The Rift

Chapter Thirty-Four: Phoenix

NOW

(Back to David POV)

"And that's that", Nathaniel finally finishes his story, sitting in a chair in front of me as I am held at gunpoint on the couch.

It all makes sense. Nathaniel wanted revenge, so he decided "why not let other people do my dirty work?" He had two of my friends do vile, unforgivable things just to get even with me and all of Haven, but mostly me. I rest my hands on the sofa, curling up my fists in anger.

"Four innocent people are dead...because of you", I growl at Nathaniel with a slight quiver in my voice, shooting him a glare.

"Well, yeah", he chuckles, "Five if you count that guy bleeding out over by the gate. Oh! And if you're wondering why I had Cody and Lisbeth take your little girlfriend to the mall, I just needed them to draw you away from here. I wanted this to be a surprise."

"You're going to pay for this, and just like last time you're gonna lose", I hiss, "and this time I'm going to kill you."

Nathaniel lowers the revolver in his right hand onto his lap, looks at me and then breaks into maniacal laughter. I stare in seriousness as Nathaniel throws his head back and forth, cackling. He finally calms down and looks at me, "No you're not. But you know what you are going to do? You're going to apologize."

I lean forward and growl, "I'm not apologizing for shit."

Nathaniel sighs loudly while shaking his head, then reaches behind his back and pulls out a small walkie talkie from his pocket.

"You see this?", he asks, "If you don't apologize to me for the pain you've caused me for a year, I will tell my comrades to shoot all of those people lined up in the street, including the baby. It's your choice, David."

My heart rate starts to pick up, and I sit in silence, staring at the walkie talkie.

"Seriously, David, all it takes is one push of a button. If you want all your friends to die horrible deaths, then so be it", Nathaniel menacingly tells me.

"Okay, okay...", I mutter loudly, "I'm...sorry."

Nathaniel smiles and says, "See? Now, was that so-?"

"I'm not finished", I interrupt, "I'm sorry...that I didn't kill you when I had the chance."

I don't feel any sort of regret after what I say to him. I was so stupid for not killing him a year ago when the war was going on. Maybe I shouldn't have listened to Grace even after all that she told me.

Nathaniel chuckles, only giving a slight smile. I don't even see it coming when he swings his right arm and strikes me across the bridge of my nose with the butt of his revolver. My head swings back and a surge of pain erupts in my face, already feeling the blood starting to run down from my nostrils. Nathaniel grabs me by the collar of my jacket and yanks me off of the sofa, then swings me around and throws me down towards the living room floor with such force that I crash through the glass coffee table.

Small pieces of glass pierce the back of my neck as the air is knocked out of my chest. I lay on the carpeted floor in defeat, panting with blood on my neck and the front of my gray jacket. My nose is definitely broken.

Nathaniel stands over me with spots of blood on his white long-sleeved shirt, pressing a heavy boot on my throat. It's not enough to cut off my air yet.

"Have you had enough, David?!", he shouts down at me, "Honestly, when are you gonna stop? Stop acting like you're some tough son of a bitch when you're not. You are weak, just like the rest of this wretched community."