The Alchemy

This Is Me Trying

I wasn't supposed to release today but since I didn't publish for a while here it is. 

----------

A Few Days Prior

Will's POV:

I can't stop my knee from bouncing up and down as I wait for the plane to land. I'm stressed, anxious. I had to leave Taylor alone. I know she'll be okay, but I still have this nagging feeling that I should've told her everything. She would've understood, right? Would she?

I'm supposed to meet my brother in half an hour in the airport lobby. I'm happy to see Dylan again, it's been a while since we spent time together. But there's a reason I've kept my distance. He's bad news.

Our father was an alcoholic, and our mother left us, so I was the one who raised him. But I was just a kid. He picked up the bottle at 10, started smoking at 12, and got into drugs at 13. By the time high school ended, he spent more time on the streets selling drugs than in school, paying for his OCD on some back road.

He used to be a good kid, but life broke him. I survived, but he drowned in it.

I'm sitting at a table in a cute coffee shop in the lobby. The place is adorable—cinnamon rolls, hot cocoa, frappuccinos. Taylor would've loved it.

An hour and a half later, Dylan finally shows up. I'd told him my flight landed three hours earlier than it actually did, hoping he wouldn't be too late. Well, I only waited an hour and a half, which isn't so bad; if I ignore the fact that he's four and a half hours late.

From the look on his face, he doesn't even realize he's late. His once-blue eyes are now bloodshot, his clothes are old and torn, and he's wearing a yellow hat full of holes.

His eyes dart everywhere, hyper-vigilant, but unfocused. A huge grin spreads across his face.

He hugs me, and I can smell the drugs and alcohol on his clothes.

When we pull apart, I take a moment to really look at him. He's fidgeting, making big, exaggerated movements, greeting me and talking about how much he's missed me.

"Are you on drugs?" I ask him bluntly.

He pauses for a second before bursting out in laughter, so loud that people start looking at us.

"Well, I took some stuff before coming here, you know how it is."

I nod, not wanting to argue with him right now.

"So, do you have the money? I agreed to be your middleman, but I'm not paying."

He looks down, scratching his head. I get a sinking feeling in my gut.

"What the hell, Dylan? Where's the money?" I raise my voice, letting him know I'm not messing around.

"You're gonna laugh, but I was with this friend of mine, Tommy, and he had this plan to win more money. He knows a guy who organizes poker tables, and we could've won big. But we had to put down a deposit before playing."

"How much?" I cut him off. "How much did you lose?"

"Well, it's funny... I almost won big. I just needed an eight to have a straight flush, but the thing is, I didn't have it and..."

"Are you kidding me? You lost everything, didn't you?" I roll my eyes and start gathering my things, done with this conversation.

"No, wait, wait! I'm sure if we go back, I could win big! I just need $10,000."

I keep walking, but he follows, practically begging.

"It's nothing, right? You can ask your girlfriend for the money. Isn't she a rich bitch"

At those words, I see red. I grab him by the collar and shove him against a wall where no one can see us.

"Don't you ever talk about her like that, understood?" He nods quickly.

"I'll help you. I'll pay off the guys you owe money to, but after that, I don't want to hear from you again. I don't care about your next big plan or how much you owe. I don't want to hear about you ever again."

I make sure my voice is serious. I love my brother, but he always drags me into trouble, and I can't do it anymore. I've done everything I can for him. Now I need to think about myself.

The ride to the hotel is silent. Dylan doesn't even look at me. I prefer it that way, I can't stand seeing the sadness in his eyes, the same look of distress he had when we were kids.

I arrange everything: the location, the time, the money for the exchange. I choose a public place with multiple exits. I don't know what these guys are capable of, but I know they're no joke. I also make sure Dylan stays far away from the money. I can't let him screw this up again.

The Day of the Exchange

I arrive early to scout the area and make sure I haven't missed anything. We're meeting in a public park, perfect for an exchange. Plenty of people around, enough to avoid drawing attention, but also enough that they can't just kill me. At least, I hope they won't.

I'm sitting on a bench with Dylan under a willow tree; Taylor's favorite. I miss her. I can't wait to get back to her.

Two men in all-black approach us. They're tall and muscular. I could probably take one down, but not both. I stand up, gripping the suitcase so tightly my knuckles turn white.

The men stare right at me, their expressions menacing. From the way their shirts hang, I can tell they're armed.

I try to hide my unease.

"So, you're the guys my brother owes, right?" I ask when they reach us.

They both nod.

"Okay, here's what you came for. This is the only transaction. Don't ask him for more. He's done with you, and so am I."

"Good. We don't want anything to do with him anymore," one of them says.

Dylan clutches his chest dramatically and says, "Oh, that hurts. I'm gonna miss you, John."

We roll our eyes as the men take the case and leave.

"We're done, Dylan," I tell him once they're gone. "I'm going home, and you should, too. Man, you need to get your life together. You're a mess. Find a job, and for God's sake, take a shower. You reek of cigarettes."