Kiss The Ring

And so a city burned.
It started slowly, reports coming in of a hit and run here, a robbery there. The another one, then a huge disturbance between youths downtown that turned into a riot. It seemed to flower, a blossom of unadulterated violence that turned to looting, that turned to death. The emergency calls flooded in, reports of automatic weapons appearing on the streets from nowhere, of gangs suddenly having the means to kill each other and the police that they had never had before.
Fires broke out, made all the worse when the rioters turned on the fire engines and police cars, burning them too and the body count started to rise.
The emergency services were soon overwhelmed, the sudden explosion having caught them all out. People had planned for this but there was usually some kind of warning, a rise in tension that would allow the government agencies to prepare and be one step ahead. Of course, they tried but pulling manpower in at the last minute was hard.
Mikey and James wandered through the mess, heading for a small police station where they knew the man that had shot Gerard was being held. They walked with purpose, taking little interest in the ongoing violence around them unless it interfered. One man tried it, a dumb thug caught up in the moment who thought Mikey looked like an easy guy to jump. The eight inch serrated blade that slid under his ribs told him otherwise, the twist of the wrist that followed finishing thoughts altogether. Mikey paused only to clean the blade.
The silenced pistols they kept hidden, watchful of the few cops that were about. Civilians provoked little interest. More than once a plea for help was met with a stony gaze, it was not a night for mercy.
“This it ?”
James looked up at the three story building. A police station is always a target during civil unrest and the mob had been here. Windows were broken, the door barricaded. Over the screams, breaking glass and general noise, the building itself seemed quiet.
“Yeah, lets go around the back.”
They walked around the side of the building, this had been attacked too and a fire had been set burning against the back door. A single hard kick caused the weakened structure to give. Cautiously both men headed inside. Noise up ahead suggested someone was around so they waited, trying to gauge how many opponents. James decided that probably open confrontation was the best option and rounded the corner.
The desk sergeant and his assistant looked up, disconcerted. The station had been forced to empty, the special prisoner in the cells downstairs left in their care. Now they were faced with two unknown men and no immediate back up but some secretaries upstairs. Taking no chances, the sergeant drew his gun.
“Get the fuck out of here.”
Mikey smiled, watching the barrel of the gun shake slightly. James fixed the man with a stare. For a moment, no-one moved.
“I said, get the fuck out.”
Neither cop stood a chance, Mikey had put a bullet through the skull of the sergeant before the other man had time to realise that there was a gun pointing at him too. It was the last thought that went through his head before James’ bullet.
They searched the men quickly, looking for keys and listening for any sound of trouble. Adrenaline was coursing through them. They could pull this off, take a measure of revenge for themselves too. Mikey grabbed James roughly by the hair, pulling him into a kiss.
“C’mon, lets go get him. This is just too fucking easy.”
James giggled and followed Mikey down the stairs.
The cells were empty apart from one. Lewis Johnson. Lone psychopath if the official story was to be believed. The man that had put bullets into Mikey Way’s brother and expected to live. Mikey’s jaw clenched, however he worked for, it didn’t matter. Dead man walking and it would be hours before the boss would put him out of his misery and Mikey intended to enjoy every second of it.
For now though, Lewis looked hopeful. Maybe they would let him go, he had picked up enough snippets of info to guess something was going down outside.
“Guys, let me out. No pigs here now, take what you want.”
James pulled the man to his feet by the collar, silencing any protest by jamming the pistol under the mans chin. He gestured at Mikey.
“See him ? He just killed a cop upstairs. Me too, you wanna know why ?”
The man was starting to sweat, unable to take his eyes from the angelic face in front of him. James leant in to whisper in his ear.
“You shot his brother.”
Lewis froze. This was the last thing he had expected. He had been paid to do a job and keep quiet. Enough money that his kids would be comfortable even if he spent the rest of his life in jail which he had been assured would not happen. He had also been told Gerard Way was a corrupt killer. No-one had mentioned a brother. He licked his lips nervously.
“He’s ok. I wasn’t in my right mind you know.”
Mikey pouted a little, the gesture bringing a smile to James’ face. His silence caused the man to shuffle.
“You gonna kill me ?”
A flash of worry passed over James. The look on Mikey’s face said he just might but that was not part of the plan. Deciding to keep Mikey’s mind occupied, he smiled at Lewis.
“Not if you come with us quietly.”
Mikey blinked, fixing James with a quizzical stare and following as he bundled the other man back upstairs. Lewis was truly frightened now, he had not really believed that they had killed anyone until he saw the blood congealing under the two bodies. Fear made his legs shake, he knew he couldn’t run, couldn’t escape them.
Outside chaos still reigned, more fires had joined together to light up the sky like midday. Sirens continued to howl as they manhandled him to the car. Lewis started to pray. He stared into the black pit of the boot before turning back to the two men.
“It was just business, I needed the money.”
Mikey lost it. The memory of his brother, close to death, flashed across his head. With both hands he rammed the shaking man’s head into the side of the car, following it up with several hard punches. James let him have his moment, knowing Mikey needed to clear his head a little. Lighting a cigarette, James finally pulled him back.
“Enough. We’ll get to finish this but the boss wants him alive. Alive Mikey.”
Mikey rubbed his bruised knuckles, hastily putting the man in the dark before the urge to carry on took over.
In less than an hour they had reached the warehouse. Another two cars stood outside, a dim light within. Lewis was back to a state of semi-consciousness, not quite aware of everything but aware enough to realise he was in pain and that there was a sea of red on the floor. Fear started to build as he looked up into Frank Iero’s eyes.
Frank considered the little man, watching frightened tears start to fall as he watched Frank wiping blood from his arms and hands. There was nothing threatening in the soft voice but Lewis knew he was going to die.
“Welcome to hell.”

Notes