Chapter 2 - Preface

Club "The Abyss" Munich, 2017

His senses were asleep -and if he had a soul, it would probably have already left, again, because of the rottenness that lived inside him.

A push pushed him back several steps awkwardly and he almost congratulated himself for keeping his balance, which he didn't because at the second push he ended up with his butt on the lead-gray ceramic that covered the floors of the famous Club "The Abyss", one of the many gates to the hell, right in the center of Munich.

-We want the money, Maurer. Now.

The demanding tone of his assailant encouraged him to take his chin off his chest to look him in the face, but being so lost and dizzy it was impossible and he returned to his initial position. For the lack of response he earned a kick to his left rib that forced him to let out a groan of pain. Because Shit! The toe of the shoe felt like iron.

-Two months, Maurer. The boss has spared your life for two months for your cooperation in the business. No more.

The last thing got his full attention because of the implied threat between the lines. They wanted him dead, and if there was anything in this world that Maurer feared most, it was death. Anything else, he could just ignore.

-What... do... you want... -Hiccupped- to tell me?

And though he still felt like a mental retard, his will was broken and his physical strength was in his ass, he lifted his heavy head and narrowed his glassy eyes.

From her two skinny legs, the devil's faggot flashed him a smile of crooked, sharp teeth, colored yellow because of the chimú. Maurer felt disgust, even more than of he did himself, and that was saying a lot.

-That the boss doesn't need of your collaborations anymore, now he has a new, much younger scapegoat, fresh meat - <> I was doing it too slow for her liking, but he delayed just long enough to keep him a few more years anchored to the earth and thus serve his sentence -... And therefore, if you don't pay, we will have to extinguish you as fast as one does with a candle.

All around him, the music was blaring and people were dancing and laughing under the red lights that bathed the Club, completely oblivious to what was going on in the far corner of it. Or they simply turned a blind eye, that was, at least, what he would do if he detailed a scenario like the one he was starring in. In that Club you had to be stupid enough to get in -like him- and an idiot in all its glory if you let yourself get wrapped up in other people's problems -which had never been his case-, because there, within those luxurious walls, whoever didn't keep four eyes open, the next day could end up in a dirty and smelly alley: as dead as a dead man could be.

Maurer swallowed-. I see.

Lucidity had returned to his voice, and the devil's fag seemed to notice with the restrained amusement in his wicked eyes, baring his hideous teeth again.

-But the boss has decided to give you another chance. You know, for the good times shared -he replied mockingly, having fun with it's other people's misfortunes.

Although that was the problem, it was a long time ago that everything related to him and his vices were no longer his business, but that of a diabolical entity that used him in his dirty work to pay off his debts. As dirty as his own withered shell and that of all involved.

<> He thought bitterly, but already what, he had brought this on himself. Just as she had brought this on herself when her mother stopped being herself and became a living dead, oblivious to everything around her, including him mainly.

-We have a deal for you that will settle all your debts with us. Including the little anger issues and your lack of control when you're -he looked at him with disgust- Drunk.

Maurer thought about laughing, because that man was not one bit better, at least he only drank himself to sleep, but the guy combined cocaine and marijuana in his system. If there was a scanner for real scumbags, the devil's faggot would be the first to fall. No matter how many atrocities Maurer had committed, none would ever surpass what that man committed in his youth and was still doing now in his almost old and battered body.

-What do you say?

He stopped raving and forced his muddled mind to repeat the proposal that had been made to him earlier. He had a good memory, a privilege he was not proud of, not now at least. And he shuddered inwardly, smiling sardonically to hide his surprise and despair, because hell, although he didn't consider himself proud, his manhood didn't want to allow him to stoop to that point.

-Everything? -he formulated with contended impatience, for it was a lot of everything, enough to tie him to the devil and his people forever. But in that forever he would be alive, or so he thought until tonight.

-Everything. Besides, it will be to your liking. After all, it's all about warming a woman's ear with enough dough to make the boss forget all about you, including you. And why not -he shrugged his shoulders, as skinnys as his legs- you can also warm up his bed from time to time in the process.

Maurer didn't even have to think twice about it, because when it comes to his miserable life, this one will do everything in his power to keep it, he would use tooth and nail if necessary.

However, for him, the worst suffering was when his lungs were getting oxygen, knowing that he did not deserve it at all. That would always be his worst punishment; however, he fully deserved it and, therefore, he would keep it up to the end.