Dark Legends - Part 5: Twitch

He didn't want to be here. Ever since he stepped foot in his new home, he felt like he didn't belong here. He didn't feel like he belonged anywhere.

"Hey," his younger brother said, "We'll be alright here. I'm sure you'll get used to the place." He smiled and walked inside. His name was Liu. and he was barely twelve.

Jeff nodded. "Maybe. We'll see." Jeff was fourteen.

It was just the two of them and their parents. Their father's work took them here, and they were forced to move.

A few day after they moved in, Jeff and Liu went to their new school for the first time. They enjoyed it, made some friends, and Jeff started to feel like he could make this work.

A month passed. Jeff and Liu were waiting for the school bus when they heard three skateboards zoom towards them. It was the school bullies, Kieth and Troy, led by Randy. "Hello, Jeff." Randy taunted. "I think you know what we want."

Jeff sighed. "And what would that be?"

Randy scoffed. "Cash... money... the green stuff... shall I spell it out for you more, toddlers?"

Liu faced him. "Dude, just walk away. We're not giving you any."

Randy grabbed Liu's collar. "Oh?? Is that so?" he chuckled.  "Boys?" At Randy's signal, both Kieth and Troy pulled out knives. "Cash or guts, kiddies. It's up to you."

***

Jeff awoke with a start, sitting straight up. He put a hand to his face.

He was sweating.

He stood up and shook himself off. He shouldn't be having these dreams. He had forgotten about his past, and he didn't want to start remembering it now. Not all of it. The bullies... the party... the fire... the hospital... the following night... He remembered those things, though it was a blur in his head.

Jeff had spent the night in the alley... again. Maybe he'd get a motel room in a few nights... drag a prostitute along with him... and laugh at the motel manager from a distance as they tried to figure out who gutted her. Oh that was always fun.

A chill went down his spine. He quickly looked around him. He left the alley to look around the street. "What the hell was that..." he shrugged and turned around to enter the alley again.

He froze.

A man stood at the end of the alley, staring at him. "Hiiiiiiii Jeeeffff." His hair was a bit messy, but what really distracted Jeff were the goggles he wore. Currently they hung from his neck.

Jeff was at a loss as to what to do. Here was this random guy, who knew his name, just standing there... staring at him.

"Geez, you gonna get in the alley already? I don't have all day Jefferey."

Jeff slowly walked in, his hand now on the knife hidden in his pocket.

"Oh for- don't pull that out. I don't need to deal with that s*** today." The man said, suddenly twitching quickly. "I'm just here to talk with you."

Jeff stopped walking. "What do you mean?"

The man smiled. "I mean I need a favor of you." He started to walked towards Jeff, revealing two hatchets. "You're good at what you do. Really good. So I... well... we need you to take care of someone coming into town soon."

Jeff scoffed. "Why the hell would I do anything for you? What's in it for me?"

"I'll tell you who's been doing the extra killings."

Jeff's eyes squinted. "You know who?"

"Yep, and where she is."

So it's a girl... Jeff thought a moment.

"Tic Tock, Jeff. I don't have all day. I got a drunkard a few blocks down I need to take care of."

Jeff nodded. "Okay. I'll take the job."

"Heh. Good."

"But what's your name?"

The man's neck twitched. "Toby. Or as some like to call me, Ticci Toby."