Dez could feel it in his bones, in his gut, in his head. A circulating pressure, like a raging river barely contained within his body. It made him confident today would be no ordinary day. Dez was a man who trusted his instincts; life had taught him nothing less. It sounded strange to claim one could feel something like that. But his senses had always been odd like that. Dez just sensed things; when there was trouble, there was always a particular smell or feel. And today it was heavy in the air, making his body feel twitchy and uncomfortable.

  He tried to fight against the feeling, focusing his gaze toward the incredibly thick woods his dear town was famed for. The trees were massive, thick towers, with branches and leaves forming a solid wall between the road and the forest surrounding it. The entirety of Eyeville was like that, a small town carved in the center of wilderness so harsh that most avoided it. Though someone had, likely by some desperate settler, too stubborn to pick better. Eventually, they were joined by others, and through sheer persistence and grit, he had created a camp that had grown into a village, and eventually into a meager town.

  In truth, the sight of Eyeville was a constant annoyance. Such a secluded, small town like theirs was modest, stifling in its secluded nature. Despite it being the age of technology, most folks here had no need for phones or the internet. It was too expensive and inconvenient for a town so remote. The residents were those locked into the past, people too incompetent or unwilling to leave the town. A predominantly White town with scattered African Americans, like Dez himself.

  That may have been the reason Dez disliked Eyeville so much. The Dez family was one of about a half-dozen black families, compared to dozens of white families. And while the times had supposedly changed elsewhere, Dez saw none of that here and now. Racism was alive and well, more subtle now, but firm and powerful in Eyeville.

  Dez sighed as his headache from the sensation was compounded by one from annoyance. He was an idiot for thinking so deeply when his head was already pounding.

  “Yo Desmond.” A voice broke him out of his stupor, its tone a mix of concern and mockery, a contradiction that simply was Hooks. The man was his best friend, and by all metrics, his brother, the only family Dez had nowadays. The two made for an odd pair. Dez was a short buzzed cut man, Hooks was a towering fella with dreads tied into a neat ponytail. Dez’s face seemed to be locked into a scowl, and Hooks had a cocky smirk. Even their personalities seemed to clash. Dez was a relaxed guy in general, content to do whatever and generally enjoy his time. Hooks was a schemer, someone always plotting something, chasing his next interest of the week. Dez was genuinely disliked throughout the town for his reputation and attitude. Hooks was beloved, seen as charismatic and, even by white folks, as one of the good ones. But the two agreed on a couple of vital things, the dislike of the folks of Eyeville, particularly the constraining racist. And a desperate need to leave this town and lifestyle behind. “To escape to the present,” as Hooks often referred to it.

  “Are you just being weird like normal, or are you being extra weird, brother?” Hooks broke through again.

  Dez scowled deeper, recognizing Hooks had caught him. The strange sense he had, the sensation, was a secret for Dez. Arguably one of the most personal ones in fact. It was an oddity, something no one else he knew had experienced. And every time he had shared it had caused him grief. But Hooks knew that the two of them had spent too many years as friends. A night of partying led to Dez leaking his secret himself. And while Hooks had proved loyal enough to keep it a secret, he had no faith in it. In fact, the man seemed to get annoyed when it came up.

  “Yeah, so what if it is? It does come in handy every now and then, it was flaring that night…” Dez pointed out. “Besides, it gives me a headache; I can’t exactly ignore it.”

  “Oh, be a real brother and get through it.” Hooks mocked. “That feeling is just you spazzing out, my man. Ignore it. Today is going to be a great day. The new start to our lives, my brother.”

  He kept saying that as of late, not that Dez minded, he hoped the more his friend said it, the more likely it would become. Dez and Hooks had been similar for years now. Two recent High School graduates who were treading water. Dez had recently been kicked out by him, and Hooks, while a great student, despised school, so the two of them had gotten an apartment together, scraping by to live a life full of partying and fun. Desperately trying to pretend things were better than they were and dreaming of how they could make it so. Until Hooks had won the literal lotto.

  Dez could barely remember the day. He had been at his latest job, already on his way out, when Hooks had arrived. New car in two and smirk so smug it made Dez’s skin crawl. The brother had become rich overnight and intended to live that way. Hooks, determined to leave, decided he needed to take his two closest friends with him. Dez and Ritz, though Ritz had been sick that day, so Hooks and Dez had been left alone to celebrate his recent wealth. A night of drinking and drugs, a night of wild energy, energy that had caused them grief, and a rather inconvenient road bump on their plans.

  That night, they had run into another group, a mostly white group that apparently knew their own white friend Ritz. Inebriated as they were, it went well at first, the two groups mixing and socializing normally. However, the leader of the group, Jack and Hooks, had gotten into it, tempers flared, and it led to a brawl. Dez is rushing forward to defend his friend, and Jack's friends are doing the same. It had caused a massive scene, cops are being called to settle the matter.

  It had turned out Ritz’s friend Jack wasn’t a normal whiteboy, but one tied to the Eyeville Police Department. In fact the son of the Sheriff of Eyeville. One who used the connection to get himself and his cronies off while ensuring Dez and Hooks had the book thrown at them.

  A year in jail for both of them, plus heavy fines. Hooks and Dez were hauled off to another city's prison to serve the time, Eyeville lacked long-term care options. Hooks had eventually managed to bail himself and Dez out, but only after months of time served.

  “Brother, if you don’t lock in.” Hooks chided. “Ever since we went downtown, you’ve been ever more moody.”

  “What do you expect me to be ecstatic to have been imprisoned? Maybe excited we’re finally out? Brother, while we sat there, I did nothing but think over my life. That damn night-”

  “Drop it already, man, I didn’t plan for that.” Hooks complained. “Besides, you mean he kept crossing your mind, forget about what Mr. Little said, brother…”

  Dez was silent, proving Hooks right, but the man had pulled a low blow to win. Mr Little was his father, Dez himself being named Desmond Little, though only Hooks ever called him that. Mr. Little, insisting on being called such by even Dez, his own son, was a strange and constricting man. One of the few decent black men in town, he was known as the owner of a thrift shop and as the leader of the church choir. He was seen as a role model. And had for most of Dez’s life insisted on creating Dez as his mirror image. Something that, as Dez had gotten older, had resented. Mr Little was a member of the community and loved Eyeville despite its faults. But Dez despised it, and that, along with Hooks, had created a rift between father and son. It was why Dez went by such, refusing to go by the name his father chose.

  “Yes, he did,” Dez admitted with a shrug. “How crazy for a guy to think of his family when he’s rotting in jail.”

  “I feel ya, my man, I really do. But that’s what I’m saying, you're stressed out and resentful. I know it cause I feel the same, brother. But we gotta keep our cool, we’ll be heading out of this shitty town soon enough…” Hooks said, Dez hesitantly nodding in response.

  Even after their jail time, things hadn’t been as dire as Dez feared. Hooks had bought their freedom, with stakes in the local factory giving them both jobs, and it propelled them to realize they could finally leave Eyeville. Such was why they were out now, determined to have a final night out before they left this rotting town for good. They were, in fact, on their way to grab their third musketeer, Ritz.

  Ritz was the third in their trio, a white man who earned both of their respect. He came from a large farming family within Eyeville, but was estranged from them all. Among Eyeville’s residents, his family was famous for their discrimination and open hatred of those different, but Ritz was different, even willing to stand up for them against his own blood. For “moral integrity”, his family had cut him off, leaving him alone. Most young men would’ve been crushed, Dez included. But Ritz, due to the skills he had learned, became independent. He got a low-paying job at a restaurant and managed to get his own apartment. Using his farming skills in the freetime as a side hustle. He knew they were going out later tonight, but not that Dez and Hooks wanted to leave, let alone that they wanted to take him with them.

  The car lurched as Hooks chuckled, having cut off a small smart car purely for the fun of it. It honked its horn, but it was for naught; it only made Hooks laugh harder. Dez shook his head at the display, but in truth was smiling at himself. Hooks loved his new car, and loved sticking it to Eyeville even more…

  ?

  Dez and Hooks were slowly crawling through a drive-thru of one of the few fast-food spots Eyeville had to offer. Hooks tapped his leather steering wheel impatiently as they waited. Dez merely enjoyed the moment; he never minded waiting like this, and their only local rap station was actually belting out a few decent songs. The constant snare and sampling of "So Be it" provided more than enough entertainment; the crowd gawking at them only added to it.

  The Mercedes-Benz, the newest model, matted out with illegal tint, was arguably the most absurd purchase Hooks had made. It was a luxury car, one that stuck out like a sore thumb in their small town, which was probably the reason Hooks had bought it. They had visited the only chicken joint in Eyeville worth going to. "Banging Clucks" was their most common haunt, one that had been there in one form or another since Eyeville's formation. It was by far the most popular place in town, most of the younger folk eating or working there, and everyone came eventually.

  ?

  "Ugh, why the hell does Ritz even work here anyway?" Hooks complained. He seemed to dislike Banging Clucks, though, to be fair, Dez noticed Hooks seemed to hate every part of Eyeville since his return. It had only been a month ago that Hooks had sworn by it as much as Dez. "This red ass building and ugly chicken mascot piss me off."

  ?

  "Well, most people don't win the lotto, Ritz and I had to make do," Dez complained before smirking. "Besides, Ritz took the job for the free meals."

  ?

  "Now that's a real brother." Hooks chuckled, and they both shared a small laugh before, with a small cheer from Hooks, they slid forward to the first window. Ritz sat before the window, wide-eyed, putting a smile on his face as he realized who they were.

  ?

  Ritz was an oddity; the guy was white, not that Dez minded, but it normally made a difference. And he was a fiery white at that, a ginger even; Irish and German parents had created the tall, lanky, red-haired, afro-wearing man before him. He even dressed like a farmer, with authentically worn-out jeans and simple tees. But he was what he and Hooks liked to call "seasoned. "Yo, Dez, Hooks my boy!" Ritz said with a smile. "Looking for a little "discounted" food?"

  ?

  "No, that would be a reasonable reason to see you." Dez snorted. "Hooks is on his usual nonsense."

  ?

  "Nonsense, my Brother of little faith." Hooks chided. "Listen, Ritz, how attached are you to this job?"

  ?

  "Is this about that one thing?" Ritz asked. Dez, from the passenger side, couldn't see Hooks' reaction, but whatever it was made Ritz drop whatever topic he was about to discuss. Dez narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking about Hooks bringing something up to Ritz related to this, something he did not want Dez to hear. But Dez crushed the suspicion. Hooks was one of the few he trusted after all. He would keep it in mind, but more than likely it was nothing. "Okay… well-"

  ?

  "Richard! Get the line moving already!" A distressed and infuriated voice within Banging Clucks roared.

  ?

  For a moment, Ritz's face became red as it creased so hard that Dez feared it would stick that way. Ritz was a hard guy to upset; he rarely fought or argued, unlike Dez and Hooks, but one surefire way to test his temper was to call him by his government name. "Well, frankly, the job sucks, but pays relatively well… I mean, for me anyway. Plus, you can't beat a good and free meal!"

  ?

  Dez chuckled at Ritz's odd behavior. You couldn't get a good guy like him down. But Hooks sighed. "Come on, man, as we discussed before, we can do better than this, you can do better. Listen, I got a massive… opportunity ahead of us. And I need partners I can trust. I convinced Dez here already, so you know it can't be that bad."

  ?

  "I still don't know why I agreed," Dez informed Ritz bluntly. "I'm not signing off on this, but it has to be a hell of a lot better than this," Dez said, gesturing inside the store of Banging Clucks. "We both know he's gonna win you over, let's just skip to that part, yeah?"

  ?

  Ritz hummed seriously before nodding. Tossing his red visor and apron off and into the restaurant, and climbing through the window and into their car. The objective now complete, Hooks carelessly backed up and drove forth repeatedly until he managed to eke out between the car behind and the one in front of him, a cascade of horns rewarding his efforts. They then peeled off, the three of them roaring in laughter at the mess Ritz and Hooks had surely left the Banging Clucks.

  ?

  "Question before we begin, where are we going, and please tell me some fine women will be there," Ritz said, mostly joking. Dez had never seen him date any girl or even show much interest in any girl. Yet he often mentioned them like that.

  ?

  "To the liquor store first, Ritz and Brother, need to pick up our rations for the night." Hooks said with a smile.

  ?

  "Why not head to a bar?" Dez asked; he couldn't shake this odd feeling. Were Hooks and Ritz hiding something from him? "If we wanna have some fun and say goodbye, sort of speak, wouldn't that be perfect?"

  ?

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  "Can't stand bars anymore, once you get used to clubs, they just don't feel the same anymore." Hooks explained. "So I figured we'd get faded in the woods, enjoy our time away from these bums. This is the start of our new lives. Why worry about the past?"

  ?

  Dez offered a mock cheer, noticed a momentary tenseness from Ritz, and wrote it off as nerves. "Alright, but you know I prefer-"

  ?

  Hooks merely chuckled yet again, revealing a small baggie filled with the green Dez preferred. "Not a problem, my Brother."

  ?

  "Liquor, smoke, and we're doing it in the woods," Ritz said weakly. "I'll be in my element…"

  ?

  "Listen, boys, I understand your two concerns." Hooks began.

  ?

  "Here we go again…"

  "But this truly is the start of our new lives. Using my newly gained wealth, our sharp minds, and endless grit. We have the chance to leave this small, good-for-nothing town. Leave behind these people we've never gotten along with anyway. And pursue new and exciting opportunities. All while living it up! If that isn't some American dream shit, I'm not sure what is!" Hooks ranted.

  ?

  "Shit, you ain't gotta tell me twice." Ritz agreed immediately; he may have been one of the few people who placed more faith in Hooks than even Dez. "I wanna live like Em or Jay Z."

  ?

  "I'm sure we'll make Michael Jackson money." Dez joked sarcastically.

  ?

  "And the first step, boys, is to accept our future, and forget our past!" Hooks continued through their interruptions. "Let's get crossfaded till we can barely walk, a suitable farewell for this place." Hooks finished.

  ?

  Dez and Ritz locked eyes through the mirror in the front. Both nodded to one another, Dez not quite as excited as Ritz and Hooks, but not quite willing to be the odd one out for now.

  ?

  "Good then, Brother, Ritz!"

  ?

  "Man, I hate that I don't get brother treatment," Ritz complained.

  ?

  "Gain some melanin, and we'll talk." Hooks joked. "Let's go buy our weapons of self-destruction!"

  ?

  Dez hated to admit it, but Hooks' little impromptu get-together was already making him feel better. Going broke and being forsaken within Eyeville had left him an isolated pariah. While Hooks and Ritz returning to his life had helped, the crushing pressure of structured living had left Dez feeling exhausted. But the three of them sat around a fire, about thirty yards deep into the forest, flattening out a clump of smaller trees, and finding dry sticks and leaves to begin a campfire. Most folks of Eyeville weren't exactly urban, even Hooks and Dez had some basic skills in the more practical side of living. But Ritz being there made it all easy; being one of many farmers in his family, the man was practically an outdoorsman. Easily finding and gathering dead wood to use as fuel with nothing less than leverage and grit, and easily creating a campfire and even finding logs to make seats. In all honesty, it was a cozy little setting, and Hook's speaker ensured they enjoyed it all with the music.

  ?

  There were many reasons the three of them were pariahs in Eyeville, even before Hooks and Dez beat up the Sheriff's boy. Hooks had a way of finding trouble, and Dez had a habit of enjoying it. Ritz was much less of a menace but was considered strange by most; however, his staunch loyalty meant he often joined them in said trouble, just as Dez did. They had gotten into brawls, spray-painted graffiti, protested their local police force, and stirred up trouble in any way they could think of. But one of the main, and in Dez's opinion, oddest reasons they were disliked? They liked Hip-Hop, Jazz, R&B, music that the humble folk of Eyeville seemed to despise. Dez supposed there was no accounting for taste.

  ?

  But the three of them loved it; Hooks and Dez preferred Hip-Hop over the other two, but Ritz loved a good Jazz or R&B song and instilled the same in the two of them. Hooks's speaker roared a mix of songs, "So What", "Snooze", and "Crazier", carrying the mood of the night, as they drank, joked, and told the same stories they had for years. Dez was well and truly feeling it, his head a buzz, and just a tad bit duller than he would typically be. It was only then that Ritz suddenly stood up, paused the speaker, and said. "I think it's time we come clean, Hooks."

  ?

  The sudden silence after the statement increased a growing tension. Even somewhat dimmed as his mind was, Dez felt a prickle of suspicion and doubt beginning to form.

  ?

  "Suppose it is." Hooks said evenly. His voice barely slurred, and Dez noticed he didn't even flinch. Had he been holding back tonight? Why? "Dez, this little celebration of ours isn't over. I wasn't frank about my intentions or what we're doing tonight. I was honest, just held back info."

  ?

  "The hell does that mean, Ryan?" Dez asked, anger flaring at the idea of being misled.

  ?

  Hooks' brow creased again at being called his first name. "There's one more thing we need to do before we can move on. We have a debt to settle."

  ?

  "Dez hear him out." Ritz pleaded. "I won't lie and say it's a good idea, but he's right!"

  ?

  "Dez, our lives have changed dramatically ever since I got this money." Hooks began. "What should have been the start of new lives was stunted. All because that white boy couldn't take his licks."

  ?

  "No, it was because you picked a fight with him, and he wasn't just any normal white boy. He was the damn Sheriff's son." Dez pointed out heatedly.

  ?

  "Yeah, so what? He fought just as much as we did, bucked right on back. Yet we were the only ones who were punished. Just because we could back the shit we talked?" Hooks rebuked. "No, I'm not good with that. That little rat used his connections to screw us."

  ?

  Ritz was silent as the two fought. He had likely known this was inevitable; likely, Hooks had persuaded him to keep quiet till now. He would go with the side that won the argument, wait for it to settle, and then attempt to soothe it.

  ?

  "That's how the world works," Dez said simply. "You mess with someone above the food chain, and you get smacked down for the trouble. Besides, I was the one who did the real time…"

  ?

  "Listen, I'm sorry…" Hooks apologized. "A Brother was angry and blind. I just wanted out, and somehow I forgot to look out for my boy. But I'm trying to fix that now. I got you back on your feet, and now I’m giving us a chance to leave this all behind. But we have to get back for what they did… The Sheriff's son and a buddy are camping from here. Should be just the two of them, and we're going to visit them, hit them hard and fast, get even, and leave town before they can even snitch."

  ?

  "They are rats…" Ritz muttered darkly. “Maybe Hooks did pick that fight, but everyone knows that you don’t go running to the cops, especially your cop dad…” The three of them, as somewhat delinquents, had been told on, snitched on, whatever you liked to call it, plenty of times. And had, over time, formed a hatred for people who were incapable of minding their business.

  ?

  "So why even waste our time?" Dez asked. "We got out, we're fine, why waste our time with them now?"

  ?

  "Vincent, your pops, these white boys. Aren't you tired of people trying you and getting away with it? Don't you wanna be the winner for once?" Hooks asked.

  ?

  Dez knew what this was; Hooks was an avid reader, but some of their authors were extreme in their writings. But Hooks never seemed to adept it perfectly, he warped it to fit his own desires. The rebellious spirit that burned within the three of them was the strongest in Hooks. The man not only disliked the established world but those he was convinced contributed to making it that way. But it was hard to deny what he was saying. For the past year, Dez had suffered and suffered, perhaps due to his own faults, but then again, so many others had those same faults within the same plight… "This is a bad idea, but I won't let you do it alone… let's just get this over with."

  ?

  The decision made, Hooks and Dez began packing up, Ritz kicking out the fire, and the three loaded into the Mercedes-Benz. Hooks kept the radio off, and there was little chatter to be had as the three glided through the dirt road paved in the woods. Their attention focused on what was ahead.

  ?

  "So…" Ritz asked worriedly. "Exactly how far are we going here… we're not doing them, are we?"

  ?

  "We're not," Dez said firmly before Hooks could respond, glaring at the man in question.

  ?

  "Of course, we're just gonna give them a bit of revenge, they walk away scraped up and bruised, and with any luck humbled." Hooks defended. Focusing on the road for a moment as he traversed a sharp turn. "We pull up close to their campsite, walk the rest of the way, and blitz 'em."

  ?

  "How do you even know this?" Dez asked. “We barely know this guy, and you somehow know he’s going camping, where he is, and who he brought?”

  ?

  "Money goes far, my friend, easy enough to pay someone to keep an eye on him."

  ?

  "So a loose end?" Dez asked with a raised brow.

  ?

  "They're solid." Hooks defended again. "Listen, Desmond, if you wanna punk out, then just do it."

  ?

  "I'm here, aren't I, Ryan?" Dez shouted.

  ?

  "Guys," Ritz interjected, voice calm but sharp. With how little Ritz interjected between them, it got their attention when it did. "This is Eyeville, we do this, then blow this town as we planned, and we're good. You know how isolated this town is. Hooks, you're a snake for keeping this away from him, and I'm no better myself. We're sorry, Dez, and if you don't wanna do this, then I'm with you."

  ?

  "Fuck…" Hooks exclaimed.

  ?

  "No, no," Dez decided hesitantly. "Maybe I am just being scary, I'm just as mad as this guy as you are, Hooks. And if we're going on the run anyway, then screw it."

  ?

  "Screw it." Hooks repeated that smile on his face.

  ?

  "Then let's do it, are we close enough to walk?" Ritz asked.

  ?

  "Yeah." Hooks said, pulling over their car and turning it off. "Let's do this thing."

  ?

  The three left the car. As they did so, however, Hooks went to the trunk, popped it open, and removed a special thirty-eight from a backpack. Dez and Ritz cursed as he did.

  ?

  "Hooks!" Ritz called out.

  ?

  "Calm down, boys." Hooks said with an easy smile. "Do you really wanna run up on white boys in the woods with no heat? It would be stupid, just bringing it in case."

  ?

  "Don't you dare shoot these boys, Hooks," Dez warned. "This is a scrap, not an execution."

  ?

  "Exactly, just being real, we can't pop out unprepared." Hooks said with a chuckle, stashing the piece within his jacket. Ritz and Dez shared a look of doubt, but the three trekked through the woods regardless.

  ?

  They kept off the path, wanting the element of surprise. Slowly marching their way through underbush, only Ritz was doing so with any true ease. But eventually they found what they were looking for. An artificial clearing at the top of a hill, a single tent being erected, and two men seated in metal folding chairs nearby, drinking beer from a cooler. Oblivious to their presence within the treeline, their backs turned to them.

  ?

  Jack Withers was a typical blue-collar worker. He was one of the local hunters responsible for the occasional deer brought to market. If not for his father, he’d be no one special. But his father, Rick, was the Sheriff in the small town of Eyeville, might as well have been the president with how isolated they were. Made him a sort of big shot within the small town, the kind of guy Hooks always hated. He had a mop of blonde hair done in a simple bowl cut. Next to the man was an unknown bald man, likely a hunter buddy. They were both solid, burly men, the sort that never went easy. It was sure to be a messy brawl.

  Their apparent leader nodded at them, setting off the fight wordlessly. Hooks with massive strides made a beeline for Jack, Ritz following him with ease. Dez, however, the shortest, was at the back of the group, and noticing the other two's laser focus, decided he'd need to take the bald one.

  ?

  Hooks leapt forward, leg extended for a kick at full speed. Waiting until it was much too late to make their presence known. "Hey, Jack! I told ya I'd see ya again!" Jack could barely flinch before he was kicked out of his chair with a massive heave. Hitting the ground roughly headfirst, a moment later, Dez hit the other guy. He barely managed to turn around and raise an arm, which saved him from Dez's elbow slamming into his face at full speed. However, the momentum still knocked the sitting man out of his chair, though he managed to stumble forward instead of falling. Dez stalked after him, looking over to see how the other two were doing.

  ?

  Jack, to his credit, took the sneak well, attempting to crawl to his feet; however, Ritz dived on top of him, slamming him back to the ground and raining fists down on him wildly. Hooks chuckled as he stalked around the two, kicking and stomping, mocking the man as the two one situation went its natural course. Dez looked back at his man, who had broken out in a sprint, gaze locked onto a bag on the other side of the fire.

  ?

  Dez's skin prickled in response. He trusted his instincts, jumping over the smoldering fire and colliding with the man before he could reach the bag he was focused on. Dez attempted to cling to the man and haul him down, but the larger man kicked him away for a moment before lunging for the bag once again. By the time Dez caught up to the man, he already had his hand in it. But Dez, with a curse, stomped on the bag and man's hand at once. The man cursed, stopping his attempt before tackling Dez, the two struggling on the ground, all the while swinging punches wildly. Dez attempted to lock on a headache on him, but the man rocked back and forth too fast for him to get a grip strong enough to lock it in. However, being distracted, a wild swing suddenly rocked Dez.

  Stunned, he didn’t even realize he let the bald man go. It was only his proud cheer that broke him out of his stupor. The man had produced a damn taurus of all things; the massive revolver sent a jolt of fear down the spine of Dez. He lunged forward, grabbing the man's arm and attempting to wrest it away. But the man proved more decisive, slowly using one hand to peel away at his grip. Dez felt a moment of hesitation, but preservation won over. "Hooks, he has a piece!"

  ?

  A moment or two passed, the five men cursing in the quiet night, before the bark of a firearm shattered the silence. Dez cursed, the bald man he struggled with letting go of his piece and collapsing with a piercing cry of pain. He looked over to see Ritz and Jack still working, and Hooks standing tall, still aiming the revolver at the man. Before Dez could blink, Hooks fired again, and the bald man fell silent after. Ritz and Jack stopped their struggle, stunned by what they saw, before Jack cracked Ritz with an elbow to the face and raced to his feet, sprinting toward the downed man. Without missing a beat, Hooks turned the revolver towards the man coldly.

  ?

  "Ryan, no!" Dez attempted, however, the same bark of the revolver sounded again. Jack fell with a weak cry, grabbing at his left leg and cursing at them angrily.

  ?

  “You fucking scum! I’ll kill you dirty fucking thugs!” Jack roared, before he whimpered.

  ?

  "He was going for the gun." Hooks defended. "They tried to pull first, we merely defended ourselves."

  ?

  "This is first-degree murder, probably premeditated…" Ritz said, stunned. "We're up a creek, even if we leave town, they'll make sure we're found…"

  ?

  "Dear god, the fuck did we do?" Dez cried out.

  ?

  "What we had to do!" Hooks snapped. "Now shut up, we can't let him go anyway, he saw everything! If we leave a witness, we really are screwed!"

  ?

  That made the group pause, as they noticed the downed Jack was crawling away. He moved over the crest of the hill before the slope and gravity took him, sending him tumbling down the other side.

  ?

  Hooks cursed, dashing after him, and Ritz and Dez followed after him hesitantly. Unfortunately for Jack, he hadn't managed to go far, hitting a stone on the hill that stopped him from continuing. The man moaned pitifully, not bothering to move as the three lumbered after him.

  ?

  "You fucking scum…" Jack said weakly. "You're done now, you killed someone, you're all going away forever for this." Dez grimly noted he wasn’t wrong. While Kentucky hadn’t done so in a while, executions weren’t impossible…

  ?

  However, as the other two focused on Jack, Dez scanned the horizon, noticing something at the back of the hill that stunned him. Below, there were even more tents, dozens of them. A whole campsite below them, and several men carrying rifles charging up the hill, in the night, they hadn't spotted them, but would surely notice them soon. Why the hell were they here?!

  ?

  "You caused this, Jack." Hooks said, looming over the man. "You lost that fight; if you had just swallowed that loss, this would have never happened. But you had to get your pa involved."

  ?

  "You assaulted me. It was illegal, and you paid the price. Not my fault people actually care about me." Jack cackled at him, spitting at him weakly.

  ?

  "And you did it right back." Hooks rebuked. "But then you had to rat, now look where we are. If you, boy, had fought like a man, we wouldn't have done this. Were you gonna have your boy kill us? Kill me?!"

  ?

  "Hooks!"

  ?

  "No, I'm done hearing your bullshit, Desmond! This is over, our new life begins, a shame you won't see it, Jack!" Hooks said before firing a shot into the downed Jack, it hit his head with a sickening splat. Dez flinched at the sight before looking away.

  ?

  Ritz must've noticed what Dez had. "Dude…"

  ?

  "What?!" Hooks asked, incensed, before their doom called at them.

  ?

  “Freeze Eyeville PD! Hands up! We will shoot!” One of four men in camping gear, wielding hunting rifles and standard issue nine millimeters alike. They were surrounding the three of them, seeing now what they had done. “Oh god… they killed Rick’s boy…”

  ?

  “On the ground now!” One of the men demanded. His fury was plain to see, and the situation had worsened. The man seemed primed to shoot. If they so much as pulled an unwelcome step, Dez had little doubt their worries would cease here.

  ?

  Hooks looked at Dez before cursing and dropping his gun. Raising his hands and slowly falling to the ground with them still raised, Dez and Ritz were doing the same.

  ?

  “Xavier, go check on Perry!” One of the men ordered. “He was with Jack…” Two of the other men approached them, cuffing Hooks and Dez first before moving over to cuff Ritz.

  ?

  “I fucking told you this would go wrong, Ryan!”

  ?

  “Fuck off, Desmond! How the hell was I supposed to know! This was all an accident!”

  ?

  “We’re doomed,” Ritz muttered to himself.

  ?

  The officers ignored their spat, then dragged them to their feet and read them their Miranda rights. Dez could only curse at this all as they were dragged away into the cold night.