The Degenerates - Under Edit

t h i r t y f i ve

I stood with my arms crossed over my chest, shivering. It was 11pm, my breath a misty white when I exhaled. I gripped Trey's phone in my hand, and whilst I was near freezing, my palms sweated.

Trey didn't mind giving me his password a while ago, and I was lucky to have remembered it when I searched for one of Theo's many phone numbers, to which I quickly used Lila's phone to call whilst she was in the shower. One the third different number, it rang through.

"Walk with a gap between you and I," Theo suddenly emerged from the hotel building with a dark outfit on. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked casually in front of me.

The street was lit with street lamps, and despite the cold weather, and time of night, a few people ventured about. It was a Friday night, I supposed even in Alsbury people wanted to get on. There were a few bars and places around, but I found it hard to believe there could be a nightclub nearby.

I followed him until he entered a bar. There were few windows, and the interior appeared dimly lit. I stood outside a moment, checking the phone as if I were meeting someone, and went inside.

Theo sat in the corner, seated on a brown leather booth seat, the surface cracked and old like dry desert earth. I slid in across from him. Theo waved his hand at the bartender, who nodded at him. I wasn't surprised he knew him.

Moments later, two glasses were brought over by the man, ice and a clear liquid occupying the bottom half of the glass.

"You a gin person?" Theo asked.

I nodded, "I don't mind it."

"I prefer dark liquor, but I considered this a special occasion, so I think gin is more fitting."

I took a swift sip and then put my glass down, "You knew Lila dated James, why didn't you just say so?"

Theo shrugged, "Thought it'd be fun for you to find out."

I resisted from rolling my eyes, "Whatever. Listen, the police - they're following me."

Theo cocked an eyebrow, "You bitch,"

I stiffened at him, "Fuck off, Theo."

"You brought me here knowing you were being tailed, how stupid can you get?"

I smiled and laughed, as if he said something funny, before looking around to see if anyone were paying attention, "They're close, they know James and Trey have disappeared."

Theo smiled warmly at me for show, "I'm going to rip your throat out if I get caught in this,"

I suppressed the alarm bells going off in my head, I needed Theo. He was all I had left.

"Theo, I need your help."

"Don't bet on it."

I laughed again, but gritted my teeth, "The police are catching on to all of us."

Theo reached for my hand across the table, holding it, "I could kill you right now, and no one would catch on to anything."

I tried to smile, but it faltered, my voice came out urgent, "I swear I will do anything you say, we are running out of time."

Theo ticked this over in his head, "What do you know?"

"Theo, I don't know if this person was going for the brothers..."

"What the fuck do you mean? They're both dead, obviously someone..."

"I mean that I think they want someone else, someone that both boys' were connected with,"