Alex Conway: A Flash Fiction

The sound of rain hitting aluminum rings throughout the ears of the residents of Buntinghamm City at early evening, many have settled down taking a rest for the early scavenge to be had the next morning. A man lies awake hearing the droplets of water fall through the holes in his roof. “I’ll find some scrap tomorrow then” the man murmurs to himself. As the rain worsens gunshots are apparent from a short distance. “That’s my queue” the man says with a smirk grabbing his hat and sub-machine gun. The man walks casually out of his shack carrying his gun like a child with their favorite toy, holding it close to their heart in a loving but careless manner. The man strolls through Buntinghamm taking his usual route whistling “Mary Had a Little Lamb”. Buttoning his cufflinks as scared civilians look out through their steel sheeted shacks, the man climbs up a ladder to get to a large tower overlooking the outskirts of Buninghamm. “Alex Conway is here gents!” the man yells to the gunshots below him. Alex slides down the ladder with a suave grin and kicks open a rusted metal sheet shooting bullets at his opposers. “Who’s ready for a night in the town!” Alex bursts out as he shoots. He quickly disposes of a few gunmen spurting jabs and remarks while doing so. “How’s old Mulane doing?” He shouts as killing the man he questioned. The rest of the gunmen retreat into the ruined outskirts of Buntinghamm City whilst Alex shoots the rest of his magazine into the air. “What a time to be alive, am I right?” Alex asks his crew. “Ya coulda been here sooner mate.” One of the gang members responds. “I was comfortable in my bed Jamie. Besides you had it covered, just had to give those blokes a show.” Alex retorts with a smug grin. “It’s alright Alex, Mulane just wants to make himself look tough so he’s been sending expendables to “threaten” us.” The rest of the men laugh as Jamie continues. “So how’s things with Dottie, Alex?” “They’re just fine.” Alex hastily responds. “Seems like she’s the only thing you aren’t hollering about, you sure everything is okay?” “I said it is so it is, that simple Jamie. Now let’s go have some fun.” Alex says as he reloads his gun. “Alrighty, what do you have in mind mate?” Jamie asks whilst fixing his attire. “Well first we should get an umbrella or two for this storm, it’s not looking like it’s gonna end soon. Then how bout we play Mulane a visit, get some brunch talk about the atrocious weather, then take a nice, late night walk on the beach holding hands and bashing his skull in with love.” Alex explains vividly whilst putting the metal sheet back on the city’s “wall” “Sounds good mate, see you tomorrow then. Also bring more of the boys with you.” Jamie exclaims whilst walking away back to the pub.

Alex walks back to his shack whistling Mary Had a Little Lamb whilst making rhythmic body motions with his gun. Civilians walk around hesitantly trying to do their daily activities and to stay out of his way. A mother is leading her three year old child away when the child starts to sing with Alex. “Mawy had a lettle wamb, leetle wamb, Mawy had a leetle wamb its fleece white as snow.” the child sang aloud as Alex hummed. The people of Buntinghamm looked at the child with fear, knowing he just put himself into the path of Alex Conway. “Mary had a little lamb, little lamb. And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb would sure go.” Alex sung in response to the amused child. “Hey there buddy what’s your name?” Alex asks the little boy. “Robert, but my famwy calls me Rob!” He child responded with glee. “Are you the man that does bad things for fun?” The little boy asked with utmost curiosity. “Oh Rob, I guess you could say that, but everyone sees ‘bad things’ a different way.” Alex responded. “I don’t think anything is ‘bad’ if it’s done for a reason and you’re happy doing it. But you or your mommy might see ‘bad’ in a different light.” “Robert let’s go now” the mother said firmly to the child. “Alright mammy, bye mister!” Rob yells to Alex. Alex strolls off with a perk in his step while people look at him with amazement of how he didn’t harm that child after killing men whilst laughing and joking about it.

Alex reaches his shack and opens to find a piece of parchment on his doorstep. “Oh Dottie what are you up to know.” Alex murmurs to himself picking up the note. Alex takes the note and opens it with haste wanting to see what his beloved sent after not seeing her for a week. “Meet at the junkyard eh? Must be with her brother.” Alex says opening his door to set down his gun on the desk and sit on his bed frame. “I guess I’ll have to deal with Mulane tomorrow then. More likely Dotty’ll kill me than him.” Alex laughs laying down on his bed finally resting for the night. Alex awakes the next morning to the sound of the bustling scavengers of Buntinghamm, going about trying to sell what they found on the outskirts to feed themselves and their families. Buttoning his cufflinks, tying his tie, and flipping his hat, Alex grabs his gun and does his usual stroll on the way to the junkyard on the outskirts of town, while merrily whistling Mary Had a Little Lamb and looking up into the sky with a smile passing the sick and crippled who can’t scavenge to support themselves. The junkyard was a short walk from there, residing in a fairly invisible section of the outskirt ruins. Alex arrived to see his girlfriend Dottie and her brother Jeremy making brunch. “Hey there sweetie!” Dottie screamed to Alex as he hugged her. “Sorry I didn’t tell you I was going to scavenge with Jeremy for a few days he found a small fortune a lil ways away.” “It’s fine honey I was just having fun with the boys while you were gone.” Alex says to Dottie whilst reaching for a chair. “Good to see you Jeremy” Alex says getting comfortable. “As well” Jeremy quickly retorts. “Mind if I stay for a little while?” Alex asks looking outward beyond the outskirts. “Fine but I’d like some help first, how bout you get some butter from the market while me and Dottie clean some dishes?” Jeremy responds. “Sounds just dandy to me, be back in a jiffy.” Alex grabs his gun and hat and walks off back into Buntinghamm in the search for a vendor selling butter.

“Are you sure you really want him to be a husband?” Jeremy asks Dottie. “Well of course.” Dottie responds without hesitation. “He’s the only one besides you that has shown any love or sympathy, he gave us the junkyard to live in, and he’s the most charming man you’ll ever meet.” Jeremy sighs as Dottie finishes her tirade. “It’s just, he kills people Dottie, with a smile, that’s not right, not one bit. Why can’t you just leave him. It’s not like he’ll take anything back.” “Jeremy I’ve told you more times that I should have to, I love him and he loves me, that’s all that should matter to you.” Dottie finishes teary eyed. “Fine I don’t condone or support your decisions but I love you Dot.” Jeremy says whilst sitting next to his sister giving a half hug. The skies become darker and a light sprinkle sets in as a stampede of footsteps are heard from outside the junkyard. “Jeremy what’s that?’ Dottie asks pulling out her pistol. “Probably just thunder, it is getting darker after all.” Jeremy says with a caring tone. “Alright I just hope Alex gets back soon.” Dottie says hesitantly holstering her pistol.

Alex arrives at the market sector of Buntinhamm inquiring about any vendor selling butter. As Alex strolls through humming Mary Had a Little Lamb he hears a woman shout. “Stop it! Stop that singing!” The woman strikes Alex in the jaw knocking him over. “What’s wrong madame?” Alex says putting a hand on his gun. “My… my son Robert was taken last night, and his father killed in front of me.” The woman explains tearing up and falling over. “Rob? The boy who approached me yesterday?” “Of course it was you dunce! I know it’s because he talked to you!” Alex stood up knowing he was safe giving a somber smile. “Don’t worry ma’am I will find your son, I think I know the man that took him.” The mother stood up and grabbed Alex. “Please do so! I’ll give you anything.” Alex pushes her away laughing to himself, he throws money at her. “Free of charge.” Alex walks off with a smug grin knowing where he can find butter. Gunshots are heard coming from the outskirts. Alex sighs to himself and puts his gun up. “Oh Mulane, you handsome devil, at it again.” Alex murmurs to himself and climbs the tower. “To the Mulane’s bulletbags, please leave, I’m busy today!” Alex yells towards the gunshots. Alex soon realized that the gunshots were further than usual. With paranoia in mind Alex hurriedly run off to the junkyard. “Dottie! Dottie are you there? Dottie!” Alex yells running towards the junkyard. He hears more gunshots and realizes his greatest fears might be reality. Alex approaches the junkyard with carelessness running straight into the bloody mess left. “No, No, No, No, Mulane! Dottie!” Alex screams to no avail and hears a trigger sound off. Alex is engulfed in a storm of bullets from Mulane’s men he falls with a body full of adrenaline he inches closer to Dottie’s body. Finally Mulane comes out of the ruins setting down a revolver. “Alex good to see you, I heard you wanted to pay me a visit tonight, thought I’d save you a trip.” Mulane says laughing to himself. “Ah too bad it’s so bleak and rainy isn’t it? Ah no matter. It’s all the same for you. Alex you haven’t understood have you? The world’s always been against you, your “friends” ratted you out to me, told me about your Dottie. Pretty thing too, awful she had to be disposed of.” Mulane takes Alex’s head and makes him look at him. “Son your life is done, and what have you accomplished?” Mulane asks expecting an answer. “Nothing!” Mulane screams into Alex’s ear. Alex falls over out of blood loss crying himself to death. “Alex this is your final breath what do you have to say?” “Well you’ve truly taken the joy out of living Mulane. I guess this is au revoir.” Alex stutters coughing up blood and closing his eyes. “Au revoir indeed.” Mulane walks away leaving his mess behind. “You see what happens son when you act like that!” Mulane screams at Rob. “Yes sir…” Rob says shakenly. “But at least he did what he loved.” Rob says putting up the revolver and shooting Mulane in the head. Rob runs off back to Buntinhamm city to find his mother. Robert spreads the story of Alex Conway through the city, telling the citizens of who Alex really was. Alex becomes a local legend as the hero of Buntinhamm. From this event Robert suffers from psychopathy turning him into the next Alex Conway, except instead of being vilified he becomes the protector of Buntinhamm. Rob establishes the cities walls making it into a fortress. He reigns with firm benevolence being loved by Buntinhamm as the heir to the Great Alex Conway.