Days Are Numbered

13: How innocent?

Noah wiped his hand after he had set the pot on the counter. All he knew to do was spaghetti, and he did it with a lot of pleasure. At least he had learned something for himself. He poured the food onto the plate while muttering some rough words under his breath. From the window, he could see the sky growing darker.

Browne walked into the kitchen, rampaging through the cupboards and the fridge. Then he paused, turning to observe Noah. "We're almost dying; you might want to move faster," he urged.

Noah decided to ignore his request, not showing the slightest interest or acknowledgment at first. Then a dark thought crossed his mind, and he couldn't help it. "Less population, that's a good solution for the earth. Indeed, you're a genius," Noah mocked.

Browne frowned. "You're deserving of death," he retaliated.

Noah scoffed mockingly at the latter, infuriating him further. "Let's see how funny it gets when those nasty blue eyes of yours get swollen and all teary, Barbie," Browne threatened.

"I'll blame your mother; she might have skipped breast milk for formulas," Noah responded mockingly.

Browne was enraged as he stepped closer to him, clouded brown eyes against taunting blue ones. "Repeat that and see how much I like it."

"Avgustin would also tell you how he likes your fit, and probably Mr. Yaroslav would join the show," Dhakirah said from behind him as he walked into the kitchen, dropping a bucket of water.

"This is not over yet," Browne growled. In response, Noah rolled his eyes.

"Anytime," he uttered innocently as Browne walked away.

"It looks better than your first time," Dhakirah confessed while staring at the pot.

"I guess," Noah replied, still holding a grudge against Dhakirah for his confrontation. Dhakirah took the chance to leave. Noah scoffed while resuming his not-so-perfect masterpiece.

The boys were all gathered around the table when Noah exited the kitchen. They were playing cards while discussing their lives before Noah showed up. Noah dropped an exasperated sigh before rolling his eyes; they retorted with snide remarks that he brushed off.

"I have to retrieve towels; it is getting dark," Noah announced while walking off. Dhakirah nodded.

Rafael peered from the cards, "You're very close to gingerhead?" Rafael asked while slamming a heart on the table.

"Not really, he has his guard up," Dhakirah admitted.

"Why are you interested in him anyway?" Browne asked while studying his hidden cards.

Dhakirah slipped his card, a spade. "He needs someone to show him around."

Browne huffed, "You could get in serious trouble. You know he is no good news, and besides, he is targeted by Avgustin. He can be very cruel, you know."

Dhakirah paused, then he resumed with a smile, "He is just petty. Nothing bad. Rafael still holds the crown of trouble here."

Browne glanced at Rafael and smiled. "Yeah, right, but his petty behavior could bring about his end. You remembered Rico, and how Avgustin dragged him out of here one good morning, and we never saw him again?"

Dhakirah looked up with a frown, "Rico was terrible. He tried to set the house on fire, poisoned us, and shoved you in the lake. The last straw was when he stole a shotgun."

"Yeah, and Avgustin looked for an accomplice; fortunately, he found none," Browne met Dhakirah's gaze. "Do you want to die alongside him? You know that it is no joke here; we get tortured for crimes and could be killed. It happened with Rico; Avgustin must have put him out," Browne concluded.