The door outside led to a back alleyway. It only lasted for a moment before Norman would hear a clang and shuffling…
Stepping down metallic stairs. The scene unfolding to Norman's left, had him sick to his stomach…
The bartender cried silent tears, no strength to speak… only slurring murmurs of rejection, as the young man was about to strip the girl of her dignity. Ever since they'd met, he'd always been captivated by her appearance and unwavering personality… her laugh, her smile, her mouth, her eyes, her hair, and the pristine…
Jake wanted it all.
Thinking back…
Though, the flower was beautiful… It hadn't grown, nor blossomed as of yet.
Not yet…
You don't simply take a cat from off the streets, cage it and call it yours…do you? No, no, no…you…
You introduce yourself first. It's weary, but that can't be helped, now can it?
You…feed it, share stories and problems…Problems you wish you could fix, hide, and bury away… but always… without fail, come back.
You grow closer.
You touch it.
Tell it, you're there. That you won't ever go away, you won't abandon her. Ever.
"Thank you… Jake." That night she leaned on him like she would a rock, a safe place.
'There, there it is… for as long as i could remember. In all the years I visited this bar back when Mr. Rosewell was still alive, he was just as much of a father to you, as he was to me… but I wanted you to notice me. Him dying was… a path lit, to us… closer than we've ever been, these weeks of you… trusting me…? were bliss, but I want more, Margie.'
Thoughts clawed… one after the other. Tempting his every feeling. Every sense.
'Give me more, give your dearest all your heart's desires…I want to make you happy, so take me…' Jake's breathing grew burdened.
This…euphoric thing, but no.
Not now, as only now did she feel secure… He couldn't ruin that.
Not this.
Not yet…
But soon, she'll see.
The next day, at around noon's last minutes…
A rugged looking man would walk up to the counter, a considerably intimidating client with dark and heavy circles under the guy's eyes.
'Wait, what's this? Wha- what did she give him?! She's- Is she looking down? How could you walk away like that?!' Jake's thoughts raced.
Later that night
"Hey Margie"
"Yeah?"
"Who was that guy earlier?" Anticipation looming over his head.
"Oh that's…" Why do you look so sad, shy? Ashamed?
"He's the guy my mom hired for the mural."
"Oh? Mural?" He seemed relieved at that.
"What's with you… didn't we promise to paint one together?" Confused at his casual demeanor, she'd continue "it's the same spot to… out front? Can you believe her?!"
"That witch!" He growled
"I know…" She sighs
Two days later.
"Hey Jake…"
"Yes madam?" He'd joke.
"Do you think… I could paint?"
"Why of course, just say the word and my bank account is yours!"
"No… No, no, no, what are you saying? I mean like, the mural?"
His face darkens
"You don't even know the guy?! That's dangerous!"
"We'd be too busy painting to talk?"
"Oh yeah?! Busy!?"
"What?"
"He's weird!"
"You're weird!" …She'd add "This isn't even about that rando…"
"..."
"If you're so concerned, just watch… I guess."
Something about a dirty, rough, and unruly man close to Margie… Made him angry, and later that night.
Jake laughed among his male friends, drinking heavily.
"How the hell do you get here so early! Don't you work?!"
Jake, red faced, was having the time of his life. "Huh? Oh…I'm actually on leave you see~" All so suddenly, he'd burst into sobs "This whole fiasco with Mr. Rosewell… It's- It's so~"
…He zoned out.
Margie's silhouette could be seen passing through the plastic covered window. Enamored by it, Jake was left speechless… Only for the random man's shadow to follow.
Enraged, he was just about fed up when his pal hands him an unknown tablet.
"No matter how many times we try tipping off Margie she still can't take a hint, she won't see you as anything more than a brother man!"
That statement stung the air
"You love her don't you? She's yours."
The friend would grab Jake's chin guiding his gaze. "Before anyone else."
A guy would jab. "You gonna kiss bro?" They'd laugh.
"Jake! Oh Jake!" They'd explode in chuckles at the horrid mimicry of Margie's voice "It's sure fire!" All the men cried in amusement, except Jake.
He stared, pouncing on the guy… before continuing to beat him up out of spite.
'That's right… she's mine, only mine, I'll prove it to the world and back'
4 days later… back in the present nightmare…
"Margie." He nearly finishes unbuttoning her blouse and only starts unbuckling his belt when Norman grabs him by the head, lifting Jake off his feet, and off the vulnerable girl.
"You!?" Jake snarls. Norman stayed quiet, he'd held the lad in a crushing grip… fury that rivaled both the sun and moon in presence reflected within their souls.
To one, a sense of duty, and only duty.
The other, rabid and rage driven in what he knew was love, was lust.
"What do you think they're gonna see? Huh?! That you're some big hero?! Think again!" Jake attempts a grip on Norman's forearm "I'm her long time friend, and you're what?! The guy who raped her!? That's right!" Jake felt lightheaded, while Norman raised an eyebrow at the fake accusation… he's only ever known one person he's.
"Don't talk about people you don't know, kid." Norman would tighten his hold.
The maniac Jake starts laughing…a glint of wicked intention peered from behind his eyes.
"Help! Help! Anybody!" The youngster's screams were loud and evident. What more to the bar beside?
Still confused at the earlier statement… Norman would realize a second too late, as a group of people would make their way into the alley, 3 men, and 2 women…
The dangling young man's grin grows, as one of the girls live streams the whole scenario.
"Someone call 911!?"
Irritated, Norman would slam Jake's head into the wall, just enough to knock the young lad senseless.
"Oh my gosh, girl!" The other young woman coddles the exposed bartender. "Monster! Bastard! What did you do to Margie?!" Her look only saw a guilty man, no remorse or mercy necessary… He's taken aback.
He did nothing, and knowing that meant standing firm.
"Believe what you will."
"Liar!" Her shrieks only garnered more attention.
There was no use arguing, he had to leave, pushing aside the hesitant young men. If the authorities were to get involved, then all the better.
This'll be given a proper investigation and the young kid won't have any excuse by then.
Endure it for now.
However, a crowd started to build… and soon there were dozens of people.
"That monster! Raped Margie!" The furious girl would bellow once more.
The three young lads would falter… as it dawned on them — what their companion Jake truly did… but ultimately decided to frame the rough looking man to cover their pal's tracks.
"Y-Yeah!"
"That's right! Would any of you let that happen to our dear bartender!? Don't let him get away!" They roar in mad.
And as if on cue, one of the drunkards would smash an empty bottle onto Norman's head. These weeks of sleepless nights must've taunted him, as he could've sworn that one brick that was thrown from above… came on way too fast. It shattered upon impact… he'd stagger and they took this as an opportunity to restrain him.
Though he resisted enough just to stand.
One of the other men just so happened to have a thick rope on the flash, and made a lasso out of the thing. Catching Norman by the neck, several of them pulled tight… though the tall man refused to be brought down to his knees. The accusations and shouting of the riot seemed like an endless torrent.
"Bring him down!"
Norman was completely out of it. The bleeding wound atop his head didn't make things any more manageable. He couldn't kill out of this… he didn't want to.
Think, man! Think! That damned rope! It needs to go, but what about these men holding both his arms down…surely there's another way of getting them off, besides… giving them the toss of their lives…
"Wow! You think you'll get away with this?!" He felt something sharp at the crown of his shoulder. It was dug across creating a considerable tear.
Blood gushing like a decrepit waterfall.
"You sick piece of shit!" They'd yell.
"Pig!" They'd shout.
"What's the matter?! Feel funny?!" Time slipped by, and alas he couldn't bring himself to harm them… falling to his knees, and eventually… onto his front.
"…"
"Goliath's down boys!" They'd beat him senseless, all cheering in vanquisher. One even held Norman's head to the ground while the other pulled at the rope to choke him out.
Wait…
"Hang him!" Blood would run too and from his head, as he struggles to look forward.
…He hears something, apart from his ears ringing,
"Oh look! Mr. I like them young's turning blue!"
Faint sobs… Margie…? no, she was… he knows this voice.
The girl holding her phone walks closer to the onslaught hoping to get a better view.
"Eww his eye is swollen."
Illusions plagued his diluted mind.
Diana…? She was there. So close… yet so far…
"Not so big now! Are ya big guy?!" They mocked.
'oh… dear… don't go.' Norman's thoughts echoed.
"no… no, no, no." He'd mumble.
"…"
"Huh?" Only one person stopped… and looked, as though he felt… he saw, what was the abyss in that man's eyes… stumbling, running for his life… though as if it were of any use…
"I can't die." Nobody heard him.
"I won't die." Nobody listened.
"KNOW PAIN, BASTARDS!"
BURN. IN. HELL. — a roar that threatened the heavens.