High [Boy X Boy]

25 - Tears On The Barrel

(Song Recommendation: None.)

Thursday's plans were to stay in bed and tell Vulture to fuck off when he tried to wake him up.

Turns out that Thursday's plans were to wake up in an empty, not to mentioning disgusting, bedroom. The room generally smelt of sweat and fish. The sweat smell was a little stronger from where Link was sat due to the bed sheets not being washed in what-looked-like several years. He would rather choose to sleep on the streets than in a room as dirty and vile as this. As Link sighed with tears brimming in his tired eyes, the room door flung open.

A girl, no older than twenty-five, entered. She held a large briefcase, that was until she set it down on a small metal table. Link watched her every move from the corner of the room, pushing himself up against the mossy walls. "... Link High. That is your name, no?" The girl smiled, opening the briefcase. "... I-I... I-I thought my surname was Quartz." "Your fake surname, Link... I'd like to ask you some questions. Give me the correct and truthful answers and I will grant you with one hundred thousand dollars, a new set of clothes, a well-deserved shower and a plane ticket to Scotland so that you may live with your family once again-" The girl paused. "How rude of me. My name is Chester Brave." She smiled and waved at Link due to the boy still being curled up in the corner of the room.

"... H-How do you know about my family?"

"Oh, Link... You poor child. Don't you remember what happened? Your mother and brothers were escaping Skinned Rabbit with you but you were ripped from your mother's grasp and she was forced to continue running with a friend who was helping her escape... I was escaping with you and your family but-" Link cut Chester off. "I don't want to see my family... I don't want your money or your bribery, I want to go back to Vulture."

"Vulture? Ah, you're referring to that gang leader? Link, he's already brainwashed you... He wants you to think that he loves you. He does that with most girls-" "And I'm not a part of that most girls group. Vulture actually understands parts of me that have confused me for years on end. He's treated me better than any gang or family ever would!" Link cursed his hypocrisy, recalling early morning when he and Vulture had argued.

"Link, you don't know what you're saying." Chester sighed and shook her head. "All I ask is that you answer my questions and I can let you go from there onwards..."

"... W-What are your questions?" Link asked nervously.

"... Well... For a start, how old are you?" Chester started, walking back and forth in a straight line. "... N-Nineteen." "And when will you be twenty?" She crossed her arms, her questions almost too fast for Link to even catch a breath between. "... June twenty-ninth?" He choked out, practically guessing. "Your mother told me it was June twenty-first? Did you change it?" Chester asked.  "N-No, I-I just... F-Forgot what it was. I-It's June twenty-first." Link agreed anxiously, his hands balling into fists amongst the fabric of his ragged shirt.

June twenty-first? Since when had it been June twenty-first?! He thought, his mind engaged with thoughts of a flaming anger.

"... I see. Now, can you tell us which group that Vulture is the leader of?" The tall female continued, flicking a pen around between her index and middle finger.

"... L-Liquid Vulture." Link almost sounded sarcastic. Are you kidding me? You should know that. He growled to himself.

"Hm... Can you tell me anything about Vulture? His real name? His sexuality? Any relatives? Past relationships? Parents?" Chester suddenly seemed more desperate, tightening her grip on her pen as she spoke. "... V-Vulture hasn't told me anything about his personal life... H-He's told me the weirdest things and all but I know he's lying... He hasn't even told me his real name..." Link spoke truthfully, clasping his hands and twisting them together anxiously.