Page 13 of The Dire Legacy

“Ancient assholes! I hope your dicks shrivel!” My mouth. It gets me in all kinds of bad situations. Like now, I have four big guys holding me down because of one little comment.

“My, my, Jared, have you been working out? Or are you Benjamin? I can’t tell you thugs apart in those suits.” Stretching my neck, I’m just able to lick the jawline of the heavy helmet that presses against my chest.

“You taste like bad decisions, Alfred. Are you Batman?” Heavy hands force my wrists into the sheathed restraints and fasten them to the leather belt they’ve wrestled onto my waist.

All he does is grunt.

“Come on, big boy. Ever been with a girl you can break? Just give me five minutes in the geriatric room, and I’ll let you skull fuck me. Wanna try that?” The repetition is the torture. It’s always the same. If I can break up the monotony by ridding the world of a couple of the leeches that feed off of me, all the better.

The cold concrete sends a little chill through me as the faceless brutes set me on my feet. But, there’s a bounce in my step as they follow me back to my cell.

I’m going on a trip and I can’t wait for the change.

Chapter 5

Michael

The buildings wander by as I weave aimlessly deeper into the heart of what used to be Boise. Rubble and skeletons of structures and homes are losing their battle with nature. Who knows how many places were destroyed when the bombers hit.

Mom told me how they narrowly escaped before the city was destroyed to try and tamp down the wolves. But, it was Sam that slipped and told me it was because my father saved her that I’m even here.

The only glimmer of kindness I’ve heard about. All the rest was pitch black.

It’s a fitting backdrop for the misery in my heart.

What a fucking hand I’ve been dealt. Doesn’t matter what I do, shit always goes south.

Elly’s screams blend with the silent look of agony forever etched on Angie’s face. Why did I give in?

I knew better.

Her brother couldn’t handle me even touching him. What made me think she could?

The streets are identical in their destruction. It’s just a variety of how the debris is strewn. I have a pretty good idea where I am, having participated in scavenging crews since I was twelve. No one gave a shit if I was too young. My mom wasn’t even overly worried.

It’s like they were all just hoping something would remove me so it wouldn’t be they’re fault.

Bitterness churns in my stomach and finally erupts in a spray of bile infused water.

Screw living with people. If I’m destined to be alone, so be it. I’ve been learning my whole life how to survive. The yearning to live away from the crowds that stare and avoid me has festered in me since I was small.

There’s one place in this city I haven’t been. It’s the lure, the dark secret I’ve always tried to deny. I don’t want to go, but my feet have other plans.

Maybe I need to see it for myself.

It was Captain Russo that pointed it out. I think everyone else was hoping it would fade into obscurity with time. Nature has taken over so much of the city, if I hadn’t burned it into my memory, I may have forgotten the way.

But, not this.

Moss and ivy clings to the scorched cinder block walls, still green from the spring rains.

This building is huge. It could have passed for a factory or maybe an automotive garage nestled amongst the other industrial businesses in the area. Craters dot the wide area that leads to one crumbled side.

That must be the propane tank. Sam told me once it blew up during the rescue and is probably the only way Mom and Danisurvived. Jagged steel still pokes through the debris like giant claws reaching for the sky.

I can’t believe most of the roof survived. Actually, besides the burn marks in the main room, the cool interior is, for the most part, intact.

My fingers trace the rough mortar. The same walls my father once touched. Small hairs on the back of my neck raise as my eyes adjust to the dim recesses.

---