through the sand, one step closer to the unknown. The familiar scent of alcohol and cigarettes filled the air as we moved closer toward the sound of Rainer’s voice. He whispered something to Brother, who let go of me and walked away. I couldn’t make out what he said.
Not long after, the loud sound of a bottle breaking had me frozen in place. Dust blew in all directions as someone fell face first onto the ground below me. All the hairs on my body shot straight up.
I braced myself, unsure of whether or not I was going to be next. My body was tense and I nearly jumped when I felt an arm land on my shoulders.
“Candace, Candace, Candace.” It was Rainer.
I didn’t say anything but for some reason I could sense that he was looking directly at me. I kept my eyes focused on the person on the floor — it was the same guy from earlier. He was even bloodier now with dirt and shards of glass surrounding him, a lot of it stuck to his skin.
“Why?” said the guy on the floor. His voice harsh, body trembling, and face bloodied. After a few seconds, he managed to look up in my direction. “I thought we had a deal?”
“You and me both,” said Rainer.
“Please, just let me go,” he begged. “None of you will get away with this without my help.”
“It’s not us that needs to get away with anything,” said Rainer.
Rainer whistled really loud and just like that, four boots stood in front of us. “It’s time,” said Rainer.
The four boots walked away and all I could see was the guy on the floor. His trembling hands were trying really hard to reach for one of our legs. I wanted to move away, but Rainer stayed still with his arm around me. The guy on the ground was wheezing and it didn’t look like he could move much at all.
“Smoke?” said Rainer. It didn’t register that he was talking to me until he softly squeezed my shoulder.
“N-no thanks,” I said. “I’m alright.” My automatic reply to everything, but after the words left my mouth I instantly hoped he wouldn’t be offended.
Rainer took his arm off my shoulder, and then proceeded to light his cigarette with a match. He tossed the match next to the guy on the ground, and then placed his arm back around my shoulders after putting the rest of the matches away. The guy’s face was orange for a moment until the flame died out.
The warmth of Rainer’s body helped to block the cold air, but I was still far from comfortable. I heard an engine start a few feet away from us, followed by another three engines behind me soon after. These three were louder than the first one and they all seemed to be making random popping noises. The sound shook the floor and sent waves through me.
Even with Rainer’s warm body pressed against mine, I couldn’t help but feel a chill in my spine as I watched the guy on the floor attempt to crawl. I heard footsteps heading towards our direction and I watched in silent shock as liquid began to drip on top of the guy. For some reason, the sound of liquid gushing out of a container was louder than the guy on the ground begging for his life. Or maybe my brain was trying to cancel things out, for my sake.
“Please! Don’t do this! I’ll do anything!” he pleaded. “Please!”
Rainer didn’t say anything, the only sound he made was when he inhaled and exhaled his cigarette. I couldn’t see any cigarette smoke, but I could smell it. I tried to ignore the growing scent coming from the guy on the floor, but I knew exactly what the smell was: gasoline.
The red ashes fell from Rainer’s cigarette; some flew away while others seemed to land on top of the guy. Rainer removed his arm from my shoulders and squatted down closer to the guy. He continued to beg and plead, and Rainer continued smoking in silence. He just stared down at him, taking a puff every now and then.
Although my vision was still blurry, Rainer was in clear view. He had big, strong muscular arms that were covered in tattoos. His hair
Not long after, the loud sound of a bottle breaking had me frozen in place. Dust blew in all directions as someone fell face first onto the ground below me. All the hairs on my body shot straight up.
I braced myself, unsure of whether or not I was going to be next. My body was tense and I nearly jumped when I felt an arm land on my shoulders.
“Candace, Candace, Candace.” It was Rainer.
I didn’t say anything but for some reason I could sense that he was looking directly at me. I kept my eyes focused on the person on the floor — it was the same guy from earlier. He was even bloodier now with dirt and shards of glass surrounding him, a lot of it stuck to his skin.
“Why?” said the guy on the floor. His voice harsh, body trembling, and face bloodied. After a few seconds, he managed to look up in my direction. “I thought we had a deal?”
“You and me both,” said Rainer.
“Please, just let me go,” he begged. “None of you will get away with this without my help.”
“It’s not us that needs to get away with anything,” said Rainer.
Rainer whistled really loud and just like that, four boots stood in front of us. “It’s time,” said Rainer.
The four boots walked away and all I could see was the guy on the floor. His trembling hands were trying really hard to reach for one of our legs. I wanted to move away, but Rainer stayed still with his arm around me. The guy on the ground was wheezing and it didn’t look like he could move much at all.
“Smoke?” said Rainer. It didn’t register that he was talking to me until he softly squeezed my shoulder.
“N-no thanks,” I said. “I’m alright.” My automatic reply to everything, but after the words left my mouth I instantly hoped he wouldn’t be offended.
Rainer took his arm off my shoulder, and then proceeded to light his cigarette with a match. He tossed the match next to the guy on the ground, and then placed his arm back around my shoulders after putting the rest of the matches away. The guy’s face was orange for a moment until the flame died out.
The warmth of Rainer’s body helped to block the cold air, but I was still far from comfortable. I heard an engine start a few feet away from us, followed by another three engines behind me soon after. These three were louder than the first one and they all seemed to be making random popping noises. The sound shook the floor and sent waves through me.
Even with Rainer’s warm body pressed against mine, I couldn’t help but feel a chill in my spine as I watched the guy on the floor attempt to crawl. I heard footsteps heading towards our direction and I watched in silent shock as liquid began to drip on top of the guy. For some reason, the sound of liquid gushing out of a container was louder than the guy on the ground begging for his life. Or maybe my brain was trying to cancel things out, for my sake.
“Please! Don’t do this! I’ll do anything!” he pleaded. “Please!”
Rainer didn’t say anything, the only sound he made was when he inhaled and exhaled his cigarette. I couldn’t see any cigarette smoke, but I could smell it. I tried to ignore the growing scent coming from the guy on the floor, but I knew exactly what the smell was: gasoline.
The red ashes fell from Rainer’s cigarette; some flew away while others seemed to land on top of the guy. Rainer removed his arm from my shoulders and squatted down closer to the guy. He continued to beg and plead, and Rainer continued smoking in silence. He just stared down at him, taking a puff every now and then.
Although my vision was still blurry, Rainer was in clear view. He had big, strong muscular arms that were covered in tattoos. His hair
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