The Degenerates - Under Edit

t h i r t y t w o

Trey's mind erupted with possibilities, and his theories endless. His voice being scattered as he tried to piece the plot together, but it was as if I were not there, and he were talking to himself.

"Brad attempted to set the room on fire in an attempt to rid the evidence of his drug use, right? Theo supplied him. Theo would have held this over his head, and forced him to join the gang with him and James, so, as a part of the initiation, much like his brother, he had to set some things alight."

I pondered over this in my head, "The Pavilion, the Manor. They were all apart of a fee to join the gang?"

Trey moved hurriedly as we had left his car and were rushing toward the warehouse, "Brad set those fires."

"Are you a hundred percent sure?" I asked, following his quick footsteps, but still carrying a slight limp, "It's not like we have completely solid proof-"

Trey stopped abruptly, "Neijla, I was in the group. I don't need proof, I know it."

I hurried stiffly behind him, hoping he knew what he was going on about. Before he advanced any further, his face changed, like he had an epiphany. He looked down at me suddenly, his eyes chaotic.

"Neijla, you can't be here,"

"What?"

"Get back in the car," he wrapped his hand around my arm and changed my direction, "you absolutely cannot be here."

"Lay off, Trey, I know where we are, we've been here before."

Trey pushed me into the surface of a bush, suddenly inches from my face, "Do you not remember why I am so pissed off with you?"

"Because you get shitty when I don't do as I am told?"

"Because you distract me, and then someone gets hurt," he growls, "stay put, wait until I'm done, and I will take you home and you can forget about all of this."

With that, he spins and leaves me to freeze, not yet at the car, but in the middle of the shrubbery in the dark.

I couldn't decide which was worse; how angry he is, or how hurt.

I tried not to think about what would happen after I went home tonight, or this morning, rather. How Trey would kick me out of the car and never speak to me again, leaving me in a trail of dust as he speeds off.

I start to lose feeling in my toes and I walk around a little to try and warm up. As the minutes pass, I feel more and more instinctual towards the warehouse. I am being drawn back to the structure before I can realise my legs are moving.

I duck behind a shrub; because Trey seeing me would be worse than anything that is in that warehouse.

I find the entrance and I duck outside, just in earshot of the interior. Their voices are hushed, but they echo and bounce of the empty space within.

Trey was grasping the shred of football jacket we found tarnished in the library corridor. He was showing it to Theo, speaking expressively, getting into his face. Theo doesn't seem bothered at first, and there is even a slight smirk on his face, but that changes abruptly.

I wasn't sure whether Trey had sparked a nerve, or Theo had just had enough. He swipes at Trey, his fist connecting with his face.

Electricity erupts through me and I choke at the vision unfolding before me. I hold a hand over my mouth.

Theo suddenly seems stronger than Trey, and he grasps his neck with one hand, gritting his teeth and seething something at him. Trey's jacket is taut with his back and arms at full strength prying Theo's hand off.