Page 2 of Darkness

They kill people when asked, but yet no one knows who they are. grandad told me stories about how our name was built and why so many families stay away from us. Yet, our name couldn’t save me. Couldn’t protect me once dad was killed. My dad made a lot of enemies, and every single one of them would have come for me. Grandad knew I wasn’t going to be safe, not as a little boy, anyway.

But the fucked up thing about all this. They thought that when entering The Pit, you can leave when you want. No, you fucking can’t. You leave in a body bag, or you fight to be the leader.

And that’s what I did.

The Pit belongs to me now. I’m the king of The Pit, and now I have targets on my back for that too.

“Won’t say anything else, but your Aunt Jane is going to kill me if I go to the Clinic without you.” He lets out a small laugh, which makes me turn to him. “And we both know I love her, but she will go crazy, as she’s been planning this for a while now. Your mom too.” He pats my leg again as he stands up, and I follow him out.

“Don’t know why I need to be there. No one knows who I am.” I try to fight with him about going, but both he and Aunt Jane made me promise I’ll be there. To stay involved in the family business— and partly so I can see them without people knowing he’s my uncle, I gave money to open a new wing at the clinic. That way. If I'm ever seen talking to them, people will think it’s just a business meeting.

I make sure every person who means something to me has a reason to talk to me. So anyone who is looking into me will think it’s only for business purposes. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to keep this up for. I know which families are after me, and once I get rid of them, I can live a little more freely.

“Because it’s your wing-” he stops when I raise my brow at him. “-you know what I mean, now come on, before she starts-” he stops and I laugh. “Too late, she’s calling.” He throws the cell at me. “You made me late, now you can tell her why.” We both leave the room, and I answer the call.

“I’m sorry Aunt Jane, we’re on the way now.”

“Cain, please don’t push us out.” Now she’s going to make me feel guilty, if only that stuff worked on me.

“I’m not. We’re leaving the club now.”

Time to play happy family. But from afar.

***

I stand on the other side of the room from my family, avoiding a picture with them. Yet I know my uncle will mention my name in his speech, even though I told him to say it was an anonymous donation, but Aunt Jane wouldn’t have it.

Uncle David tells me not to worry. He has a story ready to share as to why I am helping the clinic. This will be interesting.

I feel my mom staring at me. She hates that she can’t stand next to me. It’s just the way it needs to be at the moment.

“My brother is a man who loved to help people.” I lean against the wall as my uncle continues talking. “He always told me that helping others is something special, and no matter how hard it is, everyone deserves a second, third or sometimes even a fourth chance. I believe this is the reason the clinic has helped so many people.” I look around at all the businessmen here, ready to give money to help anyone who walks through the door. Most likely it will be their kids, because rich kids get spoiled. The clinic doesn’t need their money. With the amount the family charges for people to be here, there’s no financial trouble.

My eyes move to the photo behind my uncle on the white textured wall. My grandad, dad and uncle, the founders of the best clinic in the country, and only one is alive today.

“My brother, Richard, always wanted to open a new wing to the clinic— something he never got to do himself. This new building is for our younger group, a place they can go once they reach a certain stage.” Placing my hand on my pants pocket when my cell vibrates, I dig it out of my pocket. My uncle continues with his speech. I’ve blocked it out because it’s nothing I want to listen to.

Pit

He’s asking for you. Won’t shut up.

Cain

Leave him, put him in the box.

There are only five men in The Pit who ever want to talk to me, and Logan’s dad is always one of them. Since I put him down there, I haven’t seen him. I have no plans to either for a while. The man can fucking rot as far as I’m concerned. There is another guy, or should I say family, who have been trying to talk to me. They want their son out, but it’s not happening.

They’ve forgotten about the rules, and I think it might be time to remind them of how I run The Pit.

“We would like to thank Mr. Cain for the donation to open the Richard Crawford Youth Center-” Now, I look up, wanting to hear what he has to say about me. “He heard about our clinic from one of his staff members, and how we helped them go from nobody to someone who now has a job, friends, and a boyfriend. Mr. Cain came to visit us the following day, wanting to know more. I think we did a good job in impressing him, because we now have this new wing. Mr. Cain, thank you.” He doesn’t point toward me, which I’m happy about. But I have a few people looking my way with a smile, which is also my cue to leave.

I don’t want people talking to me, asking a thousand questions.

After leaving the party, I make my way up to the office in the club, wanting some peace and quiet. The flashing lights are giving me a headache. They always give me a headache. I seem to be getting them all the time these days. I just need a few minutes in a dark room.

Closing the door behind me, I sit at my dad’s desk. Uncle David hasn’t changed anything in this office since my dad died. Twenty years have passed, and it still smells of his whiskey and cigar. The scent is fading, but I can still smell it, and it always brings a smile to my lips. Memories come flooding back of when I was little playing in here while he was working.

As I lean back in the chair, I close my eyes, letting the pain shoot around my head, something which is beginning to be a part of my day more than I would like. No matter how many pain killers I take, nothing is working.

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