lights

A gaping mouth, like a perfectly shaped oval pressed against the ground desperately swallowing air as if it really mattered now. It reminded him of a fish, flung out of the comfort of it's tank. The body even spasmed, trying to move, to will the muscles in his limbs to go, to escape. But that wouldn't happen, he was lying in a puddle of red that only seemed to continuously expand with each passing minute.

Mateo felt sick, this was only the third time he'd seen someone die quite literally at his feet. And each time, he couldn't believe that it was truly happening. Eachtime, it felt so surreal and it was only when he got home would he throw himself over the toilet seat, shortly followed by a long shower as if to scrub the memory from his skin. He had no blood on his hands but he had been there, allowed a life to slip away.


So here he was again, watching another light be snuffed out. He stepped back, afraid the thick ooze of blood would touch his shoes.

"And that's what you get when you steal from Vincente!" a man spat, spinning on his heel to face another. The man whimpered and he bowed his head several times with his hands raised, pleading for mercy.

Mateo was pulled from his thoughts and his eyes snapped toward his two cousins who advanced on the other, the thief. He didn't want to watch but he knew what must be done, to prove a point, to keep the peace going. Still, it bit and tore at his morals and the threads that kept his mind together. Like a rabid beast trying to claw and rip it's way in. Into his soul and taint it with the darkness that seeped from its teeth.

Soon, there was another pool of red, another wasted body on the floor. Mattie felt a sudden pressure on his shoulders, squeezing him tight.

"You did good, Mateo. We wouldn't have found these fuckers if it weren't for you, isn't that right, Ricki? Boys got a good eye, the boss will treat you very well after this!" The cousin said followed by a hearty laugh.

Mateo smiled and nodded his head, trying to keep his eyes from the ground. To look anywhere but the floor.

"Hell yeah, he will!" Ricki chimed in. "C'mon, let's get you a drink, celebrate this shit!"

He could feel the tips of sharp claws reaching toward him, he wondered what would happen if he surrendered. But a quick tug at his shoulder and an affectionate nudge kept his mind from wandering any further.

(going to..fix this up later w/e)