Chapter 3

There was no denying it, Tommy was having fun with a capital F. The surroundings may have been new to Tommy, but he was definitely being shown a wild, party-loving side of the city by Xane and his gang.

‘Check this out,' Xane said, popping open another bottle of highly expensive champagne and fizzing the drink up and spraying it across the cordoned off VIP section of Dark Dreams Bar. ‘Another bottle! Let's go!'

‘Yeah!' Tommy said, smiling, but something else slowly dawning on him.

Tommy took a moment to compose himself.

As Tommy looked around the plush surroundings of Dark Dreams Bar, he realized that while Xane and his men may have been enjoying themselves, the same probably wasn't true for the bar staff or some of the other patrons.

I don't know about this…

Xane is loud and fun, but…

This isn't super respectful…

Tommy always wanted to have fun and push things to the limits, but while doing this he was always keen to be respectful to others. The last thing that Tommy would ever do would be to intentionally make anyone feel uncomfortable, and that was certainly what Xane seemed to be doing right at that moment.

Dark Dreams Barwas nice though. There was no denying that. With its crushed velvet seats and perfectly stylish chandeliers and dark furnishings, it really gave off an old school vibe.

This wasn't the kind of place that Tommy would ever think to come to himself or with his other kink-loving friends. It was far too expensive for his modest budget.

As increasingly uncomfortable as Xane's boorish behavior was making Tommy feel, Tommy couldn't deny that he was enjoying sipping on the five hundred dollar a bottle champagne. Although that being said, it could have done with a couple of ripe berries dropped in to sweeten the flavor a touch…

‘This is nice, but I might have a juice next,' Tommy said, struggling to make himself heard over the sound of Xane and his men laughing and bantering together. ‘I… I… think I might ask the bartender for some juice now, actually.'

‘No, allow me!' Xane replied, a menacing grin on his face as he wrapped his arm tightly around Tommy. ‘Bar boy! Bar boy! Over here! Right this fucking second!'

Tommy cringed with embarrassment. Xane was being downright rude now. This wasn't nice behavior at all. And Tommy really didn't want to be associated with it.

‘I'm sorry,' Tommy said, addressing the bartender as he approached Xane's table. ‘I was just going to ask for a juice.'

‘Yes, sir,' the bartender replied, his eyes nervously darting back and forth to Xane. ‘Anything else for the table?'

‘Bring me a steak,' Xane bellowed. ‘And hurry the hell up! Idiot!'

The bartender looked crestfallen, but he was clearly too scared to say or do anything about how rude Xane was being.

Tommy felt like suddenly all the fun had gone out of the situation. It felt like it was time to leave. At first it had been fun and exciting to hang out with Xane, but now the whole atmosphere was different.

‘I… I… I think it's time for me to bounce,' Tommy said, his voice trembling a little as he watched one of Xane's men pick up a handful of roasted peanuts and throw them across the bar toward a couple enjoying their meal. ‘This… isn't really my thing.'

‘Shut your mouth, boy,' Xane said, sneering. ‘Unless you want trouble, you'll just sit there and look all cute for me. Ain't that right men?'

Xane's gang of associates all cheered raucously, and Tommy felt very uncomfortable. This was in danger of turning very sour. The only question in Tommy's mind was how he was going to extract himself as quickly and painlessly as possible.

‘I'm just… going to the bathroom,' Tommy said, trying his best to sound as casual and calm as he could.

‘Stay here,' Xane said, pushing Tommy down with one hand as he attempted to stand.

Tommy knew he had to get out of there. Xane's demeanor had turned even more sour and in that moment Dark Dream Bar was the last place on earth that Tommy wanted to be.

‘Hey, bartender, where the fuck is my steak?' Xane shouted, tossing roasted peanuts in the direction of the bar, much to the amusement of his collection of thuggish friends. ‘Bring it over in two minutes or I'll come into the kitchen and kick all of your asses myself.'

Tommy had heard enough.

It was time to move.

Tommy jumped up onto the table and scurried across it, desperate to keep his balance. Tommy's entire body was being supercharged by adrenalin, and he scanned across the room to locate the quickest exit.

But just as Tommy was about to get out, he felt a thud on the back of his head.

‘Urgh. What the…?' Tommy said, as he staggered toward the green EXIT sign. ‘Hey, get off me!'

Before he knew what was going on, Tommy was being hauled out of the VIP room by Xane and his men.

‘Please, don't hurt me!' Tommy cried out, punches and kicks coming down on him and he pleaded for mercy. ‘Awwwww! Fuck! That hurts!'

‘Pffft. It's less fun when they cry so quickly,' Xane said, a wicked sneer in his words. ‘Let's dangle him off the edge of the balcony. That might help us work up an appetite for our bloody steaks.'

‘No!' Tommy squealed, terror in his voice and running through his mind too.

Tommy was helpless as the thugs picked him up and carried him onto the balcony area and dangled him off the side. Tommy didn't know whether they were going to drop him, and it felt like his entire life was quite literally hanging by a thread.

‘I'm begging you, please!' Tommy cried out, barely able to speak through fear.

‘Put him down,' Xane said. ‘He's had enough.'

Tommy let out a sigh of relief, but if he thought Xane was done with him, he was wrong…

‘Now let's beat his ass some more,' Xane cackled. ‘Except this time, no holding back!'

Tommy knew that he had to escape. Xane was clearly totally wild and out of control – and not in any kind of good way either.

It felt like a living, waking nightmare, but before the men could really start to beat on Tommy again, he wriggled free and made a dash for the fire exit.

Keep running.

Don't look back.

I just have to… get out of here…

As Tommy made his way down the emergency fire exit staircase, he could hear Xane bellowing angrily in the distance. By the sounds of it, Xane wasn't done with him. Not by a long shot.

‘Don't think this is over, boy!' Xane growled, his voice carrying down the stairs toward where a breathless Tommy stood. ‘Come back and face more punishment. Or don't. Either way I'll make sure you pay! And when you least expect it too! You'll never be safe as long as I'm on the streets!'

With that, Tommy watched as Xane slammed the fire exit door shut.

It was over. For now. But all Tommy could hear were Xane's words ringing in his ears. Tommy wouldn't be safe for as long as Xane was on the loose. Tommy knew all about people like Xane, but he never expected to be one of his victims.

‘I… need… to get home,' Tommy said, his voice breaking up and tears forming in his eyes. ‘I just need to feel safe again.'

Tommy's apartment was his home and the place where he felt safest of all. Except today, something was different. After escaping Xane and his gang of horrible friends, Tommy had made a beeline back to his apartment and after triple-locking the door was now safely wrapped underneath a blanket on the couch.

‘That was horrible,' Tommy said, picking up an apple and pear juice box and taking a long sip. ‘And my stomach hurts from where they kicked me too. And my head. Fuck, I must be concussed if I'm talking to myself like this…'

Tommy looked around his apartment. It was compact, but had everything a young man could need.

There was a small bedroom that was big enough for a bed, tiny walk-in closet, and a little desk. In the living area Tommy had a cozy old couch, a TV, and the rest of the space was a chill area for reading or listening t0 music.

But no matter how much Tommy tried, not even his home comforts were taking his mind off Xane. It was one thing having had a bad experience and being beat up a little, and Tommy knew he would get over that soon enough.

No, what was truly troubling Tommy was Xane's threat that this wasn't over, and he would surprise him again. In fact, the thought of ever seeing Xane again was enough to make Tommy want to puke.

I was so fucking dumb for ever trusting Xane.

I wanted fun, not trouble.

And now what am I meant to do?

Tommy let out a long sigh. Fortunately for Tommy, two of his best friends arrived moments later and brought with them some supplies.

Extra-cheesy pizza? Check.

Candy by the bucket-load? Check again.

A heap of positive vibes and jokes? All the way!

‘Thanks for coming guys,' Tommy said, having now changed into a onesie along with his friends, Jake and Lyle. ‘I really needed some company.'

‘Of course we came!' Lyle said, his hazel eyes full of kindness. ‘We've always got one another's backs.'

‘We sure do,' Jake added, his blonde hair flopping around as he spoke. ‘This Xane dude sounds like the fucking creep from hell.'

‘The asshole of all assholes,' Lyle added. ‘The biggest, grossest asshole of Asshole Town.'

The three friends laughed. It was a horrible situation for Tommy to be in, but laughter was the best medicine. Tommy always tried to see the positive side of things, or at least the humorous. With his two good friends alongside him, Tommy was determined to break out of his funk.

However, thoughts of Xane and what he might do in the future were hard to ignore.

‘I'm scared he might just show up,' Tommy said. ‘He knows where I work. What if shows up at the Velvet Iron? Or follows me home?'

‘He sounds like a bully,' Jake replied, his bright blue eyes offering a sense of hope. ‘And bullies are usually cowards deep down. Isn't that right, Lyle?'

‘Hmmm. It can be,' Jake said, a hint of caution in his voice. ‘But maybe we should speak to our men about this. They'd know what to do! I mean, given what they do for work…'

‘Okay, let me think about it,' Tommy said, still unsure but not wanting to waste any more time thinking about Xane. ‘How about… a movie?'

‘Great,' Jake said, smiling kindly. ‘We can just chill quietly with a movie if you want. Sounds cool to me,'

‘Wicked,' Lyle added, putting his arm around Tommy. ‘Whatever you want to do is golden with us. But instead of a movie, how about…'

‘Well… I say movie,' Tommy said, putting his bravest face on and wagging his finger for comic effect.

The three friends laughed and finished off their pizza before heading over toward the big TV screen.

Jake and Lyle were lucky to have deadly, ruthless Masters who would look after them with every last bullet they could fire and every last punch they could throw. But Tommy didn't have a protector like that. If Tommy was ever going to see Xane again, he would have to somehow hope he was strong enough on his own…