Death Wish

Chapter 14

"So what as that idea of yours, Gee?"

~ ~ ~

Bob's face slams to the gravel of the street. He grunts in pain, "Augh, you could've asked nicely!"

Bob lays on his stomach, arms pinned behind his back by Mikey. The string bean himself sits on him for extra measure as he holds his arms back, "You were busy running away."

Ray steps up beside the blond's head. "Just keep still till the other half of the search party gets here, please?" He says, "We're only looking for you for a little help."

Bob wriggles, "I was looking for you guys too, I'm not gonna run, just get the hell off!" He spits.

"Why were you looking for us?"

I walk up the alley with Frank by my side. Bob turns his head roughly to shout, "The whole reason I started hanging with you assholes in the first place. I'm not a fan of getting eaten."

Mikey brushes his head gently with a placid face, "Stop yelling."

He whips his head back to spit at Mikey in response. Mikey's pale figure turns translucent for a split moment and the spit goes through him. He fades back to normal after dodging the saliva wad and looks back to me. I sigh and shake my head, "So if you do something for us, we'll do something for you?"

"What'cha want?" Bob glances back to me.

"Book of Curses. Where is it." I fold my arms. 

"Looking for that too, sweetheart." He mutters sarcastically.

"Well if you help us get it, you'll borrow it after we do?" Ray offers.

Bob contemplates before nodding, "Okay. Deal."

"Perfect," I light up with a much better mood, "Now where'd you lose the Book of Curses?"

Bob gulps and shifts in his spot. He delays answering, making us all impatient. Surprisingly, Mikey is the one of all people to snap something. "I'm going to forget my name by the time you answer."

Ray gapes slightly and Frank cracks up. I smile proudly at my little brother's courage. He remains straight faced as he waits for Bob to say something.

He takes a deep breath, "I lost it in The Pit."

Everyone's expressions grow wary, but I'm left unaware in the dust."The Pit?" I quirk a brow.

"I got the book to try and get a few controlling curses and I wanted to use them. I went to The Pit and accidentally dropped it in there." Bob rolls his eyes.

"But what is it?" I pry.

"The Pit's just half the name." Ray says lowly, "It's really called The Pit of Monsters. It's where the monsters that even Death can't handle get put."

I blink, "Wait there's worse than the ones on the street?"

"Much worse." Bob mumbles. Frank runs a hand down his face, "Screw it. That thing's gone."

"No, no way!" I argue, "I worked my ass off for just this, I'm not giving up now!"

"Gerard." Ray puts a somber hand on my shoulder, "I don't think you realize just how bad it is in there. Us going in a hell hole like The Pit looking for something as highly prized as The Book of Curses is a death wish."

I scrunch up my nose and look around at the rest of our gang. They all stand around, seemingly in agreement with Ray's judgement. I scoff, "You guys are seriously too scared."

"I'm not scared, I'm just not stupid." Frank raises an innocent hand.

"Well, I am stupid." I put a hand on my hip. "I'm the worst. I'm the biggest dumbass, I have a death wish. Now I'm gonna go get shit done, and undamn my damn brother."

I turn and walk out, flustered, and leave the band of frenemies behind.

~ ~ ~

I growl angrily under my breath as I go up the sidewalk. I stumble to a stop before stomping my foot and crying out, "Dammit, I don't know where it is!"

My brows furrow into one, big disgruntled line as I look around Death for any new bright ideas. As soon as I do a 180 my eyes immediately go to the sky. 

A large black set of wings carry a wriggling form with its strong arms. A Fallen Angel. My expression lifts as the creature takes its victim beyond the buildings.

Could it be? Somebody dropping off another monster for The Pit?

"What a coinc-a-dink." A smile comes to my face as I race to catch up to the traveller.

~ ~ ~

My remaining collared shirt is a mess by the time I'm done running. I hop the fence surrounding Death with a final exasperated wheeze, and flop to the ugly green grass below with a thud.

"Oof." I huff before raising my head.

The Fallen Angel, just yards ahead, sails over the field before releasing the small monster it holds. It falls to the ground and disappears before it can smack into it. I frown as the angel sails away and leaves me behind to wonder.

I hastily push up from the grass and dust off my trashed black pants to run over to investigate. As I pound the ground to get closer to the mystery, I find myself more winded than ever. I've been doing a lot of the fighting on my own, I have to admit that, but it hasn't even been a day! How could I be so tired?

I wish I could ask for help from the guys right about now . . .

But I can't. They don't want to finish anything.

My heavy feet finally plod up to where the creature fell. There's a large, dark, deep hole a foot ahead. Murmurs of voices and animal sounds leak from the bottomless pitch black abyss, leaving my breath to be drowned out.

"Woah." I breathe with wide eyes. "Hello Pit."

I kick a rock into The Pit and listen closely. It falls for a few seconds before there's a thunk and a wave of snarls. I wince, "Sorry!" I call into the hole, voice echoing soon after.

The loudness settles back down to its dissatisfied utterances. I sigh and fall to my knees in the grass. "Maybe I should nap or something before I go in there."

I flop to my side weakly. Yeah. Just a minute. My dark ringed eyes droop groggily before closing shut. I'm out like a light.

It's been days since I slept. I'm in absolute bliss as I can finally rest, and I lay dead still. My clothes are dirty, my hair is greasy, and I'm certain I'm bloating from not drinking enough water or eating much over the past few days. I'm in absolute survival mode, but the only thing I can do about it is keep going.

I suck in a deep breath and take a leap of faith.