Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2005 07:09:06 -0500 From: S N Subject: Heavens_Just_A_Sin_Away, Chapter 29 Disclaimer: This is a FICTIONAL story describing the love triangle of a teenage boy. If you are not over 18 years of age, or if you find this type of story offensive, or viewing this material is illegal where you are, then refrain from reading it. The story consists of lust, passion, teenage romance, interracial, love and all the rest of the good stuff in that order... Prepare for sin Chapter 29: Because I was never Breastfed /~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~////~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~////~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~////~~~~~ "Syn, you seriously don't think that I would do something like that," Zion stated as though being very declarative on the matter. "Shut up!" I jumped across the table in my anger and grasped his collar. I lifted my fist. The anger I felt was incredible. I had never known that Zion could do something so backstabbing to me. Zion had only pretended to capture Trouble to get me on his side. I didn't understand what his motivation for getting me to like him was. Maybe he had plans of pulling me close so I could make it harder for Sampson to completely reveal his true identity to the world as not being Holden. I wasn't really sure. I was just angry now. I was ready to hit him across the face harder then ever. "Guard!" Ms. Whyte shouted as I lifted Zion's collar and pulled my arm back. "I dare you!" Sampson shouted to the guards. He took the bottle of Zinfandel that Zion had sitting on the table and broke it across the desk. He raised jagged edges up and pointed it towards Zion's personal security. The guards looked like they were very cautious probably because of the anger that Sampson had in his eyes. I don't think even Sampson was as angry as I was. I was over Zion about to hit him. He was just sort of smiling hard as though trying his hardest not to laugh. WHAT A FUCKING ASSHOLE! "This is a smiling situation to you huh?" I asked, not putting my hand down and still threatening to hit him. Zion kept his intimidating smile and nodded towards the shadows of the club, "Syn take a look over there." He was pointing to the direction that Mercedes was coming from. She probably saw me but continued to walk as though she didn't have a fear in the world. Little did she know that I would knock Zion out then go over and beat her ass as though she was a man for all the disgusting things she put me through. It was payback time Only it wasn't Mercedes. "Yolanda?" I looked at the figure come out of the shadows and saw that it was Yolanda. She looked confused as she walked up to us. She resembled Mercedes so much. She was already Mercedes height and she had on darker colors like Mercedes would have worn. The club lights must have played tricks on Yolanda's face but just a minute ago I could have sworn that it was Mercedes walking towards me. "Sampson, what the hell?" I asked, wanting an explanation of all of this. He should have had an explanation, since he was the one who suggested it was Mercedes. "That isn't Yolanda," he told me but his eyes were squinting as though getting a better view. The girl jumped out towards us and smiled with this bright smile. It was the very same annoying smile that Yolanda used. Yolanda had her hair differently but her identity clearly lied in her face. "What are you little sillies doing?" She asked. She had the voice of Yolanda. She had the attitude of Yolanda. "I invited her here as my date," Zion explained and smirked a little, "I figured it would be nice to have all of your friends here." I looked over at Yolanda, "She's no friend of mine." She glared down and towards the floor. I still didn't fully understand what was going on. All of the things that Sampson had said before made sense. He should be able to defend it now. "Um I know I smell really good," Zion arrogantly stated and then added, "But can you please back up a little bit? You're ruining the Ervingeoffry suit." I ignored his request while turning to Sampson, "Sampson " I didn't know what to ask him. I just wanted him to explain everything that was going on. He didn't put down the bottle yet. He was still warning the guards to keep their distance from Zion and I. "He's still lying. Think about it why come he never filed for Mercedes being kidnapped?" "Oh that is my mistake," Ms. Whyte butt in, giving a slightly embarrassed smile, "I didn't know that prisoners needed special transcript papers to be transferred to county in Brunswick." "So where is Mercedes now?" I asked. That was the only thing I cared about in all of this. "She's still in bars," Zion said and then let out a little smirk, "I really need to get her transferred though; her brothers eat like zoo animals." I shook my head not understanding exactly what was going on. I was easily getting embarrassed about this situation. If I overreacted then Sampson probably over-overreacted. I backed off of Zion and he dusted himself off. I felt the eyes watch me as though judging how stupid my actions were. "Syn," Sampson said with a slight disappointment that I backed off of Zion, "He's lying! He's sitting there like he's some smooth Casanova or some shit but he's lying to your face." "But Sampson that isn't Mercedes," I answered weakly while pointing to Yolanda. I was stuck between wanting to trust Sampson and wanting to trust what I saw in front of me. The facts all said that Zion was innocent of Sampson's charges. Why was Sampson still continuing to argue? "You guys thought I was Mercedes?" Yolanda asked, while putting on a childish wide grin, "I changed my clothes and hair but not that much! Ha!" "Look, Yolanda's here," Sampson stated as though we didn't know and said, "Syn, you said Yolanda thought there was something weird about the day that Zion captured Mercedes." I nodded, "Yeah, I did." There was this small hope that Sampson was right. Everyone listening to what was going on stared at Yolanda for some kind of explanation of what she had told me. She smiled a little bit like a 6 year old being asked his opinion by elders for the first time. She had this whole sense of significance surrounding her. "Well " she slowly thought and then said, "The only strange thing about it was that Zion knew a lot about all our friends. He knew about Syn, T-Boy and a lot about me. It was like he read our biographies." I sighed. Why would she think it was strange? Zion was rich. If he wanted information on us, he could get it in the matter of minutes. There was nothing strange about that piece of information. "That is the reason you think I am against Syn?" Zion asked Sampson. A couple of the listeners were beginning to laugh at how big Sampson's paranoia had become. Sampson looked angry. I knew he was losing this struggle to prove Zion wrong, but it was just making him seem so foolish. I could tell he was thinking hard as though trying to not let this moment go. I couldn't believe he was just so fucking stubborn. "Well maybe " Sampson started. "Sampson, stop it!" I immediately spoke, feeling the embarrassment become too much. "Syn listen, I know it's hard right now," Sampson explained, "But you got to trust me. Zion is evil. He is pure evil." People continued to laugh. I looked at Zion wanting to apologize but knowing that I probably wouldn't be heard over the laughter. I wanted to call Sampson a dumb ass but people were still laughing too hard. I just walked away in an attempt to find the bathroom. I felt stupid for falling into Sampson's suspicious obsession with Zion. I realized that he probably could never be able to trust Zion. The grudge that he had against Zion was just making him look stupid and dragging me down into that category. I walked past Lamont and Ms. Nicole dancing. I wanted to interrupt them and save Lamont, but he didn't seem like he was all that miserable. They were dancing really close to some fast Reggaeton (Spanish Reggae) music and Ms. Nicole looked like she was two seconds away from having a heart attack. Despite Ms. Nicole's look of ill health, they seemed to be having a good time. I just walked past without saying anything. If Lamont liked Ms. Nicole then that was his prerogative. I walked into the bathroom and closed the door. I was so pissed about what I had just done. I had let my attraction to Sampson get the best of me. It had caused me to think with my ass. I had threatened the guy who saved me twice from predicaments. He confined Little Isaac, Mercedes and her brothers when I asked him to. I had been so stupid to threaten someone who had done so much for me. I punched the mirror in anger. The blood drained down from my hand and immediately I regretted! I ran to the bathroom stall and wrapped some tissue around it. It definitely was a way to get my anger out, but that was only because I was thinking about the pain more now. "You ok?" I turned around to see Sampson walking in the bathroom. No! It wasn't Sampson. It was Zion. I should have gotten used to the differences between the two by now but I still hadn't. "Yeah, I'm great," I answered, trying to quickly stop the bleeding. I found it a little sweet that Zion had followed me into the bathroom. I was also embarrassed because he caught me punching the mirror in my anger. He came up to me, "Here let me help." Zion started to press down on the wound. I looked in the reflection of the broken bathroom mirror at what he was doing. He putting pressure on it and his eyes were full of so much focus. God he looked like Sampson so much. I mean, they were twins but it just got freaky how their facial expressions were almost exact at times. "I'm real sorry for doubting you," I muttered quickly to get it over with. I felt like that was the least that I could say now that I had been totally embarrassed. "Its cool," he explained, "My week is completely boring most of the time, but I knew it would be some kind of interesting drama if I invited you and your friends. That was mainly why I made Yolanda my date." "She's not my friend," I repeated, angrily, "I can't stand that bitch." Zion smiled cunningly, "Yeah. I didn't really like her either, but none of your other friends are girls. If you was a girl, you'd probably be my first choice." I looked at him and laughed. That was a dumb thing to say, but it was kind of flattering. I guess I never thought about what kind of girl I'd be. I hated the whole 'menstruation' cycle thing most of all. Then there was pregnancy and the whole double standard. I couldn't imagine being a female. The weirdest thing about that statement was how I remembered Sampson saying to me when we first met. Sampson said we would make the perfect couple if I were a girl. "I'd make an ugly girl," I laughed and took my hand out of his to see if it stopped bleeding; it didn't. He laughed with me and then shook his head, "No you wouldn't. You make a good looking guy, so why would you make an ugly girl?" I guess it was a compliment but I was sort of feeling really pessimistic I guess. I gave him a questioning look and bowed my head excepting what he said with a grain of salt. I mean why was he so worried about what kind of girl I would make. I was a guy. That was that. "So if I was a girl you'd go out with me?" I asked, feeling a little cheated. "If you was a girl I'd do this." He leaned in close to me and immediately I let out a gasp! I was surprised as hell as his lips went around mine. Both our mouths were open and he kept it like that for a while. Our lips touched but it wasn't exactly a kiss while they touched. Then all of a sudden he stuck his tongue in my mouth. He began to lick my mouth tenderly. I got caught up in it quickly as well. I held his face and the two of us started to tongue kiss hard. His breath smelled real sweet and he grinded his Ervingeoffry suit against me. I could feel his body even through the fabric. His chest was up against mine. We had no space between us. His head tilted to the side as though to relax into the kiss. His left hand raised and tickled my earlobe to make me let out soft moans through the kissing. Zion put his mouth on my neck and started to kiss it. I started to moan loudly and he seemed like he liked the moaning because he started to dig into my neck more. The more he sucked my neck, the harder I moaned and immediately he lifted me up below my asscheeks and sat me on the faucet. He opened my legs and glided between them to start kissing me even more. He stopped with my neck and then went back onto my mouth. I wrapped my arms around his head and saw that gorgeous face dive into mine. Suddenly I heard the door swing. I tried to push Zion off but he probably thought I was fooling around with him. He came back harder and started to chase my lips even though I was trying my best to speak and avoid his vengeful tongue. He let out a soft giggle as though thinking it was some kind of game. I watched as Sampson and T-Boy both walked into the bathroom and immediately I felt this hard panic in my stomach. They had been talking. I believe it was about me, but I wasn't sure. When they saw me, they stopped. "Come on, kiss me," Zion kept saying. "Zion, you'd better go," I said. I watched T-Boy and Sampson. Their expressions were priceless. They both looked like I had basically walked up to them and hit them both with a brick for no reason. Their eyes were looking from Zion to me and then back. Zion finally recognized those stares and he pulled out from between my legs slowly, almost like he really didn't care. He looked like he was walking out and turned back to give me a teasing smile just as he left. I watched as T-Boy opened the bathroom door for Zion and slammed it as Zion left. He was probably just trying to make them jealous. It worked. I looked at their faces knowing what had happened. They were two very pissed off people and seemed to finally be agreeing on that one thing. I sighed immediately, "Listen, I don't want to hear anything right now." "What the hell are you thinking!" T-Boy shouted. I knew they weren't going to let me out of the situation that easily. Them catching me with Zion seemed so serious. I could see that they both seemed a little betrayed, but I knew they would. Still, them being angry with me had no true reasoning except their own unreasonable emotions. "You just kissed him! I thought you were believing me about him!" Sampson angrily shouted. "That was before you got caught making up that whole fantasy about him," I stated and climbed down from the faucet so not to remind them of what had just happened. "So I guess it's officially over between us then?" T-Boy bitterly asked I looked at him with an amused expression. I didn't want to say anything to hurt his feelings but I had no idea what he was talking about. It had been officially over with us for a while. Sure he had been flirting with me, but I hadn't retorted any of those feelings so why was I on the chopping board now. "I knew it!" Sampson angrily said, "I knew Zion was just trying to use you!" "No he isn't," I stated, more calm then both of them, "You are getting on my fucking nerves Sampson. You are so suspicious that you are making us look stupid. You are holding a grudge against this guy for no reason." "No reason?" he asked, "How would you feel if your mother abandoned you but kept your brother?" "That isn't Zion's fault," I defended him. "Yes it is!" Sampson emotionally cried, "He knew he was gay. He is even gayer than I am. I am bisexual but he was 'FULLY' gay. He couldn't take stand up to say that?" "Everyone's different." "So you are basically damaging two friendships because you like this guy?" T-Boy asked. I raised my hands, "You know what? I am not going to deal with this right now. T-Boy, you liked Zion before just now and Sampson, my relationship with Zion has nothing to do with you." "Yes it does!" "You know what?" I asked and looked both of them up and down, "Neither of you want me to mention anything about that night the three of us did that 'thing'. You're embarrassed about it. T-Boy had his chance and I'm going to be honest. You blew it. Sampson, you told me over and over that you don't even want to be with me, so my sex life is not anywhere near your concern." They both looked a little embarrassed or surprised that I said that. I didn't really care. I was pretty pissed about the entire thing and they were getting me annoyed. T-Boy looked angrier of the two. I knew T-Boy wasn't going to do anything crazy if he was angry with me though, so I didn't worry. Sampson seemed a little disappointed about the whole situation like he wished I could just see his point of view. I wasn't sure if Sampson was jealous that I had kissed Zion because he wanted it to be him (like T-Boy) or if he was just angry because of the fact it was his new nemesis. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~///~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~///~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~///~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~///~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Syn!" I ignored the voice that was calling me. It was the next day and I was in school. T-Boy had driven Lamont and I to school and there was a lot of unexplained tension going on there. It was just an uncomfortable day to top that. The school had turned the radiator all the way up even though it was one of those days that felt good outside. The worst part of all of this was that I had this class with Sampson. He'd transferred into this class because he said that the teacher was easier. I wasn't sure because I never paid attention. The weird part was that I had gotten better grades on tests then 90% of the people in the school and it was only because of the studying I did "outside" of school. I continued to stare out of the window as though completely enchanted by it. I hated having class in doors, especially now. I felt so restrained. It felt like the Board of Education had caged me here. "Syn!" "What the fuck---I mean, yes sir?" I asked. The guy was Mr. Wrinkly. His name wasn't really Mr. Wrinkly. I had no idea what his name was nor did I give the slightest fuck. He was the oldest man that I'd ever seen in real life. I wasn't quite sure how he was a teacher. He walked around with one of those four-wheel walkers and he when he coughed it seemed like pieces of the Dust Bowl came out. "This is Physics, not a nature watch," Mr. Wrinkly mocked me, "If you want to go outside, then there is the door." I could see the clear derision in his voice. He knew that I wasn't going to walk outside and that was what he expected. He knew it and that was the reason that I had to leave. "Fine," I answered. I picked my books. I hated that feeling of being told what to do. I connected it so much with my sexuality and I felt like all my life people had tried to control my sexuality. That was one of the first things, but then they try to control everything else. They try to control your beliefs and control your ethics. Maybe that was the reason that I didn't cry for my parents. Either that or I was an emotionless, egotistical monster. I wasn't sure yet As I started towards the door, I saw the teacher step in front of me. "Don't you dare, sir," Mr. Wrinkles said putting out his arm, "If you walk out that door, I'm writing you up." Writing me up would probably mean detention or even some kind of suspension. I never went to detention so that would probably mean suspension anyway. I didn't mind suspensions. It didn't really bother me that much. "Move," I told him, bluntly and yet sternly. He didn't take a step away but instead decided to attack my character, "Delinquents like you are the reason that birth control should be practiced." My mouth dropped open as though completely shocked that he had said that. By now a couple of people were gasping because they most likely understood the kind of person I was. They knew that something like that was not going to fly. I saw Mr. Wrinkly brace himself. He knew the kind of person I was as well and understood the risk he took while insulting me. "Delinquent? You called me a delinquent?" I asked feeling this frustration raging inside of me, "You old wrinkly ass piece of " "Syn!" I turned around and noticed Sampson completely interrupting me. He got up and walked over to me just while I was in the midst of cursing the historic landmark back into his generation. I looked at Sampson, wondering why he stepped in the way. "Move," Sampson told Mr. Wrinkly with the same sternness that I'd used, "Syn and I are going to walk out of that door if you are still standing in our way a second from now or not." I was more than surprised. I wasn't the only one that was surprised either. Till today, Sampson had been close to being the teacher's pet. He made the best grades in the class and had basically been one of the best overall students in the entire school. The class began to gossip immediately about why Sampson's attitude had just changed. Mr. Wrinkly looked a little confused as well. Mr. Wrinkly seemed so confused that he was still getting over it while Sampson and I walked past him. He didn't really say anything as I followed Sampson into the hall and he led me down towards the back of the school. I was staring at the back of his head wondering what the hell had come over him. This was behavior that was common for me but for Sampson? This was odd for Sampson. "What is this about?" I finally said as we made our way to the staircase. "I didn't want you to curse him out," Sampson explained, "So I did it for you. Besides, I guess I kind of wanted to go outside as well." I stared at his expression and was unconvinced, "No you don't." "Lets just hurry up before security stops us," he said. He led me down the stairs and towards the back of the building. I watched him suspiciously but followed. I was still mad about how he embarrassed me with the entire Zion situation. As soon as we got outside, we heard the voices of the security catching up to us. If they caught us trying to cut school, they'd probably put us in a holding room for the rest of the day. I knew this a little more then Sampson and I started to jet ahead. I kept running for as long as I could as we made our way across a parking lot. I ran further then I expected. Sampson was either slow or he just got tired really fast. He lagged behind me, as we made our way onto a busier street where it would probably be harder for the Truancy squad to catch us. "Wait for me," he whined as I continued to walk. "Listen, I know this isn't you," I explained and crossed my arms, "You are a good boy. You should be in there doing whatever good boys do." I said it like I didn't know what a good guy was supposed to be doing and that was partially true. According to social norms, I was a delinquent. I had to admit it. "I wanted to spend some time with you," he said, "I wanted to find out what you get from being so weird." I looked at him a little amused. He had a way of making people not so mad at him. I was supposed to be pissed that he had embarrassed me by continuing to accuse Zion, but now I was just thinking about him trying to get to know more about me. It just felt really good to know when someone wanted to know more about me. "Everything that you learn in school, you can learn out here," I explained and pointed to the clouds, "Look in the sky. The most complex algebra and most illustrating literature are up there. The school keeps us caged. How can you fly up there if you are in a cage?" He smiled, showing his interest, "You're right. They should have classes out here. It's real nice outside." "Its also nice that we agree," I said but something caught my attention, "Is that Byron?" There was a large crowd forming on the busy street and it was probably because there was a group of people who were attracting a lot of attention. Byron was one of them. We walked closer to where the people were. There was this large building that looked like it was a church or something. Byron and these other 'people' were standing out in front. At first I thought they were protesting, but then it seemed like something else. Byron and his company were all dressed in mostly black robes with golden sashes over their right shoulder. They looked like some religious group or something. I gave Sampson a stare and noticed how he continued to watch Byron as though a little interested. There was this immediate sensation of jealousy in me as I watched how he stared at Byron. What the hell was so special about Byron to him? One of the men in black and gold was speaking up on the podium. He was speaking to the crowd almost like politicians did. Byron stood beside the spokesman, clapping with the others at everything the spokesman said. "Its time to erase the sins out of Brunswick!" the spokesman exclaimed loudly and his statement was followed by a thunderous claps, "Follow the Fold!" I looked at how angry the man looked. He was pissed. He had on this look on his face that showed some kind of disgust to whatever 'sins' he was mentioning. "Ok I think its time to go," I told Sampson. I had turned and everything when Sampson stopped me, "No, maybe we should go over there and say hello to Byron." "Are you serious?" I asked watching his long stare at Byron, "That guy probably hates us. The fact that we are even walking together will probably piss him off even more." Just as I said that I noticed Byron's eyes contact mine. I whispered "shit" under my breath and crossed my arms. I saw him break through the crowd of people and make his way up to us. Immediately my hands balled up into a fist. He wasn't going to beat me a second time if I had a say in it. The first time was basically because I felt guilty but now I just thought, "fuck it". If he felt like I was still to blame for his breakup with Sampson then it was no longer my concern. "Brothers!" My face scrunched up in confusion as Byron took Sampson and I in his arms at the same time and embraced us like we were some kind of fucking long lost relatives. I quickly pulled away after the uncomfortable hug. What was wrong with him? Didn't he recognize us? Sampson was his ex-boyfriend and I was the friend who got caught giving his ex-boyfriend head in a department store changing stall. "Byron um " Sampson started, seeming just as confused as I was, "We were all really worried about you when you disappeared. What have you been up to?" "Um it's a long story," Byron said smiling with this goofiness that Yolanda would have used, "Long story short, I was saved. I'm part of all this now. I'm part of the Fold Brotherhood." "The what now?" I asked. "The Fold Brotherhood. It's a movement!" Byron explained with such excitement, "It's a way to compensate for all the things I've done in the past. The brotherhood of the Fold has become a way of living." I almost wanted to laugh. I stared at Sampson. He was interested. He wasn't even finding this funny. He was probably more interested in Byron then what Byron was saying. I didn't see why though. Byron didn't look any better. He still had that slight trace of feminism and still had that 'a little too cute' look surrounding him. Now, he just wasn't dressed like an Abercrombie boy. Plus joining a religious brotherhood? Who was he trying to fool? "Is the Fold brotherhood the reason why you are trying to pretend like you aren't mad?" I asked. Sampson gave me a look as though kind of annoyed that I was being so forward. I couldn't help it. This whole "Fold Brotherhood" thing that Byron was talking about made no sense. The guy used to be a male prostitute for god sakes! Byron looked at me and shook his head with a slight smile, "I'm not mad. Seriously. The past is the past. He showed me what is truly important." "Whose he?" Sampson asked. "Noah Fold," Byron explained, "He started the Fold brotherhood. Oh! I got an idea. You guys can come meet him. You know? See what I've been up to lately." "No thanks." "I'd like to see," Sampson immediately said before I even stopped speaking. My face folded in anger. Sampson was such an ass at times. Was it that he didn't get over Byron or something? "Why don't you come too, Syn," Byron offered, "You can learn something?" Learn something? I just shut up and nodded. I wanted to turn around, raise my middle finger and leave. I couldn't. I wasn't going to leave Sampson and him together. This Fold Brotherhood had to be some fake scheme Byron was using just to make Sampson like him more or something. This whole thing was probably something Sampson would probably fall for. The 'all good' and 'all moral' bullshit was in Sampson's roster of essentials. Sampson and I followed Byron up towards the church looking building silently. We walked up to the door and Byron opened it for us. I felt so uncomfortable that Byron wasn't mad. Why the hell wasn't he? I didn't trust this whole Fold thing immediately. Whoever took away Byron's sense of reality and turned him into a punk had no reason to be trusted. We entered the church and immediately I realized that it wasn't a church. It was something else. It was kind of like a temple. The windows of the temple weren't stained with all kinds of saints. They were stained with one person. It was this Noah Fold guy. It was kind of creepy almost. "Is this where you've been living?" Sampson asked, leaving me behind to walk closer to Byron. "Yeah. My brothers and I stay in the sleeping compartments downstairs," he explained to us. I looked at him and shook my head. This was just unlike him. Byron was the type that wasn't satisfied if it wasn't the best. I never saw him as someone who would be satisfied sleeping underneath a temple. I wondered what happened to the spoiled little pretty boy that I'd grown to dislike. This place definitely was religious even if it wasn't a church. I wanted to ask why pictures of Noah Fold were decorated all around the hall, but I didn't because I was holding my breath. There was this pungent smell of incense that burned my nose and throat to the point that I felt like passing out. It was like being sealed in a windowless car with 3 smokers. I wondered what the point of all this was. This was turning into a little too much. We walked up to this door to another room that looked sort of like an altar room. People dressed like Byron were everywhere. All the black and gold made the room look like a Honey Nut Cheerio commercial. There were these brass organs that were up against the wall. It was all right though, since the stench of incense wasn't as strong in a bigger room. There were a lot of people gathered around a podium that sat exactly in the center of the large room. Most of the people were dressed in black and gold, but others were dressed in regular clothes. I figured the normal dressed people were visitors just like Sampson and I were. "Syn, hey what are you doing here?" I felt the arm grab on me and turned to see Zion. I was sure it was Zion because Sampson was standing right in front of me so it couldn't have been Sampson. I smiled when I saw Zion. It was a little comforting to see a strong protective force like him in a weird ass scene like this. The place was seriously creepy. Zion was dressed like the usual businessman that he was. He didn't hide his presence nor did Ms. Whyte and the rest of his entourage. They lurked in the backdrops. Ms. Whyte looked like she was on her phone doing some business of some sort while the security guards were just well securing. "Um just visiting," I said and nodded towards Byron, "Byron brought Sampson and I here. What are you doing here?" "Oh Sampson's here as well?" Zion said, probably finally taking notice of him, "What's up Sampson. You still think I'm out to get you." I laughed slightly noticing how he was making light of his brother's hate to him. It was kind of funny how cool Zion was and how uptight Sampson got every time he was around his brother. I had to admit. Zion was intimidating. "Whatever, just answer his question," Sampson answered roughly, not wanting to waste his time. Zion's voice softened, as he turned his attention to me, "We've been hearing a lot of rumors about this whole Fold Brotherhood thing. They've been threatening to 'expose' the Syndicate for being against religion. I just came to check this whole cult movement out." "Cult?" I asked, a little uneasy. Cult had meant bad in my eyes. I took a look around. The dark temple, candles and strong incense definitely gave idea to cult activity. When I heard cult I heard things like Waco, Texas or some shit. "That's a little harsh," Sampson butted in, looking around to see if Byron or anyone had heard enough to get offended. "If you don't believe me, listen to what that guy is saying." Zion was talking about the guy at the podium. All of our attention turned to him immediately. I knew the guy's face. It was clear to see that this man was Noah Fold. Fold's cheekbones were low and curved in which made him look really grumpy. He had bags underneath his eyes and yet even though they looked tired, the eyes themselves had such concentration. His lips were so thin that I wondered if they even existed. His ears were large and so was his head. He had this whole impression of sobriety around him that seemed very challenging. "We MUST not let the sins of the world ah, ah what's the word distort us," Fold's loud booming voice proclaimed, "You see my children; God woke me up on an eventful morning. He ah exhibited sins and he explained all to me. He showed me this city and he sent me here to ah ah salvage you all from the sins that condemn the city of Brunswick. The evils of your people must be pierced! Women speak up against there husbands and show their bodies in such vile manner! Our young men lie, cheat, steal and kill one another in such ineffective arts! They will all burn I tell you! They will burn in HELL!" A lot of people began to clap as though he was the first person to be upset about some of these things. He had a revelation in his dream? Come on now. How clich‚ was that? Fold continued with his dramatic speech, "It is ah obligatory for me to cleanse the world of these fates. So I gave dawn to the Brotherhood to save you before you are condemned. We have come to caution the Jews to turn their backs on that faith! We have come to order the complete ah ahem excuse me, elimination of this freedom of sexuality that plague youths today. It is born of the grotesque new generation music that must be expunged! The music gives birth to youth rebellion! It gives birth to drugs! It gives birth to improper sexualities! God has grown tired of seeing these plagues on mankind! He sent me to relinquish the burden of sin from your shoulders and show you a new way before the time comes. Listen to a speaker who has tasted the truths of rehabilitation." I stared at Fold shaking my head. The guy was an absolute nut! I watched as everyone was listening. They were so stupid to even give this asshole the time of day. He was one of those 'sin freaks' that felt like they could change the world with their irritating warnings and threats. Byron was this testifier and he stood up beside Fold, "I was saved by the Fold Brotherhood. Before the brotherhood, I was on the road to certain destruction. I used to have these these feelings." I looked at him and felt like throwing up. What the hell had Fold done to him? He looked like some kind of puppet being pulled anyway Fold felt like. What was all this! "What feelings?" Fold insisted rubbing Byron's back, "It is ok to tell us." "They were feelings of homosexuality," Byron continued to explain, "I had the thoughts of being in love with another man but not now! Fold showed me the way." Byron had broken up in tears when he paused in what he was saying. When he had finished speaking, he embraced Fold with this tight hug that seemed to make Byron even more emotional. I looked at him and crossed my arms. Byron had completely betrayed the identity he'd been carrying around with him for as long as I could remember. It wasn't that he was only not homosexual, but he was in an organization that opposed homosexuality. I turned to Sampson, in the midst of this. He looked completely crushed. I could imagine how he felt. It made me a little pissed to know Byron was siding with such prejudice, but I realized that Sampson seemed sadder. He probably thought he still had a chance with getting back with Byron or something. "He showed you the way to stupidity!" I shouted out. The room turned to look at me. I didn't care that I just interrupted their little Fire & Brimstone sermon. They were getting on my nerves. It wasn't just Fold saying all those prejudice pigheaded "stop being gay or go to hell" remarks but it was also all the other Brotherhood guys who were clapping in agreement. "He is how I was once," Byron explained, apologetically almost like he was excusing me, "Please sir, forgive him. I will make him see the light." "Byron, your friend needs guidance," Fold looked at me with questioning eyes, "He must understand the essential reaction to this entire thing. That reaction is total disgust and disgrace. Homosexuality is a sin, young man! It IS against the laws of heaven. It is entangled in prostitution, drugs and violence!" He was making me so mad. My fists were shaking and my heart was beating faster. It had been a while since someone brought me to the point where I felt almost weak. It was almost like he made no sense and I knew that I could explain it, but I also understood that even if I did, there would be no difference in overall reaction. "What? Straight people do just as much prostitution, drugs and violence." What I really wanted to say was what was wrong with prostitution, drugs and violence. Hey, I wasn't some spokesman for it, but no one was perfect. There was a way to go about healing and verbally attacking someone's behavior was not the way to go about it. Zion (who'd seemed to have been wanting to talk) finally spoke, "This entire Brotherhood seems like a scam to me. You people only want a way to gain control of Brunswick." "Stupidity! Aren't you with those nonbelievers?" Fold asked, "Aren't you with that Syndicate? You are with that sinful organization of devils that own 90% of those heathen clubs. It is you that ah ah, beget the disturbance of the human soul. You play that devil's music and make money off of beguiling women and sardonic men! Gambling, sex and drugs stain the reputation of Syndicate. We must shut down the clubs! We must end the homosexuality! We must erase the sins!" "Or what?" Zion argued, as though getting really pissed off. I could tell why he was pissed off. I wondered why Sampson wasn't saying anything. He seemed all for fighting for what he believed was right. Sampson was either still hurt by Byron's changes or he was feeling overshadowed by Zion. Either way, I could tell he didn't like this Fold guy either. What kind of gay guy would like him? "We have 40 days," Fold hauntingly spoke, "We have 40 days to clean up our act. We have 40 days to erase the sins from Brunswick or God will send his wrath upon us. It will be like Sodom and Gomorra! He will bring his judging hand and crush us. He has told me in the dream! I have seen the rain coming and destroying Brunswick. It shall kill everyone that is evil! I have foreseen it." I looked at him. What the fuck was wrong with this guy? "You threatening gay people now?" I asked, unpleasantly and bluntly. "All sinners!" Fold shouted, with this attitude that he was above addressing me personally, "All sinners will suffer the wrath of heaven! 40 days left! Use them wisely." "Syn, kiss me," Zion whispered, "Like we did before." I looked at Zion with a little bit of confusion. I didn't get it. I didn't think anyone knew that he was gay besides Sampson and I (T-Boy as well for that matter). They all thought he was straight. I thought that he really didn't have to do it. I thought it was definitely something that I may have thought of. I leaned in and felt his presence all around me. I could feel the tension w in the room as people began to notice what we were doing since we attracted a disgusted look on the face of Fold. Zion's mouth open and so did Fold's mouth. Our lips surrounded one another and his tongue slid into my mouth. Fold let out this aggressive gasp that made it look like he was going to jump over the podium and attack us. Zion's kiss was impressive. He seemed to be more similar to Sampson in this kiss. It was a strong kiss that was full of intense desires. I couldn't tell if I really triggered the reaction in which his tongue lashed hungrily around my mouth or if it was the idea about how insulting this really was to the entire Fold brotherhood. "Blasphemer!" Fold cried out. I laughed a little. I'd never been called a blasphemer before. I knew it would only be a matter of time before I was called one and now that I'd been called it, I felt more complete. I backed away from Zion, who seemed a little reluctant to stop the kiss. He had somehow managed to hold my hand while we kissed and even while I backed away he didn't let go of it. I had taken a full step back before he finally opened his eyes and stopped puckering his lips. It definitely released some of the anger that I was feeling. The kiss had calmed me. I figured this must have been how Zion was always so calm even during times he shouldn't have been. He definitely must have kissed a lot. "We should go," Zion told me, "Before they drown us in holy water or something." I laughed and followed behind him. I turned back to look for Sampson as Zion's entourage rushed us out. He was following behind but he looked hesitant. He kept turning back to look at Byron as though asking Byron to come with him. Byron remained. I saw that Byron didn't have the same look of disgust as his brotherhood had while looking at us. I wondered if that really was something to be happy about. "Sampson, come on," I said going back to get him. "Wait a sec," he struggled. "SAMPSON!" I shouted snapping at him, "Byron is gone. Whoever is up there is a different person. He doesn't love you anymore. Matter of fact I'm sure he doesn't even like the idea of you." He shook his head, "You're right." "So get over it and come on." I grabbed him by his hand and began to lead him out of the building following Zion's entourage. We were really safe as we went. I walked cautiously because the eyes of the Fold's Brotherhood were following me. We made our way up the street and continued to speed walk. They didn't exactly turn violent and attack us, but I never took the possibility out of my head. Fold didn't seem like it was too far below him to attack someone who disagreed with his theologies. We made our way to the top of the block and I finally felt like I could rest a little. The Fold Brotherhood was almost completely gone. I yawned loudly and began to appreciate what I had now. I wondered if this whole Fold thing was really over. I strongly doubted it. The look of their faces proved that it was not over. They looked as though they wanted to keep fighting. They looked as though they were angrier now then they were before. "The nerve of those cowards! Oh my god!" I exclaimed. "Calm down," Zion said. Zion and I were walking a little ahead of the group. Sampson wasn't that far behind us though. We'd been talking for a little bit now. The whole thing had shaken me up to the point where I was only thinking about my anger towards there. There was no other emotion to describe my encounter with this new brotherhood. "Can't you stop them?" I asked, feeling a little helpless, "I mean you you can do everything." I knew it was a kind of adolescent, dreamy thing to say. It was just something about Zion that made him the miracle man to me. His attitude was always cool and confident. He had this whole swagger about him that made me think he was some kind of unstoppable juggernaut. It was hard for me to imagine how Zion would be like if someone real close to him died or if he had a crisis that would cause to eventually lose his cool. I couldn't picture a truly emotional Zion. "I think after what I've seen today, I just might. I have connections with zoning officers that can put some kind of safety restriction on their little headquarters but that will only be temporary. I'll need something permanent on them. It'll be hard though. There numbers are growing immensely." "Probably because he is scaring them to join with the whole 40 days left bullshit," I answered. I didn't really know where we were walking. I think we were walking 'away' from Zion's ride, but I didn't care. The conversation he had with me seemed really comforting at the time. "Well weather patterns have been crazy since September," Zion added and laughed. "You aren't believing that crap are you?" I asked. He shook his head and laughed, "Nah, come on now? Me and you together can take on a little storm if it comes." I looked at him and sort of blushed a little. The key word was 'together'. It had turned me on immensely. Zion always had that flirtatiousness in his glare (probably even when he spoke in his sleep) but now it seemed like he must have meant the flirting. Sampson immediately interrupted "Syn, we should go. Right now's a good time." It was so clear that he was trying to separate us. I didn't know now whether it was because he was jealous of Zion coming onto me or if he simply just was still trying protect me against what he thought was a threat in Zion. "You go on ahead, I'll walk a little with Zion a little bit more," I suggested, not wanting to leave yet but noticing his discomfort with letting me stay with Zion. "I don't think that's a good idea. T-Boy and Lamont are probably waiting for you. My mother is probably waiting on me." "Go ahead, I'll drop Syn off later on," Zion explained, "I got a car nearby. We'll get there the same time that you will if you walk." "I wasn't talking to you," Sampson stated sternly, "Syn can we go? I got to talk to you." "What about?" "You'll see if you come." "Ugh fine," I said and gave Zion a handshake, "I'll see you later ok? Maybe maybe I'll call and we can meet on something." He nodded and I noticed Sampson leaving before me as if to rush me. I caught up immediately. We started walking home and for a while there was silence. I looked back to where Zion was. He had started back towards his car. I couldn't believe he was still calm even though his sexuality had just been attacked by the brotherhood and then Zion was basically cock-blocking both of us. I was afraid of this whole Brotherhood thing. I had to admit. I had never been the type to be ashamed of the kind of person that I had become. I had embraced it and because I embraced it, others embraced it as well. I wasn't going to let the Brotherhood come around and change all that. 40 days, he said. 40 days till we died for our sins? Repent or die. I guess that was what the ultimatum Fold had given us was. I spat on the ground pretending it was Noah Fold "Syn, do you still like T-Boy?" Sampson asked. I was waiting until he'd bring up whatever it is he'd been wanting to talk to me about. I'd wondered what it was but couldn't put my finger on it. I'd thought maybe it was about Byron. Maybe it was because Byron was all that he wanted and now Byron was basically condemning their relationship as a sin. "I dunno. Why?" "Well Syn, I've been thinking. Since your relationship with T-Boy didn't work out and my relationship with Byron didn't work out. Well, maybe we should try again." "You want me to go back out with T-Boy?" I asked. I looked at him sideways. He looked nervous. Every time Sampson got nervous, he didn't make that much sense afterwards. "No. I want you and me to be in a relationship."