Vol 1: Part 9

After turning off the dim kitchen light I went to my room placing the loaded gun underneath my pillow, I then got into bed battling the restlessness that comes with the declaration of war as I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up the next morning not exactly refreshed, but good enough to start the day. I wiped away the sleep from my eyes as I lumbered into the bathroom I took off the bandages whilst also looking at the bruises, and scabbed wounds littering my body it didn't seem like they were going away anytime soon.

After I had finished my morning routine of a shave, shower, and brushing my teeth i stepped out to the smell of breakfast. "Smells good." I commented as I stepped into the kitchen.

"French toast today." Matt replied having woken up earlier he was already dressed, wearing his favorite apron, the blue, and white checkered one, humming a tune as he dipped the bread into the egg, milk, and cinnamon mix.

"Thanks." I said as I grabbed a couple plates with two pairs of cutlery. "Anyone call whilst I was asleep." waving at the phone screwed onto the wall.

"No one important just the same old sales guy trying to sell us a used car." Matt scowled as he flipped over the bread in the frying pan.

"You want me to pay a visit to the guy?" I asked.

Matt flipped the done slice in the pan onto a plate then prepared another one. "If you know who the bastard is then yes please."

"Sure thing." A comfortable silence formed the only noise being the sizzle in the frying pan.

"Voila, breakfast is served." Matt proudly announced as he set the stacked plate of French toast onto the table.

"Do you have any plans today?" I inquired taking my first slice.

Matt went into a thoughtful silence as he finished his mouthful. "Not sure I might go to the gym, go down to the range." He shrugged. "Nothing really."

I took another slice as I finished my last bite the mouth watering taste of the mixed flavors was amazing, sure he might have a health obsession, but at least Matt could cook. "The funerals are today if your interested." I said absentmindedly.

"I see." Matt replied tensing at the stove. "Will it be the usual time?"

"I believe so." I said staring at my plate. The room fell silent.

"Really then." Matt sighed as he looked around the room with a viscous gleam in his eyes, I braced for what was going to launch out of his mouth at the rate of a machine gun. "The dishes need cleaning, your clothes need to be put away, I bet you haven't even made your bed yet have you? Then get dressed, and for Fuck sake stop leaving trails of water in the kitchen whenever you have a shower." He ordered pointing at the pool of water on the tiled floor. Yup chores.

"Sir yes sir!" I mock saluted as I brushed my hair to one side.

"Also get a hair cut today." He said pointing towards my almost shoulder length hair.

"We'll see." I said brushing it off.

We finished breakfast then turning into a slave master Matt whipped both of us into a cleaning frenzy, well mainly just himself, as we cleaned the house. It took a couple of hours, before Matt was happy, but after we were done although to me nothing had changed he seemed pleased with our work, so it was at quarter to twelve when I found myself outside with grey faded jeans, a white t-shirt, and an olive green jacket with my pistol holstered underneath.

"What to do first?" I mumbled to myself as I walked down to the bus stop. I could check in with Gabriel for the information he promised, or I could go fix the used car problem maybe get a hair cut along the way since we are going to war. I got a coin out of my pocket flipping it heads I see Gabriel, tails I go sort out the used car problem.

It landed on tails. Paying the bus driver I sat down.

The day had clouded over making a couple people bring their opened jackets closer as the cold wind swept through the city. The smell of emissions, and concrete filled my nose as I walked down the streets. Keeping my head on a swivel I looked into the windows. No one was following me, or if they were they were good enough not to be spotted by my rudimentary tricks.

After walking in a pattern of eight a couple times I headed towards my destination that was on the complete opposite end of the city compared to my apartment.

Liquor store, liquor store, gun store, another liquor store. There wasn't much choice in shops down this hell hole. Turning right I walked up to the mechanic shop that was suspiciously being surrounded by a group of young men.

They seemed excited as I registering the whoops, and jeers I sneaked up behind them, and peered over their shoulders. On the ground bloody, and bruised was a wiry man with charcoal eyes which when they locked onto my figure lit up with hopeful exuberance. I sighed letting my presence known. "Alright boys enough fun for today, go on back to what ever you do when you aren't terrorizing people." I said as five teenagers the oldest being eighteen turned towards me.

"And who the fuck are you?" One of them asked.

"Someone passing through, I need to speak to your uh victim." I replied taking my hands out of my pockets. As cool as that is I would rather not be sucker punched by a bunch of chumps, that would be too embarrassing.

"What stops us doing to you what we did to him?" The one who spoke asked squaring up to me, with confirmation yeahs from the moving scenery.

I smiled. "That's because I can drop all of you so badly the ambulance will be picking your teeth out of the concrete."

"All of us, you talk big for a little man." The guy laughed.

"I'll count to three." I gave them a chance to walk away.

"One." He, and the rest laughed harder.

I clenched my hands into fists, and on. "Two." I started swinging. In my defense I did give them the opportunity to walk away.