Rebel Without a Clue

Rebel Without a Clue(Joseph Logsdon) Rebel Without a Clue
By Joseph Logsdon
Johnny was looking for a fight. He had been insulted, humiliated, and disgraced. They were rotten, the whole lot of them. Johnny was an outsider, someone they couldn’t control. He was an angry young man, controlled by rage and insecurity. He had no family, no one to love or take care of him. Not surprisingly, Johnny constantly got into fight after fight. Some said he had a death wish, while others said he had an attitude problem. One thing was for certain; he wasn’t going to be pushed around.
Johnny stood in his room, agitated and full of hatred. He had been challenged to a fight, the fight to end all fights. His girlfriend, Silvia, rubbed his tormented shoulders. Johnny looked out the window, at the people in the street. They were living completely normal lives, ignorant of the problems around them. Go to work, go to bed, and repeat. Johnny hated that idea, loathed it with all his heart. Johnny hated the world, and that was fine, because the world also hated him.
He continued to gaze out the window, entranced by the night sky. Silvia kissed him, her fingers grazing through his hair. Johnny didn’t respond, preferring the window to his girlfriend. Silvia frowned, noticeably upset. Johnny didn’t say one word, perfectly content with what he was currently doing.
“Johnny, will you look at me?”
“What is it?”
“Why are you staring out the window? You’ve been ignoring me all night, and to what purpose? What do you think you’ll find, the secret of life? It’s just a window, the same as every other window. That’s why people hate you, because you’re just so weird,” Silvia exclaimed.
Johnny turned his attention towards Silvia, disappointment in his eyes. He grabbed her and tossed her on the bed. He scowled at her, unhappy with what she had said to him. Johnny laughed at her miserable face. His anger was like a bomb, dangerous and explosive.
“Out of everyone I know, I thought you would understand. It’s only a window, you say? It’s just like all the others, you say? All the evidence to the contrary, there’s more to life than sex and drugs. It’s a big world, larger than everything we know. That window is my friend, the only friend I’ve ever had. Haven’t you ever needed a friend?”
Silvia refused to look at Johnny. She started to cry, her tears falling on the dirty floor. Johnny embraced her, his only desire being to provide comfort. He held her for what seemed like hours. They kissed, this time very passionately.
“You’re my guy, my greatest treasure. This is insane, we being together like this. I usually don’t go for guys like you. You’re this tough guy, afraid of nothing. What am I, except a good girl? Heaven is sweet; Hell is sweeter,” she laughed.
“Hell isn’t anything to joke about. We’re all going there, some sooner than others. Donald Christy, my biggest enemy, is certainly going there. I’ll fight him, and if it comes down to it, I’ll kill him. I’ll crush him and anyone who tries to stop me,” Johnny grunted.
“He’s just a bully, surely not worth your time. For the sake of all that’s good and decent, will you please let it go? Let’s go away, me and you. He’s not worth dying over, is he?”
“Say what you will, you won’t change my mind. He insulted me, embarrassed me in front of everyone. Do you think that I can just let that go? I’ll be there, armed and ready,” Johnny stated.
“You’re carrying a gun?”
“Gun? Why would I need a gun, when I have my fists?”
Later that night, Johnny and Silvia entered the warehouse. The building was old, dust being its only remaining inhabitance. Donald stayed in the shadows, focused on Johnny and Silvia. He studied them, analyzed their every move. Johnny sighed, frustration flowing through him.
“He’s here, I can sense it,” Johnny announced, circling the large chamber.
“Who knows, maybe he won’t come,” Silvia stated.
“And admit that he’s a coward?”
“Why not? He might be at home, sick and bedridden. Did you ever think of that? Let’s get out of here, while we still have the chance. Anything you want, I’ll make sure you get it. How many times must I tell you? He’s not worth it,” she screamed.
Donald finally emerged from the shadows, happier than ever before. He stared at Johnny, intentionally trying to intimidate him. Johnny stared back, fully prepared to fight. Donald smiled, just barely hiding his fear.
“You brought your girl, I see. What’s the matter, was your mommy unavailable?”
“My mom’s dead, has been for eight years,” Johnny replied, stepping into the light.
“I’m sure, wherever she is, she’s looking down on her pathetic little boy. After all, you’re a disappointment. That’s all you are, one big disappointment,” Donald laughed.
Johnny lunged at Donald, barely missing his face. Silvia screamed, powerless as she watched them fight. In a fit of anger, Donald grabbed Johnny by the throat and pinned him against the wall. Johnny was helpless, overpowered by the stronger man.
“Stop it, you’ll kill him,” Silvia begged.
“That’s the idea,” Donald laughed.
Johnny was at the end of his rope. He had given everything he had, and it still wasn’t enough. He watched Silvia, the love of his life, cry and weep for him. From that point on, it seemed like everything was in slow motion. Donald continued to squeeze, carelessly letting his anger get the better of him. Johnny realized that Donald was the man he had the potential to be. That knowledge scared him, it scared him more than anything else in the world.
He finally managed to overcome Donald. Fueled by rage, Johnny broke free and slugged his enemy, swiftly sending him to the floor. Donald moaned, blood gushing out of his head. His eyes stopped moving. Johnny looked down, horrified by what he was seeing. Donald was dead, killed by a powerful blow to the head. Johnny stared at his hand, shamelessly analyzing what had happened. Silvia walked towards him, regret in her eyes.
“How could something so small, kill someone so big?”
“It wasn’t your fault. It was an accident, plain and simple,” she commented.
“I’m not so sure it was an accident. I threw the punch, me and only me. I hated him because I was afraid I could be like him. Everything he was, I didn’t want to be. I tried to be a better man, and look what it got me. There’s no point in being a better man. I’m done with it, with all of it,” Johnny hissed.
“That’s no way to talk. You’re a good man, the best one I know. Evil is evil, good is good. What side will you choose? Let’s call the police, tell them everything that happened. They’ll believe you, honest they will,” she begged.
“They don’t believe anything you tell them. If they did, there wouldn’t be that many people behind bars,” Johnny replied, walking towards the door.
“Where are you going?”
“It’s like you said, I’m going to Hell,” Johnny replied, leaving the building.
The End