Trigger warning:

This story contains scenes that are unsuitable for minors and risk groups. The following topics are mentioned:

-         Extreme violence

-         rape

-         mutilation

-         Gore

-         Gun violence / use or shooting

-         Fetishes (e.g. BDSM, pee, etc.)

If one or more topics fall into the personal trigger area and are still read, you do so at your own risk.

Important note: This book was translated by a non-native speaker. Please excuse any grammar mistakes or other errors.

There was blood everywhere. On the street, on the van, on the guns, and on the bodies scattered around David. It was a massacre. It shouldn't have gone that way.

A policeman tried to climb out of a crushed patrol car. One of his legs was obviously broken. Blood poured from the laceration on his forehead over his face. But before he could get out of the car, James made great strides towards him. He was still limping. It was probably not just the ankle that was sprained.

"No, please," the man coughed and crawled back into the car with all his might. James was faster.

Without batting an eyelid, he pulled a knife from a nearby body and stabbed the police officer with full force. The body fell to the ground as if in slow motion. The knife got stuck in his throat.

David couldn't take his eyes off the blood-soaked man standing on the damp street like a god of death. He stood there covered in blood - not knowing what to do. It just shouldn't have gone that way.

"Come on," he heard James’ soft voice that didn't really fit the situation. They were the only survivors now. Only corpses and destroyed car parts around them. In the distance you could hear soft rumbling. A thunderstorm started.

"Come on," repeated James, limping toward David. "We have to go before reinforcements come."

But David continued to stare at the blood, which was slowly spreading over the wet asphalt around his feet. "Why didn't it go according to plan ...?" he whispered in the cold wind.

"Because life is not going according to plan!" James suddenly grumbled and reached for David's red sleeve. "Come on now, damn it!"

David's eyes flicked up for the first time and stared at James’ big blue ones. There was mud and blood on his otherwise pale skin. His beard started to grow. For the first time, he noticed that James also had red hair. Like David.

The sun was slowly setting and he knew they had to leave the massacre behind before they had to go back to prison. It was their chance for freedom. Their chance for a life together. David wasn't sure until the last second if that was what he wanted. The way into the unknown. Always on the heels with the police.

But when James’ gaze suddenly softened and the blue eyes shimmered in the dull sunlight, as if they were about to lose the first tears, David became more secure with every second.

It would be the right decision.

"David," his lover whispered in a shaky voice. "Please come."

The tall man nodded and took his friend by the hand. Together they left the scene when the first sirens could be heard.

It shouldn't have ended that way.