The Revenger's System

43. A Long Distant Past

Under the spray of water, Ryan looked at his hands.

They were full of blisters and callouses. Long, boney fingers that grasped at nothing. Yet, it felt heavy. As if he was dragged along an invisible burden by imaginary chains on his wrists.

He couldn’t forget.

There was blood everywhere.

On his hands, on his skin, and the road in front of him. Red liquid haunted his dream – a nightmare.

‘You son of a bitch.’

Someone said, and Ryan could only close his eyes in fear.

There was blood everywhere, and he couldn’t breathe. He could only look down at his tattered shoes, colored brown from overused mud. But he liked it better than red, which reminded him of blood.

It came like a geyser. Sprouting from under his skin. The after-effect of the older man’s hit against him.

Ryan whimpered, trying helplessly to stop the cry that threatened to burst. He shouldn’t cry. Boys don’t cry.