Day 197 - One More Punch

 One More Punch

Matthew Ryan Fischer

 

“You’re a damn fool,” Danik screamed, a mixture of mucus, spit and blood spraying from his mouth.

Kay steadied herself. Danik was a horrid sight, blood and bruises and scrapes and cuts. Purple cheeks and a swollen eye. Stains on his shirt and pants. Stains on the floor below.

“Arch is going to kill all of you.”

Ruel nodded at Big, and Big hit Danik across the face again.

Kay told herself not to look away.

Rendy leaned against the wall, a sinister smile across his face. He appeared to be whispering something to himself. Kay couldn’t be sure, but she thought she could make out the word “again…”.

Kay had seen men tortured. She had tortured some before. But it was always someone who owed them money or raised a hand in violence. Something she could use to justify what they did. But this man, one of Arch’s top lieutenants had done nothing more than exist and happen to be on the wrong side in a coming war. The wrong side being the side they had all been on up until a day before. She had never met this man, but they would have been allies if Ruel hadn’t changed his mind. Now he couldn’t be allowed to live.

This man was nothing. Ruel would be loyal to his people. Kay told herself over and over. It would all be okay. This could never happen to her. Ruel almost never showed anger, and certainly showed no sadistic tendencies. But Big hit this man over and over and everyone there seemed to enjoy and approve. All except Kay.

“Again…” whispered Rendy, a little louder this time.

One of Big’s thugs laughed. They waited their turn, happy to see their captain inflict as much damage as he could.

Every once in awhile Ruel would ask a question or two – “where is Arch?” “Who does Arch work for?” “Where does he get his money?”

That seemed to be part of the show. No one expected Danik to talk, just to suffer and eventually die.

Ruel wasn’t afraid to kill an enemy on the street. But back then he knew who they were fighting, their strengths and weakness and habits. He knew how to surprise an enemy, sneak up on them, catch them unprepared. This was reckless. They knew next to nothing about Arch or his organization. They could be fighting ten or a hundred men. Armed, well-funded, or otherwise. They had no idea.

“…Kay”

She almost didn’t hear Ruel calling her name.

“Yeah?”

“Go upstairs and release the women. Tell them they can work for us or they can go. But they’re free to choose. I won’t have them locked up like slaves.”

Kay nodded and hurried from the room, happy to not have to watch any longer. She could still hear the sounds of flesh-on-flesh violence as she climbed the stairs, but the grunts and moans got softer as she went.

Ruel hadn’t been exaggerating. The women were half starved, most half-beaten, many strung out on drugs. If this was a whore house, these were some of the saddest looking prospects Kay had ever seen. They all needed a shower and a change of clothes. And most could use a doctor.

Kay tried to explain to the women they were free, but most barely responded. One tried to stand and stumble off. Another asked if she was the new boss. Some had been traded around and shipped to country after country they couldn’t imagine the concept of freedom anymore.

Kay took one woman who seemed the most conscious and capable and instructed her to get the others cleaned up and dressed. If there were any bags to be packed to do it quickly. They were all leaving and Ruel was their new boss. The women seemed to understand that and some began to stir.

When Kay returned downstairs, Danik was spitting teeth on the floor. There was still no sign of Arch or work about his plans. Big had taken a break and his brother was taking a turn working Danik’s ribs into a pulp.

Kay caught Ruel’s attention and signaled towards the women that were following her.

“They’ve all accepted your generosity. Should I take them to the restaurant?”

“There’s not enough room there. Rendy? What about one of your warehouses?”

“Sure.”

Rendy stepped forward and motioned for the women to follow him. Kay turned back to Ruel.

“We should go. Before anyone comes back.”

“Danik might give us some answers.”

“Kill him. And then we should burn this place. We can’t leave Arch any clues. He’ll be after us soon enough.”

“I can handle him. Don’t worry.”

Then Rendy came back inside.

“Hey boss.”

Ruel and Kay turned to Rendy.

“There are a couple of guys outside you’ll want to meet. Drivers for the girls. They claim they can help us find Arch.”