Rain walked with his head hung low in shame. This was all his fault if it weren’t for him Jed would still be here, still be breathing. But he wasn’t and it was all his fault. Rain felt warms tears run down his face and he let them. He let the tears fall, what was the point of life anyway? What was the purpose?

Here he had run away hoping to find a purpose and his father, but instead, he had killed his brother. And now, he was most likely walking straight to his death. He looked at Noah. He was looking down, tears in his eyes, silent sobs shaking his frail frame as he led Rain by the arm.

Rain looked back at Wyle and Carter. Wyle was smiling, an evil, menacing smile. Rain shivered; he wondered why Wyle was so cruel? What had happened to him? He sighed; he would never know how rabbits could be so cruel.

His eyes landed on Carter. Carter’s face was pale and blood trickled down his neck, but his eyes were full of sorrow and fire. Rain looked away.

They reached a small house – that looked like it was going to fall apart – and stopped. Wyle made his way to the house dragging Carter with him, he opened the door and shoved Rain and Noah inside.

Rain’s feet got tangled up with Noah’s and they fell and rolled on the glass-covered floor in a tangled mess. Rain winced as the glass cut through his clothes and into his flesh. Wyle rolled his eyes and kicked Noah out of the way untangling him from Rain. Noah clutched his stomach and gasped.

Wyle shook his head and kicked him again. “Get up, both of you.”

Rain slowly got to his feet. He went over to Noah and started to help him up. “Are you alright?”

Noah nodded slightly.

“Let’s go, I don’t have all day Master Nick is waiting,” Wyle said as he opened another door.

Rain and Noah walked to the door where they were once again shoved inside. Rain was able to catch himself on the wall but Noah was slammed to the ground where he let out a silent groan. Wyle entered behind Noah and kicked him again. Noah gasped.

Rain bit his lip. “Stop doing that Wyle, you’re hurting him.”

Wyle sneered. “He doesn’t mind, do you, Noah?” Wyle looked down at Noah, Noah looked up at Wyle tears in his eyes as he tried to talk, but nothing came. No sound escaped his mouth.

Wyle smiled. “See he doesn’t have anything to say and as long as he doesn’t, I can kick him as much as I want to.” Wyle kicked him again. Noah closed his eyes and clenched his teeth.

Anger was rising in Rain; this wasn’t right or fair. Had Noah always been treated this way? It was unfair for him to be treated this way, all because he was different. It wasn’t right! Rain remembered being bullied in school because of his glasses and name, but at least he could talk back or get help, but Noah couldn’t. Rain clenched his hands into fists and yelled, “Stop it, Wyle! You know he can’t talk and it's not his fault he’s different than you!”

Wyle grinned. “Yeah right, I’m sure he could talk if he wanted to, he just doesn’t because he’s dumb. Dumb little Noah!” Wyle laughed.

Noah tried to get up and sign something but Wyle kicked him again. Noah collapsed. Carter set his jaw.

Rain had enough of this. “You know he’s not dumb Wyle! He can talk just not the way you and I do; he signs. He talks with his hands, Wyle because he can’t talk with his mouth. He’s mute, not dumb!”

Wyle looked disgusted, but then he smiled. “Well, looks like I might not have to deal with you much longer.”

Rain turned around to come face to face with Master Nick. He stumbled backward and tripped over his own feet. Master Nick smiled. “Well, well, if it isn’t Jed’s little freak brother. Tell me Rain, did you like your surprise? Was it surprising?”

Rain swallowed the lump in his throat. Jed. Rain looked into Master Nick’s one good eye and said, his voice cracking, “I’m just glad he doesn’t have to put up with you anymore. At least now, he can be with father. At least now he’s happy. He’s probably looking down on you and laughing right now, laughing about how ugly and disgusting you are and that’s the truth!”

Master Nick clenched his jaw and pulled an iron rod from behind his back. It was red with heat and the tip was so hot it was white. Master Nick put it close to Rain’s face. “That was probably not the smartest thing you could have said. Wyle, hold him down!”

Wyle smiled and hit Carter on the head with the hilt of his dagger. Carter tensed and fell to the ground limp as a rag. Noah huddled in the corner trembling and still trying to get air back into his lungs. Wyle came over and sat across Rain’s middle and pinned his arms down. Rain’s whole body shook uncontrollably as Master Nick began to bring the hot steel down on Rain’s right arm.

“After this, you will never disobey me again!”

Then the hot steel met Rain’s flesh and tore through his skin. Rain screamed in agony.

Bobbe bent down and touched the red spot on the bridge. He rubbed his fingers together and looked up. “That’s notty paint.”

Captain Shanks got up and said, “Blood, fresh to we must be getting clo…” Captain Shanks stopped midsentence and cocked his ears putting a finger up for silence.

Bobbe listened and he thought he heard something, a scream.

“They’re close, we need to hurry. Let’s go!” Captain Shanks ran off in the direction that the screams were coming from.

Bobbe looked at the sky. “Oh, Maker keep him safe.” Then he ran after Captain Shanks, toward the awful cries that echoed through the ruined streets of Newcity.

Again, sorry it's a little long.....😁