Hey wonderful people... how've you all been? Hope you've all had a beautiful week, and are ready for another chapter of this ridiculous story!
Sparki: I own nothing?
"What do you want?"
Jimmy spat the words through clenched teeth. The man before him was a monster, a murder, and Jimmy hated him. With all that he held within, Jimmy Kent hated Jonathan Higgs. He supposed that perhaps he should be fearful; they were alone, with Higgs' formidable form planted firmly in the hallway's midst. There would be no escape if the man bade it to be so. But all Jimmy could feel was his hatred. It churned within his belly, fuelled now by the burning anger that Higgs had inflicted on him that night. He clenched his hands into tight, restrained fist; if it should come to blows, Jimmy's would not be the first to land. The footman would see to that.
A sheen of sweat clung to Higgs' broad forehead. Jimmy smirked at this; it gave him a measure of satisfaction to see the man flustered, even if it was slight. A bead, small and serpentine, dribbled down the side of his face. But Higgs seemed not to notice. His flashing eyes remained fixed on Jimmy's shadowed face, taking in the younger man's clenched jaw and scathing glare.
"What do you want, Higgs?" Jimmy hissed once more. "Why are you here?" The monster gave a smile that had nothing to do with mirth.
"I came to threaten you," Higgs replied, as though it were the most appropriate answer in the world. He flexed his solid shoulders. His thick arms hung unassumingly by his sides, but Jimmy was not fooled. He knew what those arms could do; he had seen them do it. He took a small step back, into the hall. Peering from the corner of his eyes, Jimmy could see the line of doors, all leading into the relative safety of the dorm rooms. And at hall's end, was the door that, if needed, Jimmy would race to. For behind that door lay Thomas. Thomas, who was strong.
Thomas, who was safety. He was safe.
Jimmy was ashamed at the cowardice he was overturning within his mind. He wouldn't run – not if there was any other way. Still, the fear had not surfaced. And so, Jimmy smiled.
"Threaten me," he murmured. "How so?"
Through the darkness, he saw Higgs raise an eyebrow. "Like this," the man replied. Something glinted in his meaty fist. Jimmy paled. In his hand, Higgs held a blade. Its steel flashed, even in the dim light. Jimmy stared down at the weapon, unable to tear his eyes from its glint. He heard Higgs give a satisfied snort.
"I thought you were dead." Jimmy looked up, and met the man's beady gaze. "Well," he growled, "you were wrong." At this, Higgs laughed. Jimmy jumped, his eyes darting around the corridors. But no doors opened; no heads peaked around corners. All was still.
"I thought to myself, 'He must be dead'," Higgs continued. "I thought, 'His father's dead, his home's gone'." The man smirked at Jimmy. "His mother's dead."
Jimmy bit his lip to keep from hurling himself at the bastard. The sudden pain stilled his fuming temper. But it still festered inside his body, waiting for the moment when it could explode. Jimmy was glad that Higgs couldn't see the blood that now tainted his mouth.
"How could you be anything but dead?" Higgs shook his head. "And yet, here you are. How's you do it, eh, Jimmy?" Jimmy scowled at the sound of his name slipping between the man's fat lips. "How'd a lad like you do it? Theft? Murder?"
Jimmy remained silent. Higgs laughed once more. This time, the sound was quiet, more a chuckle than a laugh. It was low, and sinister, and set Jimmy's teeth on edge.
"Our paths cross again, lad," Higgs snarled, all humour gone from his words. He brandished the knife, and Jimmy took another step away from its shining edge. But Higgs followed.
"I may be able to pull the wool over their eyes," the crook growled, shooting a contemptuous snort above his head, where his trusting clients slept. Jimmy shuddered. "But not you," Higgs continued. He shook his head. "No, you were always too bloody smart, for your own bloody good." He poked the knife at Jimmy's belly. The footman shied away.
"But if you open your dirty little mouth," Higgs murmured, "or if you so much as look at me the wrong side of proper...," He slashed the blade through the air. Jimmy shut his eyes.
"Jimmy...," My mother's voice shook, and her words were strained. "Run."
But I shook my head. "No, Ma," I hissed. "I won't leave you!" I glared up at the man who towered over me, his beady eyes clouded by the evening's shadows. "Not to this bastard."
The monster laughed. "Do as your mother says, lad," he chuckled. "Run."
I threw myself at him, legs flying, my fingers clawing at his face, his eyes. When his fist caught me around the head, I fell to the ground, and lay, groaning. Through the pounding of blood in my ears, I heard my mother's cry.
"Jimmy! Oh my Lord, Jimmy!" But I couldn't rise. My head spun, and ached with each breath that I took. Desperately, I reached out my shaking hand, straining for her.
"Ma...,"
"I'll tell them," Jimmy hissed, his voice venomous. "I'll tell 'em all. And they'll come for you, they will."
Higgs laughed, but Jimmy could see the thought glinting in his beady eyes. He raised the blade once more, and advanced.
"You never did know how to pick your fights, did you, James?" He pointed the knife at Jimmy's chest. Jimmy readied himself to run, to race. But the monster had frozen.
Higgs stood in the hallway. The blade, which only moments ago had seemed so threatening, fell from his meaty grasp. It landed heavily upon the floor. Jimmy stared at the man, and as he watched, all colour seemed to drain from Higgs' face. He raised a hand to his throat, and stumbled backwards. He opened his mouth, but all that escaped was a strangled moan.
"Ji...mmy...,"
He fell.
And Jimmy ran.
I'd really love to know what you lot think of this one, so please, please, pretty please... reviews!
