Mark Brooke | 15.10.2015

Leaves crunch under Mark's feet, as he and the trio walked towards the exit of the school. Each of them had an extra class to cope up for their poor performance in tests.

"We don't have much time to talk, today," Daniel says. "My grandma will be expecting me home, by now."

"What you have to do next, is that you have to do something really bad. You know what I mean...Why we created this group in the first place? We wanted to create a better life for ourselves. We decided to be bad."

"We were good, too." Dax continues, "But, good isn't repaid with good. We decided to improve our lives. But, in that process, we just decided to ruin somebody else's life."

Mark didn't understand. But, nevertheless, asked Daniel to tell him what to do next.

"Sorry, I just got diverted. So, what 'wrong' did I do to ruin myself? I watched someone die. Cut himself to death, to be exact." Daniel says.

Mark exhales.

"I helped in a kidnapping," Dax says.

Mark breathes slowly, then questions with a hint of a smirk, "You haven't killed anyone?" That alcohol and the tobacco from the previous day, hadn't left his system, yet.

Daniel raises an eyebrow, then gulps, "Not yet."

♢

"Mom, I'm home," Mark slips his shoes off of his feet, before heading towards the living room, where his mother sat in silence with her head in her hands. An empty bottle of alcohol is upturned next to her feet.

"Hi," She mumbles before looking up. Dark circles encircle her eyes and her greasy hair are matted to her forehead. "I'm really sorry about yesterday. I don't remember a thing, though. I just remember screaming at you."

"Yeah mom, that's what you did." He falsely assures her.

She squints, as Mark moves the drapes to allow some sunlight into the room.

"What happened to your cheek?" She asks.

"Hives."

"Since when did you..." She lets out a groan. "I'm sorry, Mark. I just have a splitting headache. Could you get my tea which is brewing on the stove?"

"Sure thing."

The door opens with a click. He hadn't expected the un-welcomed entry of his father at this odd hour of the day.

He is devilishly handsome, dressed in a black tuxedo with his coat around his hand. Almost as devilishly handsome as a killer.