Samuel knew he couldn't count on his brother.At least not right away.Sure, he'd scared off two rats—but why the smallest ones?!
Was this revenge for the chocolate?Did Joshua want him to become rat lunch?
Still running, Samuel felt his lungs burning.His vision doubled.His legs were giving out.If he was going to die like this… he should've eaten the damn chocolate.Ungrateful rat.
His brother had picked up another stone. He yelled at him to duck.
Samuel didn't.His body wasn't listening.The stone whizzed past his ear. The rat screeched—but didn't stop.It seemed very determined to sink its teeth into some juicy fat.
Samuel wasn't exactly flattered to be desired by a rodent.He wanted to keep running, but his legs gave up on him.He collapsed—hard.
And the rat crashed into him.
____________________
***
Joshua stared at his brother, sprawled on the ground like a dead pig.The rat was right on top of him, clearly ready for ham dinner.
He didn't want to, but he had no choice—hand-to-paw combat it was.
Sometimes he wondered why his brother always dragged him into these messes.
Should he just let him fight the rat and learn a lesson?
Even as he thought it, Joshua charged.
Never underestimate the power of a 100-kilo tackle.The rat went flying—but it didn't seem hurt.
Now he was starting to worry.Humans were not built to fight beasts head-on.Human supremacy came from one thing: tools.
And he had none.No stick, no branch—and the stones on the road were barely large enough to tickle a rat the size of a buffalo.
____________________
***
Samuel tried to stand.As the saying went: "Trees die standing."And if he was going down, he wanted to at least go down swinging.
Seeing his brother beside him, he thought—Well, there were worse ways to die.At least Joshua didn't leave him as bait.
But then…The rat didn't attack like he expected.Was it scared?
He grinned.Heh. Heh. Heh.
Now you're in for it, filthy rat.Don't underestimate these brothers!
Sure, they looked pathetic, but back in school, they'd been in plenty of street fights.
…Most of them started by Samuel, and Joshua showed up to bail him out—But still.Fights.
And even fat, they were big guys.At least 6'1" or 6'2".
So maybe it wasn't surprising the rat was shaking and…
...foaming at the mouth?
"Did we scare it too much, Josh?"
His brother looked at him like he was an idiot.
"No. It's sick. That's not fear—it's convulsing, dumbass."
Samuel turned to look.
The rat was twitching, letting out soft, pitiful squeaks—Then it vomited up a chunk of chocolate…
...and died.