What about us

The beginning

Together, cold, hungry. Sitting in the back of an ally way next to a dumpster that smelt like old rotting meat. I'm in my brother's arms for warmth and comfort. Alex has always been there for me, through thick and thin. But what I didn't know was that our duo would soon become just one.

I awoke from my sleep hearing a glass bottle being knocked over. Noticing Alex isn't next to me, I slowly walk towards the bottle. I stop, look at the bottle and listen... cars nearby, rats scuttling around, wait... muffled screams... it's coming from around the corner. Walking towards it and turning the corner only to see Alex being held by 3 large men, all looked like upper class-men wearing all-black clothes. Alex, he has cuts on his face and body, blood is seeping through his dirty clothes. Anger consuming me I run towards him and kick one of the men in the back, only to soon be pinned by the other two men.

"Clare! What were you thinking!?" Alex yelled at me.

"I couldn't just stand there and watch my brother be beaten!" I say, thinking it was obvious.

The man that I had kicked in the back had finally gotten back up, walked towards me and slapped me straight across the left side of my face leaving a red thumping hand print.

"Little bitch!" he crouched down to look me in the eyes, "Are you ready to suffer?"

He turned his head to Alex, took out a pocket knife from the pouch situated on his right leg and walked towards Alex. Alex, lying on the ground, scrambled backwards as the man extended the pocket knife.

"No! Don't hurt him! Please! Leave him alone!" I cried out. Struggling against the strong arms holding me back.

He didn't listen to me. He reached Alex and without any hesitation, he sliced Alex from his left shoulder to his right rib cage, slowly creating more pain with each jagged, rough slice. Alex screamed. I couldn't bare it, his screams hurt to hear, they were like a million little needles hitting me all at once. A waterfall of salty tears flowed from my eyes as the man continued to cut Alex. He continuously stabbed, sliced and tortured him until there was no sign of life left.

"No, no Alex! Alex!" I cry out with pain and anger. The two men released me. Sobbing, I fell to the dirty ground of the ally. Knife in hand, he walked towards me and knelt, lifted my chin with the now bloody pocket knife, to make me look him in the eyes. Now I could see what was truly inside this man, his eyes brown filled with satisfaction, anger and thirst, defined jaw line, scruffy face, dark hair. His t-shirt and dark jeans now shimmered with my brother's blood.

"Now girly... are you going to behave?" I didn't answer him the only thing that was heard is my sobbing, tears rolling down my face. Seeing Alex limp on the ground pail, my blood boiled with both fear and anger but there was nothing I could do. I couldn't hold Alex in my arms or run, these guys are strong and I'm out numbered plus I'm weak from the lack of food and water. I jerk my chin and look to the ground not wanting to give the dark-haired man the satisfaction he wanted. *BANG* a gun was fired and the man in front of me stumbled backwards blood slowly seeping out of the hole in his arm. I watched as the colour drained from his face, he took a gun out of his pocket and looked around the place not knowing where to point it.

"Where are you!? Come out now!" he yelled with anger, still turning around like a dog chasing his tail. *BANG* another shot came from the other side hitting the man on my left and he dropped on the ground wide eyed, he was dead. *BANG* now what was once a trio was now one. The dark-haired man, pail. *BANG* His gun hit the ground and he dropped to his knees holding his bleeding hand that now had a gaping hole through it. *BANG* his body fell backwards and hit the ground. He was dead...

I stared at the man who had just been shot... wait ALEX. I ran to him dropped to my knees next to him, tears falling down my face.

"Clare..."

"Alex! Please... stay with me! I can't lose you..."

He cupped my face with his right hand, "Clare... please... be safe and live... for me...? I-I love you..." tears fell from his eyes as he closed them, took his last breath and his hand dropped.

"No, no, no, Alex... please... NO!" I screamed letting all the pain and anger release from my body, I cried holding his hand to my heart. Once I had calmed down slightly I noticed black boots next to me and I looked up at the figure standing over me. With clouded vision I stand up and back towards the wall of the ally, the man walked towards me. I was now up against the wall terrified then two other figures came from behind him, I clear the tears away from my cheeks trying to see easier. I look up the three men "If you're going to kill me do it."

Silence...... then... laughter....? They were laughing......

The man on the right finally spoke "Let me ask you something, why would we kill you if we just saved you from those three?" he points to the three men lying on the ground dead. The other one had found his composure again and looked at me, the middle guy was silent.

The left man spoke up "so umm... was that your brother...?"

I look to the ground not wanting to see where Alex lay still, a single tear falls, and I nod.

"I'm sorry we couldn't get here sooner..." I looked into his eyes they are green, but they have a lot of sorrow in them almost like he knows what I'm going through. He had red hair and a slim face. The man in the middle had pitch black hair like midnight his eyes were grey like the smoke from fire. The man on the right had blond hair and bright blue eyes. They all had the biggest bodies I had ever seen, their arm muscles almost ripping though their leather jackets. They also had jeans and black boots on. After looking at those three, reality hit me again. Alex... he was gone, three men had just been killed before me. My eyes widened in terror, I dropped to the ground, brought my knees to my chest as tight as I could. Meanwhile I didn't realise that I was shaking.