Brutal - Robby Keene

01-10. Another Encounter With Kreese

"Mar, the door!"

"I'm getting it, you lazy piece of shit!" Mar yelled back to Felix as she basically ran down the stairs in annoyance.

She huffed as she walked towards the door, swinging it open. The girl felt her heart drop as she saw Kreese.

"Hello, Mariah." Kreese said with that fake smile of his. Mar's lips parted in shock, quickly slamming the door.

However, Kreese had put his hand out to stop the door from closing entirely. "Wait, please, hear me out."

Mar hesitated as she held the door before she inhaled and exhaled deeply, opening the door and folding her arms across her chest. "How did you find me?"

"You weren't easy to find." Kreese admitted with a sigh, holding his shaky hands. "Luckily, I know some people."

"I wouldn't doubt it." Mar clenched her jaw, glaring daggers at the old man. "What do you want? And make it quick, because if Felix comes down here and sees you it isn't going to be pretty."

"I.." Kreese trailed off as he looked to the side before looking back to Mar. "Michael, he's still in a coma."

"Really?" Mar asked in a sarcastic tone, rolling her eyes exasperatedly. "I didn't know, thank you so much for pointing that out!"

"The hospital isn't allowing me to see him because I'm not immediate family." Kreese told the girl. "But if you come with me.."

"Nope." Mar immediately said, shaking her head. "Nope, no way, Kreese. I am not going with you to see my dad."

"Please, Mariah." Kreese said in a desperate voice. Mar pulled her brows together slightly. "I have to see him."

"Why?" Mar clenched her jaw in anger. She was resisting the urge to pounce on the man. "Why do you want to see him after you used him and broke his heart?"

"I never used your father." Kreese told the girl softly. "I didn't need him to get to you. Falling in love with him just happened."

"No, don't say that!" Mar yelled at Kreese in annoyance. "Don't say you loved him when you know you didn't!"

"I do love him, Mariah." Kreese told the girl softly. "I promise you, my love for your father is strong. I never stopped loving him. I broke up with him because I did not want him to get hurt."

"Bullshit." Mar scoffed, rolling her eyes once more. Her eyes were almost tired from how much she had been rolling it lately.

"I swear to you." Kreese said, causing Mar to inhale and exhale deeply. "Please. I am begging you. I just want to see him. One last time. One final goodbye."

The two stood there in a silence. It was evident on Mar's face that she was having a mental battle.

After a minute or more of the two just standing there, the girl groaned exasperatedly. She walked outside, shutting the door behind her.

"Five minutes." Mar said sternly as she walked off, Kreese quickly following behind her. "That's all you're getting."

"That's all I need." Kreese said with a smile. Mar glanced back to him in annoyance, ignoring the way his smile seemed.. genuine.

🥋

Mar and Kreese entered Michael's room.

The man looked to be simply sleeping as he laid on the hospital bed, the machines that kept him alive beeping rhythmically.

"Oh, Michael." Kreese sighed as he slowly sat down on the chair next to him. Mar was stood by the door, her arms folded across her chest. "I've missed you."