It was like I was underwater. Everything around me was crystal clear; broken pieces, flying fists, dripping blood, yet no noise could be heard. The only audible sound was the pounding of my heart.
Thump. Thump thump.
No emotion could be fathomed whatsoever; No pain, no sadness, no regret. Nothing. Just me, the beating of heart and the fog that lay beyond.
Thump thump thump. Thump thump thump thump.
I couldn’t move, my thoughts the only thing in motion.
Dante. My brother. Me. Life. Death.
My gaze grew unfocused at the flashing green lights on my wrist - 4:00.
Thump thump thump thump thump. Thump thump thump thump thump thump.
4 days until death.
Mine or his.
Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thu-
“Kat!” I jolted out of my trance at the sound of my brother’s voice, agony agony agony scribbled all over it.
Whirling around, I cried aloud as Dante lifted his knee up to knee Ali in the balls, his hands pinning my brother against the wall.
“Stop!” I ran forwards towards the pair, stumbling over my own feet, “Please!”
I could feel myself before thrust backwards and up into the air as I slipped on a fallen script, landing on my butt with a resounding smack. Dante instantly froze and looked over, the hint of worry in his eyes disappearing as quickly as it came.
“Please,” I whispered, my voice hoarse.
The notorious glazed look appeared once again and Dante turned back to my brother, lifting his knee up and finishing the deed. I covered my face as I heard my brother let out a sharp yell of pain, a loud thwunk following as he fell onto his knees.
No no no no no nononono
I buried my face into my palm, willing the tears that were pooling to stop. I could still hear a cacophony of bangs, thwacks and thuds alike, the sound of my brother’s friends cries harmonizing with Ali’s - like some sort of sick, twisted melody.
Sobbing into my hands, I continued to squeeze my eyes shut, attempting to block out the world around me.
Helpless little coward.
At last, the noise abated and the pain subsided, leaving silence. I cracked open a small peephole with my fingers, seeing that the commotion was over. Removing my hands from my face, I caught sight of Dante and his minions grouping together in the middle.
“Let’s go,” I bit down on my lower lip at the sound of Dante’s voice.
I watched unblinkingly as his friends piled out of the room one by one. A hand suddenly clamped around my wrist, tugging me up back onto my feet. Twisting my head and catching a familiar pair of brown eyes, I writhed my arm out of his grasp.
“I’m sorry,” Dante whispered, a defeated look in his eyes.
“No,” I clenched my fists in an attempt to keep my voice from shaking, “You’re not.”
“I had to,” He lifted a finger to wipe a tear from my cheek, which I slapped away.
“That’s a lie and we both know it,” I turned away from him, not wanting to stare at him one second longer.
YOU ARE READING
Bad Blood
Short Story"A soul for a soul." The last thing Katerina Manning expected was to die at the age of 16. Having lived a short and unfulfilling life, she would do anything for a chance to live again. So when Death turns up with a deal that gives her just that, sh...
