropped Brian, instantly grabbing his knee. Before he was able to make any sort of move on the shaggy haired man, a fist collided with his jaw. A familiar tension built between the two as they glared at each other, waiting for the other to make any sort of move. The waiting game lasted until Brian dropped his defenses and let out a long sigh. Even more guilt was added to his plate. 

It wasn’t rare for these two to get into these kinds of fights. However it was the first time Brian came out victorious. Normally he would surrender to Tim. Though it usually didn’t stop, Tim would still beat Brian. There were also times where Brian would be completely knocked unconscious because Tim couldn’t control his anger. But here he was now, watching Tim try his best to hold his, now cracked, mask together. 

Even though he technically won their little fight, Brian felt even guiltier than before. There was a reason he almost always surrendered, he never felt good after. He always felt terrible after, even if he didn’t win. Unlike Tim, Brian held onto the last bit of humanity he had. At least towards Tim he did. And that’s why his guilty conscience would get to him every single time they fought, which was often. 

A small look of sympathy spread across Brian’s face as he gazed at his best friend, if that’s what he even wanted to call him. Although it was gone in seconds, replaced with one of anger and hatred as he gently kicked Tim. 

“When you’re done being an asshole, come find me.” Brian said as he began walking out of the small room, “But before you leave, clean the mess you made.” 

With that, he left the room and his best friend to clean said room. The guilty male began the mile long walk through the entire complex, trying to get to the medic’s room.