Two Page Shorts by Nick Venom (ebook reader for surface pro TXT) 📕

They didn’t deserve the ‘hero’ titles.

***

Andy exited a small clinic and dressed Jarvis’s wounds. They were some distance away from the restaurant, but Andy wanted to be farther. Unfortunately, Jarvis’s wounds slowed them down.

“How are you feeling? Any better?” He asked Jarvis. They sat behind the clinic, out of sight. “Still bleeding?”

Jarvis shook his head, feeling his several tens of wounds. He felt where the chain dug into him. “I’m fine for now. We need to leave now before the police come.”

Andy nodded. “Hopefully my aunt could give us some money to buy new clothes and disguises. I’m sure that driver is blabbering our details to the police.”

Jarvis nodded, lowering his shirt and covering the wounds with what fabric he had left. “Let’s leave.”

Andy nodded, rising to his feet. Jarvis followed suit, both men entering the public’s sight. They walked alongside the sidewalk, keeping an eye out for Ironix or anyone with malicious intent. Fortunately, there was nobody in their way. They managed to go farther into the suburbs, getting closer to Andy’s aunt’s house. 

As they walked, Jarvis lit a cigarette and smoked it. He felt his lungs filling up and some of the smoke being exhaled from his wounds. He didn’t mind the extra exhaust ports, continuing to smoke and fill his lungs with the toxins. 

Andy didn’t question his behavior as he was used to Jarvis smoking. It irritated him as he hated the smell of cigarette smoke, but he knew that he needed it, especially now. He continued to walk, leading the way. Every once in a while he’d looked at Jarvis, making sure he was still with him. His medical knowledge was limited and he wasn’t sure that the wounds were safe from infection by his poor bandaging. He hoped that his aunt could erase that problem as well as many others. She was his saving grace if she accepted him. If she didn’t it would be the end of him.

 

After a half-hour of walking, Andy and Jarvis grew tired. They approached a park that was in their path, sitting down on one of its benches. Jarvis sat down, his hands feeling his wounds. They sighed whenever he made an action that they didn’t like. They were fighting with him, threatening to infect themselves and kill him. 

Andy, recognizing his state, bit his lip. We need to reach my aunt’s house. He’s going to die sooner rather than later. Please, God! Let her be an accepting aunt. He thought to himself. 

He intertwined his fingers and sat them on his lip. He glanced at Jarvis, who was breathing slowly. “Jarvis, do you… ?” He asked, cringing at his own words. “Do you think you can continue?”

Jarvis turned to face him, his face flushed. His body was wounded seriously by Ironix and his mana pool took a large dent. “I… I can do it. I’ll be fine.” He told him.

Andy nodded. He turned away from Jarvis, staring at his surroundings. Families were at the playgrounds or in the large oval-shaped field in the middle of the park. Friends played in the field or at the basketball court and elderly people jogged on the oval-shaped pathway. They all enjoyed themselves, none of them even batting an eye at Jarvis’s state. They were living their lives with no regard for outsiders. Andy couldn’t hate them as he understood it. Why put your neck out for strangers or even include them in your personal bubble. If that’s the case, though, why did I help Jarvis? I could still be at the hotel, surrounded by rats and bugs, but safe. I would’ve traveled to my aunt’s house in a few days and everything would’ve gone smoother. So why did I decide to help Jarvis? He got himself caught up in a messy situation and I think we’re considered criminals because of what happened at the restaurant. I could be living my own safe life and enjoy what years I got left. So why did I invite him? It can’t be because we’re good friends, right? Then why? He thought to himself. Why am I helping him?

“Hey, Andy?” Jarvis muttered, surprising Andy. He was absorbed in his thoughts, now re-entering reality. 

“Y-Yeah?”

“What happened to Roxy?”

“Roxy? I don’t remember.” Andy told him. “I think she must’ve escaped during your fight with the man. I’m sorry, I should’ve gone after her.”

Jarvis shook his head. “Don’t apologize for her. I… I should’ve been paying attention to Roxy.”

“You were fighting for your life, how could you remember about her?”

“She’s one of my two lifelines. Because of Roxy, I could deal with the grief of losing my ex. She helped keep me sane through the messy break-up..”

“What’s your other lifeline?” Andy asked.

Jarvis cracked a small smile, facing him. “You, Andy.”

Andy tilted his head. “I’m one of your lifelines… really?”

Jarvis chuckled softly. “Well… to start, look at us now. You helped me get through this entire… thing. Without you, I would’ve been captured by Ironix and the people who kidnapped me.” He paused, waiting for an elderly man to jog past him before continuing. “You also helped me with my ex. If you weren’t there for me, listening to my rants for hours, I would’ve committed suicide.”

Andy’s jaw came loose. “You were contemplating?”

Jarvis nodded. “I was getting close to it. I even scheduled the day I wanted to die and how I was going to do it. I managed to buy some rope and even tied the noose; it should still be in my room, somewhere in my closet. As for the chair, I chose my favorite chair - a green plastic chair with the fewest cracks in it. I had every detail planned and the day was approaching fast, but…”

“But what?” Andy asked. “I know you didn’t go through with it, but… how was I involved in this? I don’t remember ever seeing you in that state before.”

Jarvis nodded. “Remember that week where I stopped talking with you?” Andy nodded, a lightbulb going off in his brain. “I did it because I didn’t want you swaying me out of my decision. I wanted to make sure I actually went through with my plan. I also needed that time to prepare myself and the tools.” He chuckled softly, hiding his cracking voice. “I nearly went through it but, before I could, you appeared. You brought a pizza and asked if you did anything to make me hate you. I tried to kick you out, but you refused. You forced your way in and we talked for hours.”

“I remember that… but I didn’t see a noose anywhere,” Andy added.

Jarvis nodded. “I hid it before I opened the door. It was in the cabinet under the sink. I didn’t want you to see it.”

Andy nodded, biting his lip. He reflected on Jarvis’s words, feeling as if a bombshell had been dropped on him. He knew that Jarvis was going through a lot with his parents dying and his girlfriend dumping him, but he never suspected that he was contemplating suicide. It was a lot for Andy to understand. 

“You don’t have to think too hard about it, Andy,” Jarvis said, recognizing Andy’s expression - furrowed eyebrows, slanted lips, and a piercing gaze. “It’s all in the past. I haven’t had those thoughts in a long while now. I feel… better.”

Andy nodded, still hung over Jarvis’s earlier words. “Well… if they reappear, please talk to me. I’m here for you.”

Jarvis nodded softly before stopping. “You never answered my question at the restaurant. Why are you helping me? Why are you risking yourself for me? Am I really that special in your life that I deserve this treatment?”

Andy smiled a sad smile. “Jarvis? You-” He was interrupted by his gut. He shoved Jarvis away from the middle of the bench before pushing him farther from it. His gut was quickly proved correct as a chain pierced the portion of the bench in between them, nearly hitting them. Both men turned to watch as the chain was retrieved by its owner, Ironix. He stood behind them, wearing a half-burnt pair of jeans and his black boots. His shirt and leather jacket were gone, exposing his bare skin. His chest was burdened with several tens of scars ranging from small ones to large ones.

“You!” He growled. “I’m out of time. I need to kill you!” His words sounded more pathetic and desperate than his earlier words, which were filled with confidence and conviction. 

Jarvis shakingly stood up. He pointed his palms towards Ironix, threatening him with his raw power. Andy stood up as well, his mind racing to come up with a plan. They had, unknowingly, allowed Ironix to sneak up on them and launch the first attack. He was in range to hit them and they weren’t fast enough to run away from him. They were at a big disadvantage and they realized it.

Ironix also realized it, smirking. “Your time is up.”

***

“What do you mean he escaped?” Eddie Hall shouted into Ironix’s ear from his phone “I want you to bring him back alive if you can or eliminate him and erase any evidence of his existence. I contacted you for this job, yet you can’t do it? Do I have to send Dom to do your job?”

“Sir, I can do it. You don’t have to send DT to do my job.”

“You better… I can’t allow the public to get a whiff of what we’re doing here. Project HOUSE will collapse if he isn’t captured or killed. Do remember why you're taking this task.”

Ironix gritted his teeth before barking “Yeah” into the phone. 

“Drop the attitude, Henry. It won’t take me long to meet with your daughter.”

Henry, usually known by his alias of Ironix, slammed his fist into a nearby tree. He had escaped the explosion and fire because of his armor. However, his clothes, aside from his jeans and boots, were burnt to crisp.

“... Got it.”

“Good… Remember to be wary of his skills. His powers are unstable and unpredictable. He could be the strongest in his batch, even surpassing the genius. Do not underestimate him.”

“Or else I fail like DT?”

Eddie didn’t respond instantly, waiting several long-drawn-out moments before continuing. “I want him dead. Make sure you get it done.”

“Got it… as long as you keep your hands off my daughter.”

“If Jarvis dies. If he doesn’t then I wouldn’t mind speaking with Helen.”

Henry balled his free fingers into a ball, squeezing them. “Got it… sir.” He hung up on Eddie before turning towards a tree on the side of the street and punching it with his throbbing fist. “Damn it!” He growled. “If I was paying more attention to her… this wouldn't have happened. I wouldn’t have been so quick to sell her off… Damn it!” He slammed both fists into the tree, cracking it. It fell, landing on the roof of a car with great force. The car’s alarm blared, alerting the owner. By the time the owner appeared, Henry was gone. He went to deal with Jarvis, the only thing standing between him and a healed family.

***

Henry whipped his chain at Jarvis. Jarvis, fortunately, avoided the first few strikes but the ones following them connected. They added new wounds while re-opening older ones. He had blood dripping down his torso, landing at his feet or descending his legs. 

Henry had no time to make remarks, charging towards him. He acted impatiently, giving up his range voluntarily. She’ll be killed if he doesn’t die. I need to save her. To fix my family. He thought to himself as he slashed and pierced him.

Meanwhile, Andy watched from afar as Ironix slashed Jarvis to bits. He quickly became a fountain of blood. Without control over his powers or even a basic understanding of them, he lost the strength advantage. And with his body, mind, and mana drained, he couldn’t fight back. He was a punching bag for Henry to relieve his stress on.

Damn, get up Jarvis! He’s going to kill you if you don’t fight back! He shouted internally. His mouth refused to open, bouncing his words