The Blackest Eyes

Part 6

Travis went silent at that, as did a few of the other rambling patients. His body language went from that of panic to contemplation, then to a visible sense of annoyance. Ryan was somewhat taken aback by the sudden change in Travis' demeanour, although you wouldn't have been able to tell that from looking at him.

After a moment, Travis looked over his shoulder at Ryan before twisting his upper body as far as he could to face him. The look on Travis' face was similar to that of a badly spoiled child that had finally been told "no" and was on the verge of throwing a temper-tantrum in hopes that he'd get his way. Ryan smirked at the immaturity before Travis replied.

"Well, look who's talking. Tell me something, boy, do you really think you've got room to talk shit about me after that stunt you pulled? Putting your old man in the hospital? Don't try to get all high-and mighty with me, your hands ain't exactly clean."

Ryan let the words sink in for a bit, then practically threw his head back in laughter at how ridiculous the comparison was.

"I put a well-deserved beating on a drunken prick who needed to be reminded that he wasn't invincible. You, on the other hand, murdered a helpless woman who was carrying your child just because she pissed you off. You're nothing but a coward."

Even after spending years locked away in Smith's Grove, around equally violent and confrontational patients there with him, it was still pretty obvious that Travis wasn't fully used to being talked back to. That was made evident by the look of mild surprise on his face at hearing Ryan's laughter and remark.

"Who the Hell do you think you're talking to, boy?"

"I'm talking to another prick who mistakenly thought he was invincible. Look where that got you."

Seemingly annoyed with the ensuing argument himself, the previously silent bus driver finally spoke up, grabbing the attention of both Ryan and Travis.

"Hey! You two better settle down, I don't have the patience for this dramatic shit anymore."

Ryan scoffed but made no vocal reply. Maybe someone with little patience for drama shouldn't take a job that involves working with mental patients? You figure common sense would've put that idea in this guy's head long before taking this job, but apparently that's not the case.

"I'll "settle down" when I fucking feel like settling down!!"

From the looks of it, the tantrum Travis had been holding in refused to be contained for another moment, his shrill voice making Ryan's ears feel like they were going to start bleeding.

"You know what, I can't say I really blame the guy. Hearing you whine gets old pretty quickly. Why don't you do us all a favor and shut up for once?"

Travis shifted his attention back to Ryan, the look on his face now conveying strong anger mixed with obvious hatred.

"I have a better idea, boy."

Suddenly, Travis bolted from his seat and practically leapt onto Ryan, wrapping his hands around the young man's throat.

"Why don't you do me a favor and die!?"

Travis growled as the struggle between them escalated. The driver wasn't the least but please.

"Hey, get back in your damn seat! Now!"

The man yelled as Travis and Ryan wrestled back and forth. Ryan could see the driver fishing around in a small kit beside him, likely looking for some sort of sedative to use on Travis. He also briefly caught a glimpse of a large deer in front on the bus followed by a small explosion of blood and glass shards.

Moments later, the bus was on it's way downhill, smashing into trees and large rocks and, eventually, being flipped on it's side. Ryan now layed in the wreck, barely conscious and with blurred vision. He could feel blood running down the side of his head and he could hear ringing in his ears. Minutes later, his vision began to clear up a bit. What he saw wasn't pretty.

Travis was dead, as were several other patients, as well as the driver. The rest were either knocked unconscious or rendered immobile. Blood was practically flooding the isle between the seats and the stench. He couldn't feel his legs. He couldn't feel anything below the waist, actually. He almost wished he couldn't feel anything above the waist either, he'd hit several major nerves during the fall that now felt like they were burning.