Mason

I lost myself in the color of blood.

In the feeling of a deathly exhaustion, my limbs buckled beneath my bulking weight. As I dragged along.

Holding my gun, as I held my blackened heart. Close, just not close enough.

The mixture of bodily fluids stung my eyes carelessly, and there was no use in wiping it away. My hands were covered in dried blood, and dirt, blood that I didn't even think belonged to me.

Looking for Abriel, Mikangelo, and Klein, I ultimately gave up. They were lost in this deadly debris, of tortured souls, and death.

Finding a place to lay low behind an abandoned SUV, I sunk defeatedly onto the ground.

My vest was shot to hell, there was no use for it now, ripping it off of me like a grizzly in the midst of a rage, I stumbled.

I was hit, twice in my shoulder. Once in my upper thigh, two were through and through, but this one, was basking in my blood like a baby being cradled in its mother's arms.

It hurt, far more worse than hell.

If I had the right equipment I would've just pulled it out of me, but right now, I'm tired.

I just wished it would've been a shot, that killed me.

"Mason?" Squinting my eyes to see, it was a SWAT member, I only figured it was Mike. Letting my head down in relief he got closer. "Come on I'm getting you the hell out of here. Are you able to walk?" He still had his helmet on, reaching closer he knelt down.

"Ye-yeah, I'm good. I can walk. Where's Abriel?"

"He got shot down Mason. I seen it, there was four against him and the chief, they couldn't take them. They're like some skilled assassins with powerful guns you see in those futuristic kind of movies. Long story short, he's dead."

I just stared blankly. "Come on Mason WE GOT TO MOVE!" Hurriedly, pulling myself together, he helped me off of the pavement with a strong arm. "Let's go, let's go." Running as much as I could, with my gun still locked and loaded in my hand I followed. To a place beyond the SUV, yet more so familiar.

Clenching my jaw, I cocked the gun nonchalantly, and sidedly cut a look.

Looking around was when I got the gist of how this encounter with the man in white was going to end.

But that changed, when I seen him.

When my weary eyes landed on Klein.

He didn't stand alone, his crew was gathered around, there was more than there was when the battle initially began.

Picking up a riffle lightly he prepared it for a clear shot.

Calmly motioning for me to move, he raised it. Jumping in front of my brother. I frantically waved my hands in the air, "What! No? Klein it's Mike! Klein it's Mi-"

Going right through me like air, repetitively, a cold liquid flooded my mouth, over flowing into my lips, and down my chin slowly.

Grazing my hands over my abdomen, I pulled them away coated in blood.

In the midst of a distant mind, I began to drop to my knees. But a strong hand to my neck raised me up.

My eyes were closing significantly slow, and as they watched hesitantly. Klein was straight faced, he continued to stalk towards my dying body, and the man who held it.

Coughing as my pouring blood clotted, my body began to go into shut down. My eyes searching the back of my skull for salvation ultimately gave up.

Because everything, went black.

8 years ago

"It's empty, nobody is here May." Shoving pass Khai, I confirmed his conclusion. It was wide open, I figured no one has been in here since Klein was in the infirmary.

So I ransacked the cell in hopes that I'd find something. I let my concerning anger get the best of me. I tore the place apart, and still I found nothing.

"Are you done going Bruce Banner, Mr. Daisy? Because I've got something, and I don't need you bashing your fists, and make me lose it."

Exhaling my exhaustion loudly, I dusted myself off, and attempted to straighten all that I had messed up.

"Alright, what is it?"

"I'd be damned if this shit was english," Reaching out his hand, Khai handed me a paper. "It's a note."

Scanning over its contents, I felt my eyes seal with rockiness, and my anger fueled the flames that were burning within me.

There was more to this, it didn't just end here at the detention center. It was just a small piece to this disastrous puzzle. "It's a fight to death.

This is gang related, look at the seal."

A large D intertwined with an R. The Dorado Realeza, a gang that sprouted up during Khai's and mine first year in high school.

Twenty one kids died that year, nearly days apart, constantly there were gunshots being fired during passing. Frequently we would have days called off from school due to the violence.

Ricardo Mendez, throughout Kassaundra's first two years of high school. She was romantically involved with him. I didn't approve, yet neither did Khai. The thing is we never knew how serious they were, until he pulled up to her house, and shot it up.

After Kassaundra broke up with him. Heartbroken and on edge, he killed himself soon after, on the front porch.

And that's when all of the crime and violence ceased, I'm pretty sure you know what was revealed next.

Ricardo was the gang creator, gang leader. Initiated the crime sprees, just to put the gang on the map. He was the start, and his death was not the finish.

School for us our junior year was peaceful, people were transferring to M Heights, new teachers, new gear, new everything.

Since it was donated in hopes to aid the crisis. But it started again, senior year.

Ray-Min-Lee Wu, a new student freshly moved from Japan was shot down on the sidewalk of his house. He was on his way home from picking up his brother from school.

I personally knew the victim this time around, we played basketball, he helped Khai with the math he decided not to do. His hair was always braided, two French braids, maybe four, often times he'd just wear it in a bun.

Six foot four, his muscles were slim, strong green eyes, and an even stronger voice. People looked up to Ray, and I mean that also literally.

And after he died, a part of me that was inspired, and ultimately encouraged, withered away with him.

It was one night, after a basketball game, and a white SUV pulled up, it was more of the expensive versions. Everybody knew Ray had the dough, excited because we never met Ray's dad, or his mother the entire team raced to the scene.

To gawk over the new, two thousand and one Cadillac Escalade. The vehicle a pearling white, as the rims a custom gold. Made the car look as if it were floating on a thrown, I stood next to Ray-Min and Khai, way in the back action.

For some reason, Ray turned away, and walked back inside. His broadly, tall shoulders sunk to hell. And his hair fell down to his waist, creating a black abyss down his back.

"Yo Ray! Your dads whip is dope yo!" In the midst of going after him, my eyes caught a hold of the driver, and the words Leo voiced encouragingly, caused the drivers lips to raise in disgust.

"I'm not his father."

"Oh! Well my bad sir, your wheels are still fresh yo!" Laughing and shaking hands with his boys next to him, I rolled my eyes. Khai, and Ray, no longer by my side. I twirled around in hopes they'd pop up.

Within seconds Khai, and Ray came out of the school, shirts off and pants hanging damn near off their waists. Like how we all were.

Sweaty, clueless kids. "Bye guys."

Stopping him as he sluggishly made his way through the crowd I asked him dully. "Who is he?"

Looking down before glancing up to the man, he muttered. "My mother's new husband. My little brothers' father. He is nothing to me, as I am nothing to him."

He got silent, but he didn't move. "Take care of yourself Mason, I'll see you tomorrow?"

Two days after that night, the only time I saw Ray-Min again, was in a coffin.

The Dorado Realeza, continued, more than half of our basketball team was murdered carelessly in front of their homes, in the hallway at school. Teachers, freshman. No one was safe, Kassie was transferred to a private school.

And me and Khai on the other hand, just wanted to finish what we started. Graduating the same year with nearly less than half of our original class. Forty five percent of them dead, the other twenty seven up and gone, and the rest, well survivors.

That was years ago, and for some reason I arrest more juvenile members of The Dorado Realeza, than adults.

Since it sprouted in adolescents, they grow into it, corrupting more children their ages. Making it more and more dangerous. During those years of Ricardo's reign, The Dorado Realeza was up and coming.

The killings were for their representation of power, to gain respect, to obtain the tears of the ones that feared, and notable recognition of their brutality.

And lately with their switch on management, they've revved gears to money, property, and drugs.

And more than half of the estimated five thousand of them, are locked up. Right here.

Folding the paper neatly I stuffed it in my pocket, "Khai lets go."

Falling behind. I raced down the stretched hall.

Cutting corners, and lightly jogging, eventually Khai and I split up. I found myself at the ending of the building. And still I was empty handed.

Something clicking within me, I changed routes, I headed back to Helayna's office, that's where she left him. If someone nabbed him or he somehow got away, the entrance to this arena had to be around there.

Shaking my head as I caught my breath, I continued, hoping I'd make it to Klein before his unjust death does.

Present day

There was a distant shout, I didn't know if it was just me in my head, or if it was actually happening, I felt distant.

Spiritually I mean, I felt vacant.

Bleeding heavily, I laid still, unable to fully move my body on my own.

Frighteningly looking around me, I found the man I thought was my brother, dead beside me. The blood overflowing into a red hell beneath the lifeless vessel.

"Mason." For some reason the man's death struck me. I didn't know if I was relieved, or disappointed.

Yet the fact still remained the same. My brother was still missing, and I had no way of knowing if he was alive or dead at this point.

I coughed.

Hurling forward, I managed enough strength to sit up completely.

And there was Klein.

Sitting on a body, with a gun still planted into his palm.

"Your team. They're safe." Klein's voice was tired, defeating almost. But as I looked to the body below him, I wasn't surprised. It was the man in the white suit.

That was now painted with the color of red, and from the looks of it, he was still breathing. Klein's appearance was no better, his left eye was beat completely shut.

Swollen to ten times its original size, Klein's eyebrow was gashed straight open, with a few gun shot wounds to his shoulders, and one soaking in his knee cap.

"Who is this?" I questioned him. Suspicious of the relationship he exactly had with this man, and why he bombarded my men. Killing nearly all of them, including me.

"A hit man." Clenching his jaw and standing straight up, he kicked the body to its face up. "Wake up."

That was all of the information he felt I needed to know, cocking the gun in finality I stopped him. "Wha-what are you doing? Don't kill him Klein!"

Infuriated he flew over towards me in rage yanking me up at the collar. "Look at what he's done. Look at what he did to you! You want me to let him live? Walk away just free huh? Is that what you want?" Letting me go slowly, my head spun, the blood I was losing was making me grow weaker and weaker within the seconds.

"Mason, you would've been at home safely. I would've been locked up, waiting on a court date. I was content, but at times like these I can never be content without being prepared for the worst.

I sent your men, to the hospital. Abriel is with your captain back there, that little bastard you thought was Mike lied to you."

"Wh-where is he Klein? Is he okay?"

Dread drowned us both in our fear, finally making eye contact with his good eye he answered. "Mason I don't know. I won't know, but we don't have time. I have a copter on its way to get you to the hospital. So get up."

Making a slight movement. Klein's calm ceased, he was stoned over, the kind Klein vanished.

Pointing the gun reflexively, I fought myself to stand, "Klein you can't kill him, that would be first degree murder on top of your never-ending list of charges."

"Do you think I give a fuck about a charge that is irrelevant to the fact that I've killed more important people than him?" Disgusted at my innocence of the situation at hand, he focused his attention.

"Valenciaga Juan Trega, I must say your name does kind of have a little ring to it," kneeling down to his level Klein, took a finger and dug it straight into the gunshot wound he had created. Valenciaga silently just glared at Klein, he didn't flinch, he didn't scream.

What shook me was how well these men took pain, but then I realized where they both came from. And what they chose to put themselves through as young adults. This was just another day for them, but this was all so new to me.

Almost as if I were born yesterday.

"He is a fighter, hmm? Like Khai?" Back handing him, his head pummeled into the concrete. Klein kept his attention to the matter at hand attentively. He didn't look away, he was determined to kill Valenciaga, but I couldn't let him. "He just wouldn't die! I shot him, I dragged him up and down, and up and down. He had dignity when he died Klein you should be proud. He didn't beg, or scream or cry! It made me feel good inside."

I was nearly dead, but I felt my anger run over me, dive into me, and ultimately revive me.

Yet in the midst of this, allowing Klein to kill him, wouldn't make me any better than he is.

"He had children."

"And I had a job! You don't ask questions Klein! You don't have a say! You do it! You get paid! And you move the fuck on!

What makes you different? Because you touch tips with a fed? Hmm? Five years ago that was you, and Sasha, five years ago it was you running and ripping through cities as the devil himself. You've killed. You've tortured, you had fun. Don't you lie, you liked the way it felt to kill the inferior, to kill the strong, to get away with it.

You try to reason within yourself that you are the good guy, that you are better. But you're not Klein.

You're just like me. Just like your father, just like Vindango, Sebastian, you know exactly where you were created, and don't you forget that.

We were all created in that pit! Reborn! Brand new, into the heartless demons we are today!

If you're going to kill me! Kill me Klein! Kill me!"

"I am better than you. I always will be."

I felt the eerie ache of his murderous conscious, I couldn't do much but try to talk him out of it.

Yet talking doesn't really work with Klein once he has his mind set on something.

"Kl-Klein, you-you've got to let me take care of this, let him go. Don't make this even harder for yourself, you've got to know when to stay behind the line. You've done good today, don't let killing some scumbag take that away from you. Leave all of this with a good conscious Klein, you can do this."

Exhausted, I fell over instantly. Klein kept his silence.

"Klein Masthers, set down your weapon, step away from the suspect, stay on your knees, and put your hands on your head. Do not do anything to make me shoot you. Because I will kill you if I have to."

It was Abriel, his face was surprisingly recognizable, but I knew he took some damage. Slowly my heavy lids began to close on me once more, but I tried to fight them open.

I had to know Klein was going to be okay.

Hesitating, Klein remained with the gun to Valenciaga's head. "Klein, do not make me kill you, leave him, I will take care of everything. We are running out of time, put...down...the gun."

Cocking the weapon, Klein repositioned it, digging it deep into Valenciaga's esophagus.

Choking, and flopping around, Klein continued to watch. "KLEIN! I'm giving you one final warning! Step away! Before I put you down!"

"Abriel, if you were going to shoot me now, you would have done it already. But you're not."

Raising to his feet, Klein shifted his attention to Abriel completely.

Watching carefully as he planned his next move intricately. "Kle-" The gun went off, vulnerable without his vest Abriel fell to the ground with two bullets in him.

"You talk more than you take action, that's the problem with you good guys."

He walked away, just leaving Abriel to suffer in agony.

Turning my head to see his body pulsing as he coughed, and fought for breath. I pushed myself to crawl towards him.

The image of Khai, replayed over and over, not today, not Abriel. I was deaf to my own screams, and as I inched nearer, I grew more tired, "N-n-no." Forth footing a hand to his heaving chest, I attempted to apply pressure.

There was a heavy sound, that was once distant, as it grew closer, and closer. Too weak to actually see the conclusion to this deadly encounter. I slammed my head back defeatedly, "You guys are going to be alright Mason, you're going to be alright."

Klein's voice rang throughout my head bouncing from every which direction in haste. I could feel my body start to officially give up within the seconds, as the voice began to die down, to a tiny...minuscule...exsis..tence.

8 years ago

My mother used to always tell me you can never be too late, it just was never meant for you to be on time.

That saying always seemed to confuse me, I never really knew what she meant by it.

Until I got into law enforcement.

And I forced myself to believe, that everything happens for a reason, and in some stances it's true.

Just not all of the time.

About two hours passed since I split up with Khai, Mike and Helayna still had no sight of the missing kid. We were supposed to be on a rescue mission, but why the hell did it feel like we were just sitting ducks?

Silently roaming around, I laid my eyes on a young boy, bruised up, and sleeping.

Figuring he's got the details for at least something I pulled up a seat next to his bed.

"Wake up." I demanded kindly.
Luckily he was a light sleeper, scrunching his face tightly he quickly looked around him.

"Wh-who ar-are yo-you? What do you want from me? I had nothing to do with it! I didn't!"

"What's your name?"

"Valantino. But here I'm Valenciaga." His eyes were a bright grey, as his skin an orange brown. A burly kid, he looked no older than fifteen, scars along his face, there was one in particular that stung at me.

An x, running straight along from the right side of his face to the left, and from the left to the right. It was large, taking up his face greedily.

Despite him being tired he was battered, almost as if he'd been fighting. "Finally, I've been looking all over for you, did you find something?"

It was Khai, he was panting, trying to catch his breath he made his way over to me and the boy slowly.

Realizing I was in the middle of trying to get answers from the boy, he kept his silence and observed closely. Khai was good at determining answers through non verbal communication, hence why Klein tries to read me like one of his books.

"I need you to answer a few questions of mine. I can guarantee you're not in any trouble of any kind, no one is going to know, and no one is going to hurt you. You have my word."

"I don't talk to no cops. I ain't got nothing to say, okay? Leave me alone."

"There is someone important to me, that is in a lot of danger, and I need to find him and get him to safety before anything happens to him.

I need your help, help me." I attempted to plea, but the more I talked the farther he pushed away.

His neutral eyes filled with sadness, guilt even, turning his attention to Khai he shook his head.

"What's the guys name you're worried for?"

"His name is Klein. Klein Masthers. "

Valantino hesitated, the wall he was beginning to let down, flew back up in an instant, and his grey eyes became cement.

"I don't know him, never heard of him. Can't help you, not sorry."

"I have all of your contact information Valantino."

"So what are you going to do? Call my mom?"

Khai took his stance, as he hovered over the bed in disgust, "I will do exactly that. I will inform her that you will be transferred to the Black River Falls state penitentiary. On behalf of a triple homicide that you will be charged with, you'll be in prison for the rest of your life.

Now it is your choice, whichever you choose, I suggest you choose wisely. "

"You can't arrest me without probable cause, I know my rights!"

"Your roommate committed suicide, your statement was that you were asleep, cameras show you being awake, before the time of death, until they mysteriously lose signal.

I have cause, would you care for me to act on them? You are an active suspect, so dare try again.

Where is Klein Masthers?"

Fear stricken, he lowered his head, "Since he got here, asian boy been stirring trouble.

First he got on Clive's bad side. You ain't sposed' to do that, that white man crazy.

So are all of the other prison guards, well except that one guy,"

Snapping his fingers, as he tried to volley the name of the person he was mentioning, he got it. "Mike. Yeah that's his name, anyways.

After that incident with Clive, the kid got into a fight with DR, the one who runs it, Eli, fought his little bro Sebastian for roughing up the geeky, curly haired, blondie.

It was your boy, the twins, and little curly fry that got on the hit list.

And once you're on that list ain't no way of getting off, well I did."

Instantly Khai was hungry for more answers, pushing the kid to continue, "how'd you get off of the list Valenciaga?"

"I fought. And as you can see I'm still alive and breathing, I won.

Look, for my knowledge Klein wasn't on the schedule for tonight's fight, the kid Waylon was, but it was only to draw him out.

That's my guess, but then I realized I was wrong, when we were in the lunchroom a few days ago, and him and his little crew stirred up some more damn trouble.

You white people never learn do you?"

"His name is Mason, I'm very elated that you have good working eyes to see that he is indeed paler than you and I, but you will refer to him with respect.

Got it?"

Khai had a way of intimidating people, with the very little least of intimidation, always puzzled me, but then again it wasn't meant for me to understand his talent.

"Yeah whatever, anyway. Your boy got his ass cut off, fried, and handed back to him on a silver platter, with some ketchup on the side.

Then that was the last time I seen him, the little puss, and MeKe. I've been seeing Marko around though. But that's all I know."

"Where do the fights happen?" I asked, reluctantly, my mind was dazing off to alternate realities, that all had the same exact ending, there was no chance to turn the hands of fate.

Which brought me back to what my mother tells me, you can never be too late, it just wasn't meant for you to be on time.

Well I had to be on time. I had no exceptions, limitations, I was going to find Klein before he ruins himself forever, before I...or before I lose him forever.

Mapping out the details to Khai and I visually, we thanked Valantino for his cooperation.

And headed on our way.

I mentally prepared myself for the worst.

"He's going to be fine Mason, and once we find him we're going to be putting an end to this, we are going to make sure these kids in here are safe.

We are going to make it a better place."

Nodding my head in agreement I laid my eyes on the entrance. "K-Khai, I found it."

The entrance to the arena, was under the morgue, how fucking convenient.

Sneaking in unnoticed we looked for the door, Valantino said we'd know it when we saw it, despite it being in the morgue, the kid stated it looked more like an elevator linked to hell.

Hearing a loud ding and a heavy thud, I looked only to find Khai, stepping into the elevator, "Come on May, there's still time."

Catching Khai's brown eyes of heroism I clenched my jaw and joined him.

"We are here to find Klein, to grab him and go, we'll have time to take down the assholes that started this later, okay?

I lose sight of the initial mission once my emotions clutter around me, distracting me, to do the complete opposite and ruin what I hoped to perfect.

And Khai knew this, which is why he always kept me distant when things get down to business, he always says he's got to keep me in the light.

Because brokenness, sadness, and anger, always drag the best of us into the dark.

I've seen it happen, and I know what the darkness is capable of.

Sometimes when I enter a brutal crime scene my only hope is to find the person, and do far more worse than what they did to their victims.

But that would be cold blooded murder, and I'm not a killer.

It's easier to repeat to yourself of what you believe, helps maintain the optimism that indeed you're good, you're doing the right thing.

Yet the question still, and will always remain the same.

Are you, doing good?

What felt like a decade, finally ended. We were here, balling my fists as the elevator doors opened, I took a step outside.

It was pitch dark, and as we led ourselves practically blinded out of the tunnel, we heard them.

Screaming, and cheering, "Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!"

And that's when I ran, "Mason!"

My feet kicked my heart, as once I started to chase after time it fell, and I didn't bother to pick it up. "Mason! Stop!"

Khai wasn't too far behind me, and soon he'd catch me, body slam me to the ground. Handcuff me to the nearest thing next to me, and go about rescuing Klein alone.

I couldn't let him do that.

"Ma-Mason! Got dammit I will shoot you in the calf if you do not stop running!"

Usually when Khai starts to tell me what he's about to do, he isn't going to do it.

He wasn't a man of explanations, I called his bluff and continued, until I seen the fire pitches. And the crowd of men, and children, surrounding a pit.

There was more than five hundred of them, encouraging children to kill one another in cold blood.

And it disgusted me, I wanted to arrest every single last one of them, but I knew whoever truly ran this conspiracy was someone with power, political, and financial power.

Blending in the crowd, I inched my way closer, to see how exactly Klein was doing.

But a strong hand being beat into my chest stopped me. Arming myself to throw a punch, my fist was caught instantly, as my arm was twisted to behind my back.

Yanking me close, the person spoke." The next time you have me chase you in the dark, and a rat crawls up my leg because of it, I'm going to push you off of the closest building Mason. Do you understand me? Because that shit ain't right."

Squirming in his grasp he made it tighter,"Don't do anything stupid, we are outnumbered, wait this out. Find those kids Klein hangs out with. Go."

I scoured around for a lead, a kid with blonde curly hair, repeating that to myself. I continued to shove my way pass the screaming, and the taunting words of endearment.

"Get up Klein! Please! Get up!"

There was a squealing plea for Klein, following the voice I figured I got close enough.

"Waylon, he's dead. He's dead okay? Come on before we're next. We'll tell his mom that he saved your life, so at least he can be a hero."

"No! I won't believe it! Klein! Get up, your brother needs you! He needs you to get up! So you can see him again!"

Right on time, and right beside me was Khai, laying a kind hand on his shoulder, he knelt down to his height.

"Are you Waylon Cartwright?"

Crying to the heavens is what is face looked liked, unrecognizable by the dirt and debris, his skin was covered in snot, and tears.

The poor kid has been crying for so long and so hard, he couldn't even see properly.

Finally looking to Khai's direction, he nodded. "That's me. I'm right he-"

The commentary in the background was once calm, and silent, as everyone anxiously awaited what was going to happen next.

But all of that went for a turn, finding an opening to get closer to the scene, I saw him.

And the crowd was going insane, they were happy of the changing of events.

Still laying there looking as if he were beyond death was Klein.

Reaching my arm into the wire opening, I placed my fingers on his neck to check for a pulse.

There wasn't one.

"THE WINNER IS! SEBASTIAN! EVERYONE TAKE YOUR BOW, ELIJAH, IS HERE TO RETURN THE RIGHTFUL CROWN TO HIS BROTHER!"

"Kl-klein. Klein wake up, wake up now, this isn't funny dammit, you can't die like this, you have to fight. Klein it's me, I'm here, you're going to be okay, I just need you to wake up for me. Show me that you're at least okay."

But as I stood there with my hand on his neck, he didn't move, I felt nothing.

And I finally came to the realization, that I was too late, Klein Masthers was dead.

"Tonight, calls for a celebration,"

There was another cry behind me, as his presence grew near to me. "Is Klein really dead sir? Did Sebastian really kill him?"

Pulling into me for a hug, I shared the embrace, "ye-yeah Waylon, I th-think he really is dead."

"But he c-can't. He's a good person, his brother needs him, I...I need him, he's my friend."

Watching closely to how everything was playing out, my eyes trailed back to Klein's body.

Sebastian, I assume. Waltzed over in his victory, and picked up Klein, holding his lifeless body over his head, in triumph.

"White boy!"

Turning his attention to Waylon, I felt him ball up a fist, lunging at Klein's killer he grew rabid. "I WILL KILL YOU! I WILL KILL YOU!" His friend beside him frantically held him back, but Sebastian and Eli, smiled as they stalked towards him.

I waited until they posed a true danger to Waylon's life, Khai did the same.

With eyes that were created by truly the devil himself, he saw right through me, as he pinched Klein's cheek mockingly. "Did you guys hear the little gringo?"

Shouting back their answers Eli continued to egg them on, "Well I'll tell you,"

Laughing as if he couldn't even believe it himself he managed to form his words. The little gringo said, that he..was going to kill. Sebastian!

Now we all know, we are not supposed to make promises we can't keep.

I mean look at your friend! That you thought could be a hero, he's dead now. Don't you see?"

There was once cheering, and as Eli realized there was a dead silence, he turned around.

Guzzling blood, and falling to his knees was Sebastian.

Rising from behind him with blood bathing his skin in glory, was Klein.

Waylon and his panic stopped immediately. As we all watched, the conclusion of this hell.

"I want you, to fight me." Through a bass filled voice of hunger, I started to intervene. But a gun to my back ceased it.

"Now, now, now officer Carter, and officer Winters, let's enjoy this plot twist shall we?"

A grim tone of voice beat through his vocal chords, "Sometimes, it's better to run away from danger, rather than run to it. You of all people should know this, ah, oh well.

There's always a learning experience through everything."

My attention was stolen back, as I seen Klein throw his fists with might over and over.

Pummeling into skin and bones with a vengeance, the look of a possessed soul lingered on Klein's dead expression.

I was forced to watch the very kid I sworn to protect, and teach, to hope to help change.

Drive himself to complete madness, I knew that once he was done, killing Eli, he wasn't going to be the same.

Twenty minutes zoomed by me, I zoned myself out of the image of Klein ruthlessly beating a peer of his to death.

When he was finished, he climbed down the steps slowly.

Making his way over to me, the gun that was being dug into my back left, but for some reason I still felt as if I were being held hostage.

He limped, and he stumbled, but he managed to keep his head held high, and his stance even higher.

Seeing the figure behind me, I saw his lips quiver, and his eyes flood with tears.

But he fought them, and walked passed both me and Khai without so much of an apology for what he had done.

And as I watched him leave in the darkness, with Waylon and his friend, I had a strong feeling, that he didn't have any shred of remorse for what he had done.

Present day: one year later

"It's nice to see you again Detective."

Klein's voice was a humble hum of sincerity. I squinted my eyes in questioning, he was good at lying, so I didn't buy it.

"I know you have something to do with the disappearance of Valantino Trega.

"What did you do with him?"

Smiling with a laugh he ran a hand through his shoulder length hair, it was wet, with his sweat. Clinging to his skin like a freezer bag. Those green eyes of his challenging me with determination.

"Now why would I give you all of my secrets Mason? That would make our puzzle boring, and I must say we don't like boring, right friend?"

"We are NOT friends.

I'm looking for Ronn, Reeko, and your little girlfriend. And when I do, I'm going to take them down, they're going to rot in prison just like you will be.

Things have changed Klein, and I'll be there when the judge sentences you to death.

Because you of all people deserve it."

Mocking me as he always does I smiled right along with him. "People deserve a lot of the things that God has planned for them, it doesn't particularly mean, they're going to get it. BUT! I truly am smitten with your optimism Mason, it makes me feel all tingly inside."

"In time Klein, in time."

Picking up my things to leave, Klein remained seated.

"I'll see you soon Mason. Tell Kassie I said hi, oh and give her a big ole kiss on the cheek for me. I know she misses my lips on her skin."

With an angry grunt I proceeded out of the building.

Receiving a call from my captain, I answered. "He tell you anything yet?"

"No, but I know someone he knows will."