Adrift

10

Aoi Ishiki

Three naked boys are kneeling on the river. The streaming waters and the biting cold leaves them shaking on their knees. Several motorists from earlier stomps their foot towards their backs, keeping them from standing. A tight knot holds their wrists together on their backs. Uncle's men place moldy rugs inside the boys' mouths.

The other lie inverted up in the air. Their heads are inches closer to the running waters of the river. Saliva sprinkles out of their mouths as they ask for forgiveness. Tightly tied up with a rope are their skinny shins. The rope is on a branch that is continuously being pulled down by the motorists to raise their bodies.

Freakishly tall guy's eyes pace around all over the place. I can tell he's not sure what's happening or if he is, he's thinking of ways to run away. This is why normal people avoid me. 

"Aren't these guys your trainees?" I ask my Uncle. He huffs billows of smoke from his cigar before responding, "No, no, no. Just affiliates from another gang." He waves his hand downwards, gesturing his men to drop the rope.

"I don't think those are necessary."

"These guys could have killed you."

The three bullies scream as they crash towards the water. One of Uncle's men approaches them and loosens the rope tied on their legs. Freakishly tall guy faces me and parts his lips.

"What's going on Ishiki-san?" he asks. I widen my eyes, taken aback from his knowledge of my name. "Eh?" I mumble in confusion. He continues to look at me with his emotionless eyes.

"How do you know my name?"

"Everyone knows you in school." The nonchalance from his response gives me discomfort. So he's from my school? How come I have never seen him before? To be fair, I never bothered to socialize. Still, I would have remembered someone who looks like him.

"Mhm, you haven't told me what's going on, Aoi. How did you end up with these idiots huh? Daichi was so angry when I asked him to join us, says you guys are up to some kind of reform. This just seems like the old you." My Uncle cuts in with a scolding.

I heave out a deep sigh before explaining myself, "I was protecting my friends the first time around. Earlier, I tried to behave and was going to escape the scene, then your men appeared scaring the hell out of me." I lower my head towards my shoe, my voice diminishes in loudness as I complete my sentence. Uncle wipes his chin and nods.

"It can't be helped then."

Uncle saunters to the river and kicks one of the crawling bullies on the face. Blood runs down from his nostrils. Uncle starts out his loud maniacal cackles. His shoulders shake as he laughs. He continues striking the bully's face.

"There's no need for that!" I scream. His men held his arms and pull him away. The boy lies down on the water with his eyes and nose releasing a continuous flow of blood. The waves wash over his face, yet the blood continues to flow out. His companions lift him up but they all fall back down as they try.

"Let's go home, Aoi." Uncle mutters as he pats my head.

I scoot inside Uncle's Prius together with two suited men. Beside me is the freakishly tall guy. His eyes stay fixed with the dead expression, yet they're not blinking. My eyes observe him through the front mirror. He catches up on this and stares back.

"What's your name?" I whisper, my head still facing the front mirror. He does not shift his position either and responds shortly, "Tatsuya."

Tatsuya requests to drop off near a district hospital. I watch him saunter towards the entrance as the view of him slides away with the car drifting away.