It’s midday in Flint Michigan, the skies permanently grey as it has been for the past week, the air’s as dry and chilly as ever, and the neighbourhood in which the two men are still in is as desolated as ever. Returning home from a secret meeting he had with his homeboys and crew, Eric’s in a state of worry. Drowning in this emotion, coming inside through the front door, he wonders what his nephew’s up to, he hasn’t been answering his uncles calls. Eric called him four times in the last hour, but nothing, not even a text back.

“What could that boy be up to? Damn he’s making me worry.”

Eric made his way to the stairs, walking up and heading towards Angela’s room. Arriving and opening the door, the first thing he saw was the bed all messed up and Jack absent.

“Huh? Where could’ve he wandered off to? Fucking Jack.”

Eric closed the door and went back downstairs to Jack’s room, presuming he might be in there instead. His uncle went inside his room and found it vacant too, making the big guy rub his head in frustration. Eric didn’t have time for Jack’s games. He power walked through the home, searching it from his starting point and to the backyard. Jack’s nowhere to be found, and it made Eric grunt loudly, feeling the urge to punch something closeby. He’s in the backyard, glancing around and taking a glimpse at Randolph’s grave, clenching a fist.

Where is that dumbass boy?! Don’t tell me they took him away! Eric thought.

There’s one more place he could find his nephew, the last place he might find Jack. “The garage, he might be in there!” Eric ran back into the house, and headed to the garage.

Opening the door and rushing in, he was quick to almost trip over something. He prevented himself from falling flat on his abs and grunted in anger. Eric looks back and finally finds Jack passed out against the wall close to the door.

Jack snored and drooled as Eric spotted that dreaded pill bottle in his hand. “You motha fucka man!” He kicks Jack hard and manages to wake him up, temporarily.

Jack snorted and rubbed his eyes but the young man’s still high out the rear. “Huh… who goes…?”

Seeing his nephew in this dumb state made the big guy pop out a vien of the purest frustrations. Jack’s basically showing to his uncle that he lied to him that day he almost went crazy hiding his emotions and contradicting everything he promised on. The big guy had enough and grew tired of Jack’s games of manipulation and let it out by punching the wall next to him.

Quickly though, Eric regained his composure to look like the bigger man in this situation. “Wake up.” said Eric in a calm tone.

Jack responded by flailing his hand at his uncle. Eric made a face of confinement, preventing his emotions from getting the best of him. Instead he balled his fists to fight the anger swelling up inside to not make Jack go into another crazy state.

“Get yo ass up!” Eric slightly raised his voice to help Jack listen, but it didn’t do anything.

Jack softly chuckled and slid to the right, falling to his side.

Eric twitched an eye and went to his nephew, grabbing him. “Wake—up! Get up you dummy!”

Eric shook Jack, even sitting him up straight. He’s getting nothing out of the young man, actually it seemed as if he’s losing his nephew to whatever drug he’s consumed. Eric grew weary of Jack’s charade and lifted him off the ground to stand on his feet, but the big guy didn’t notice that his nephew had abruptly grabbed an empty glass bottle that was beside him. Once standing straight on his feet, meeting face to face with his uncle, Jack shocked Eric by swinging that empty bottle of alcohol at him.

Jack muttered words as he swung the bottle uncontrollably. Eric stood back watching his nephew act a fool. The young man brought his action to a stop, chuckling and attempting to slide back down to the floor.

Eric grabbed him before making contact with the floor again. “Snap out of it, why is you acting so stupidly?!”

Jack wiggled his head and looked down. “Nope! I’m tired dude… so let me just sleep for two more hours, alright?! I needs sleep…”

Eric’s had enough, giving Jack a mighty elbow to his gut. Jack coughs and feels all his senses come back to him.

“Jesus christ! Wh-What’s your problem?” He rubs his chest and coughs again, “Fucking hell! Almost knocked the wind out of me man…”

Eric grabs the pills out of Jack's hand, “What’s wrong with you man! What happened to all that motivation shit yesterday? Huh! Or were you just lying and being a useless bitch as always.”

Jack smacked his lips and looked away. “I-I, I don’t know what to—”

“What! Don’t tell me you can’t answer shit again. And that bottle, were the pills not enough that you had to resort to drinking like a bum, fucking pathetic.”

“Tch…” Jack tries walking away from Eric’s harsh words, but his uncle stops him and pushes him hard enough to fall on the ground.

“You ain’t going nowhere. You’re just at the start of your intervention, Jack.”

“Just let me go man, I-I needed those pills to relax, and I thought combining them with booze would make it more soothing.”

“You mean these?” Eric tosses the bottle on the ground and stomps on them, grinding them in the process. “Tell me Jack, what type of pills are these? I know I’ve been putting a blind eye to your ‘Secret’ addiction, but enough's enough. What have you been taking for the past two years?”

Jack sighs and tries reaching for the grinded powdered pills like some desperate junkie. “They’re—opioids… Happy now?”

Hearing his nephew tell him the truth of what substance he’s been consuming for two years made Eric’s face be consumed in utter disappointment. His eyebrows furrowed, the edge of his lips raised, showing his hidden pearl white anger to Jack, Eric’s furious. He can’t contain his emotions anymore and finally snaps.

Before he can release his swelling anger, Jack snorted the powder right in front of him. “Would you let me get the rest of the powder and snort it so I can relax?”

A vein popped out of his forehead and Eric stomped on Jack's hand, grabbing his hair to unleash his frustrations at last. “Opioids?! You stupid fool! Don’t you have any idea how many folks have died by those shits?!”

Jack grins like a madman on the brink of having a mental breakdown. “Don’t you know how many people I’ve killed? Do you really think I really care about my life or others? Come on Eric… don’t be so naive.”

Eric trickles a gasp, and aggressively blinks once to Jack’s response.

“I lost everything Eric, and last night made me realise that reality clearly… so I’d rather die and rot like the waste of space that I—or has been since the day my parents were taken from me.”

Eric grits his teeth and lifts Jack up, slamming him against the wall. “You stupid idiot man… What would Randolph say, what would Angela say?” Eric briefly looks down and glares back at Jack with bloodshot eyes, “What… would your parents think?”

Jack could hear the disappointment towards him from Eric’s voice. The last sentence, how low and deepened his tone was made it more apparent just how much of a sore loser Jack was. Hearing this reality check coming from someone close to him made him frown in madness. Jack didn’t even have the decency to look Eric in the eyes anymore.

What made Jack feel completely hopeless for himself was Eric bringing up his deceased parents. They’d surely be rolling, burning in their graves or in his mind repenting for his massive ocean of sins in hell. The thought that they might think this way in the afterlife made Jack twitch his eyes in self-hatred.

“Don’t you bring them into this conversation… I don’t want to remind them that I’m such a failure. Screw you Eric, how could you…”

Eric lets go and pushes Jack one last time before deciding to leave this conversation. “Fuck you…” Eric walks out but quickly stops half way opening the door. “Your parents most likely are burning in hell cause they failed to raise their son who grew up and ended up a big pile of shit; A waste of life and danger to society… worthless punk ass bitch.”

Jack muttered words, clenching his fists and rubbing his knuckles against his noggin. He despised that thought but felt it might be true yet he can’t help but feel rage against this uncle.

“I should’ve never taken you in like you said and only taken in Angela.”

Eric takes another step forward, trying to leave this toxic conversation until Jack grabs his shoulder. “I… I, I—” The young man ground his teeth and felt ready to explode.

Eric looks over his shoulder. “You better get yo—” Suddenly, a fist flew towards his face.

Jack lands a punch right on his uncle's cheek, one strong enough to actually bring the big guy down to the ground. Eric was punched back into the garage and laid on the ground for a second, wrapping his mind to what had just happened. He massages his cheek, but Jack gets on top and pummels his right fist on Eric’s face. Jack threw heavy punches of not only his guilted anger, but his hidden sorrow to release all the frustrations he’s had dormant for years onto his uncle’s face, the very guy who’s been nothing but supportive of him throughout these ordeals in Jack’s miserable life.

Jack kept punching, bringing down his knuckles over and over, drawing blood. After what seconds of heavy throws felt like minutes, Jack stops and stares at his uncle who just laid there with an angry frown. The young man gasped angerily and wrapped his murderous hands around the big guys neck, starting to choke the life out of Eric. All those feelings coming out like a violent storm were squeezing Eric’s big neck, and Jack’s face staying in a shocked angered state. Eric though, didn’t flinch, nor shout, but instead kept a completely straight face enduring this beating being given to him by his adopted nephew.

Jack kept squeezing, Eric made no sounds and retained his still face. Finally, Jack came to his senses when he realised that Eric wasn’t even trying to break free, only glared.

Jack’s eyes squinted and the bottom of his lip quivered. “Eric… I…”

Jack halted, he felt regretful of his actions as his uncle kept his gaze on him. In a slow manner, the young man lets go and retracts his hands and raises them up, staring at his palms. They shook, he trembled while the young man moaned quietly in the minute of silence.

His uncle prevented the silent treatment from going further, letting out an angry groan. “Go ah-ahead, kill me. Isn’t th-that what you want, punk!”

His poor uncle held back his tears, his sadness, he didn’t want to show weakness to Jack. If he displayed such emotions to him, in this moment, it might make Jack feel worse off and potentially break the young man into a maddened suicidal frenzy like before.

Jack frowned as he got off and stood back up to his feet. Quietly he walked away from his uncle to the other side of the garage. His uncle sat up, wiping his lips with his giant forearm as he watched his nephew silently approaching the tool desk. Jack’s eyes were staring straight as he paused in front of the table, unknowingly patting the desk in front of him. His hand caught a tool, that being a screwdriver. He raises it to his view and stares at it for seconds on end.

Jack blinks and abruptly stabs his own already damaged arm, grunting as he leaves it embedded. The young man’s eyes were going crazy as he made sounds of regret, then bulged and he dragged a hand across his sweating face. Jack eerily stood there, repeatedly dragging his face to suddenly bring his gaze to the garage window next to the desk. The young man gasps and punches it out of nowhere with his screwed up arm, damaging it further.

“Fuck… fu...ck…!” shouted Jack, finally letting his emotions speak out.

Jack collapses to his knees and rammed his head against the garage door multiple times, ripping open his forehead.

Eric still watched as Jack tried his best to release his emotions in the way a normal human being should, and that is to release them through their eyes. Sadly, the young man couldn't, his body refused to and he can’t understand why. Standing up, wiping more blood off his face, Eric walks towards Jack calmly, watching the poor kid trying his darndest to cry out all his emotions by self harming if it’ll break out a tear or two.

He’s so fucked up his mind is slowly rotting away. I knew in these years it was bad, but damn, dumbass kid, you only have yourself to blame for letting it get this worse.

Eric comes behind Jack and grabs the young man's head, stopping him from harming himself anymore. Jack yelled and quickly, Eric slammed his head against the garage door, denting it, and shutting him down completely.

“Stop! You dumbass boy. Don’t harm yourself anymore, we gotta start packing for tomorrow's trip.” Eric let go and Jack fell to his side. “Oh, by the way! That was payback for punching me bitch.” Eric walks away and shuts the door behind him in anger.

Jack groaned, his nose, head leaking, spilling blood on the ground, he couldn't help and felt like such a gigantic loser. He basked in his self disappointment and lay there in silence. The seconds that went by felt like minutes, Jack though got himself together, sitting up and leaning his shoulder against the dented garage door.

“Mom, dad… I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” Jack desperately wanted to cry, but he just couldn’t. “I’m sorry Eric, Angela, and especially you… Randolph.”

Jack stood back on his feet, grabbing his arm which he stabbed and made it sizzle in pain again. Eric’s right, I am an idiot, but this is no time to punk out. We have to get out and stop this madness.

Jack grabbed his arm and walked out of the garage back into the house.

As the day went by, Eric and Jack didn’t say much to each other. The two were loaded and prepared on the other hand for the trip. During the hours Jack had plenty of alone time to reflect on his decisions, and clear his clouded mind for the time being. Succeeding in combating some emotional demons, he went to Eric and told him that he’s ready by nodding. The two talked briefly earlier and decided instead of going tomorrow they were going to leave right away. That way they could resolve this issue that Jack spoke of about the girl in his nightmares and stop her vivid madness to the two cities.

They had all the supplies and items that they came and needed. Jack got what he wanted for the most part, Eric didn’t regret the trip back to his old home as he thought he would, it brought some nostalgia. As the two were preparing last minute for the trip in the living room, Jack wanted to ask Eric something.

‘Say Eric, uh, I think we should make a quick stop before we leave Flint entirely.”

His uncle was just putting on his carry bag when Jack spoke to him. Eric looked over his shoulder, smiled at his nephew and walked out the front door. Jack moaned and looked over his shoulder to the stairs and mildly grinned.

“Goodbye, for now, baby sis…” Despite being in a worse state than before, the Jack can’t risk staying here any longer than they already have.

The two men have already stayed their welcome far longer than they thought they would. With confidence and a clear mind expressing in his grin, the young man made sure his bag was strapped properly, his legs were still functioning properly, and most of all had the belongings that Angela once owned to give him enough courage to continue this journey to freedom.

Walking off and stepping outside, closing the door behind him, Jack looks at Eric who’s standing down the walk path leading to their front door. His uncle was gazing at the rest of their depressing neighbourhood, mildly shook his head as he placed his hands on his hips.

Jack sighed and walked to his uncle. Once he did, he walked beside him and basked in the view with him. “Hey Eric, you ready?”

Eric chuckled, and stared into the sky. “Don’t make it think we still cool for what you did to me, punk.” He begins to walk forward and Jack follows behind, not saying anything else.

The two walked calmly into the streets with no fear. Both men proceed off into the streets foggy horizon, continuing to their path of freedom. Minutes have gone by, both men had their guns drawn in one hand and looked around every corner as they were going deeper into their journey. Jack’s confidence hasn’t gone away, it only grew, normally since he has his gun back in his murderous hands. Eric already explained to Jack on the way where they’ll escape to. At first Jack questioned about it given its location, but after an hour, he agreed to his idea. Mainly because he couldn't think of another way out of this enclosed hell.

Thankfully Jack knew what area of the wall his uncle talked about. It’s near the edge of the town that Angela really liked, the one where her favourite ice cream shop was located. It’s the reason what made Jack sceptical about it given its history and memories of joy that might trigger his memories back into a sorrowful state. Eric also explained during the time of their current walk that there was a small part of the area of the wall close to the end of town where someone mysteriously blew up a small hole in it. Jack trusted Eric on his words and knew that they had to be ready for anything. The two reached the end of their neighbourhood and looked back to stare at their home one last time from a foggy view. Jack can sense that Eric’s hurting inside but he won’t admit it nor show it.

While staring, Jack shattered the silence to ask his uncle something. “Eric, what about the boys? Who’ll lead them when we’re away.”

Eric grins and pats Jack's back, “Trust me, I ain’t leaving my boys. This is just a temporary goodbye.”

Jack’s eyes shined for a second, feeling glad that this might not be the last time they’ll be around here. “Is that so, well I guess it is huh. Come on, we have a whole day ahead of us.”

The two turned around back on their walk with confidence and a glimpse of happiness pumping inside their hearts. They both knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but, either way, their lives have already proven no matter the circumstances it’s never been easy thus far. Both Jack and Eric only hoped for the best, but at least for certainty, Jack still had a friend by his side. A friend whom he can still trust with not only words, but with his life.

***

It’s cold, windy, and brittle in current Flint Michigan. Jack and Eric spent three hours cautiously walking through the blood stained streets, cutting short ways through forests, the side of busy roads, and making their way into the town where he and Angela were homeless. Upon arriving at the edge of the entrance, coming out of bushes, they saw, heard it’s eerie, quiet, scenery. It felt ominous to the two, sending shivers down their spines. The sorrow of his past, the addiction of drugs taking the life of his first kiss Alexandria, has made Jack freeze momentarily. He’s remembering those times of him and Angela’s short pitiful enjoyment, to then coming close to succumbing to the white death of winter that night.

I already have concluded this part of my life, yet I can’t help but feel conveyed by it once again. Jack thought.

Eric let his nephew rewind his crowded mind to give the two a short break. Letting out a long sigh, Jack continued forward, limping into the streets and his uncle followed behind. As the two walked armed, there were people surprisingly out for once sitting on their concrete town home steps, outside chairs, and curbs, but everyone’s dead silent. They stared at the two while they walked passed. The town seemed extremely calm, but on edge. Some people jittered their legs, tapped the ground, their faces squinting, something didn’t feel right, and the two men grew worried. The fact that they looked on edge made them question if the entire town was ready to take Jack’s life at any moment now.

Jack wondered if they were just waiting for the right moment to strike. Best stay on guard, but something else feels off…

Eric kept his eyes sharp on every person visible to them. “Relax Jack, everything’s gonna be fine. So long as you follow my instructions and stay by my side.”

They were just two blocks from exiting the town. Freedom has never felt nor seemed this good to either man in such a long time. Yet that freedom would only be momentarily once they reach the town, but the ride there would be that relief that they seek. Although, without a car it would take them almost all day or the next to reach it at their pace. Thus far, their walk through town felt like a breeze and smooth, not a krinkle or step, a crunch nor a voice, just a husk of Michigan's voice whispering around them.

I really don’t like this, it’s just too easy. Jack thought.

This boy better not jinx it, we’re doing good so far, you better not or I’ll beat cho ass! Eric thought.

Walking down an empty street with trash blowing by, newspapers tumbleweeds across, the two’s luck felt drained out when they heard a barrage of footsteps coming from behind them. They quickly took action and hid immediately inside a dumpster near the alley of a diner. five men ran past them with blunt objects and wore hoodies, glancing around with eyes determined to obtain fortune. Jack sighed with relief and poked his head out a bit from the top to see if anyone else was coming. The coast was clear and the two jumped out of the dumpster.

Jack chuckled in both amusement and scare. “Damn, I knew this walk was too easy. Bums, and greed can only get you so far. By the way uncle, you smell like a dirty dog.”

Eric retaliated with a grin and his own chuckle. “Hmph, you jinxing asshole, I knew you would say something to ruin it. Not only you’re full of shit, but you smell like it as well, it’s coming out your pores boy!”

Both men quit their joking and crept out from behind the building and took a quick glance at the open road from a couple blocks down. It appeared that those men that were running past a minute ago were gone and the coast might’ve been clear. Once they stepped foot into the street, they heard a cornucopia of footsteps coming towards them and before even thinking of hiding again, a crowd of people ran past and ignored them. Quickly that wave of skin tones, different clothing styles ran around the next corner in a hurry and scare in their eyes. It made the two feel even more anxious than before and questioned why they were in such a hurry to run when the opportunity of a lifetime was standing right in front of them.

“Yo, why did all those folks run past us like that without screaming? What the fuck’s happening if they just ran seeming all scared and shit.” said Eric.

Jack’s eyebrows were raised and the young man can’t help but feel that trouble’s coming. “I have a bad feeling about this. It’s too freaky man, all those people looked to be in a state of silent panic, whoever they were running from might be lured to sound.”

Eric turned to his nephew with half his face squinted. “Why you speaking like they running from ghosts?”

Jack shrugs, “I don’t know, sounds cool, right? I hope my assumption’s right.”

“Whatever, let's just keep going.”

Jack and Eric fully stepped out into the street and were exposed to the dim of grey. Both men stayed close side by side and watched the quiet town full of people run back inside their homes, stores, and wherever else they came from in a state of silent panic. Doors slammed, gates shut, stores closing their curtains, this was all freaky to watch for the two. They didn’t like what was happening around them, so they decided to hide behind a nearby car parked on the curb of a store. They were curious to see what’s spooking all the townsfolk and felt they could get a good understanding if they waited for a minute.

Crouching on the passenger side of the car, Jack took a peak over the edge of the front hood. “Whatever’s scaring them this much must be something supernatural. It has to be.” said Jack.

Eric smacked his lips, feeling as if Jack’s statement might be true as much as he didn’t want to admit it. “I hope you’re wrong, I hate spooky as shit, can’t stand demons and whatnot…”

Everything’s completely silent, howling winds blew, trash flew everywhere, scattering on the streets, rats ran past their feet. Jack and Eric patiently waited to see what will happen next, trying to figure out what's the cause behind such silent pandemonium. Both men sat against the car, eagerly waiting when suddenly, a faint horn and loud rumble of an engine was approaching fast to their area. The two looked at each other, nodding and waited to see who's coming in loudly.

“I’m going to go near the car across the street to see if I can get a better view,” said Jack.

Eric nods, “Alright, dumbass.”

“Hey, I know you’re still mad but damn.” Jack got out of the car's cover, ran to the other side of the street and hid in front of the car's bumper, peeking around it to see what vehicle’s making such a ruckus.

Far out at the other side of the town, a thick layer of transparent grey made it difficult to see the approaching noise, but as that horn got louder, the fog being swept away from the vehicle's mass, Jack’s eyes widened in fear.

His eyes rattled and the young man clenched his jaw, gasping beneath his breath. “No, no, it can’t be.”

The sound’s closing into their area, vastly closing the gap of faintness. Eric looked over to Jack’s position and saw him shaking, but he couldn't figure out if it was in fear, anger, or both from how knitted his eyebrows were. The horn’s blasting, reaching their ear drums completely, and the car’s engine roared like an old V8. Eric took a peek to see this mystery danger everyone’s so afraid about coming in their direction, and finally understood Jack’s scared attitude.

“Son of a…” Eric saw that old yellow pickup truck coming down the road to their way with two men in the bed of the truck and two more inside this time.

Jack slammed his fist on the car, “Fuck! Those hillbilly bastards! How the hell did they find us?”

Eric lowered his head down, shushing at Jack’s direction. “Shut up, come back over here.”

Jack quickly regrouped with his uncle and slammed against the car. “What now?!”

“I don’t know, but one thing’s for sure, I don’t think they knew we were here yo. I just think we fucked up by coming here instead.” Eric reached into his pocket and pulled out his handgun, “At least we got these! No doubt about it though, these fools have made themselves a fearsome reputation to make all the folks tuck they damn buttholes in between their tiants.”

Jack peeks out again and sees the truck parking a few feet away. "Ah shit… They're going on foot now." He turns to Eric and hands him a rock, "I got a plan, we're taking out these guys once and for all."

"Man what the fuck. You crazy? Look at chu. Your bodies still fucked up, you really think we can take these guys out in the shape you're in?"

Jack smiles confidently at Eric, “Maybe, I’m one sick bastard, remember?”

Eric sighs, "Whatever man, if you die then that's on you. This time I won’t mourn over your death either, I’ma just run my ass back home."

“Heh, whatever, let's just do this.”

Eric grabs the rock and peeks out, "So I'm assuming you want me to throw this rock over there to distract them while you take them out with your gun?"

Jack waved his finger without looking at his uncle but keeping his eyes on the men after him. "Close but no. What I want you to do is use that rock to bust open their skulls as I'm distracting them with this!" Jack pulls out his crowbar from beside his carrybag, "I'll make noise by hitting this against something loud and hard then it’s payback time."

Eric looked at Jack with an annoyed and dumbfounded expression then grabbed his arm, pulling towards him and gripping his shirt. “Jack, are you fucking kidding me!”

“Shh, Eric you’ll give out—”

“Are you stupid or did I slam your head too hard on the garage door, you dumbass!"

The four men heard Eric's annoyance and proceeded to walk in their direction.

Jack heard their heavy boots stomping towards them and took a glimpse, seeing them come their way. "Nice going boss. And you called me stupid?"

Jack stands up and waves at the men, getting their full attention. Three snickered but the scary looking individual that had that cold gaze didn’t express an ounce of emotion. Three proceeded forward while he stood in place.

Jack’s sweat poured out from every pore in his body as they came to him. "Sorry guys, but I'm in no mood to play in the mud with a bunch of rednecks." Jack started running and the three men ran to him.

Eric shook his head and waited, he wanted to see what that emotionless individual would do next. This guy gazed around with his icy stare and walked to the direction Jack ran to. Walking out of sight, menacingly, Eric smacks his lips and makes a run to their truck. Arriving at the old pickup truck, Eric stops, opening the driver side door, and hops in the driver's seat.

Eric checked the ignition and the keys still in. "Alright, let's give these bastards a taste of their own medicine."

Once Eric’s fingers were about to turn the truck on, another guy, one his size, hops on the bed of the truck, making it bounce. Eric looked at the rear view mirror and immediately saw this built individuel run at him and break the rear window with his bare hands.

The shattered glass shot at Eric, turning him away. What in the?!

Not giving a toot of their safety, the guy wrapped his giant arm around Eric’s big neck, pulling him out through the broken window. Eric yells as he’s scratched, and cut with a huge gash on his left forearm in the process of being pulled to the bed of the truck.

He slammed Eric and resorted to stomp on his chest, but Eric quickly dodged and got on his feet before contact was made. The guy rushed Eric in less than a second and grabbed him, tossed him over his shoulders with an exploding suplex. Eric slams back first, making the truck bounce. He groaned, grabbing his gashed forearm that bled profusely. Despite the pain, Eric’s not one to give up so quickly, and got back up on his feet. He turned to the guy who’s standing calmly and causally cracking his neck and knuckles.

Fuck, he’s the same size and built like me. I wonder if he can fight just as good as me though, he only got this far because I was caught off guard.

Eric set himself to his fighting pose with a single fist raised like that of a famous black boxer. The man had a shaved head, tank top, black jeans, big boots, reminding Eric of a stereotype of a wife beater. The guy cracked his neck one last time, and it was loud, making Eric squeamish. The guy also got into a fighting pose similar to Eric but more pristine.

I don’t like this dude's confidence, shit’s making my nerves tingle…

They stared at each other for a moment, glaring. The brief calm winds and the sound of creaking signs, rattling road signs that echoed as they were waiting for the first punch to be thrown. Eric’s head began to sweat, leaving a single trail running down his face. The man with the shaved head took one step and Eric rushed him abruptly. The guy was caught by surprise for a second at Eric's speed but dodged Eric, grabbing his arm, twisting it around and placing it behind his back.

“Fu-Fuck!” shouted Eric.

Eric gave the guy a quick struggle before his face was slammed against the top of the truck. Eric groaned, doing his best to break free from his grip while the guy placed more pressure on his arm.

Eric grits his teeth and manages to reverse the man’s armbar and switches the move onto him now. He slams the guy's head on the truck to give him the same taste of rusted steel and chuckles. In spite of reversing and rubbing his face against the steel, the guy wasn’t angry, he wasn’t freaking out, he’s still as calm as ever. It made Eric worry and surprisingly the guy casually reverses Eric’s armbar and picks him up off his feet, throwing him over the roof of the truck.

Eric lands on the windshield frontside, laying near the edge of the hood as he groans, trying to get up. “Godd...amn…”

The guy took no time to let Eric catch his breath and immediately grabbed Eric’s ankles. He pulled Eric back, slamming him on the bed of the truck again. The entire rusted truck’s suspension bounced intensely from the impact given to by the two hundred plus pound human boulder. Eric tried getting back up, though the guy wasn’t going to allow him. Instead he gave Eric a good kick to his side, turning him on his back. The guy then jumps on Eric, laying a pounding on his face. Eric uses both arms to cover his face with those huge steel forearms of his to avoid any further bruising. Yet it led to Eric groaning, moaning in burning pain from his open gash that was being lacerated by the guy's knuckles.

Shit, shit, I-I can’t—!

This guy knew how to fight, he knew how to land punches beyond hurting his gash, slipping them through Eric’s defences and breaking them abruptly.

Damn…it! Think Eric, think!

Eric felt frustrated and annoyed, he felt the urge to scream in anger and beat this guy to death. While thinking of a plan to get himself out of this pounding, Eric came up with something in the midst of his anger.

I got it!

“Bring… it!” shouted Eric unexpectedly, letting the man know he’s enduring his beating.

The man responds with a straight punch, and Eric chuckles once the fist makes contact with his cheek. He allowed him to punch his face to grab his arm and rolled the two off the truck and onto the ground. Both giant men hurried up and looked at each other, panting, feeling somewhat excited.

Eric wipes the blood off his lip and blows blood out of his nose. “Damn, you a tough son of a bitch aren’t you?”

The guy cracked his knuckles and rushed Eric, tackling him against a car closeby. Eric slams a mighty hammer fist on his back, bringing him down to a knee. He finally had an opportunity to place the guy in his own chokehold. It wasn’t enough to keep this giant down, instead he grabs Eric’s legs and lifts him as high as he could and slams Eric on the hood of the car, denting it. Eric’s stubborn and hasn’t let go, he still had him on a chokehold after being slammed that hard.

He picks Eric up again, but Eric smiles and lets go, giving him an opportunity to shoot one of his knees in the face of the guy. The guy gets to a knee, his nose leaking, Eric finally draws blood.

Eric lands on his feet and raises his fists, “Fuck man, damn, I’ve never fought someone like you before. You are a tough son of a bitch!”

The guy stands straight, wiping the blood dripping from his nose in a single brush of his thumb. “You’re not bad yourself, black man. To be honest, I thought you’re kind were just stupid, mindless and incompentant monkeys, but I guess I was wrong, for now.”

Eric frowns, “Man, that’s kinda racist yo…” he spat out blood and glared at the guy. “I don’t like ignorant fools who think like that, you pissed me off and now, I’ma fuck you up for damn sure.”

Meanwhile, at another part of the town, Jack’s gotten himself into a bad predicament. He’s being bruised, battered, and currently thrown through a store window. Landing on his side, hurting, he sees the two men who are inflicting this pain on him walk through the broken window frame. Jack quickly gets back up and runs to the back of the store, exiting through the emergency exit. Running with every ounce of pain coursing through his body, looking over his shoulder, an object’s coming right at him.

“Huh?!” Jack’s eyes bulge and he steps to the side, stopping. The thrown object makes contact with brick a foot away, embedded, and Jack sees it was an axe.

“Shit! What strength holy crap!” said Jack as he made a run for it once again.

Jack continues his escape and sees the nearest dumpster coming to him. He bursted with energy to gain more distance, ran around and jumped into the side of the dumpster to make it seem as if he ran around the corner. Jack tried his best to control his frantic breathing without letting them know of his whereabouts. After a minute of silent control, Jack takes a peak, glimpsing around.

In the moment he shut his eyes in relief and deeply sighed. “There-There gone…”

Unfortunately he felt too comfortable in their absence. With his head still out, someone else found him, that being the man with the cold stare. He yanked Jack out, and threw him against the brick wall behind them. Jack’s face exploded with pain and the man went for the young man's neck, clutching it. He lifts Jack up and off the ground with abnormal strength despite his skinny nature. Jack gags, kicks, and does his best to break free, yet the strength of his grasp was incomprehensible.

The man brought Jack to his face, analysing Jack’s face. He blew heavy air through his nostrils and threw Jack against the dumpster, making the young man bounce off it. Jack lands on his face, coughing out blood. His nose and mouth leaking on the alley floor, the young man can’t help but feel hopeless. The man reached for his gun behind his tucked in pants and pulled it out, shooting once in the air.

Jack slammed one of his hands on the ground, grinding his teeth from all the pulsing pain. “Why… wh-why are you torturing me-me like this?!”

The man doesn’t respond and only stares with that permanent face of anger.

Jack raised his head up to the man, getting a better look on his appearance. His skin pale as death, hair like hay, his eyes were solid black, but more notably, there was a weird symbol on his neck. Jack can’t make out on what it is, but the shapes reminded him of squares and triangles.

This guy, his stare, Jesus christ it’s worse than any gaze that’s ever been set upon me so far…

Jack got on two’s, coughing more in pain. The man watched Jack struggle to get on fours without a sound. His two other partners arrive, the overweight one and now being this close, he smelled rancid. The other was a skinny tall guy with overalls, and he too looked greasy and unhygienic. Both men had weapons, one wielding the axe thrown at Jack, the other a lead pipe. The skinny guy swung the lead pipe on the back of Jack, putting him back down. The force of that strike knocked the wind out of the young man, making him dizzy. The fat guy and scrawny guy both looked down on Jack as he’s on the brink of blacking out from the pain.

“Damn, he got fucked up!” said the skinny guy with overalls.

The fat man spits, and laughs. “Atta boy, that’ll show haha!”

Jack groans and spits blood. The fat man kicked Jack’s chin, managing to break off one of the young man's teeth. They both grab Jack and start carrying him out of the alley. The silent one hasn’t said a word, his stare stays permanent, watching every moment his partners make. The two continued carrying the young man and the silent man followed behind after staring for another minute. Once reaching the end, going out into the street, they let go of Jack and waited for the silent man.

He arrives and grabs Jack’s hair and stares at his leaking face. Without saying anything, he grabs the young man's chin and Jack feels his cold breathing on his left cheek.

The other two watched, looking nervous as he scanned the young man’s face. As moments go by, he lets go and jerks his head to the other two who quickly take action and grab Jack.

Jack groans, raising his head to stare at the street up ahead. “You guys are all a bunch of fucking assholes, and here I thought I was selfish, but no… ever since I was a child I always thought badly about criminals…”

Jack clenches his fists while the other two men cackle at his comment.

“But ever since that day when I was a child, I came to find out the truth. Criminal or not, people are assholes regardless of their status in society.”

The fat man brought a stop to their carry, getting in front of Jack and punched his lights out. “Shut up already. The more you talk the more I want to drag your body like I did that time with the truck.”

“Sounds rad!” said the skinny guy.

The fat guy chuckles, snorting afterwards. “You know what boys? Why don’t we do that instead?! Kill him all slow like!”

The skinny one let go of Jack, letting him fall face first. “Hey? You may be right! That does sound more fun!!”

The silent man grabs Jack and carries him over his shoulder. Carrying him away in silence and the other two quickly followed without saying another word. The three were making their way back to the truck, but didn’t realise that Jack’s still half conscious and had his working arm snuck inside his coat where his gun was kept hidden away from their sights.

Back at the beginning of this charade, Eric’s still fighting against the guy giving him the fight of his life. Eric throws an uppercut, the guy dodges, stepping back. He throws a powerful straight jab at Eric, but luckily he moves to the side. Eric throws a side punch, shooting his giant fist into the side of his abdomen. The guy groaned, retaliated and kicked Eric at his lower leg, causing Eric to drop a knee.

“Say your prayers black man.” He shot his massive knee to Eric’s face.

Coming fast like a daggered wrecking ball, Eric allows him, and grabs his knee, catching, stopping him in surprise. Eric wrapped his entire arms around his leg and lifted him off the ground, slamming him stupendously against the sidewalk. Quickly Eric got on top before this fighting machine could attempt to get back on his feet.

Eric retracted his arm and threw a heavy straight fist at him, landing a punch against his face. “More like you should bitch!”

Eric threw many throws, but being the good fighter that he is, he blocked almost all of them. It annoys Eric, enough for him to relentlessly continue his barrage of fists. The guy catches Eric off guard by blocking his fist with one hand and punching straight at Eric’s face with the other. Making brief contact, stumbling Eric off of him, he’s free and in a hurry. He gets back onto his feet, rushing on, grabbing Eric from behind and back suplexes him to hit the pavement. Luckily Eric sees this coming and manages to land on his hands and shockingly sidekicks the guy's face.

He stumbles away, twitching an eye and grinding his teeth. “Damn, that did it…” said the guy.

Eric kicks back up to his feet, feeling pumped and excited oddly enough. “Alright, this is fucking great!” He dances around like some boxer and taunts the man by gesturing to him to continue the fight.

That trickled out a chuckle out of the guy, enough to catch Eric off guard. In that instance, he dashed to Eric, tackling him against a nearby car. In total, four hundred pounds of force collided against the car door denting it. Eric had him in a headlock once again and tried kneeing his stomach. Yet every time he tried, this guy blocked every single strike even with being this tightly locked in.

“Is this all you got white boy?!” shouted Eric.

He punches Eric on his stomach forcing him to let go. “Fuck no monkey!”

He throws three lefts and two rights right on Eric’s face. Eric brushes those punches off faster than they came and throws an uppercut striking his jaw, making the guy stumble back.

“Godd-damn you… ape!”

Eric threw two right and two left hooks. As always the guy would dodge his mammoth punches. This time, he wanted to show Eric just how skilled he was in combat. The guy retaliated with multiple body shots along with a high kick to Eric’s side, denting the giant sized boulder of a man. Eric shouts with frustration, his veins popping, pulsing, he’s growing tired of this dragging MMA fight they were having. With all the strength left in him, and the shaved man too, they both repeatedly punched, kicked and reversed every combo they had, throwing everything into one last round.

They both stopped as they landed one final massive punch on each other's faces. Their fists drilling deep at one other's cheeks, twisting, pushing, both growled. The two continued pushing, staring at each other with eyes set for death. They both let go and were exhausted, backing away. Both men stood still with their fists still up as they breathed heavily trying to catch their breaths.

“You’re-You’re good, rea-really good! Where di-did you learn to fight?” asked Eric as he grabbed his gashed arm, massaging it.

The guy spits, “I-I was an ex MMA fighter in my-my youth, along with a black belt in jujitsu. Where-Where did you learn to fight, ape?”

Eric chuckled, “I taught myself along with an old friend teaching me, but tell me something. You’re after Jack aren’t you? Why waste your life trying to kill someone that may be innocent just for money?”

He lowers his fists and takes a deep breath, “I have a family to feed, friends that are on the brink of death, people that need it more than I do. That’s why I teamed up with those hillbilly freaks to kill him because they promised me five million of the share.”

“But you don’t know if they’ll keep their promise? Think about it man! With your talent you could’ve accomplished more than wasting your life on these wretched streets my guy! There’s more to life than just money, I know it’s none of my business to ask of your past and why you’re an ex MMA fighter; or racist—but you don’t have to do this man! You can still help those people, by doing the thing you loved the most… and that’s fighting. Am I right?”

Something struck the shaved man's heart when he heard those words of truth and meaning from a stranger he’s fighting to the death with. His brain flashed the images of his loved ones, wishing him good luck, waiting on his return, he felt his eyes open. Yet he couldn’t believe it was coming out of the mouth of a person whom he despised the colour of his skin.

Feeling shocked, he looks at his right hand and slowly clenches it. “You’re right about that, I do love a good fight… You know, I haven’t fought someone as skilled as you in over fifteen years…” He lowers his hand and sighs, “I’m sorry for being a bit racist, but I have my reasons, big guy. But—”

Eric raises a brow, “But what, brother?”

The guy expressed a grin of relief. “You opened my eyes a bit, thank you for showing me that not all black people are such menaces to society. In all honesty, I thank you, brother.” He raises his fists and raises his shoulders, “You ready for round three?”

Eric smiles and raises his as well, “Shit, you bet your white ass I am!”

Feeling a bond of brotherhood and respect between the two, Eric can’t help but smile in the moment. The guy too expressed a wide grin, one filled with joy and a change of heart. Once Eric decided to take a step, he felt something sharp and curved strike the back of his shoulder. His body thrusted forward, his eyes grew wide, gasping heavy air, at first he thought it was his open wound from earlier; But from the man’s shocked facial expression, and then Eric looking over his shoulder, bleeding, it was the fat hillbilly with an axe stuck in Eric’s shoulder.

Eric quivered and the fat guy pulled the axe out of his shoulder, exploding blood all over the two. “You still haven’t killed this black guy, damn, why do I have to do everything myself.” said the fat hillbilly.

Eric’s face scrunched in anger and grunts. “You fat mother…” he drops to his knees and lands on his face against the cold road, bleeding profusely.

“Tch, damn monkey! We don’t have time to mess around!” He points to the guy still in shock. “Hurry up and finish him you neo nazi looking freak!” The fat bastard tosses the axe at the guy's feet. “You kill him since you hate black people so much!”

The guy looks at the axe on the edge of his feet, and then at Eric who’s bleeding to death. He watches Eric’s blood pour onto the concrete, and having a change of heart, it actually angered him watching him bleed to death. Clenching one of fists, he picks up the axe and glares at it with Eric’s blood still on the blade.

The guy brings his murderous gaze back to the hill billy, “My name’s Roman, and you can go fuck yourself…” Roman throws the axe on the ground, “Do it yourself fatass.”

The fat hillbilly gritted his disgusting rotting teeth and raised his lip in annoyance, “What did you just say, you freak?!”

“You heard me right? Do it yourself, it might help you lose some weight!”

“You’ll regret it, son of a whore!”

“Go to hell…” As Roman’s about to attack the fat man, he’s struck by a bullet in the head and killed.

He collapses and dies like a dog. The silent leader lowered his gun and brought his attention to Eric. Not saying a word as usual, he walks over to Eric’s bleeding body and stares at the big buy, watching his life being drained away, slowly.

He throws Jack off his shoulder onto the ground and starts tying the young man’s legs with some rope that was tied onto the truck's tailgate.

The skinny guy grinned in excitement yet felt nervous, but couldn’t help but say something in the moment. “Say boss, if you killed that skinhead, then that means we’re gonna be even richer!” said the skinny fellow, but swallowing nervously afterwards.

He finished tying Jack’s legs, checked the tightness of the rope and flinged it. The two watched as their silent leader stood straight, glancing at both injured men. His breathing grew louder for a moment, sounding as if he was on the verge of screaming in anger. His breathing went back to normal and he eyes his partners.

The fat hillbilly laughs and pumps his fist. “We’re gonna be rich! Say boss, what do we do to the black man?”

He didn't reply, just stared ominously. The fat guy grew worried and nervous, so he shuts up and tucks his lips. The silent leader panned his eyes to the scrawny guy and jerked his head to him, indicating something.

The scrawny guy understood and proceeded to walk to the truck. “Okay boss, I’ll just get in the truck then.” The scrawny man hops in the truck and turns it on, “All set now boss!”

Again, the fat hillbilly can’t help but open his big mouth again to express his joy from feeling rich. “Hehe! Can’t wait to spend that money on a new truck and buy a pig farm, that way I can eat all the bacon I want!” chuckled the fat guy as soon walked and hopped in as well.

“You always eat too much bacon, that’s why you’re so fat!” replied the scrawny guy.

The silent leader stood in the noise of the truck, not moving a single muscle or changing his attention. His eyes stayed straight down the foggy street up ahead, watching the grey mist sweep past the road. He took a huge breath of air through his nostrils and blew out a heavy gust of anger out, balling his fists. In a creepy manner, he silently turns around to Jack and starts reaching for his gun.

Jack felt his horrible gaze on him and opened his eyes, staring right into his coldness. “Go to hell, monster.” The silent man blinks in surprise as Jack pulls his gun out and shoots him right between the eyes.

The silent leader stands there, blood coming out and lowering his arms. He falls flat on his back, dead on the ground. His boys heard the gunshot and hopped out of the truck to investigate who made the sound of death. They saw their leader lying dead flat like roadkill, but once they approached the back; they both were shot by Jack and were killed instantly.

The gun’s barrel smoking, his breath exposed to the cold air, Jack slowly lowers his gun and lays on the ground; letting out a huge deep pained sigh of relief. “Fuck… everything hurts…”

Jack sat up, grunting with pain and looked at Eric. The pain coursing through his body made him feel like he was in a box filled with spikes, continuously stabbing him. He set the gun down and started to untie the rope with his one usable hand but it’s no use.

“I’m in too much fucking pain, ahh…”

To Jack's surprise, Eric’s moving. He pushes himself off the ground on all fours then stands up to his feet. Jack saw just how beat up his uncle was, the gash on his arm, shoulder, bruises and cuts, he’s never seen Eric in this state before.

“Eric…” muttered Jack, coughing softly.

Eric walked over to Jack at a slow pace with blood still dripping out of his arm and shoulder. Reaching his nephew, Eric groans as he bends down to untie the rope along with the help of Jack. They untie the rope and finally the two can relax knowing that the main enemies are gone for good.

Jack carefully gets up, grabbing Eric and places his giant arm over his shoulder. “Come on big guy. It looks like you had the fight of a lifetime.”

Eric looked over at the shaved guy's dead body and felt bad for him. “Yeah… I did, rest in peace, brother.” The two began walking with their injuries, but stopped right in front of the truck.

They decided it was best to take the truck instead to save time and give them the chance to properly treat their wounds. Eric hopped inside the passenger side and Jack walked over to where their bags were dropped at their split off in the beginning of this whole mess. The young man grabs the bags and walks back to the rust bucket, tossing them inside the truck through the driver side window. Opening the door open as it creaked, Jack sat on the torn leather and sighed with relief. He put the truck in drive and off they were.

Jack sighed again and adjusted the rear view mirror until his eyes caught something disturbing. “What in the…?”

The silent man was sitting up, staring at them with his ice cold gaze. Eric saw him with his passenger side mirror, gasping in horror. They watched as he stood on his feet and rubbed the wound between his eyes. Jack and Eric couldn’t believe their eyes, they were witnessing a dead man moving. The silent man rubbed and rubbed, and suddenly dug his two fingers into his wound, pulling, moving. Jack and Eric’s jaws were dropped, their eyes trembling in fear, never having witnessed something this extraordinarily horrible.

“Jack, get us the fuck outta here man.” said Eric.

Jack didn’t listen to his uncle, he couldn't help but watch. “What-What is he—?”

The silent man slowly dragged his fingers out of his open wound, blood gushing all over his face, down to the street. In the tip of his fingers was the impacted piece of bronze that Jack had put into him. He stared at the piece of metal, rotating it then crushing it with abnormal strength, grinding it into dust. Jack and Eric had enough and drove off with their faces permanently locked in fear. The silent man watched the two men drive away, disappearing into the fog up ahead. His wound healed, growing new flesh and merging with his snow white skin. He clenched his fists, his eyes turned pitch black and he opened his mouth wide, letting out a screeching wail that echoed throughout the town in their direction.

His screech had many voices behind it, sounding like torched souls and monsters being burned alive. Jack and Eric heard those terrifying screams that ripped throughout the streets behind them, making both men cover their ears from its treacherous nature. The silent man screamed to the heavens, rolling his eyes back into his skull until he burst into flames, turning to ash and being blown away by a gust of black. The town was completely dead silent, not a soul in sight, it was desolated.

After driving for an hour, awakening from a small nap, Eric moans from the sourness of the earliest fight. “Are we there yet, shit…”

Jack’s arm is feeling numb, it’s still in pain. “Driving with one arm for this long, along with a fucked up body ain’t easy, uncle.”

Eric had covered his wounds and wrapped his screwed up arm with a piece of cloth earlier during the drive he found inside the glovebox. “Goddamn, what a fucking jounrey, it better be worth it… Yet, that shit with that dude; it’s still fucking with my mind.”

Jack checks the rear view mirror, seeing the passing empty road behind them and wanting to ensure they weren’t being followed. “Yeah, no kidding. Whatever he was, I don’t want to run into him again.”

Jack stares up ahead to the long empty road and sees from afar, a cloud of total darkness hovering over a town and smearing it’s image in black. It seemed far yet close and Jack could feel the pain in his chest grow the larger it grew overtime.

He knew what they were approaching and it made him shake. I’m tired of all this supernatural stuff. I hope you’re the last of it girl in white because once we reunite, I want to stay away from people—like ‘Him.’