I've had countless requests for both Beli and Kyanna stories. This little project here is the best of both worlds. I assure you, this one will have a very different tone to previous 'Problems' stories. It's set after the sixth chapter of Blondie, and also has connections to Hairdresser, so it might be a good idea to have a look at those before you continue.
The inspirational song for this story is 'Don't stop' by 'Innerpartysystem'. Give it a chapter will be quite violent toward the end - don't say I didn't warn you. Thank you to all of my returning readers for their continued support. Special thanks as always go to Sayuri for her fantastic cover art! Let's begin!
I'm also opening the floor to my readers. A new poll has arrived on my profile. Which girl would you like to see more often in the 'Problems' series? Perhaps another story or a short romantic oneshot? Cast your vote and let me know!
Ego Problems
Eighteen months had changed everything - yet Mike Andrew Winters, a now famous singer and musician, still remembered the whole turn of events like they'd happened yesterday. A stark realization fell into his lap, and with it, the power to alter the entire course of his life. No longer did he struggle trying to make ends meet. No longer did his band play songs in deadbeat bars for crowds that didn't care. The whole world watched them - and it was all thanks to one woman. Her name? Jessica Maye. Misty Peaks - to those who were so inclined.
"In the end I have one person to thank for all of this. Ironic... the strength you need is sometimes in the place you least expect it. Thanks... if it weren't for you opening my eyes then I never would've seen the mistakes I was making. Tiffany and Audrey? They weren't worth it... Now I've got the world in the palm of my hand... Nothing is gonna hold me back now..."
It didn't hurt to remember - in bad memories there was always a hint of good. With a smile, Winters kicked back into his chair, looking to a pair of hired goons, clad in long black coats and brandishing flashing earpieces. "Go get Kyu. I need to have a word with her."
"Right away, boss."
Closing his eyes, the singer allowed his thoughts to drift back in the form of a pleasant detour. It would be a while until his men returned.
"It's been so long since I last visited Glenberry..."
"For your information... my name's Jessica… but you can call me Jessie…. I'll happily keep you company if you get me a glass of something rough..."
It was strange – but for a reason Mike couldn't explain, something vaguely familiar radiated from this girl. Had he met her somewhere before, perhaps? Why in the world did it feel like he'd done exactly that?
No – it was hopeless. Shaking the thought from his head, he clicked his fingers for the bartender a second time, "Same again, please." Perhaps a little company would be nice after all that had happened tonight.
"There's a good boy," Jessie smiled warmly; "You know… it's kind of funny. I have a daughter about your age… and no matter how much I ask… she won't let me meet the guy she's dating. I haven't even seen a picture..."
"I couldn't imagine why," he replied, handing Jessie her booze with a little more vigour, "You seem nice enough to me."
"Well thank you… and the same to you too, Mikey." The lady sipped her golden liquid, leaning all the closer to rest against his shoulder, "Now how about you open up to mama? Tell me what's getting you down. An attractive thing like you shouldn't look so fed up with life."
"Well," Winters sighed – leaning his weight against the bar for support, "I don't think my girlfriend trusts me…. I mean, I did everything I could to keep what we have alive, but for some reason she's started showing a side to me I've never seen before…. I don't know if she's jealous... or paranoid... or both... This is fucking with me like crazy... because I've never seen her act like this before."
"Honey, listen," Jessie tightened her grip a little – her playful expression becoming stronger, "If a girl's jealous it means she really cares about you… A long time ago when I was in highschool… I had this thing with a guy in my class, a real sweetheart… I'd fight with any girl that looked his way…. It didn't matter what happened… because I was young… in love. Then there's trust... and that's another nasty monster entirely..."
Strange – for the slightest moment Jessie's expression seemed cloudy – and so very faded. Again with this feeling of familiarity. Where had he seen Jessie before?
"But take it from me, Mike…. Both of them... they're a two-way street… Sometimes we end up somewhere that it isn't healthy, and I learned that the hard way. But… at the end of that long and crazy road… it's your decision. Stick with her… or move on… but be sure you do the right thing for you."
"You're fresh out of college I bet," and just like that the older lady's lovely smile was back in full force, "And maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing if you went out there and had some fun… consequences can be so boring…. You only live once, baby."
Words held the power to sway the heart in an instant – what Mike felt at that very moment was proof enough. There was an aura of some kind coming from this gorgeous cougar, one he couldn't quite place, but it made him feel invigorated. "Thanks, Jessie. You might have a point... No... you do have a good point..."
Perhaps his choice to forge ahead with music was the right one after all. "I'm really glad I bumped into y-"
Lips – pressed against his cheek and stroked his skin warmly. When Jessie edged back Mike found himself lost for words. "The pleasure was all mine… and who knows?"
With that, she stole her arm back and reached into her purse, pulling out a little scrap of paper.
Before he could realize it, Mikey held a phone number in his palm. "….If you're ever dying for my company again… don't be afraid to call. I'd be more than happy to spend my evenings with you, precious."
"I might just take you up on the offer." Hopping up from his chair, Winters looked over to the doorway. "I need to head home… got things to plan for. Take care of yourself."
"Muah!" Jessie blew a kiss, slipping one of her lovely legs across the stool, "If you get in touch... I'll come running, promise…."
Sidestepping a few patrons, Mike made his way out into the street. His path was set, "Jessie? I'll be sure to remember the name…."
He'd go ahead with his plan – just as he'd said before. As much as he cared for Tiffany, tonight's experience had left a nasty taste in his mouth.
"'Perfection' it's a pretty shallow word when you think about it…. If anything, I should've learned that already through Audrey…. Yeah… a part of me is starting to think Kyu was right, too… She was trying to warn me…."
'You're too good for these ditzy human girls….'
Fluttering wings – magical pink hair and the power to sway hearts with a sparkly wave of the hand. One thing stood true amidst all of the uncertainty.
"You've never once tried to screw me over, have you?"
The choice was a simple one - all thanks to the wonderful Jessie. Nodding to himself in confirmation, Mike brought out his Huniebee and punched the speed-dial option. "C'mon... pick up... Kyu... Pick up!"
"Sup homie?" Such a cheerful voice - the warm chime of his most special fairy, was a godsend right now. "You're calling a little late. Need some-"
"Change of plans," Mike leaned up against the doorway with a confident smirk twisting his lips. "Forget about the girls, Kyu. They're holding me back. It's about time we focus on the band. We're gonna follow your original idea. Help me get famous... You're my fairy, right?"
A naughty giggle slipped over the line from Miss Sugardust. "You know it, hot stuff. Alright! Get your shit together... things just got real!"
"Way ahead of you..." The dice were cast - and Winters wouldn't stop until his name was iup n lights. "It's about time I took things seriously."
"You called for me, bro?" Kyu's playful voice snapped Mike away from his musings, aiding in his return to the present day. There she stood, disguised in her regular human clothing, wings hidden from sight.
A smile, an evil confession of his almighty power - hands through long hair of glorious peroxide blond. Fingers ran across the outline of an expensive jacket, tossing the article to the wind with poise and swagger. Green eyes focused hard against pink glitter – a scowl of disgust acting to convey intent that words could not. Indeed - the past was lovely, but it was as the name implied, past tense.
"Gentleman," a snap of the fingers sealed the deal, "Please help Miss Sugardust find a seat. I want to talk about the suspension of our contract."
"This is a joke, right?" Objections came hard and fast from the magical being. "This isn't funny! You'd be nothing without me, Winters! You're losing it buddy! I thought you were my main man, my homie!"
On the contrary – he could do whatever he wanted. He and his bandmates were rich. They'd hit the big time, power and fame were there's to command. Backed up with the colossal might of dollar bills, they were practically unstoppable.
"C'mon Kyu…. Let's be serious for a minute, yeah?" Winters sat, adjusting his buttons and eying his struggling fairy with daggers. Part musician, part celebrity, all playboy, he was in perfect control of the situation.
"What we had was fun while it lasted, sure… but I've grown beyond fun and games. My career is at its height; my uncle's music business is booming under the financial aid of Mark's family… there's no reason to keep screwing around like this is there?"
It was the first time he'd ever seen Kyu truly wounded – so beside herself with staggered surprise that she stared wide – still wrestling for freedom as a pair of sharply dressed goons decked out in long trench coats swooped in to restrain her. They waited in perfect obedience – looking to their 'boss' for the order.
It didn't look as though Kyu was going to take her removal lying down, however. In a flash of glowing magenta she sent her captors flying in opposite directions across the room – they smashed into the walls and dropped to the floor like ragdolls. "Not gonna happen, playa," she smiled cheerfully, her surety returning in a crackle of powerful magic. With a wiggle of her nose the two hired hands 'poofed' into a pair of fluffy pink rabbits – hastily hopping away as fast as their little legs could carry.
Winters whistled – impressed enough to stand from the desk of his study. He surveyed the surroundings, taking careful note of the pink-haired girl as she fluttered closer on a pair of thin crystalline wings. "That wasn't very nice of you, ya know? I don't pay those guys by the hour."
"I'll turn them back later. Now then, Mister…. You can't just throw me away like some used toy. Not when we've been buds for like... forever! You're my longest lasting client yet… over two years. I've broken the rules for you… done all kinda crazy shit to help you… and now you want me gone. A little shitty, don't ya think?"
'I'm not doing this for the fun of it, Kyu. Your talents are wasted on me now…. I'm as close to perfect as can be. You'd do far better with another client. Fuck it… there's no point trying to improve perfection, is there?'
"I know what you're thinking," she jumped in, stopping his train of thought with an amused chuckle. "The big goofy smirk on your face says it all, dude. You're getting too confident…. Ever since you got money you've been trampling all over people. Right now you need me more than you ever did before."
Boy did he hate how she could read him so easily – a sigh conveyed his frustration. True, he'd struck it big in the last year with his band's new album, but he hadn't changed that much. A mansion was still a home, just larger in scale. The bodyguards? They were there to protect him. He knew too well how many people wanted to take a slice of his fame for themselves.
"You've got it all wrong there." Backing up for a moment, sitting haphazardly upon the finely crafted oaken furniture, Winters reached for a glass of golden liquid. Beside it there sat a neatly drafted piece of white contract paper. "All I'm saying is that maybe… just maybe… it's time we had a break."
He swiped the paper from the contract, displaying it with a killer smile. "Sign it and we're officially on hold for the next four months. Had one of the guys with a little legal knowhow draw it up."
"You're kidding, right?" Kyu rolled her eyes, growling under her breath as she snapped up the piece of paper, her powerful emerald gaze scanning over the contents, expression falling darker is she went further down the page. "You really want to send me away for a while? Mike, homie… you're out of your mind, fuck…. Weren't you listening to a single thing I said just now? You have too much power…."
There was but a single suitable answer to such a concerned tone of voice. "With power comes freedom of choice. I'll be just fine, and I bet you there's another person out there who needs your help far more than me."
"You're not getting it," Kyu flickered a furious red – illuminating the expanse of the room as her wings thundered at twice the pace. "Did you ever think I like being here with you? This is the most fun I've had with a client in DECADES! We tour around the country, partying like there's no fucking tomorrow. Dude… I'm one of the most famous fairies in Sky Garden because of my work with you. This is less a job and more a way of life for me now."
"See?" Mike spun it around with poise, moving in to place a glowing hand of talented blue upon Kyu's shoulder. Smooth and powerful, like the lady-killer he was born to become. "More reason for you to go make another lousy sap successful like you did me."
Kyu's lips twisted into a bittersweet smile as fluttered across to the desk, sprawling with reckless abandon, flicking out her legs with sensual allure. "If I made another guy as powerful and smooth as you I'd end up losing my job… Venus already thinks you're a case of gross misconduct."
"So you're supposed to make us powerful, but not too powerful? Sounds like bullshit to me."
Kyu gave a short shake of the head – pink locks fluttering against the gentle blow of the air conditioning. "If you read the small print in our contract it says I'm tasked with keeping you under wraps too."
"Look," she paused – her hesitation evident in the way she nervously crossed her legs, "If you want this then I suppose it's fine…. I can't really refuse… but… I'm warning you. Once you suspend our deal… if something happens, I won't be able to come to your rescue like I always do. You'll be completely on your own until a full four months tick out."
Something about that ludicrous statement tickled Mike – as he worked to stop a rebellious laugh from escaping as best he could. "For the love of- Kyu…. I'll be fine, fuck me! Name one instance you've had to swoop in and save me."
It didn't take long. Kyu began counting on her fingers, brows furrowed in deep thought as she effortlessly started to recall various incidents of concern.
"There was the whole thing with Kyanna when I first showed up, the crazy anime groupie, what was her name, Suki? The time you almost got Audrey caught in the family way…. Not to mention the weekend when I took you to Sky Garden. You remember, right? One of my colleagues spiked your drink with purple magic and you ended up gender swapped for two days…"
"Okay okay!" Winters held up his hands in surrender, shaking his head, "So you've had to help me a few times… but that was before… back when I was a nobody. Things are different now…. I've got the means to look after myself."
"It's those 'means' that worry me more than anything," the candyfloss fairy admitted with honest brutality, "You humans start going crazy when you have money and power in your hands."
Pausing for a moment – Kyu whipped up a pen from magical ether, resting the tip against the dotted line. There she waited hesitantly, looking back to Mike for one final moment of clarification. "I swear… if you end up like McShagger by the time our break is over… I'll come over here and drug you with so much purple magical you'll wake up as a girl permanently."
Mike chuckled, giving an approving nod, watching carefully as Kyu scribbled her name against the paper, hands stiffened throughout the whole three seconds. "Nothing's gonna happen," he repeated, "I'll be just fine!"
Pushing the paper back into his hands, the winged beauty swooped in one last time, throwing her arms around her now former client. She squeezed him tight, flicking curly threads of pink away to expose her orbs of light. "You're a fucking idiot… but a lovable one… I'll give you that. A heads up for next time you try and fire me though, homie… don't use the apes in suits… so not cool."
Warmth surged throughout Mike's core – his entire body relaxing into a soothing embrace. Softness encroached upon his lips, arms straddling him in a wonderfully soft cuddle. He watched through blurry sight as Kyu inched back, lapping up the dampness of saliva from her lips, giving him a cautious wave. "Think you owe me a little more than a kiss when I get back, dude. Now… BE CAREFUL!"
There was a sincerity to her warnings – something far beyond the likes of which he was used to hearing from the carefree magical woman. He needed to put her at ease, hopping up from the desk with his ailing glass of liquor in hand. "It's all under control," he assured her with a 'thumbs up'. "I'll see you in a few months."
"Later Mikey," she smiled – her happiness evidently far more fragile than usual. "I'll be sure to tune into your show in Glenberry." With that final, heartfelt farewell, the fairy evaporated in a shower of pinkish sparkles.
It was far too silent in the study now. First things first, a little music. The peroxide musician downed his firewater, strolling across to the back of the wide room, eying a huge sound-system with thunderous excitement. Jabbing the power button, he cycled through an array of different musical genres. "Rock… Metal… Not feeling classical. Here we go… the remix playlist…."
A rapture of electronic beats and bass shook the windowpanes – Winters slid back across the carpet in appreciation, kicked up his feet on the desk, and poured another glass of the good stuff - bobbing his head in tow with the heavy thumping.
"Better check my schedule while I'm free." Prodding the side of an intercom with his shiny-shoed foot, he roared over the staggering audible volume. "Yo! Need a little insight into my diary for the next couple of weeks… care to give me a heads up, Misses P?"
"Of course, sir." Misses Paterson, Claudia. He'd hired her to keep tabs on all of his important happenings since his ascent to musical stardom. Parities, social gatherings, sessions in the recording studio, she logged it all, and sounded damn miserable while doing it. "Let me pull up your schedule…."
Tapping his other foot impatiently, the entitled singer waited, taking back a mouthful of drink to ease his tension. The stresses of such a full-throttle social calendar these days were a little too much to handle. "Anytime today, Claudia. I'm sure there are plenty of other people out there looking to get paid as much as you do for this job."
"Of course, sir," she sighed - disheartened as always, "Sorry sir. It says here you're going to a party with Nora and Miss Renee on Tuesday. You're also meeting with Miss Lillian for dinner next Thursday. She'll be brought here under private escort. Last of all... you'll have to be in Glenberry on the Saturday of that week for the final show of your tour."
"Good… good. Take the rest of the day off. I'm gonna make plans for a little get-together tonight. I won't be needing your help until tomorrow." There wasn't much else to say. Mikey shunted the side of the intercom with his foot, grooving his way across the carpet a second time, halfway between euphoric intoxication and a financially-induced high. Having whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, was absolutely marvellous.
"It's a crowd of twenty-thousand next weekend… gonna be good, real good."
Peering out of the window, the sight of gorgeous girls in bikini's filled his heart with a wave of intense vigour. He didn't know them – didn't care to, either. They were the booty calls for a couple of the more adventurous roadies, nothing more and nothing less.
"Can't deny that they make the pool look damn fine…."
A sip of the drink to calm his lust-hungry nerves, "Keep it cool. You'll have plenty to choose from when you get back to Glenberry. Damn…. How long has it been since I last visited that old place? Gotta be over a year now. It's fitting… couldn't think of a better town for our last performance. Finishing where we started seems… right."
The days ticked onward, dissolving into nothingness as if they'd never existed. Tonight was the night – a divine moment in which Third Betrayal would shake the entire world. The vibrant city of Glenberry was waiting, the cameras rolled with star-studded desire, all while countless crowds of people cheered and screamed in whole-hearted admiration. This colorful student town had made the band famous. It was time to repay the debt.
A reflection looking back in the mirror, smiling with a bloated wave of euphoric glee. The peroxide hair was perfectly gelled, the pressed blue shirt and pricey black pants flawlessly set without a single crease. The shoes? So shiny they'd reflect back the flashes of the paparazzi cameras. Mike was good to go – a flood of glorious Talent pulsing so hard through his veins that he cried out in bliss.
His aura swam across the length of the hotel room – licking the walls with almighty presence. "Looking good… feeling good. Look out world…. I've finally made it. I'm a fucking GOD. No more living in mother's shadow. The violin can gather dust in its box…. My voice sways the hearts of millions."
The mirror had served its purpose. Turning his back, the smoothly dressed vocalist reached for the television remote from the bed. He'd forgotten to check the news coverage – practically a sin in itself when he and his bandmates would no doubt he centre stage. A few clicks brought the news channel to life.
Mike smiled at the sight of the report. A journalist stood at the huge open doorway of the Glenberry Stadium. She was surrounded on all sides by screaming. Some people clutched signs and billboards - while others had fan memorabilia with names and love hearts splattered in red and blue paint. The deafening roar of propellers hovered overhead, the broadcast feed panning upward to depict a Glenberry News copter swinging by on a slick pass.
The lady reporter clutched her microphone – brushing a flustered hand through her windswept hair:
'This is Christie Carmine reporting live from the Glenberry Stadium. Thousands of supporters have flocked here today in preparation for the last show of Third Betrayal's sellout 'Charisma' concert. People have come from everywhere, across the entire country and even overseas to see the four piece Rap-Rock band perform live. Rocketing to stardom just eleven months ago with their hit first studio album 'LoveBeat' Neil, Steve, Mike and Jamie have taken the world by storm. Perhaps most popular of all is Mister Winters, son of the departed classical music icon Angela Winters, who performed in this arena over two decades earlier. With an international tour planned next year, will anything stop this band from spearheading a Nineties music revival?'
The mention of mother brought a twinge of discomfort. Mike sighed – cooling his frustration with a channel change. Tossing the remote on the bedsheets, he grabbed his jacket and made for the door. "This isn't your night, Angela… it's mine…."
Passion and florescent glows spun out under an uproar of cheering and applause. Mike swept a hand through his peroxide locks, taking the centre stage – eyes of brightest green drinking up every ounce of adoration aimed his way. Bobbing his head in perfect timing with the beat of their backing track, he waited – it was time for the twin guitarists to shine.
The sea of people in their thousands were under hypnotic control – completely disinterested in anything but the sound of their glorious music. Young ladies at the front waved their plaques and flailed in recklessly wild abandon, holding signed photographs and other such items in sweaty palms. As the guitar solo kept on, Mikey took a final moment to centre himself.
A deep breath. Inhaling, and exhaling. Rinse, repeat. He was the boss – this entire stadium was his playground. Bathed in stage lights and the flashing of camera phones, Mikey felt his soul burning bright. The inner beast, the showman, the playboy, was alive in all of its flawless beauty. Not a single boundary stood in the way of conquest – the charts, the billboards, and every other musical ranking from here to Europe was singing praises.
In a single powerful moment the guitars dropped, rays on neon snapping across to give Mike full focus. It was his signal, his calling – a reminder that it was his destiny to bring the world to its knees. Television sets across the four corners of the world were tuning in tonight.
'Time to give them a show they'll never forget….'
One final breath of preparation – eyes of green sparking a talented blue as he brought the game to the next level. Holding the microphone tight, he began his lyrical ritual:
"Yeah… that's right. Time to let go! Believe in me girl, and we'll keep climbing high, against all odds, higher than the clouds in that deep blue sky! In life there's winners and losers, one or the other, you can't be both. Put your trust in me and we'll find the meaning of love. Talent, Charisma, Passion, an aura of blue… my gift… my calling, to find a new world with you!"
The fans loved it – single-minded in their following. Every word he spoke held enough weight to ensnare the heart and capture the soul. His Talent, twisted into blue music notes, gripped the entire venue, holding them to a ransom of which there was no way to escape.
'Might as well turn up the heat!'
Winters smirked, giving a smug scoff as he reached downward, tearing his shirt asunder, and the buttons rolled across the stage. Not content just yet, he plucked the garment away and tossed it into the crowd, awaiting the response expectantly. As people fought over the lone item of clothing, he brought the mic close to his lips – there was no sense in holding back:
"I've got it, you want it – there's a fire inside me… it lights the way, pushing me closer to a brand new day. Power and glory, they're mine to take, and I'll leave this place shaking with tears in my wake – cuz I'm a lover, a fighter, with my heart shining true, so stand by me baby, my eyes are on y-"
A shriek – far from the normal screams of obsession – a genuine weil of terror. Mike froze solid, the music fell low, the entire band becoming statues as confusion took hold. A thick plume of smoke billowed at the front of the spectators, fists flew, violence and aggression taking hold in an instant.
Before too long the cloud of obscuring smog was too thick for the singer to make out what was going on. Members of the security team up front climbed over the barriers, shouting back and forth in a disorganized mess.
Harrowing cries of anguish overtook the front of the stadium as people scattered left and right. Something felt very wrong here. Mike's heart thumped hard in alarm, signalling his subconscious to act. A dangerous feeling swept across his body in warning – it told him to get off the stage right now.
'Move, Winters! Move! You're out in the open here!'
"I've got eyes on them! Four men - mid twenties! They're carrying knives! Get more security in here, quick!"
The voice sounded familiar – a member of the security staff that Mike had spoken to earlier today. Something about a knife. A cold shiver crawled up his back. He turned to move in the other direction, his mind screaming even louder to vacate the stage. His feet scraped along in jagged compliance, and from the corner of his eye he saw the glint of light against shimmering silver.
Before Mike could even register what was going on, his feet left the ground, friction burning his back as he skidded against concrete. The entire core of his conscience looped over in twisted nausea. It took a low, violent cackle to snap his attention back into place.
Eyes of green connected with a tainted stare of brown. Winters tried with all of his might to move, but found that his entire body was pinned in place, held without hope of escape by a tattoo-scrawled wall of muscle wearing a sweaty white vest. His facial structure, the hue of his complexion, this man was no doubt Hispanic in terms of ethnic origin.
The mysterious attacker brought up a sharpened blade with a perfectly shined edge, crushing Mike's attempts of escape into the ground with a pair of powerful arms. Holding out the weapon, he let out a disgusting scream of laughter, eying Mikey with absolute bliss.
"The boss sends his regards, you smug little prick. Word of warning for the next time… Don't touch what doesn't belong to you, got it? Cuz now I've gotta fuck you up… and I think I'm gonna enjoy it…."
The flicker of steel was the last thing Mike saw before half of his vision blew out like a shattering lightbulb. Fire burned across the right side of his face, the warm flow of crimson leaking across the expanse of his chest. Nothing made sense – the screaming pain was far too pure to decode any information. All he could muster was a simple alarming truth.
'My right eye… it won't open..."
His thoughts were silenced with uncaring monstrosity – purged in the purest waves of hell as the bloodied weapon crept downward - carving into the side of his face with gruesome precision . Agony, agony, agony… it hurt so much! He couldn't allow a scream - he could not allow the pain to reach his vocal cords. No matter what.
'Stop stop stop stop stop... PLEASE STOP!'
Yet it was hopeless – biting down on his teeth was little comfort. A howl of unrestrained torment ripped free from his mouth, filling the air in a showing of truest distress. With every second the sensation only worsened. Overcome at last – Mike twitched in a – no doubt a desperate attempt from his body to regulate itself.
With one final bellow of laughter, the grizzly 'surgeon' pulled his implement free, standing with folded arms and a contented expression. Through foggy sight, Mike reached out in a desperate attempt to keep his brain ticking over. One side of his cheek felt open to the air – as though the soft evening breeze ran right through it. Red was everywhere, and a disgusting taste like copper poisoned his tastebuds.
"What did I do to... deserve this?" Mikey curled into a shuddering little ball - a tragic attempt at defending himself, "Why me?"
The thug smiled once more, tossing the knife away. "I already told you holmes… you fucked with something that doesn't belong to you... Not that it matters now… you'll have the rest of your life to think about it... Lights out, motherfucker!"
Blunt force struck the singer in the form of a boot. The world flipped backward – an almost surreal inversion pulling everything together in a distorted haze. The only thing that shined through the crushing weight of disorientation was the shallow sound of breathing. One breath – two, three and four. By the time, the count finished, blackness washed over.
"Dammit." Crimson tears leaked out as Mike clawed against the concrete, "Kyu…. Where are you? Help me…."
To be continued….
I don't have much I can say at the end of that. I'll admit - the tone of this chapter was far more brutal than what I'm used to writing. Please give me your thoughts. What did you think about this first chapter? Feel free to leave some feedback. If this is your first time reading the 'Problems' series then there's lots to enjoy.
There are plenty more good writers in this section, too. Why not check out some of the work by Voidwing, Maxaro and Cyper DS? Each one of them has written some great Hunie content! Well, that's everything! Keep on supporting Huniepop and Huniecam Studio! I'll see you in the next chapter!
