The rather lack of noise eerily stuck out as Cairo exited Lance’s car. The continuous beeping of the vehicle, warning its passengers that the keys were still in the car, echoed across the silent landscape.

There was no screaming, no gasps of “oh my goodness”, no phones recording the carnage beholding in front of all the onlooker’s eyes. There was just silence. Silence as Cairo walks over to the overturned car. Silence as Marcel, following close behind, nimbly cocks his rifle. Silence as two of the surviving members in the orange sedan stumbles out of the destroyed vehicle, and silence as the crowd understood perfectly the brutal horror they couldn’t choose to ignore anymore.

Cairo calmly walks up just as one of his “victims” manages to pull himself out through the broken windows. Pieces of glass litter the man’s body as larger shards imbed themselves deep into his skins. Cairo emotionlessly watches as blood begin pooling around the man’s body while the gashes visible on his skin bleeds profusely. The smell of copper floods Cairo nostrils, causing his stomach to wretch from the grotesque odor.

Cairo mutedly watches his victim struggle for a few moments, before kicking him in the face just as he was in the midst of rising to his feet. Crimson fluids burst from the person’s face. Cairo couldn’t help but be humorously reminded of the red dyed water balloon he and his friends used to throw at houses. Of course, that was years ago. Now, instead of throwing eggs at buildings, he had a human being at the very mercy of his fingertips.

A staccato of rifle shots rings from behind Cairo. Marcel had begun emptying his clip into the other poor victim. The sadistic actions of his friend reminded Cairo why he appreciated having Marcel on his side, and why he never took him for granted.

Cairo pauses for moment, surprised that his victim was glaring daggers back at him. Only a moment, however, as Cairo grabs his pistol by the barrel and mercilessly pummels the man. A dull thud resonates from the man’s face each time the metallic handgrip strikes against the soft and torn skin.

Panting, Cairo wipes his brow before making his way over to Marcel, who was still continuously pumping bullets into the corpse.

“Oi,” he says indignantly as Cairo snatches the rifle out of his hands.

Cairo pays Marcel no mind as he returns to his victim and shoves the barrel into the man’s mouth. The previous defiance so animatedly painted on the man’s face vanishes immediately as he fearfully stares at the scorching metal burning the inside of his mouth.

Cairo closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and pulls the trigger.

A familiar "click" resonates through the still air. Cairo looks up at Marcel in exasperation.

Marcel simply shrugs.

“You get what you pay for,” he answers.

“Ironic,” Cairo responds as he hands the rifle back to his friend.

Cairo returns to the car just as Lance finishes off the individual.

“There’s a serious disease out their called snitching,” Marcel suddenly says, addressing the remaining pedestrians witnessing the slaughter. “Symptoms include bruises, broken bones, and even death. Take good care of yourselves. I’d hate for something to happen to your families.”

A series of gunshots resounds as Lance executes the last surviving member of the “victims”.

“I hear it’s contagious.”

Cairo covers his face in embarrassment over Marcel’s need to indulge himself with dialogue. As sirens begin screeching in the distance, Lance releases the emergency brakes and they make their escape.

---

The sun was already setting by the time Lance had driven them to their destination. Cairo notes how the hill overlooking Metrocity was decorated beautifully with the golden and velvet background of the horizon.

Cairo takes a quick glance at his companion. Marcel was absent mindedly staring out the car window, taking in the scenery. Lance was focused on driving with an unusual grim expression on his face. He must be thinking about Avery right now.

“Stop the car,” Cairo instructs.

Lance abruptly pull his coup to the side just as Cairo flies out of the still moving vehicle, and onto the dry grass. With his hands on some stone railings, Cairo falls to his knees, bends over, and vomits.

It felt as if his heart was on fire. Palpitations pounded at his eardrums drowning out all traces of noise, his lungs rebelled against the oxygen Cairo so desperately tried to breath in, while the rest of his body went numb and weak. For a brief moment, Cairo thought he went blind.

Then, it was all over.

“Don’t overdo yourself,” Marcel comments.

Cairo spits out the last mouthful of vomit before turning around to accept the cigarette his friend offered. They had already sparked their own while they waited for Cairo to come back to his senses.

“There is only so much a person can take before he breaks.”

“Shut up Marcel,” Cairo mutters as he attempts to light his cigarette. The flint sparks but doesn’t catch on the wick as Cairo tries futilely with his trembling hands to light the tobacco.

“There’s something wrong with this lighter,” Cairo complains.

No one responds.

“Shit!” Cairo angrily yells at he throws the plastic lighter into the distance. “Is it too much to ask for a simple smoke?”

Marcel and Lance watches quietly as Cairo sits down on the railing.

“I just wanted a smoke,” he murmurs before covering his face with his hands.

“I just wanted a smoke.”