Everything's Gotta Be Love or Death by Stephen Cooper

Author:Stephen Cooper [Cooper, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Splatploitation Press

Beg For Your Life

Mal tugged at the door, but, of course, it wouldn’t open.

Brandon mockingly twirled the keys in his fingers as a not so subtle reminder that the door was well and truly locked.

It was the first time in his life where he felt he had the power over Mal, and it was exhilarating. Mal was utterly helpless, while Brandon quite literally held the key to his survival. He was beginning to understand why people got off on this stuff.

Mal took a step back and readied to throw himself against the door as his desperation grew, but Vince grabbed him from behind like a shopkeeper catching some little brat thieving, and flung him back towards the sofa. He landed atop the red-head, who still hadn’t moved.

Mal instinctively climbed back to his feet, ready to try and fight his way out. Forget fight or flight; he’d unfortunately need to do both. Looking Vince up and down, Mal came to what had to be a very obvious conclusion.

It wasn’t a fair fight, or one he could win. But he had to try.

He darted towards Vince, wildly swinging his fists as if hoping for any kind of decent connection, but none arrived. Vince easily snatched Mal’s wayward arm and twisted it high behind his back, making Mal yelp, before throwing him back to the floor with a shake of the head.

Pathetic attempt.

With Mal on the ground, Brandon joined in the abuse, both of them repeatedly kicking him, cracking a couple more ribs to add to the already messed up ones. By the time they were done, Mal was once again struggling for breath, and had to be contemplating the very real possibility of death.

“Well, that was stupid,” Brandon joked, as he punted Mal in the side one last time.

“You don’t need to do this, Brandon,” Mal pleaded, between struggled breaths and a burst of tears.

The words caught in his throat, but Brandon understood them just fine.

Mal was right; Brandon didn’t need to do this… but he wanted too.

His warped grin told Mal as much, along with the fact Cole was lying dead at his feet. Whatever their friendship once was, it was no more. And whoever Brandon used to be had clearly left the building. All Mal could see now was some bullying corrupted stranger occupying the shell which used to belong to his life-long friend.

Life-long takes on a different meaning when you’re at the end of it.

Brandon could tell what Mal was thinking. He had the same look of betrayal in his eyes Cole had before Vince stuck a fucking knife into one.

No take-backs.

They weren’t friends anymore.

Not too long ago, maybe Brandon would have taken a bullet for Mal or Cole, but it would only have been because he deemed his own life completely worthless, rather than some noble loyalty bullshit.

Now, he wouldn’t piss on them if they were on fire. He’d seen the truth. How they had used him. How they looked down on him. How he meant nothing to them.

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