The Old Bones

From the Dark Into the Light

Court opened his eyes, peering up into the sky, twisted branches spiraled around him, as his vision cleared; the branches slowed to a standstill. He could hear muffled screams from somewhere, he needed to shake himself back to reality and get his head on straight. Randall! He remembered where he was, but he couldn't get his composure back quick enough to stand, so instead he rolled around trying to get his sights on his little brother. Court tried to raise himself up again, only this time there was a sharp pain hit him in the back; the pressure from someone pressing their knee into him made it hard to breathe. "Get the fuck off me!" He struggled, but there just wasn't enough strength there to get the job done.

"I'm gonna need you to be quiet now Court. Clint! Watch out for that hole you stupid bastard. Don't need you breakin' your damned bones out here. Hurry and finish tying him up!" Court finally tracked down where the two of them were; Clint was wrapping a rope around the tree, tying Randall to it.

"Randall!" He tried again to push Harvey off him, a cold blade pressed up to his throat.

"You move one more time boy, I'll bleed you out right here and now." The blade cut into him, drawing a small bit of blood.

"Court! Court, I can't move!" Randall was crying so hard he could barely get the words out of his mouth. He flailed around trying to get loose from the grip the rope had on him.

"I'm gonna end you Harvey. And you too Clint!" Court bared down, grinding his teeth together; his eyes started to tear up. How could he get his brother into this mess?

"I'm all done now Harvey!" Clint raced over and threw himself down on his knees; grabbing Court by his hair. "You know what we gonna do to your baby brother over there?" He laughed, spitting all over Court's face; it reeked of rotten teeth and tobacco.

"Shut the hell up Clint. You're ruinin' all the fun." Harvey kept the blade on Court's throat; he began to lift him up to his feet, Clint joined in. "We're gonna take you down the hill over there, and we're gonna slice you up real nice. Just like a ham on Christmas. I wanna leave something pretty for them to find tomorrow." The two boys grabbed Court and started to drag him away.

"Don't worry Randall! I'll be back to get you! I promise!" Clint balled up his fist and drove it into Court's stomach. Randall screamed out after them; begging and pleading as they walked away. The three boys stopped walking when they couldn't make out what Randall was screaming anymore.

"I tell you. Court. You listenin'? When I get back up there to your little brother, the first thing imma do is stab him right in his little lungs. We'll see how good he can yell then." Harvey laughed, pleased at how cynical his idea sounded, and at how much it must have scared Court.

"You're not gonna fuckin' touch him. You piece of shit." Clint kicked him in the back of the leg, bringing him down to a knee. "You understand me?" Court smiled up at the two boys, rage had set in and was making him feel crazy, he didn't care how they sliced on him; he was going to kill them.

"Hey Harvey?" Clint looked up the hill. "You hear anything strange?"

"No, dumbass. I don't hear nothin' at all." Harvey never took his eyes off Court; didn't want him to get an opportunity to pounce on them.

"I know. Why'd he quit screamin' for?" Clint looked really worried, something didn't feel right about that; it sent chills up his sweaty back.

"Well, go on up there and see what he's doin'. Maybe the little shit got outta your rope."

"There's no way he coulda." He still stared up the hill, not knowing what to expect, but none the less he expected something.