Shallows Creek: Requiem Of The Guilty

Rumble In The Alley

The sound of the gunshot in the narrow alley resonates bouncing off the walls, Lockheart standing dumbfounded he had never fired his pistol before not even for practice, there is a small hole in his coat where the pistol fired and the bullet made it's exit the edges burnt from the gunpowder. While Lockheart gathers himself the three ruffians look each other up and down to their surprise no one was shot they now turn their attention towards Lockheart furious they pounce on him like a pack of starving wolves. The brute was the first to reach Lockheart raising his fist he brings it down with force striking Lockheart on the cheek sending his spectacles hurtling towards the ground, now dazed and stumbling Lockheart stumbles back but is met with the wall, his face hurt a burning sensation on his cheek he knew there was no chance of winning this fight. The portly man is up next with his fat meaty hands wrap around Lockheart's arms in one motion yanking him down belly first onto the dirty stone ally floor. Dazed and reeling from these vicious blows Lockheart still hanging in there his mind still working on a way out of this mess, he begins to crawl desperate to make an escape but as he moves forward a light foot comes down in the center of his back.

"Ayyyy where do you think you're going we aren't done with you yet." Lockheart knows that's the voice of the thin man with pale lips his foot now pressed deep into Lockheart's back digging his heel in making Lockheart wince.

The brute kneels down and wraps humongous his hand around the back of Lockheart's neck, his grip tightens pulling Lockheart's face up to meet his gaze.

"We lost a good mate last night." The brute looks down the alley.

"He was cut down, throat sliced like hog and left to rot in this alley." He pauses looks up to his friends with what one could call sadness in his eye's.

"His name was Johnny Two Nickel's and you want to know what you bobby's did with him?" His face now uncomfortably close now his eyes burning with rage.

He opens his hand up brings it back then swings open palmed directly into Lockheart's cheek. The stinging pain almost brings a tear to Lockheart but he remains resolved he will not bow to these man or show weakness he refuses to be helpless again he just needs to bid his time and hope they make a mistake.

"You bobby's just dragged his carcasses and dumped em in the river they said there is no time for scum just throw him out and let the fish have him." If Lockheart didn't know better he could swear he saw a tear roll down the brute's cheek, for a moment he felt sorry for these men.

"I am sorry I had no idea there was a second murder if I had known I...…." The brute cuts Lockheart short.

"Shut it you don't care you just want us to stop." The large brute snaps at Lockheart . Behind the men a fire has started to gain life it seems Lockhearts lighter has started a fire which is gaining life by the second, the men turn to the flaming pile of refuse the brute still having Lockheart in his grasp.

The thin man decides to kick the burning pile sparks shoot into the air the smell from the burning pile is awful, Lockheart flinches at the sight of the flames.

"You don't like fire huh put his face in it!" The thin man shouts to the others with a nod the brute holding Lockheart's head begins to drag him closer to the flame, closer and closer the flames are almost licking at his face now Lockheart's eye's now wide open in terror.

The smoke enters Lockheart's mouth first causing him to cough and gag. Tears now leaking from his eye's the smoke burning them the chocking smoke, blistering heat all remind him of that day his vision blurs he can't breath. No please mommy are his last thoughts before he slips from consciousness.