Requiem for a Mouse Read Online Free PDF Page A

clattered on the ground.
    “Which friend?”
    Owen looked toward the man bleeding on the floor. “John.”
    “And what were you protecting him from?”
    “Well…” Owen’s voice dropped. “The boy.”
    Lao looked over to see Prince. “Are you trying to be funny?”
    “No sir.”
    Lao turned toward the crowd. “Can anyone tell me what happened?”
    Only Prince’s erratic coughs responded.
    “Alright then.” Lao stepped up to John. He placed his shoes on top of the knife in John’s stomach, careful not to press too hard, lest he dirty his shoes with blood. “How about you tell me what happened, friend of Owen?”
    John clenched his teeth together and groaned. He squeezed his eyes shut and twisted his head away from Lao. “I don’t know him,” he grunted through the pain. “I’ve never seen that man before in my life.”
    Lao took his feet off the knife. He turned back to Owen who somehow looked even paler than before.
    “No, Dmitri, back me up,” Owen stammered.
    “I don’t know you,” someone said from the crowd.
    “No. Guys, please.”
    “Dragon.” A poisonous voice called out from behind Lao.
    Without having to look, he knew who the voice came from. He turned toward the voice. “The last time I saw you, I nearly had you killed. Is Sasha coming here to save you again? After all, she still has one more eye to give me.”
    Prince clenched his jaw shut. Once again stepping over Owen’s friend, Lao approached Prince. He was used to looking down at people, but never literally. Luckily, Prince was short, even for a boy.
    The Dragon grinned. “You seem to bring trouble with you wherever you go.”
    Two dark blue eyes glared back.
    “Perhaps you can tell me what’s going on,” Lao said.
    “This is what happens to those who think they’re untouchable.”
    Lao ignored Prince’s obvious threat. If there was anything that could overpower his ego, it was his curiosity. “How did you do this?”
    Prince gave no answer.
    Lao frowned at the silence. When he said ‘jump’, he expected even the crippled to leave the ground. “How?”
    Even Prince had sense enough to not push his luck. “We were gambling and I didn’t think he would pay me, so I stole his knife.” Prince looked down at his ripped shorts, showing Lao the hole in it. “When he attacked me, I had the knife.”
    Lao nodded satisfied. “How does Sasha keep finding such interesting company?” He laughed, genuinely impressed. “Alright then, you can leave now.”
    “No.” Prince nodded at John. “He still owes me money.”
    Lao dug into his pocket and produced a few neatly folded twenty dollar bills. He dropped three on the ground in front of Prince.
    “Prince, do you know why I hate humans? Look at how fast Owen’s friends abandoned him. Is it not strange that friendship means so little when it’s supposed to mean the most? Not even animals can sell each other out so fast. There is nothing more disgusting than humans and this is the proof.”
    “You’re human too.”
    “A damning accusation indeed.”
    Prince looked unamused.
    “Relax,” Lao chuckled. “I’m only joking. However unfortunate, I cannot deny my part in this vulgar race.”
    “You’re wrong about humans.”
    With a single eyebrow raised, Lao nodded toward Owen. “You are currently looking at the man who was betrayed by the very friend he almost killed for. This is my proof, where is yours?”
    “Two months ago. The girl who nearly blinded herself to save me.”
    Lao laughed, his entire body shaking with its force. “Well said. Now leave.”
    When Prince left, Lao returned his attention to Owen. “Now where were we?” He extended out his pointer finger and thumb into a makeshift gun and brought it up to Owen’s forehead. “Ah yes, pow.”

MAVERICK
     
    It had been a while since Maverick had last blinked. Despite the scorching sun, and the crowd of people pushing past him, he stood completely still, staring at the television as if in a trance. It