Love Gone Sour Rocky was a simple man, who liked to follow simple rules. He based his life on the set of rules his superiors set for him, not because he liked having superiors, but because he wanted to protect his peace. Who better to protect his existence if not the very men he worked for? He liked being in a gang. All he had to do was kill or maim someone and be done with it. Killing people wasn’t entirely satisfying, but it was for the greater good. In that case, Rocky won’t particularly call himself a killer. He was a savior, saving mankind from stink that threatened to overpower them. If only his boss would learn to use him more. Rocky hadn’t even realized Hayden’s full identity until he appeared out of the blue and gave him a mission to find Jarrod Dane. Finding Jarrod Dane was easy, but discovering that his boss had a whole new identity other than the one they knew was incredible. It was pleasing, in fact. Rocky wanted to punish him for it, and so he made the progress of the

Freedom and Misery Jarrod watched Tessa wearily when she pulled the gun. She held the tip of the gun to her temple, thumping gently. He looked behind her, far into the large tent he had set up for the wedding—except it was he and Lolita’s wedding, not hers. He began to regret not killing Tessa on time. She was a ticking bomb, one that was sure to set off any moment. “Whatever it is you’re thinking, Tess, just let it be.” he said as gently as he could. Tessa only smiled. She walked to him slowly, one step in front of the other, like she was practicing a theatrical move. When she reached him, she raised her leg up into the air and stomped it down on Lolita’s knee. Jarrod heard the sickening crunch as Lolita’s knee cap broke. She gasped and then cried in pain; a thunderous scream that threatened to uproot everything he put in place. Her pain had pierced through the haze of death that loomed over her. He clenched his fists in anger. Emotions swirled inside him; too many to keep count

The Broken Oak Hayden was dazed. He vaguely heard Rocky talking about the casualties they had in battle. Hayden wanted to scream at him, to ask him to shut the hell up, but he couldn’t find the voice. Besides, Rocky was speaking to someone else about the incident. Hayden didn’t know who that was and he didn’t want to know. He was in the hospital, sitting on a long steel bench. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been there, but he wasn’t leaving any time soon. There had been no updates about Lolita’s injuries, and she had been in the emergency ward for 48 hours now. “Why are you still here? We don’t want you here!” A voice penetrated into his dreams. Hayden slowly raised his head. He was looking into the face of Lolita’s mother, Mrs. Adams. Her face was tear-streaked with sorrows and she was supported by her husband and son, both of whom glared at him like he was filth. Hayden didn’t care. Nothing else mattered other than Lolita. He was replaying the scene over and over in his head, when

Death Calls When No one Answers The ride back to New York was the most silent, depressing thing Hayden’s ever been in, and he had been in a lot of depressing scenarios. It had just never affected him before, not like this. He could hear Rocky’s thoughts through his actions: the way he peered at Hayden when he thought he wasn’t looking, the way he quietly and silently stops at intervals and leave the car for Hayden to have a moment to himself, and the way he buys snacks and food on the way and place it on the center console without asking if Hayden needed food. These were all the tell signs that he had fallen from the lord he used to be to a whimpering person, lost in the passions of his own emotions. Hayden wasn’t entirely sure he liked the change, but he didn’t object to it either. It was a welcome adjustment to how he felt most of the time. Now he could really dwell in sadness and self-pity. When they got to the hospital, Hayden went straight to his position on the bench in the w

Wallflower Saying goodbye to someone who was at the brisk of life and death was crazy, but Hayden did. He was in that mix of craziness too, where he was beginning to question his sanity. Was he strong willed or was he about to confront the greatest enemy he ever had. “I will be back for you soon,” he promised Lolita. Hayden lowered his head to kiss her gently on the tips of her finger. When he straightened, he saw a gnarly bite on her neck. He was filled with disgust when he realized it was the one his brother had given her. It was his signature mark, biting hard into her skin to leave a scar so she would remember him. It was sick and totally twisted. She was in a better hospital now, he convinced himself as he left. Within twenty-four hours, Rocky had found one of the best that would be convenient for both him and her family. *************** It took Hayden two days by road to get to Detroit, where his brother coincidentally was. Rocky had given him a brief on his movements. App