I Have Been Chosen

Oliver 7

Friday 16th January

Oliver left the toilets, finding the entire pub empty besides the bar staff and the bouncer.

"Your friend's waiting outside," explained the bouncer, motioning to the back door as he handed in his radio and said goodnight to the bartenders.

"Thank you," said Oliver, then thanked the staff before leaving through the back, donning his coat.

As soon as he left, one of the bartenders locked the door behind him and returned to close the pub.

Oliver glanced around, wondering which alleyway Cody was waiting in when he heard a series of muffled groans and yelps. He darted to the sound, and saw down in one of the snickleways Cody, cornered up against a wall by three men punching and kicking at his face, his ribs, his legs, flailing their arms.

Oliver rushed back to the pub door, pulling at the handle, then remembering it was locked. "Hey!" he yelled, hoping the bouncer or a bartender would hear or see him through the glass, but none were in sight. He glanced back at the fight, then back at the door. "Bouncer! Bouncer!" Oliver looked directly at the door pretending that someone was there, and then yelled, "over there! There's a fight! Over there!" He pointed to the alleyway.

The three attackers looked his way, then at each other, before scrambling away, leaving Cody slumped on the ground.

Once Oliver was confident they had left, he rushed over to Cody, lifting the man's face to see the damage; Cody's lip was busted with a slanted bleeding cut, a side of his face purple and bruised, and then there was his wheezing through being punched in the stomach.

"Fuck..." Cody managed to mumble, almost laughing, but the pain turned into a spluttering cough. "Thank you..."

"I'll go get the bouncer," said Oliver. "Hopefully, he's still around and can radio the incident. Maybe the police will catch those guys."

"You mean the bouncer wasn't there?"

Oliver shook his head. "I was bluffing."

Cody smirked. "Clever."

"I'll try and find him." Oliver attempted to leave, but Cody grabbed his wrist, stopping him. Oliver could easily break free but chose not to.

"Please don't," Cody wheezed.

"We need to report this," Oliver stressed.

"Nah, it's okay." Cody forced a smile.

Oliver glared. "I need to report this in case it happens again."

"Please, I don't want this reported."

Oliver stared at Cody for a long moment, frowning and huffed, "fine, I won't, but I think you're making the wrong decision."

"Noted." Cody chuckled through hisses of pain. "Thank you."

Oliver helped Cody up to his feet, the man having to lean on the wall for support as he gritted his teeth, clutching his rib cage.

"At least they didn't steal my guitar or my amp," said Cody, attempting to look on the bright side. "That would have been-"

Oliver froze as a figure passed the alleyway and stopped. When he saw the reflective jacket, he instinctively forced Cody to turn away.

The police officer stared at them, her eyebrows raised. "Everything alright, boys?" she asked, looking to Cody, who was turned away, face hidden, his hand leaning on the wall, his balance slanted and wobbly. "I thought I heard some signs of a disturbance..." She continued to stare at Cody. "Is he alright?" she asked Oliver.