The Masked Man

Chapter 3:

Harry stared at me in disbelief. I understood his confusion, but he had to know that if my father was the devil that I had no choice. My entire life I fought by myself and in gangs. I wasn't forced into it, even though it seems like I was, I choose it. And I won't regret it.

"Why?" Harry asked cutting the silence.

"Because I choose to. There isn't anything to it and I'm good at it. It makes me feel good. Gives me purpose." I said pulling away from him completely.

"Why can't you find a less dangerous purpose?" he asked trying to make me think, but I already knew the answer.

"Because I was born into a dangerous family." I replied sternly.

"That doesn't mean you have to live a dangerous life." Harry said quietly.

"It's the only one I know." I responded matching his quietness. He sat in silence for a minute trying find something to say and I couldn't blame him for wanting to respond.

"I don't know what to say." Harry finally admitted.

"Well didn't expect you to." I said while sitting down and propping my feet up on the table.

"Do you mean that you were raised that way? That your parents taught you to fight?" He look disgusted.

"Yeah, well my dad at least, my mom didn't dare stand up to him. I was the only one every to do it. That's how I earned my name and respect." I said taking a swig of the glass of water I had placed on the table earlier.

"Huh." Harry stared at me dumbfounded and shook his head.

I rolled my eyes and said, "Can you take me home now?"

"I thought you want to stay longer?" He asked confused.

"Yeah well I realized that I want to go home." I said standing up.

"Okay, sure whats your address?" He asked leading me outside through the back kitchen door.

"582 Williams Avenue." I replied as we turned a corner to find a row of expensive shiny cars in a lot. Harry walked and stopped in front of a black Camaro and fished out his keys. He got in the drivers seat and I followed into the passengers.

* * *

We arrived at my house and I opened the door. Harry got out after I did and walked me up to my front door.

"You have a nice house." He said as I put my key in the door.

"Yeah bigger than yours." I winked and opened the door, "well you coming?"

"Uh, I don't know. Shou-"

"Jane! God, I thought I was going to have to hunt you down to get you back here." My brother said as he approached me from the living room, "who's this?"

Eric furrowed his eyebrows and Harry took a step back, considering he was basically hovering over me.

"Oh, this is Harry. Harry this is Eric, my idiot brother. Now can we go inside? I'm tired of standing out here like a bunch of idiots."

We walked in the house and sat down in the living room. Eric stared at Harry for a few moments before looking at me and raising his eyebrow.

"Where'd you get all the tattoos Harry?" Eric asked turning his gaze back to Harry.

"Uh, a place downtown. Great artist. She's expensive though." He replied calmly.

"Jane has quite the tattoo collection as well. Don't ya Jane?" He looked over at me smirking.

"Yeah jackass. Thanks." I sarcastically smiled back. Harry just smiled crookedly and leaned back in his spot.

"So where were you Jane?" Eric asked cutting the silence.

"I told you at a friend's." I didn't meet his eyes as I leaned back.

"Don't lie Jay. Where were you?" He looked at me directly.

"David found me. Harry saved me. End of story."