Lost III

Sharc laid on the table, watching out of the corner of his eye. He saw Diamondback suddenly diving down on top of him. He heard the crowd roar. He looked at his arm and saw the biggest splinter sticking through his arm. Slowly, he pulled it out. Sharc looked around at the crowd. He saw Amy there.

"This is the solution?" she asked.

Sharc slid back into the ring. There was nothing there. No cheers. No boos. Just an indifferent crowd. Punches were thrown. Fiend. His shirt was drenched in blood. His face blackened and caked with blood. But Sharc kept punching him and punching him. He pulled out a knife and got on top of Fiend. Stabbing and stabbing and stabbing, blood flying, but he wouldn't stop stabbing.

"Put that thing down. They can't know what I did." Rich stood up and grabbed for the camera, but his hand went right through it. He heard Chelsea's voice.

"It's OK. It was fake."

"Then why isn't he with us anymore?"

"I don't know. It was his time. It's OK, you're used to doing that."

"No. I'm not a killer."

"Only of dreams. Two have died at your hands. But nobody cares."

"How is Conan?"

"Do you know where you're going?"

"No."

"You wanted to be a god. A judge of humanity. A god. You are a broken little man. And if Barbara kills herself, it's all your fault."

"She wouldn't."

"Why not? She's made from you."

"Sup, bitch?"

"Hey man, long time no see," he said to the black man with the dreadlocks and the trenchcoat.

"I know."

"Why didn't it happen."

"It wasn't mean to be."

"Why didn't we get along?"

"We're humans. Some of us are just more Evil than others. You having fun yet? Your life? Your family? Your love?"

"No. I think I'm losing."

"You are."

"How can I stop?"

The man stood silent.

"I need a savior."

"You have two of them."

"Richard fucking Hertz. What brings you here?"

Rich spun around and saw the three men he most despised in the world crowding around him. He didn't say a word. He just let them punch him in the stomach and kick him in the back. And slam his head into the locker. And hit him in the balls with a lock. And drag him to the shower and rammed his face into the wall. Scalding hot water followed. That and the echo of laughter.

"Why don't you stab them?" Fiend asked.

"I don't have a knife."

"There's one right there. It'll make you feel better. Killing people makes everything OK again. I promise. Death solves everything."

"Death?"

"It's only 10 years away. Are you ready?"

"No."

And there they all were. Python. Amy. Diamondback. The Jocks. Fiend. Lisa. Chelsea. Cameron. Georgia. Andy. EOE. Rune. KroW. Conan. The Thief. Mom. Dad.

"Would you like a razor, brother?"

Rich could only stare as Evelyn was there.

"No. OK. That's fine."

"Stop killing your sister!"

"I didn't mommy!"

"I know your slit her throat! Girls don't slit their own throats. It's unlady-like. They overdose. They don't get all bloody."

"She did!"

"You see? He just won't admit it. He had the blade in his hand. He had her blood all over his hands. What more can I say."

"She...dropped it. She hurt herself."

Blackness.

NEXT CHAPTER: Lost IV >>

©2003 John Leary