Maintaining Me

Chapter 4 Leave it to the Big Boys

I cool off before heading back inside. The site is brutal.

“Are these walls sound proof,” Keegan grimaces at the sight.

I give him props for not soiling himself.

“That, and the club is pretty loud,” I smirk. This room has seen many terrifying acts.

Theodore, the man we captured, had gashes all down his body and his hand was smashed.

John had taken off his shirt to administer the torture.

“He tell you anything?” I softly ask.

“Nope,” John frowns and picks up a gun.

I lean against the wall and pout. Theodore screams as John hits him. There has to be a way to end this, I just haven’t figured out how.

“Keegan,” I callout to him.

He grabs my hand and we step outside the door.

“There is a boy at the bar,” I tell him, “on his shoulder is a metal pin with ‘TH’ on it. Get him over here.”

I leave him and barge back into the room.

“Tell us who is trying to kill John,” I snarl into the face of Theodore.

He spits blood on me and I jump back in disgust.

“Pathetic, girl,” he sneers, “I can’t wait to teach you a lesson.”

I grab the gun and launch myself at Theodore.
“You won’t get a chance too, dumb-“

I silence myself as Keegan walks in. I take a step back and breathe deeply.

“Now tell me,” I point the gun in his face.

“You won’t do it, little girl,” he laughs, “you don’t have the guts.”

I swing my arm over to the new face.
I don’t know how Keegan accomplished it, but he got the guy I needed.

“Tell me or I shoot your right hand man,” I threaten. My arm shakes at the weight of the gun, but I stare fearlessly into Theodore’s eyes. “Tell me!” I shout.

He hesitates, but stubbornly shakes his head. He doesn’t believe I will do it.

I give John a subtle glance. His pale features terrify me.

We can’t keep doing this.

I shoot.

I clench my jaw as I focus on Theodore, and not on the body folding to the ground.

The force vibrates up my arm and tears into my shoulder, but I remain strong as I stare coldly into Theodore’s shocked eyes.

“Tell me,” I growl.

“You are going to regret that, girl,” amusement no longer fills his eyes.

I just shot someone.

“Who is messing with us?” I repeat icily.

Theodore lifts his chin and gives me a wicked smirk.

“John was just the beginning, but you,” he scoffs, “you are the target.” He glowers at the body at my feet.

“You are going to go insane,” he suddenly laughs, then focuses on me, “and I can’t wait to see you die, bitc-“

I shoot him.

I blink at my hand and drop the gun. There is blood all over the room and I turn away to not see the sight, but then I see the first body.

I just killed two men.

“May,” an arm snakes around me. “I’m going to get her some air,” he says to someone and maneuvers me from the room.

We are back in the alley and I slump against the wall.

“Why did you do it?” Keegan asks.

I look up at him wide eyed and wonder if I scared him.

I am surprised to see worry instead of hatred in his eyes.

“I-“ I stay quiet and focus on the corner of the alley. I didn’t want to be judged by what had to be done.

“He wasn’t going to tell us anything,” I rub my hurt arm. I never shoot correctly, which is a habit I need to break. “If we released him he would have done much worse. To everyone, not just me.”

“I mean about the first guy, why’d you shoot him?” He asks.

I straighten up at the pity in Keegan’s voice. He is the weak one, not me. I will not allow him to comfort me; I am stronger than that.

“I had to show Theodore that I wasn’t playing around. That I won’t let him, or whoever else playing this sick game, to mess with me,” I explain.

Keegan takes a step away from me and stares at his feet.

“Go home, Keegan,” I sigh and he obediently follows.

I wait a few minutes for John to finish cleaning up. It takes longer than expected due to the extra body, and I silently head home.