Page 34 of Ravaged By the Dark (The Righteous 2)
“And tell my mom it was a valiant death. She would like that. I died in some heroic fashion, make it good, make it something she can talk about with pride to the women at her church.”
“I’ll tell her that Jesus fucking Christ came down here and took you to be a mother fucking disciple if you want.” Scooter laughed hard, but it turned into coughing. More blood dripped from his mouth and coated his lips.
Arek could feel the others standing around them, he knew they needed to get going, but he couldn’t leave Scooter like this.
“Arek, can you do me one more favor?”
“Anything you crazy fuck.” Scooter pulled off his dog tags and handed them to him. “Don’t let them get me. Don’t let me die slowly like this. Please.”
“Scooter I…”
“Don’t you argue with me.” The wheezing was getting worse. “I saved your life. You owe me this. Let me have a quick death.” Arek’s eyes met his friend’s wide and terrified ones. His lip quivered, but he refused to cry, not now, maybe not ever again.
Arek pulled the Maxim out of the holster on his leg.
“I have you, buddy.” Getting on his knees, he leaned over Scooter. “Think of your family, think of your baby girl.” Scooter nodded, tears freely flowing now as his body shook. His hand gripped his harder. “Close your eyes. I love you, man.”
“I love y…”
Bang!
Arek leapt from the bed. The room lit up a moment before another loud blast of thunder shook the house, the pictures on the wall rattling. It was closer this time. Arek ran his hands through his hair. Lifting his eyes to stare out the glass window, Arek watched the storm light up the whole sky in a brilliant white light.
His lip curled up in a smile as he made his way to a window and placed his hand on the glass. Scooter always loved storms. The crazy fucker would sit out in the middle of the worst storms to get the best pictures.
“I hope you’re riding this storm buddy, you’ve got the best seat in the house now,” he said as the thunder rumbled through the house again.
