The Rot

Chapter Four.

"Saphie first," moaned Keelin.

"Just come over here!" shouted Jacob.

Keelin walked carefully towards Jacob and put his wrist steadily in Jacob's hand. Jacob swiftly made cuts in their wrists and held them briefly together so their blood mingled.

"Saphie my dearest! It's your turn," said Jacob.

"Umm... are you sure this is safe, Jacob my love? What if you cut an artery?" asked Saphie.

"Don't worry, honey. If anything happens to you I'll be here to help," said Jacob with a smile.

Keelin felt sick with jealousy.

"OK." Saphie went over to Jacob and they exchanged blood, just as Keelin had done.

No sooner was the operation finished than the door burst open and six unshaved thugs- covered in scars and tattoos- burst into the room. It was Huddez and his gang- though they were hidden behind hoodies and snapbacks.

Grabbing the first weapon that came into sight, Keelin stabbed one of the gang members with a laboratory knife. The gang were so shocked by what happened, they froze for a few seconds. That was enough. The two brothers jumped over the lifeless body of the thug on the floor and pelted out of the door.

The ground outside was cold and wet. The trees were leaning over them and the moon shed the only light. Jacob stopped running.

"What the hell have you stopped for?" demanded Keelin.

"How many of us are there?" asked Jacob. "I thought she was behind us."

They glanced at each other in horror and started to run back to the lab. As they got there they could see the Huddez gang screaming and shouting at Saphie.

Jacob went after one of the gang, smashing a beaker and jabbing one of the gang with the broken pieces. Keelin, determined to help but only having his bare hands to fight with, attacked the smallest person he could see. After pushing him over, he grabbed a knife from his belt and sliced him down the face with a razor sharp blade.

Seething this and believing they were being attacked by lunatics, Huddez and the remaining members of the gang fled out of the old lab into the cold woodlands. In the chaos, however, they managed to keep hold of Saphie.