The Death and Resurrection Of Martin Luther

Martin Luther stumbled against a fallen log, the crack of wood breaking the silence as he crashed to the ground. Pain shot through his ankle.

  “Damn it,” he hissed, clutching his leg. “This is a sign. We shouldn’t have come out tonight.”

Before he could rise, footsteps echoed behind him. Slow, steady, and far too close. A torchlight cut through the darkness, blinding him for a moment.

  “There you go with your superstitions again,” Cole Luther said, his voice amused but cold. “Don’t tell me you’re about to blame hitting your leg on some wood in the forest on a gut feeling.”

The forest was too quiet. Strangely quiet for a hot summer night where the boars should be out running.

  “It’s not just a gut feeling. You know my gut feelings never lie. Now help me up, will you?”

Cole stretched out his hand, grunting softly as he used his strength to pull his older brother to his feet. “We’re in a forest, brother. Of course there are woods everywhere. You just need to be extra careful.”

  “Now you’re going to lecture me about how I’m a sloppy walker and how I need to lose some weight,” Martin snapped, brushing dirt off his shirt. “Just like Aubrey does. Always looking for something to whine about.”

He steadied his weight on his injured foot, swaying slightly. The only light came from the torch, it's weak glow barely pushing the darkness back.

  “Aubrey doesn’t whine, brother,” Cole said quietly, his strange eyes fixed on Martin. “That woman is your wife, and she cares. She only wants to keep you alive.” His gaze dropped to the swollen ankle. “And how is that?”

  “I think I’ll live,” Martin muttered, stretching his leg. His fat jiggled under the strain, and he slapped his stomach with a laugh. “She says she loves me, yet she nags constantly about my weight. She saw this”...he jiggled his belly again...“before she agreed to marry me. Now she wants me to turn into some macho with six packs overnight. And I’m not going to pretend I don’t notice the way you look at me too. Like I disgust you.”

Cole’s head shot up, his eyes flashing oddly in the dim light. “What are you saying, brother? You’re a genius, a living one. Look at how you’ve made the business thrive. Who cares if you eat down the whole McDonald’s?” He paused, his lips curling into a faint, unreadable smile. “Although… I do think a little weight loss would help you.”

Martin barked a laugh. “Ha! Yes. There you go. Say it to my face, unlike those cowards at the company who whisper behind me. I hear everything, you know. All the whispers and scheming. But you, Cole… you are a true Luther! My brother. My blood. We fear no one.”

  “Yes, brother.” Cole murmured. “We fear no one.”

Before Martin could say more, a sharp rustle in the bushes cut him short.

  “Did you hear that?” He turned quickly toward the sound. “Switch off your light before you scare it away.”

  “What is it?” Cole tensed, his body suddenly alert.

  “Shhh. I think it’s a boar. Over there.” Martin raised his rifle, pointing toward the darkness.

  “Are you sure you’ve got this?” Cole whispered.

  “You know when I aim, I don’t miss.” Martin pulled the trigger...bang!.. but missed. “Shit!” He fired again. Click. Empty.

  “That’s strange…” Martin muttered, fumbling with the rifle. “I haven’t even used this gun today. Why is it empty?”

Behind him, Cole chuckled low. “Maybe you’re not as sharp as you think.”

Martin turned, frowning. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Cole didn’t answer. His torchlight flickered across Martin’s face, and then lower, down to his chest.

Martin froze. Cole was pointing a gun at him.

  “Cole? What is this? Is this a joke? This isn’t the time to play police and thief like we used to.”

  “Who said I’m playing?” Cole’s voice was calm, almost too calm. “It would be a shame to come all the way here to hunt and return without a kill, wouldn’t it… brother?”

  “What nonsense are you talking about? Lower your gun now. Stop pointing that thing at me...it’s an order!”

Cole’s eyes glinted in the torchlight. “In case you’ve been too busy stuck in your fat ass to notice… I’m tired of taking orders. Tired of walking in your shadow. Tired of feeding off your crumbs.”

  “What crumbs? You’re my brother, Cole. You have equal rights as I do.”

  “But it doesn’t feel that way, does it?” Cole’s voice hardened. “You never let me into the business. You shut me out of every decision. To you, I’m just another staff member.”

  “Who’s been filling your head with this rubbish? Lower the weapon, Cole. Let’s forget this whole hunting nonsense and go back to the hotel. I’m tired anyway.” Martin reached into his pocket... empty. His phone was gone.

Cole smirked. “Looking for this?” He patted his own pocket. “I took it when you weren’t looking. That’s your problem, brother. You’re smart but never observant. You miss the little things. That’s why we are different. That’s why I’ll win.”

Martin’s bravery melted into fear.

  “So what now? You’re going to shoot me and think you’ll get away with it? You’ll end up behind bars for life. Is that what you want?”

Cole took a slow step forward, forcing Martin back. “The only life wasted here… is yours. I’ve been planning this for a year. Watching you. Learning you. And when you leave this world, no one will miss you. You’ve done your time. It’s my turn now.”

Martin stumbled backward, nearly tripping over another log. His ankle screamed with pain. “Please, Cole. Think of Aubrey. Think of my son.”

  “Aubrey?” Cole chuckled darkly. “She won’t miss you. In fact… she’ll thank me.”

Martin’s world tilted. His wife and his brother? How?

The first shot tore through his shoulder. He cried out, stumbling, blood soaking his shirt.

Cole advanced, firing again. Martin turned and ran, bullets snapping through the night. His heavy body slowed him, every step a struggle as blood dripped into the dirt.

Cole laughed behind him, merciless. “Run, brother! Run while you can. Let’s see how far that fat body will take you.”

Martin crashed through branches, his breath ragged, until the river’s roar filled his ears. He stopped at the edge, chest heaving, nowhere left to go.

He turned, tears mixing with blood. “Cole… please…”

Cole leveled the gun, staring into his brother’s eyes. “I'll send your love to Aubrey and your boy. I’ll make sure they’re… properly cared for.”

He tilted his head, a smile twisting across his face. “We Luthers… fear no one.”

Bang.

The force of the bullet sent Martin Luther tumbling over the edge, For a heartbeat, his scream was lost in the crashing river below… then, silence.

Cole lowered his gun, his lips curling into a smile. “Goodbye, brother.”