THE RISE OF CAIN FAULKNER

four

one man drinking game | mayday parade

Once entering my cozy house, Raidon and Ryland wasted no time running inside. I kicked off my boots and slowly walked in, not knowing what to expect; after all, there were two extra pairs of shoes in the hallway.

"What the hell are you two doing back here?!" I hissed at the men sitting around the table with a rolled up bill in their hands. When Troy looked back at me with a lazy grin, I all but lost it, again.

"Ryland, Raidon, please go to your rooms." With my tightly said sentence, they didn't argue, but instead, followed through. Briskly walking over to Troy and Jacob, I crossed my arms in front of them.

"When I yelled at you, I meant it. Get the hell out of my house!" I yelled at them but Jacob brushed me off.

"We're not doing anything," he nodded. "It's just powder, pure, refined powder."

"You should try it," Troy supplied on and I uncrossed my arms. Reaching out in front of me, I messed up their lines and knocked the rolled bill out of their hands.

"You get your drugs and get out of my house!" I growled but something yanked me back. I could smell the fragrance that surrounded my mother and knew immediately she was going to kill me because the lines that I messed up were hers.

"What do you think you're doing?" She purred in my ear and I shoved myself away from her.

"Telling these druggies to get out of my house," I coolly told her. "Matter of fact, you get out with them."

What happened next surprised me. My face was flung on the other side and my cheek stung from where she had slapped me.

I stared at her in disbelief and flared my nostrils to keep myself from crying again. Holding my cheek, I shook my head.

"Good job, mother," I snarled the word. "You have officially shown what's more important to you."

She looked at her hand in awe, as if she had never seen the limb attached to her arm. And then she looked at me. And back to her hand. Her eyes grew wide and she slowly held out the same hand that slapped me, nearing my cheek.

"Alex," she cooed, but I had enough.

"Tell them to get out and I'll forgive you."

"You know I can't do that," she whispered and I flinched when her fingers curled around my own. I curled my lip and scoffed. Whatever.

Shoving her hand away from my face, I stalked off to my room. I had work later in the afternoon and desperately needed to let out some steam.

"Ryland and Raidon are over; make sure not to screw anything up," I threw across my shoulder, my mother's silence resounding as a reply.

. . . . . .

Work was one of those places where I could think. I worked at a small cafe shop adjacent to a bookshop, and that was all I really needed. The only cons were it was a little far from where I lived, in a shady neighbourhood and owned by a fairly nice (when I say 'nice' I mean horrid) owner. It was the only nice spot in the neighbourhood and walking to the bus stop at night was terrifying, but the pay was good and kept the lights running, so I had no problem.

Although the uniform did leave a bad taste in my mouth. It was a simple white shirt with a tie and a navy blue skirt, with platform shoes- a typical school girl outfit. I was annoyed at the length of the skirt, but if this was the small price I had to pay to keep my life running, I'd wear it with no outward protests.