“Why should I take responsibility?” Otie asked. “Even if Urjo had actually used a bat, how’s it any different from what you're carrying right now?

  “…”

  “Urjo may like fighting and brawling…” Eurig posed, “but even he’s not dumb enough to use a weapon in a one on one.”

  “Come on man, y’know Urjo didn’t use no bat. In reality you just wanna play ‘take responsibility’ with me. All that shit about real men putting their life on the line…is supposed to show me how grown up you are, huh? That’s ridiculous!” Otie said.

  “Youu…” Ben Krow’s veins bulged along his hands, up his arms, along his temples.

  “And Jaromir was by far not the hero you say he was. Just ‘cause you bled, man he came home with nothing.”

  “Ayihcah!!” Urjohar shouted.

  “Stop insulting Jaromir, I was damn happy for what he did for me…that he went to Ben for me,” Horst said. “Ben hurting himself means he didn’t come empty handed,” Horst choked, clenching his jaw as his face heated up.

  “You’re eye’s not really worth more than Ben’s scar?” Otie asked. “At least to me, his scar ain’t shit in comparison!”

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  Ayihcah… Horst blushed.

  Ah shit, the Avomen are all gathered in that alley. This Otie, he’s got Krow fuming. Ah man… Looks like Vepkhia also noticed. Walli thought.

  “You’re disappointing me, Otie. In the end you just look like Jaromir, that’s all. And it’s not enough for you to insult the deceased… You even seem to make fun of him! If you’re not going to take responsibility on your own, I’ll make you do it!” Ben Krow flicked his blade, the edge began to heat up, steam rolled off his right arm, fire lit from his wrist.

  “Aye-aye…” Otie put a hand up to calm Ben Krow. “I’ll say sorry, ya? I didn’t wanna make the situation escalate, I’ll say sorry.” With a serious face, Otie bowed. “So: I’m so sorry,” Otie said with a monkey face.

  Ben Krow’s eyes lit like an inferno, he thrust forward…

  “Stop Ben! It’s a trap! He’s trying to provoke you!” Walli shouted.

  …the blade punctured Otie’s liver, searing burns melting his shirt to his skin. Otie smiled, whilst Ben Krow realized what he had done. Otie merely hugged Ben Krow with love as the blade sunk in deeper. Pushing him away, Ben Krow stammered back.

  “Ayihcah!” Cherry scrambled to Otie’s side.

  “That’s exactly what you wanted to see, right?” Otie asked. As the blood trickled down, high above the starlight, zooming cars paused by the will of a crimson cloaked individual. Lasul scratched her eyes in disappointment.

  “What a fool. Is that all the power he can muster? Pathetic…” Lasul pondered.