//------------------------------// // Part 8: You Are Dead // Story: Button Mash: High School Life // by rock4u7 //------------------------------// Button Mash slowly awoke in a darkened haze but this time without the morning sun to greet him, feeling groggy and disoriented he tried to lean forward and noticed something funny… he was tied to whatever he was sitting on, his eyes eventually adjusted to where he was; the room around him was dark but not pitch black, the place felt full of a trapped heat that started to make button sweat, he could also smell the faint aroma of alcohol filling the air. The room soon felt like it was boiling, he could hear vents blasting on full, Button’s eyes began to water as they felt like they were frying like eggs. He re-opened his eyes and they soon hovered over to something strange in the far corner; there piled atop each other were boxes full of what would appear to be lit-candles?, through the box's slits dim beams of colour could be seen, like there where mini-disco’s inside. The only light he could see was a dark pink shining under the door to the left of him, the sound of colts laughing and glasses clinking could be heard along with the hum of seductive music, where was he?. “H…Hello anyo…..” Button began to speak before his head was struck from behind; forcing his mind to fling forward and shoot back from the fact that he was tied to a chair. “shut up’ you shit!” blurted a voice behind him. Button couldn’t tell what was happening. “Is Guy here yet?” said another voice from behind, this one more croaky and foreign, there was some sort of duo in the darkness. “Na, give it a minute, he’ll be here” went the first voice again, in an eerily happy tone. Button’s heart raced, he didn’t know what was happening. .”Where am I” Button stuttered. Button was struck again. “I said shut it!” Boomed the voice of the anonymous Colt behind him. This time button didn’t dare lift his head up again, he was terrified. For a while there seemed to be an extremely uncomfortable silence that dragged on for eternity…like a poor soul waiting on to be strung up on the gallows. One of the lackeys began tapping his hoof rhythmically while he whistled ‘Take on me’, rightly getting a punch in the arm from the other. As that happened there was a sound of *clack*,*clack*,*clank* coming from behind the door. “This is going to be fun” cruelly stated the gruffer colt of the two. Button hearth felt like it was trying to rip out his rib cage, he couldn’t take the silence, it was all killing him. The door slowly opened, showing a tall black figure behind it. “Goodevenin’ mista Mash” Said Guy as he floated into the room, his hoofs clinking against the concrete floor with a heavy clack. He slowly wandered right up to buttons face, the smell of tobacco and whiskey was in his breathe. “so, snips tells me you abandoned his little proposal hmm?, why would ya do that” he said in a parenting voice, clearly enjoying it. “I…I..” Scratched button voice, he couldn’t talk, who could. The face couldn’t really be made out through the darkness but Button knew by the voice that it was Zebra in nature, the zebra spoke,“...well that’s as good as any excuse I suppose, I just want you to know that actions ave consciences mista Mash, you could be more considerate when a friend asks you for something, specially when it could have saved ya ass.” Stated the terrifying zebra drug-lord. “I..Im sorr*BAM!*” button tried to reply as he was struck hard in the face by the zebra’s metal hoof. *BAM! BAM!....BAM!* each hit was as strong as a baseball bat, breaking his jaw. “I don’t like ta play games Mista Mash…I REALLY dont”. *BAM!* the metal uppercut sent 2 of buttons teeth flying across the room and landing on the ground with a *clack*. One by one the beating began, destroying what senses the boy had, eventually Button started to feel himself slipping away…he wasn’t sure if it was unconsciousness or death…he didn’t really care. *BAM!* he went out like a light. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Yippee ki yay motherfucker” went the movie on the TV. “Honestly…Best part of the whole thing” stated Rumble, Scoot lying in front of him. “I think the glass scene is, like honestly, you’d have to be pretty badass the run through that” Scootaloo replied. “I reckon I could do it” said Rumble boastfully giving her a bit of a squeeze. “Yeah right, you cry like a bitch when you get a splinter”. “Hay…that was one time” “You talk a big games but your dickless…” she joked. “Well if I’m dickless that would mean we seem to be doing interpretive dance every Saturday then wouldn't it” rumbled replied, scratching his ear. The purple-haired mare plunked her hoof over the colts face in amusement. “Speaking of that, what you think of sweetie yesterday, jeez, one hell of a story”. Rumble rubbed his neck, clearly having a lot to say on the subject but not wanting to vent. “I’m sick of all there drama...” Rumble admitted in an arguing tone, he started to put on a very bad imitation ,“oh I’m to damaged to love again, oh she hurt me now I play video games all day, oh he was so horrible I had to leave,” rumble finished interpreting Button and sweetie, “Im sick of their shit”. “You think they’ll talk it out?” asked Scoot. “pfft no, we all expect them to be happy and get back together but to be honest does shit like that ever happen…no, they just keep complaining about it” Rumble replied getting slightly angry. “Plus now that Button’s seeing Scarlet it’s only going to make Sweetie complain more” Scoot added. “Personally, I think Scarlet will do better for Button than Sweetie, she seems pretty cool…not as…whingey”. “Jeez babe…you seem pretty snarky tonight” half-joked Scootaloo. “Sorry…Its just…it seems like where always stuck between there drama…they need to grow up and get on with life” replied Rumble, sinking deep into the folds of the couch. “Please, seems like there always out to find trouble” Scoot finished not knowing the irony of what was happening. *BRIIIIIIIIIIIING! BRIIIIIIIING* went rumble’s phone on the table, he got up and answered it. “Rumble is button there? He left somewhere last night, I haven’t seen him in hours?” cautiously asked Karin Mash. “No sorry,just me and Scoots…why was he angry?” replied Rumble stretching his arms. “no, he seemed pretty normal, he took out the garbage bags but never came back inside…I assume he went to your house or his new lady friend’s place….do you have her number?” . “no, sorry… but she did say at the club that she lived in a big brown brick house on haybreese street...I think it’s a few blocks away from your house?”. Button's mother gave an exhale. “Ok, thank you Rumble, tell Scootaloo I said hi” finished Karin as she ended the call. “Please be OK” Karin said to herself as she put down the phone, grabbed her purse and left the house. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The tap water ran over sweetie’s tooth brush as she finished up. “Sweetie Belle” echoed Rarity’s voice from the other room, “have you seen my mane-brush?”. The young girl spat out her mouth wash. “It’s in my room on the dresser” she replied. “Thank you…oh by the way , I've got an new apprentice coming in next Thursday so don’t make to much noise, ” Rarity stated, walking into sweetie’s room. “Any idea who it is?” casually asked sweetie , walking out of the bathroom. “She’s a young girl around your age, Ms RibbonHeart from textiles recommended her highly”. Sweetie stopped for a second to think, she had an inkling. “Know her name” she suspiciously asked. “I’m not sure…she’s orange, abit small with a cutie mark of a….hmm, Scarlet Thread I think?”. Sweetie stood frozen with a single twitch in her left eye. “Oh” she replied. “Yes, I hear she’s somewhat of a prodigy with sowing and embroidery, she asked miss RibbonHeart if she could get some professional help, I was only too happy to lend my skills. Rarity babbled, brushing her large purple mane in sweetie’s mirror. "Mmmm" the young mare replied, a thousand thoughts rushing through here head as her sister babbled, she walked over and watched Rarity brush her mane. Sweetie Belle looked at herself from behind Rarity, eyeing out every imperfection, every little fault with herself, the way she thought her ears were too big, her mouth to small, her mane to pale, her face to long…her waist to wide, her legs to long, her this, her that… she knew no matter how much she cleaned, plucked, washed, shaved, dyed or exercised… no matter how hard she tried…she’d never be perfect, she would never be who she wanted to be. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Button re-awoke, this time the room was empty, no noise, no thugs, no vents shooting hot air… just Button and his fear. He tried to wiggle himself out of the bindings but it was no use, he was fitted tightly to the seat, there was no way of escaping. He eventually stopped at trying to get out, there was no point, all this trapped child could do was think about what would happen next, would he be shot, would they cut off his ears, would they torture him or just get it over with. Button never wanted to die, no matter how crappy he felt, death just wasn’t appealing to him, it’s so….scary. he wasn’t the religious type either (but then again no-one now a days were) but in this moment he prayed, prayed that there was something after death, some-where where it didn’t just end, a Shangrila, a heaven, a place in the Elysium planes. “Celestia…Luna…Discord someone please don’t let this be the end” Button said to himself, his tears dripping down his face and hitting the cold concrete floor with a whimper. *SLAM!* went the door as two large thugs entered, ushering in a shorter green colt in with them; it was Snips, they all stood over Button like statues. “Looks like the widdle baby’s crying” cracked the thin red-maned thug, smiling gruesomely. The second thug, the one with the gravelly voice merely said nothing, these were definitely the two from last night, or two hours ago, or when-ever, button couldn’t tell how long he was out. Snips just seemed to be somber; Button wasn’t sure why he was even here…unless. “So Snippy baby, is this the twat who didn’t pay,” the red-head asked sneeringly. The green colt just stared at Button, his long face seemed to have regret on it as he saw the destruction button’s head had taken, after what seemed like centuries Snips who Button had at one point considered a friend, gave a single barely noticeable nod to the lackey. Everything within the room froze silent as if someone had killed sound itself…all that was heard was movement of a drawn revolver from the large thug’s suit-coat, with an action as quick as a bullet he pressed the barrel up against Button’s temple, ready to fire. The sixteen year old gamer shut his eyes and bit down hard on his lip, preparing for the nothing, it was game over, all of it, he had never felt such fear, he couldn’t hold in his sobs, he was terrified more than he had ever been before, it was all about to end... “haha” went the red-head Colt “look, he’s pissing himse...”. Button took this fraction of time he had to scream out at the top of his lungs. “I HOPE YOU FAGGOTS BURN IN HELL!”. The pistol swung and impacted against the young boys face, probably dislodging another tooth. Button disregarding the pain snarled at the thugs with all the fire of hell in his eyes. “GO AHEAD FUCK-TARD DO IT, YOU SHIT!, FUCKING DO IT!”. He was struck again. ”Shut up!” bellowed the thug as he beat the boy, on the last smack Button spat blood on his would-be killer, enraging him further. The second thug decided to also join in on the beating, punching button in the jaw, but this time button fought back, as the red-head was pulling back for another strike Button chomped down as hard as he could, digging what teeth he had left into the criminal’s arm. “Ahhhhhh!” yelped the funny man, now not so much, “Get him off!”. Button had a crocodile grip on him; he ground his teeth deeper and deeper. With all the strength he had the red-headed lackey pulled button off, leaving a large bleeding wound on his right fore-arm. *SLAM!* went the door again, a menacing zebra standing in the threshold. “whats goin’ on ere’” asked the Guy, hearing all the commotion. The whimpering thug stepped forward, gripping his nasty gash. “The shit, ow…he took a bite outta me!” replied the red-head, pointing to Button who’s mouth was smothered with blood (half his half lackey’s). Button glared at the drug-lord with a face full of animalistic rage, spitting out a large ball of the lackeys skin, clearly trying to make a statement. Guy merely strolled over to the boy and bent down close to his face, staring him in his eyes. “You don’t care about livin’ anymore do ya mista mash” He asked in a deep somewhat terrifying tone. Button simply nodded a look of pure anger on his face. Guy gave the gun-wielding lackey a nod and soon Button felt everything go black…but not like before, this time he had a bag over his head. For those few seconds button had no idea what the drug-dealers were doing, all he could hear was the opening of boxes and the clinking of glass, what they were…. Button soon found out when the grabbed him round the neck and jerked him backwards. “Don’t worry mista Mash, this one’s on da house” joked Guy, flooding button’s face with a wave of his product, water-boarding Button in the drugs. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ *tick*, *tick*, *tick*, went the large grandfather clock within the small cramp room. Scarlet was sowing a large red bluejay outline into a long red dress when she pricked herself on the needle. “ouch!....shit” she said to herself’ Losing her thread from the eye. She carefully tried to re-insert it when there was a knock at the door; causing her to drop the needle again. “errrrr…goddess help me”. She wandered out of her work room and approached the door; she opened it and saw a moderately distressed mother. “Um excuse me you wouldn’t happen to be named Scarlet by chance” asked the woman. “Yes, my Name’s Scarlet Thread, Why?” she replied, slightly confused. “My name’s Karin Mash, Is um my Son here?”. “not that I know off...wait…are you Button’s Mother?” Scarlet asked. “yes,..Button..went missing last night, I thought he might have come here?”. “I haven’t seen him since yesterday …I mean Friday night”. “its Ok dear I already know, do you know where he might be?”. “No sorry…but how’d he go missing?” asked Scarlet, becoming just as distressed as Karin. “I don’t know…tell me, is he involved with anything at school? Gangs, friends..anything, I don’t know where else to go except the police”. Scarlet felt uncomfortable as she remember how her and Button met. “I..think I might have a clue er..m…when he first met he seemed to be…pretty high”. Karin put a hoof between her eyes and squinted in revelation. “do you know where he might have gotten it from?...or if he’s got a dealer or anything” she answered, clearly not wanting to say these type of words. “no…Im sorry…” Scarlet sadly said, just as informed as Karin. Button’s Mom gave a sigh and put her head up against the side of the door, holding in a breakdown. “I guess I’ll have to report him missing now” She stated, tearing up slightly. “here let me give you my number, I want to help anyway I can” said Scarlet as she raced to the kitchen, grabbing a pen and a piece of paper. She wrote down her home digits as well as her cell phone’s. “um dear…could I use your phone, It’s a bit too long a walk to the station from here. The young mare ushered the older one in and gave her the home-phone. The call was not a happy one. ….”yes, yes”….”I haven’t seen him for 12 hours”…”4 Zapapple road, near the lake”…” age 16, he’s got a mocha coat, green eyes, amber mane, cutie marks a Dpad...that's a grey cross”. “He’s got a tattoo of a triforce on his left under-arm” chimed in Scarlet, biting her hoof as she listened to the call. “wha…” Karin said for a second before rolling her eyes “and a tattoo of a 3 triangles on his left under-arm, yes…that’s all….thank you so much, yes I understand”. She put down the phone and sunk to the ground, tears rolling down her face. Scarlet rushed over and embraced her, causing her to weep in the young girls arms. The two sat on the floor together, not knowing what was going the happen. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “and yeah, that’s how you draw the frame of the body, usually I use just kinda draw circles and then link them all together then add the detail after I’ve got the basic figure down” said 8bit, showing the 16 people on his livestream. He looked at the chat bar, searching for questions. “no, I prefer Cintiqs…there abit more expensive but there pressure pads are alittle less fidgety, that’s really what you need, never get a cheapy” he replied. He looked again at his audience. “I’ve been drawing for about 3 years now but I haven’t done any professional work but I do get requests from companies, though I do accept commissions if you want one” he once against replied, switching over from photoshop to toonboom. “ok let’s try animating him so to get a feel of the movement style”. “you like it bitch!” yelled a man in the room next to his, he hated when his mother brang work home. He switched from microphone to his music track. *brrrzd brrrrzd* went his phone. “hello?” he asked. “8bit its Rumble, have you heard from Button lately?”. “no…not since Thursday, why?”. Rumble gave a sigh, “apparently we went missing yesterday, I’m calling everyone to see if they’ve seen or heard anything”. “sorry…”8bit admitted, becoming worried. “it’s ok, I’ll try inkspot” finished Rumble, ending the call. *BANG* went the door as his mother's customer had left feeling satisfied with his payment. 8bit looked out his bedroom window and saw the Red-maned Colt wander back over to the Crimson Heart Club across the road. His Mother opened the door looking like a mess. “Honey, I’m going to the store okay, I’ll be back tonight” she said, leaving as fast as she entered, 8bit hated the fact that she always came up with terrible little excuses for where she goes out to secretly smoke meth and goddess knows what else. 8bit flicked back on his mic as he sat back at his drawing tablet, escaping of to his own world, away from this one. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Button woke up in the dark room for the last time, he found himself sitting in a pile of his own vomit and drool, the overdose had not been kind to him. He looked around, the floor spotted with specks of his own blood, a few teeth lay here and there across the ground as well as the multiple colours of seven different types of narcotic splashed and stained the concrete floor. It was only a matter of time now before Guy would stroll in with not a care in the world and blow his brains out…all because Button decided to lend someone abit of change for the bus. The door opened not with a slam but with a creek. Button looked up but could barely see through his swollen eyes, though by the silhouette Button already knew who it was, Snips…with a large pair of silver scissors in his mouth. “Let’s get this over with” said button, ready to go. Snips wandered over to button like the reaper himself, his face just as somber as before, he angled the metal tool in his mouth ready to cut. “How fitting” stated button with a weak smirk, his own pal would be the one to cut his throat. There was no more arguing, no more fighting…..only acceptance. *SNIP!* went the scissors. . .. … Button dropped dead onto the ground. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^”C’mon” whispered Snips, picking up Button from the floor and slinging him over his shoulder. “What…why…why are you helping me” asked Button, barely able to walk. “I don’t know man….I guess I can’t live with myself if I killed someone” Snips hastily replied, wanting to escape as fast as possible. “Snips…thank you…thank you” said Button, tearing up. “Let’s just focus on getting out of here, Rudey and Rocco are at the bar, we should be able to get out the back door. “Thank you…thank you…” rambled Button. The back-door slammed opened and the two colts stepped out into the alleyway. Button looked up and felt the evening sun hit his eyes………..Praise the Sun.