CHAPTER 28.B

Author's Note

Randomly disappears for a couple of weeks

Up and publishes four chapters back to back

Refuses to elaborate further

Lol, this chapter is 100% skippable btw, next chap tho? It's what the youths of today call "a-spicy-meat-ah-ball".

...

Yes I am losing my mind, how could you tell? See you guys next week! XD

~Gum

Had anyone been walking through Mayland Park that day, they would've seen two brothers trudging along. The smaller one was struggling to support both their weights since the bigger one was leaning onto him for stability. If one would've taken a close look, they would've noticed that under the black jacket the older brother wore was a bloodied shirt, for he was wounded on a side. They had done a shoddy attempt at bandaging the wound with a first aid kit they were able to snag but it was no show of craftsmanship.

"You okay, Ayden?" Asked the little one.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine."

It was both a lie and the truth. The pain was no laughing matter and he felt light-headed but it was bearable and, though every step was a task, the gentle air, the delicate sound of rustling leaves and the soft warmth of the sun of his face soothed his torment.

Ayden continued, "Skip will be able to patch me up. At least the gunshot didn't hit anything important."

The younger brother swallowed hard, "Fuck, I still can't believe that I..." He trailed off.

"What, Evan? That you shot Mabel? Honestly? Good riddance. That fucker had it coming. I almost wanted to tell you to shoot the guy that caught us too. I've got no fucking clue why he let us go but I ain't complaining..."

Evan lost his gaze to the void. Ayden knew he was replaying that memory of Mabel falling dead to the floor. He didn't want to add to the turmoil in his brother's head but the question was burning in his throat.

"Why did you shoot Mabel though? I mean! I'm not judging, like I said, good riddance but I dunno."

"I dunno either." Evan tried shrugging but he couldn't with the weight he was bearing, "That guy gave Mabel a chance to leave and he almost died because he showed Mabel mercy. It... didn't feel fair." He sighed, "But that almost got us killed. Next time I'll know better."

"Next time?!" Ayden shrieked, "There won't be a next time. I'm getting you the fuck out of this shit. You know why Dad wanted you to tag along with me? He was spewing shit about you 'becoming a man'. How the fuck are you supposed to 'become a man' if you're dead?! No fucking way, he can shove it up whatever he wants.

"You're gonna have a better life, okay?! Better than all of us. You're gonna do the right thing, go to school, get an education, get a real job, all that shit. I won't let mom and dad fuck up like they did with me." Ayden would've continued ranting but he ran out of breath. The ache on his side made itself known.

Ayden's words cut deep. A peculiar pain seeped into Evan's veins and attacked at his heart. Sure, it would've been nice to have that normal life, but the very idea wore dream-like robes. To think it could ever become a reality felt as if he were convincing himself of the impossible.

"Did you lose a screw in that big head of yours? Stop talking shit. How the fuck would I ever afford University. And what about you? You expect me to leave you behind?"

"You're a smart kid, Evan. All the teachers say so in school. Talented too. Don't snitch on me to Mom and Dad but I've been doing some snoopin' around. Remember that time you got in a fight in school and I had to go pick you up? I got talking with the counselor. She told me about these scholarships. There are some for people with art skills. You'd get in instantly!"

Evan shook his head, "Fuck no. Why'd they choose someone like me? Tagging buildings isn't art."

"It so is! Like the funky alien you painted or the big bleeding eye. Just do the same shit on, like, an easel and they'll give it to you no sweat. I'm telling you, you're meant for more than this."

Evan sniffed, "You've been... you've been thinking about this for a while, huh?"

Ayden took a moment to respond, "Maybe."

"And Dad?"

"Fuck him. Good for nothing junkie."

"And Mom?"

"She don't need us. She's been practically doing her own thing ever since we learned how to walk anyway. She acts like she cares but she'd be happier if we left. Trust me." Ayden tried to hide the bitterness in his voice but by the sad glint in his brother's eyes he knew he had failed.

"If we do this -which I'm not even sure if it would work by the way- but if we did, you're coming with me! It's like when Mom caught us doing something bad, we always covered for each other even if that meant a whooping for both of us..." He cleared his throat, "Ya fucking shithead!" He added so he wouldn't sound corny.

Ayden chuckled but the pain grew to be too much for such a simple act.

"You win. I want to quit. A friend told me about a job I could take. It wouldn't be much money but I got a little savings on the side. Maybe we can hold out for a couple of months on our own."

The younger brother felt a surge of excitement run through his body. It was scary to hope, Evan thought, but he truly wanted to believe that there was a better world out there for him. Out there for both of them.

"You really think we can do this, man?"

Ayden had no fucking clue, but there was no other way to go but up, "I mean, we won't know till we try, don't you think?"

"Yeah..." Evan nodded, "yeah..."

The older brother smiled. He too felt that tinge of hope flourish in his heart. Indeed, had anyone been walking through Mayland Park that day, they would've seen two brothers trudging along to an uncertain but exciting future.