Chapter Text
Along the beach where Donnor Lyon patrolled, his deep and tired sighs melded with the songs of blowing wind. Sitting against the rock pile, he watched the thinnest line of light rise on the horizon; even noticing the skies shifting the deep blue blanket for a lighter tint. But Donnor wasn’t in the mood to admire such colors. Yearning to be distant from his corporeal state; wishing for time to reverse and undo the moment he turned witness to what he saw. In sitting, his eyelids slowly fall, his breathing slows, and exhaustion pulls his consciousness inward. Slumber beckoned him, ease welcomed him, and the desire for an escape took hold.
“Good morning, soldier boy.” He heard a voice.
His eyes open with shock, his heart racing in a moment of panic; Donnor glances to his left and right before sneering up at curls, hazel eyes, and genetic smolder fellow of passing relation..
“Fuck off, David, Atlas, or whatever you call yourself these days” His mood sours.
Jumping off the rockpile, Atlas lands on the pebbly sand with a sense of laissez faire and cool. Unbothered by his siblings' snarl as he turned on a heel.
“Gosh, Donnor, a corpse looks livelier than you. Sleep much?”
His eyes rolled with a cigarette between his lips.
“Why are you still here?” Donnor says with a lit lighter.
Leaning against the ‘closed beach’ sign, Atlas sucked through his teeth in thought.
“Thought I’d stop by. Worrying about you and Dudley.”
Back to his feet, Donnor kicked the sand toward his unwelcome visitor.
“OH please! You didn’t know who Dudley was until weeks ago. But please, share with me your insights!” Stuffing his hands into his pockets.
Dodging the small wave of sand to keep his boots clean, Atlas let the sarcasm slide, but not what Donnor says.
“You are doing more of a disservice than I ever did. Leaving breadcrumbs of interest for him to find and inquire about the holely bag.”
Tossing the used cigarette butt at Atlas’ feet, “Can ya be more specific?” Donnor asked.
Atlas replied, “Why do you have Mort Morgue’s number?”
“I have my reasons, and I don’t have to tell you.” the brother said back.
Crossing his arms, Atlas’ sense of cool warmed by the onslaught sarcastic and childish remarks. Even sleep deprived, he felt certain that Donnor’s brain was still capable of reasonable thought.
“I think you’re too confident in your sense of immunity.”
Donnor struggled to light his new cigarette. His hands trembled,
Click. Click. Click. Click. Click-Click ,
“What do you know of his friends?” Speaking with a finally lit cig between his lips.
“I don’t. But I know The Sebitti will want to know why you survived but their brother didn’t.” Atlas says as a matter of fact.
Exhaling another plume of smoke, Donnor goes quiet. Looking out to the sea to watch the sunrise from the horizon.
“We could have been a duo had you stayed, ya know? The brothers were keen to recruit you before you just left.”
Atlas’ head shook in disappointment.
“So why did you join?”
Donnor looks away to take a deep drag of his cigarette. Exhaling a plume of smoke, he says,
“Why do you suddenly give a fuck? Could’ve enjoyed the fruits of those fucks earlier in my life.”
His brows furrowed with insult.
“Because Dudley doesn’t deserve to be blindsided by his friends or his brothers, which is what I’m seeing right now.” Atlas answered with his fists so tight his knuckles crackled. Letting out a hearty laugh, Donnor was either laughing at Atlas’s outburst funny or he was internally nervous.
“What makes you think that freak of nature will tell Dudley?”
“As I saw it, the girlfriend let you off the hook to get screwed later. I don’t think reality has hit you yet." Atlas contends.
Donner froze again. Looking back and forth between Atlas and the horizon. Atlas wasn’t going to let his brother stew in silence.
“Honestly? This has nothing to do with Dudley and everything to do with you and your ego and trying to make amends. You're shitty at it too.” Donnor remarked. “I don’t appreciate you patronizing me” speaking through his teeth.
After a long flat-lipped stare, Atlas steps away. Leaving his spot next to the ‘closed beach’ sign to wave at a pair of headlights approaching them.
“I can’t undo the past or help how you feel brother. I can only tell you to be on the lookout from here on.”
Rolling his eyes, unconvinced that Atlas even cared. Donnor only says,
“I’m not worried about Dudley getting anything from Morgue anyway. I just needed D’Roma’s death certificate if you really want to know. Sebitti wanted proof she was dead-dead.”
“Of course they did. I’m sure that's all they wanted to know." Atlas steps from the sign.
“Why would it matter if Timathea was the only Greene Girl?" Donnor scoffed at the inference.
The nonchalance of Donnor struck Atlas odd, concerning, and dangerous. Akin to watching someone willing to bungee jump greased.
“I don’t know what to say, Don. I’d wish you luck. But this might be the last time we see each other.” Stepping into the car.
Puzzled, Donnor ran toward the car door.
“What the hell do you mean?!”
Atlas faced his brother after a side glance, sighing. “Don…you better get some sleep soon. Enjoy those dreams, because when you are awake, you will be shitting yourself.”
“Dudley isn’t going to get far. He’ll get lost in those woods for an hour.” Donnor says confidently.
“Whatever you say, Don.” Altas glances back to his brother.
Donnor’s eyes slowly close again. His lean against the car eases as his knees give out, falling downward then onto his back, his head nearly missing the rock poking through the sand. Watching this, both Atlas and his driver hop out.
“Shit man, what gives?” The driver helps Atlas load the conked-out sibling into the backseat. Slamming the door after covering Donnor's face with his jacket, Atlas looked to the driver with a sigh.
“It's been a long night-I can’t say I slept great either after what I saw first.”
“Ya sure that's safe?” The driver asks. "We'll be targets!"
Atlas leans into his seat, “I know a place to drop him off.”
“Can I ask what you saw?” Turning to hold the wheel.
Closing his eyes to let out a deep sigh. Giving his driver a pleading look, not wanting to have to divulge the memories he’ll live with from now on.