Page 2 of Darkness

I was taught that from an early age.

So, I avoid light as much as possible. I stick to the dark. Sure, people mock me, but they don’t tend to last very long.

I have my methods of punishment. Most think my fascination with the dark is unnecessary, so I show them just how beautiful the darkness can be—permanently.

I take one last drag on my cigarette, then snuff it. Standing from my president’s chair, I walk out of the Chapel to finish what I was doing before Church was assembled for Andrés’s call. I know I only have around five minutes before my brothers will be ready.

That should be plenty of time.

My eyes shift to Void. “Just gonna finish up, then I’ll be good to roll out. Make sure everyone’s read the files and are ready.”

He gives me a two-fingered salute as I head for the stairs leading down into the lower bunker. It’s said back in World War II, this area was used as a civilian shelter by a man who was wealthy as fuck and wanted protection for his family. The owner had the lower bunker built in case they were invaded. He could capture the enemy and hold them hostage below the main area while still staying safe in the bunker. Sick fucker was looking for an excuse to get his rocks off on kidnapping and torture. Then again, it comes in handy for a club of 1%ers to have a feature like this at our disposal, and I’m a sick fuck too.

I take the stairs two at a time, heading down to the lower bunker. The dull lighting grows even dimmer. The musty smell becomes thick with the scent of mildew as I open the heavy concrete door leading through to the Chamber.

Every Defiance clubhouse has a Chamber—mainly for torture. Ours, though, is a little different. The walls are lined with red bricks. Some new. Some old. All holding an array of sins.

“Let me out, motherfucker,” a raspy voice calls from the other end of the Chamber.

I narrow my eyes in the darkened space, peering to where Dustin’s terrified face pokes out from behind the wall. His pale skin is almost pasty from malnourishment, his cheekbones starting to sink into his skull.

The corner of my lips turns up as I saunter over to him.

“Nycto, c’mon, man. I’ve been hauled up in here for weeks. I did you wrong, I know that, but I’ve paid for it. You gotta let me go, man.”

I step over to Dustin, whose hands are tied behind his body.

His head pokes out through the small gap I’ve left unbuilt, his eyes pleading as they meet mine.

I tilt my head. “Dustin, Dustin, Dustin. When will you learn? In Florida, Defiance are the only dealers in heroin. You came into our territory to sell. Now, while I don’t personally move the stuff, my brother chapter in Miami does, and Hawk was nice enough to let me handle you. He knows I like to have a little fun from time to time.”

“Fun? You call this fun?”

I shrug. “Call this karmic justice. You tried to shift the balance. I’m simply righting your wrong. But alas, the fun is wearing thin for me. I think you’ve done your share of recompense.”

His eyes widen as a tremble overtakes his body. “W-what are you saying? Are you going to take me out from behind this damn wall?”

Excitement boils my blood. Adrenaline pumps overtime in my veins as I lean down, grab the bucket, and pull off the lid to find the mortar powder ready for use. Dustin’s eyes go wide as I pour water into it and stir.

The asshole’s head slowly moves back and forth, and he lets out a girly fucking whimper. “Nycto, no. Please, man, no. I swear I’ll stop. I’ll get my men to stop too. Do anything to me, goddamn anything, but not this.”

With an evil gaze and a giant smirk on my face, I stir the mortar. Warmth flows through me like the sick fucker I am, but damn, do I enjoy this shit. I grab a brick and use the trowel to scoop up some of the mortar.

“Nycto, c’mon… Let’s talk about this. Please...”

I lather on the mortar right at his chin height. Slowly, over a few weeks, I have been encasing him inside this wall.

Today, he’ll truly meet the darkness.

Dustin breathes heavily, the whites of his eyes showing as he follows every single move I make in front of him. The power I hold right now gives me a hard-on. This asshole did Defiance wrong. Now he’s going to fade away like he deserves, and no one will give a shit.

“Nycto!”

My eyes shift over the brickwork.

The room has held many bodies of men who have offended the club. Not just Tampa, but any chapter of Defiance that needs someone to disappear. If our brother chapters want it to happen, we take care of them. Once we’ve given the body long enough to meet its end, we break down the wall then dispose of the remains. We have upwards of fifteen souls in here at any one time.

Then there’s the Cell.

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