"HENCH" Preview

Dennis stood on the rooftop of the Heartville Tower staring down. Eighty floors. He did this once a month trying to imagine what it must have been like for his father to plummet to his death eleven years ago as millions around the world cheered. His father, Scott Black, was one of the four finally killed by a tactical team created specifically to take his father’s boss down. Tactical Reinforcement And Protection, or TRAP, they were called. His three friends fathers were all killed that day as well. They never returned to the place their fathers died.

“This isn’t healthy, DB” James “Jimbo” Weatherspoon told Dennis as he walked closer to the edge of the building. “You cant keep doing this to yourself.” James placed his hand on Dennis’ shoulder which was quickly slapped away. “Dick.”

“I know where they live” Dennis said, laughing to himself. Everyone knew who “they” were. “It’d be so easy to just go to their houses and--”

“Die just like our fathers” Doc said. No one knew the rest of his name or ever bothered to find out. Even in school the staff referred to him as Doc. “It might not seem like it but I do like this whole living bullshit. I’m not in a rush to stop.” Doc walked behind Dennis and shoved him sharply towards the edge. Dennis jumped back, fists up ready for a fight. “You’re not ready to die either.” Dennis took a step towards Doc an inch away from his face. “So stop acting like you are.”

“They murdered our fathers” Dennis hissed at Doc.

“What are you doing up here?!” someone shouted. They all spun around and a security guard stood with his hand on his hand on the barrel of a pistol. “Let me see some hands in the air!”

“We aren’t looking for any trouble, sir” Richard “Big Rich” Keller said while raising his hands. “We were just checking out the view. Its pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Richard took a step towards the guard.

“Stay where you are!” the guard shouted. Richard took two more forward as the guard removed his gun and aimed it at Richard’s head.

“Rich, stop moving” James said. He knew Richard’s reputation. He knew that Richard had spent most of his childhood in juvenile detention centers and was not afraid to go to prison. “Like he said, sir, we were just admiring the view. We’ll leave--” Suddenly the guards face disappeared in a cloud of pink mist. Everyone spun to see Dennis holding a Kel Tec 380.

“That felt good” Dennis said as he smiled.