3 Years Later

She let out a shriek.

Her body was thrown to the side as deep red over took any other color of her hair. Her hand took the brunt of the attack, it laying crumpled to the side as she stared up at me in shock. Ace's eyes were wide and fish like as she gawked at me. Betrayal was written all over her face yet I couldn't care less.

She gaped like a fish, her body suddenly scrambling on all fours but was stopped quickly. Whatever words she was screaming was cut short by her gurgling as I swung down. The colorful mess of hair dyes caving in and revealing a bloom of red.

Have you ever noticed the difference between splitting a Z's head open compared to someone alive? The main thing is color. The dead has dark, black blood where the living has a vibrant, almost saturated red in comparison.

As I stood up slowly, grunting as I removed my lodged in bat, I found myself staring at the walls. Whatever pain was there was slowly becoming consumed by that same living color. The way it dripped down should've caused my body to wretch. To make my stomach churn and force my insides to feel like coming out.

Yet I felt detached. Maybe it was because of my experience with these sorts of things. Or perhaps it was the rage I felt? Whatever it is, I found myself taking shallow breaths where I stood.

That was until a shot radiated into the room. A grunt leaving me as a bullet grazed my arm causing me to look up to see the glare that came from Joseph. His eyes boring holes in me as he stepped forward.

"I. F.u.c.k.i.n.g. Knew. It!" He seethed, taking another shot but I was quick to dodge. He let out a roar as I ran towards him. My bat aimed and ready as I used my speed to get an advantage.

I knew my eyes were wide, my face expressionless, as I aimed for his body. Soon swinging my bloodied weapon forward as he barely had enough time to step away. Instead, he used his hand to grab my bat on the swing down to bring me towards him. An gasp wrecked through me as I struggled against his pull yet it was too late. My cry radiated in this room of madness as my arm exploded in pain. I had to let my left hand go from the immediate sting I felt but it did nothing but allow Joseph to grab me.

His large hand grabbing the top of my head and, in one quick motion, threw me to the ground. My face eating the floor causing heavy pounding to start up again in my mind. I barely even register when he stepped over me, his hand grabbing a fistful of my hair and caused the roots to scream when he pulled at it. His boot square at my back causing a pitiful to cry to leave me as he stretched me out.

"I knew you were that rat." He hissed, voice full of malice, yet when I looked up I saw lifeless eyes. Unable to comprehend mercy and, as he used his free hand to place the barrel of the gun against my temple, ready to pull the trigger at any point.

"F.u.c.k off you whimp!" I hissed back as I struggled against his hold.

"You never know when to shut your f.u.c.k.i.n.g mouth do you, bitch?"

"I'll shut up when I'm dead you f.u.c.k."

He pulled harder causing me to wince. Joseph soon let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head as he glowered down.

"Of course, everything went down as soon as we met you. And look! Years passed and it's still the same god damn deal."

"Oh f.u.c.k off! I don't even know you!"

"Oh but we know you. We know who you used to be. And nothing can change that fact."

That same pit of rage began to boil over as I struggled harder. His words starting to pierce through me as he kept bending me in half. My hands clawing everywhere they could to try and get leverage hoping to get away from it all. To stop listening to it and to stop feeling shit from the past.

"Oh, I can't wait to see your body twitch and see your blood paint this f.u.c.k.i.n.g wall. Or maybe I should keep you alive hm? Let everyone here get revenge. I can name a couple of reasons why Nick would want that. Hell even that prick Jake! So what will it be bitch?"

With a screech, I reached forward. My hands making contact with his face as I sunk my nails deep into his cheeks. Using my left over strength, I pulled him over me and watched as his body fell to the ground with a heavy 'THUD'. I took a deep breath as I forced myself back onto my feet. My eyes making a quick scan in the room for something to defend myself as Joseph let out another roar. Looking up as me as deep claw marks caused red to spill from his face.

"You're gonna get it now little girl."

As he came at me again, I dove for my bat. In a matter of seconds, I watched as I saw his body fall to the side. The bloodied wood making contact with one of his long legs as his face turned from anger to fear. Once more he fell to the ground allowing me to stand over him. Watching as his shaking hands try to aim his gun at me only to let out a yowl as I crippled his hands. I found myself kicking the weapon far away from him and took a step back.

My heartbeat rushed my ears but I could still feel myself panting. Sweat cascading down the sides of my face as my arm throbbed in tune with my heart. It was over. I was sure Joseph was screaming at me, or at least that's what his face implied. His mouth opening and closing and his eyebrows furrowing in anger yet I couldn't hear him.

When I felt hands grip my shoulders from behind, I felt fear spike up. Using my body in a full swing to my potential assailant but I stopped abruptly as the concerned face of Jake came into view. Sounds slowly coming back as he worried about my arm.

I was focused on Nick. Watching him wordlessly slip into the room and caused the screaming Joseph to end as abruptly as Ace did. I didn't turn around to see the damage. I didn't turn around to see Nick's face.

I was ushered out before I could peer back into that room.