The Decay

Chapter 70 - Poison Games

70

The bottom floor was nothing compared to what they had seen so far. The walls were a deep, reddish brown color and radiated warmth. The lights were gentle and most of the doors were made of quality wood. A lone man stood near the end of the corridor. Ray's face contorted in anger when he recognized him. 'This bastard is mine. You guys go on ahead.' Ray came face to face with the man. 'Hello, Ray,' said the man. 'John.' Ray dropped his gun. 'Fist to fist, bastard. Do you have the guts?' John paid him no attention. 'You must be Mike,' he said, looking at Mike. He shifted his gaze. 'And Anita, I presume. Go right ahead. The President is waiting.' Mike and Anita looked at each other, puzzled. 'Are you sure about this Ray?' asked Mike, pointing his combat pistol and John's right temple. 'I feel like ending his miserable life right here, right now.' Ray looked at Mike. 'Leave it, Mike. This man murdered my wife in cold blood. I'm going to make him pay myself.'

As they walked past and opened the wooden door at the end of the corridor, John and Ray were left, face to face. 'I am going to enjoy killing you with my bare hands, John.' As the words were spoken, John's right arm swung towards Ray's face. He quickly blocked the blow with his left arm before countering. John dodged the blow and took a step back. 'You are slow, old man,' taunted John. 'Shut your mouth,' was the reply. Ray charged him and as he connected, the momentum sent them crashing into the wall on the left. John grunted as he felt the impact. John blocked a series of punches and kicks before countering himself with the same result. They were both getting tired, but neither of them had sustained any particular injury. On John's next attack, Ray duck and charged his shoulder up into John's chin, sending him backwards, roaring in pain. As they collided again, it was Ray who took a blow to his head, followed by a strong push into the wall, head first. Ray's vision blackened for a second before returning.

They spent the next few minutes taking turns charging at each other, connecting a few punches and definitely breaking a bone or two. 'Enough playing,' managed John. He pulled out a knife. 'A knife. Of course, you slithering bastard.' Ray dodged several swipes of the knife before one caught him across the chest. He grunted as he felt the sharp, burning pain. On the next attack, John swiped the knife at Ray's face, but at the last moment, he side stepped, grabbed the wrist of John and with a strong twist, directed the knife in the opposite direction to pierce John in the chest.

As John fell to the ground bleeding profusely, a sinister smile spread across his lips. Ray's vision started to blur as he heard the last words of John. 'I might die... but I'm taking you with me...' Ray knew what was happening. His last thoughts were of The Resistance. His last look before boarding the NFAD and his reminder that they might not all make it back. At least, somewhere inside him was a profound sense of peace. Peace, knowing that the man who murderes his wife was going to die. As he collapsed to the floor, his blurred vision turned black as the poison spread through his body, killing him.