River Of Flames

7: River's Birthday

River

River's childhood had been tough. The ugly boys hated him because he was better than them, and the girls went crazy for him. But there was one thing River hated the most, his werewolf side. He had inherited it from his father, Romulo Cassidy II. Only Ander knew about it, and River had made him promise he'd shoot him if he transformed ever again.

As promised, Ander shot at River, but Jamie stepped in the middle of the bullet.

River's superhuman strength took over and he slapped Jamie out of the way, taking the bullet in his chest instead.

The bullet bounced off River's hard rock pecks and hit the homeless man in the head, killing him.

"Nuuuuh!" River screamed, going back to normal.

The homeless man fell to the ground, dead.

"That's unfortunate," Ander said, sliding the gun into his pants next to his crotch. "Anyway, wanna eat chicken?"

"You saved my life," Jamie said, stroking River's pecks. "How can I repay you? I'LL DO ANYTHING!" She jumped on him, clinging around his muscular neck.

But River remained silent, staring at the dead homeless man. He felt guilty for causing his demise.

Ander seemed to notice the shock on River's face. "What's wrong with you, fool?"

"Didn't you see what just happened?" River asked. "He died."

"Yeah, so?"

"I killed a man! And I didn't mean to do it either."

Ander shrugged and scratched his butt. "So, are we eating or not?"

They both ordered some chicken skewers, then sat at the table.

"Are you okay?" Jamie asked.

River looked down at his plate, thinking about what he had done.

"Tell me," she said, licking his cheek. "I'm a great listener."

River sighed. "A good man died, and it's my fault."

Jamie sucked on River's earlobe and then spoke. "Everyone makes mistakes, honey bun. We're all human." She made a pause. "Well, half human too."

"You're right," River said. "But I feel horrible." He kept his eyes on his food as he ate it, refusing to look at Jamie.

"It's alright," she said. "You didn't mean to kill him. And besides, now you have something to remember him by." She winked at him and beckoned for Ander to bring River's present.

Ander rushed to his room and returned with a red gift box. "Happy Birthday, to youuuuuuu~" he sang, dancing as he left the box on the table in front of River. "Happy birthday, you stupid brother~"

River opened the box and inside, he found the severed head of the homeless man.

"Happy Birthday, River!" Jamie and Ander said in unison.

River let out a chuckle. "Did you two do this for me?"

"It was Ander's idea, but I agreed it was a great way to remember the man you loved." She smiled, kissing River on the cheek.

River grabbed the head between his hands and smiled, staring at the hollow eyes of the homeless man. "I'll treasure this forever. Thank you, guys."

"Of course!" Jamie hugged River's arm.

River picked up the head and placed it on top of his cake. "You know, I think I'm gonna name this guy Charlie. He reminds me of my father."

Jamie giggled. "That's a good name! It fits perfectly, Honey Bun."

River beamed, cut a piece of the cake, and then began to eat it. "Now that's delicious!"

Ander nodded. "It is. I baked it myself."

"Really?" River asked. "It's amazing!"

"Of course it is." Jamie slapped River on the butt. "But the best cake is waiting for you in your room tonight." She winked.

That night not a single soul in the neighborhood could sleep. Even Ander left his room to sleep in the treehouse.

But early in the morning, someone knocked on the door.

River got out of bed and peeked through a hole in the window. He saw around fifty cops armed with shotguns, grenades, and long sticks.

"RIVER CASSIDY. WE'VE COME FOR YOU," a cop said on the megaphone. "COME OUT OF THE HOUSE PEACEFULLY AND SURRENDER NOW."

River clenched his fists, knowing his time had come. He looked at Jamie who still slept in his bed and swallowed the knot in his throat.

As River walked out of the room to face his destiny, he was stopped by Ander, who grabbed his arm.

"What do you want, brother?" River asked manlily.

Ander frowned and handed him a pair of keys. "Mom's car."

"What do you mean?"

"Get the fuck out of here with your bitch now. I'll distract the cops meanwhile." Ander stood tall and puffed his chest.

"Brother, you..." River tightened his lips. "Why?"

"Because I called the cops," Ander said, spitting on the floor. "I'm tired of you and that whore. Get out of my house now."

River wanted to strike Ander in the face but couldn't. Deep inside, he knew his brother cared about him in his own fucked up way. "Thanks," River said and rushed to the living room. He grabbed Charlie's head and the leftover of his cake. Then he rushed to his room and picked up Jamie, carrying her on his shoulder.

He left the house through the backdoor and sneaked into his mom's old car. He opened the trunk and shoved Jamie inside along with the head and his cake.

He started the car and accelerated recklessly through the backyard and toward the street. Around twenty cops tried to stop him, but River ran them over with fury. HE WAS NOT A CRIMINAL BUT THEY TREATED HIM AS SUCH.

"THE WORLD HATES ME BECAUSE I AM BEAUTIFUL!" he shouted, crushing the head of a cop, leaving a trail of blood and brains behind. "I'LL SHOW YOU WHO THE TRUE MONSTER IS!"

River drove off, leaving a trail of death behind.

*°*°*