Author: Nanuk
Title: Twilight
Disclaimer: No, not mine. Dang it.
Note: Many thanks to Christy for beta-reading!
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Had he been smiling? He couldn't remember. Had he looked at him? Eyes squinted as always when he laughed?
Joe rubbed a hand over his face, tried to wipe the tiredness off his skin, but it clung to him, like pitch and tar. Again he looked at the door, then down to the caps of his toes. Why wasn't he able to remember? Every second had remained in his mind, every second had burned itself into the inside of his skull with fire and vinegar, and still he couldn't remember. Couldn't remember the one scene he was desperately searching for in his head, to no avail.
The caps of his toes were dusty.
The men had been drunk; he had been able to smell it. They had played, girls on their laps, not caring what they broke, how loud they were. Everyone had steered clear of them. Everyone had known that ignoring the men was the better part of valour. Experience had taught them, and they had abided by it.
They had just wanted to drink a beer. One beer at the close of a hard day. Next to each other, they had been standing at the bar, had enjoyed the feel of the cool liquid in their throats.
When one of the men had stood up, his brother had stepped aside, the smile still in his eyes, on his face.
He knew better than to let others provoke him. The turn to the side had been fast, done without thinking, out of instinct – just like any movements his brother made were done unconsciously, gracefully, like those of a big cat.
This time the man in front of him had distracted his senses, distracted him from the masses behind him. Joe had seen the smile on his face when he winked at him. He had winked and held up his glass, answer to the silent question for more. Then he had broken down, the knife in his back small and cold. The room had turned red.
A door opened. A hand touched his arm. Joe lifted his gaze and realized that he was shaking.
"He'll pull through."
Joe shivered. He stared at the boards under his feet. Dusty. Blood-soaked. Adam would pull through. He'd make it.
He drew a deep breath and stared at his shoes. He'd have to clean them.
X X XThe End