A grey interminable drizzle moved throughout the town of Hampton. Droplets clung to the leaves of trees and plants, and the air loomed with the scent of dampened dust. An unshakable chill moved throughout the scanty group of people clinging to their umbrellas or themselves as they rushed to conduct their daily businesses, periodically scanning their environment with an unexplainable fear. For although the rain at dawn was a frequent occurrence, the human instinct flared at the hint of something powerful and dangerous. And though no one voiced their concerns, they could all feel the change in the atmosphere; something that they couldn't understand had entered their lives.
Amir scanned the people moving purposefully throughout the streets from his brother's room through a slightly tinted glass window, four stories above ground. He watched with complete awe and admiration as they ventured through the rain with determination, ignoring the dangers around them. He sighed wearily, planting a small circle of steam on the glass. How he wished he could be a part of the group, oblivious, naïve and without a care in the world. It was the main reason for moving to the town a few months back, he wanted a new beginning, to start over; to be someone other than what was expected of him.
"You are depressing" Ameron, his older, more accepting and devious brother stressed. He made his way from his bathroom, throwing his towel onto his bed next to the body of a sleeping woman. The creamed silk sheet laced her unclothed fame and she sank deeper into the comforts of the bed, unaware of her current surroundings.
"You know the whole reason we moved here was to stop all this nonsense and try to be better" Amir argued, turning to face his naked brother. He sighed in frustration, completely annoyed with his brother's indifferent behaviour.
"If I remember correctly, you dragged me here. I have nothing to do with your silly ideas. I'm only here to ensure that you do not die because of them" Ameron rebutted, a bit irritated as well. He slid into a black fashion jogger, before attempting to search for a shirt. He felt betrayed by his brother as he had a seemingly good life and was happy before Amir decided to ruin it with his crazy talk.
"Silly Ideas! Eron, aren't you the least tired!?" Amir stressed through gritted teeth.
"Tired of what!?" Ameron's voice bounced from the walls of his room, and the woman shifted silently in her sleep with unease. He gave up his search for a shirt, his suppressed anger on the verge of explosion "This is how we survive. This is our life. When will you accept that brother!?" He cursed, clenching his fist in an attempt to calm himself "We aren't like them, we cannot be weak, we cannot stop. We are monsters and will forever be!"
"No! I do not accept that" Amir yelled back with vigour and unknown passion, sending his brother over the edge.
"This is what we are!" He punched the wall above his bed and it caved, frightening the woman from her slumber. Immediately, dark markings began to latch themselves to his flesh, spreading like wildfire to the ends of his fame. A glare likened unto death cased his eyes and he turned to the woman. She sat, her limbs paralyzed by fear and her eyes fixed to the unexplainable unfolding of events.
"Eron don't" Amir begged "Please"
But Ameron was done listening, he had had enough "This is what we are" he repeated a deadly calm tailing his voice as he pressed a hand to the back of the woman's neck. She squirmed soundlessly, trying to release his grip as his nails dug into her flesh. Her fingers that scratched at his hand fell to her side moments later as her eyes rolled back and she began to seize.
"Ameron '' His brother pleaded helplessly, watching as the markings on Ameron's body began to glow a dark red. Ameron groaned in agony as every painful memory the woman had ever experienced throughout her life intensified ten fold and he struggled to keep his stance as he drew all the power the woman had left, taking her will to keep living with it. He braced himself unto his wooden night stand as he released his grip, feeling the power surging through his body like a drug, increasing his strength, energy and power. His eyes glowed for a moment, and he steadied himself waiting for the high to pass.
The markings on his body retracted slowly and it wasn't until they were all gone that he locked eyes with his brother once more. Amir swallowed, his breathing increasing as Ameron marched over to him, wrapping his hands around his neck and shoving him into the wall. He struggled to catch a breath as Ameron's fingers tightened.
"You are weak brother, because you refuse to take. How do you expect to fight back?"
"I …" He began but was thrust into the wall again, in an attempt to shut him up.
"Your stupidity will kill you" Ameron spat through clenched teeth, pressing his hands to the back of Amir's neck and passing on some of the power he had taken. Tears crawled icily down Amir's cheeks as the woman's memory etched themselves to his mind as well. It was why he decided to stop taking, he admired human's determination to live even though life battered them endlessly. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving them with nothing other than the bad memories.
"Watch" Ameron stated, pinning Amir to the wall and directing his eyes to the woman, who, as if in an unbreakable trance, stood from the bed, her cheeks soaked with tears. He watched defenselessly as she walked to the balcony and without hesitation, jumped to her death.
"Well then" Ameron let his brother loose, smacking his lips together in a fleeting contentment as he made his way to his drawer once more to search for a shirt. "I guess we are moving again. Where to this time?"
Pain clogged Amir's throat as he stared at the balcony, the woman's name Maria, replaying endlessly in his mind. For years she struggled with drug use, unable to stop. It wasn't until she killed a child in an accident because of drunk driving that she decided to change. She was just getting her life together. She'd just gotten back up on her feet. His eyes wandered over to his brother who stood motionlessly staring into his drawer. He knew he felt it too. No matter how cold or distant he tried to be, he knew he couldn't escape the pain the curse of living had cost.
"Where to this time brother?" Ameron asked, his voice soft but embedded with hurt.
"I don't know" Amir answered truthfully "I don't know" For he knew, as long as he lived, it didn't matter where he went, there was no escape because death would follow suit.