Burying the Hatchet (COMPLETED)

Ambush

Eli leans her head on Fray’s left shoulder while fidgeting with his hand. They were comfortably sitting on the sofa feeling the homey vibe at the REVIVAL secret base. Talking about trivial stuff comes to mind.

“Don’t you miss home? What’s his name again?”

“Flint, my older brother. I do, it’s been ages since we last spoke and it didn’t end well,” he said with a sad tone.

She straightens up as if a major revelation hit her, “Let me guess, you fought about a girl?” all smiles oozing with confidence.

“We did,” then he touches the tip of her nose wearing that quirky smile. While she pushes him away-obviously jealous, “it’s our mom.” After hearing that she felt ashamed of herself. “I’ll tell you a bit of my history with him and Zane. But promise not to laugh okay?”

Her nod was his cue to continue. Tucking her in beside him, gently drumming his fingers against her shoulder. Still contemplating where to start his story.

***

Mid-August 4017

“Ray how many times do I have to tell you off about your games? You’re a grown man for goodness sake.” His father’s voice thundered at the dinner table. The grinding of knife against the porcelain plate is torture to his ears. It’s as if his father’s words are cutting through him as a knife would on his medium rare steak. Revealing a pinkish meat with streaks of fresh blood he likes so much.

“Dad don’t sweat the little details. It was just Ray’s way of relieving stress from work. Which on that note, he’s on top of everything.” Then he flashed an all knowing smile at his younger brother- reassuring him.

“Flint, that’s why he never learns. You’re still babysitting his a**. If your mom was around…I bet she’ll do the same and I will always end up as the villain here,” he said it as if he was always the victim.

The dinner table quaked a little as Ray’s fist slammed against it. “Sorry to burst your bubble dad. But don’t speak so dearly about mom as if she died a peaceful death. She left us because you cheated on her, for the sake of your folly business. She died running away from your demons. Her blood is on your hands, you killed her!” he shouted with no reservations.

“You insolent child!” His lumpy stature standing up is enough evidence of what luxurious life he had led. But the wrinkles on his face shows that his years were not kind to him. His gray hair, he blames entirely on Ray for all the mishaps he purposely did- just to get into his nerves.

“I have never seen someone with a set of sparkly eyes yet life drained out of them. Flint really does takes after you. And it scares me to death seeing it every day. Being apart is the only way for this family to survive. Consider me dead too, as I walk out that door.” He points at it with conviction.

Flint’s jaw dropped at the sight. Convincing himself that this is not happening. Yet if he peeled deeper into his heart, a budding joy swells in it. Which his mind readily rejects. He loves his brother more than anything in the world.

He grabbed Ray on both shoulders facing him.”Don’t be selfish! just because you have your future laid out after you. I gladly gave it up for you because you’re the closest thing I have left of mom. Please don’t do this to me Ray,” he pleads.

Ray slowly removes Flint’s grasp from him.”I’m giving back your life Flint, live it well for both of us. Spoil me this selfishness while I’m still young. Allow me to make mistakes and learn from them. So that when the time is right, I know the value of what I have. Not just because somebody gave it to me.”

***

“Dude I have nothing against you staying with us but are you sure about this?” Zane still can’t believe Fray would just run away from home like that. He thinks it’s a shallow reason.

Ray just stares at the ceiling with a peaceful smile pasted on his face. At nineteen, he definitely have nothing planned out. Not that the life he just abandoned is even worth considering. He wanted to build his identity from ground up, away from the shadow of his father’s name. Also the suffocating affection he gets from his older brother.

“You’re one lucky bastard to be born rich and you’re just throwing it away. While some work their asses off just for scraps.” He was referring to himself in context.

Finally, Ray rises and sits comfortably on the top part of a bunk bed. Breathing his first polluted air of freedom. “Zane thanks for this, even if you’re a blabber mouth and would not stop talking me out of this. My decision’s final. I am not my family’s son anymore, I’m just plain old Ray.” Satisfaction is written all over his face as he collapses to a stiff bed. But he’s got no complaints.

“You living in the slums in unimaginable. I bet many girls will cry their eyeballs out hearing the news soon.”

“Knock it off already. We have so much in our hands. That said, I need to find a job first thing tomorrow. So can you be a darling and let me sleep?”

Zane just raised his hands in surrender and went out to get water rations.

***

She then breaks out from the hug, pushes him and bites her lower lip in disappointment. “If I could be honest, you were too shallow for leaving home, ” Eli said in a darker tone. “At least you still have a home to go back to, while I don’t. They love you, they’re just not sure how to show it.” Hard knock but it’s the truth.

“Where were you three years ago?” Fray scoot over and their foreheads touch. Each breath is a sweet temptation. The air around them is tense, displaying the irrevocable attraction between them.

“I was cooped up in my rooming staying up late clearing the 100th level of A Reaper’s Diary.” She then gives him a peck on the lips.

“You really are something else.”

She wiggles her brows, “I know.”

“Announcement to all REVIVAL members kindly proceed to the arena. Thank you.”

“What’s that about? it’s the first time I’m hearing this.” Eli all puzzled up.

“Either of the three; intruders, moles getting caught and a public execution.”

Without wasting time they proceeded to the arena. When they arrive the arena is swarmed by people as expected. Speculating about the latest tea. Outside REVIVAL people wouldn’t even dare talk to each other in person. While in there their mouths are well versed in gossip. It has become second nature to breahing.

“There’s a mole inside REVIVAL and I brought the mastermind with him. For all of you to see and not take after their example.” Trei clicked her tongue and two captives were thrown on the floor with sacks on their head. The dust from the arena clouded the area for a moment. Making the reveal all the more suspenseful. She purses her lips this time, telling her men to take off their head covers.

Everyone was cheering except two people- Fray and Eli. She knew the other one so well, like it was not news to her while the other was a complete stranger. Though he closely resembles someone. She could feel him shaking next to her. It was almost a whisper but she heard it well.

“Flint.”

His brother.

“I don’t know how Zane could still look smug like that? There was really something strange about him from the start and I was right. A traitor, but your brother…how can he do this to you?” Eli fired those questions non-stop that add up to the tension Fray’s already struggling to ignore.

“Shut up!” He lunged at her for the first time she didn’t know he was capable of. The sweet and quirky Fray is long gone, he’s someone else now. Clouded with confusion and tormented by anger.

“I’m sorry, I was just…” Trembling due to shock, collapsed herself on the nearby bench.

“I thought you were just after money or is this still about money?” Trei went closer to Zane to whisper that at the same biting his left ear.

“Take your pick sl*t,” he replied with emphasis on the last word which earned him a kick on the balls. Though he smiles enjoying the rough sensation.

“And you my dear, a conceited and goody-two-shoes son and brother. You think you can win against me?” Flint tilted his head to stare at Fray from a far then spitted at Trei, “I already did.”

Before they knew it everyone was in a panic. A blue smoke enveloped the whole arena. Almost zero visibility but after a minute the smoke retreated on its own. Though the threat doesn’t end there but only gotten worse. Most people turned into rabid animals. Blackish blue veins stemming out of their faces and body. Salivating and walking in zigzag motion. Eyes dilated and skin getting crisp. The pair of men holding Flint and Zane in place were no exemption. While the two captives remain unscathed, including Trei, Eli and Fray. Somewhat resistant to the effect the smoke left.

“Retreat!” Trei shouts with all her might. Flint and Zane ran after her but they failed. A thick and impenetrable glass wall emerged between them that she was able to regroup with Fray and Eli. Somehow winging it on behalf of a sudden attack.