the carrington

a rich man stepped through the doors of the carrington hotel to stay the night. he was headed out west to meet his sister's newborn and had divided his trip in two with this stop over.

jewels winked at the staff as they directed him to his room and gold was dripping out of his pockets.

he saw himself to a solitary dinner in the grand dining room and ate lavishly. he sat in the eye line of two brothers who were waiting to meet an aunt. they had been working in the bathurst mines and promised to visit her for a meal.

one brother spotted a large gold ring hugging the wealthy man's thick middle finger. the blue stone in it taunted him and he nudged his brother. they knew it would relieve several burdens for themselves. that one ring could get them out of the mines.

they looked away as their elderly aunt sat down with them and demanded what they were gawking at.

the well fed, well dressed man unlaced his shoes on the edge of the bed. he was tired from the day's travels and quickly found himself pulling a large red doona over his chest.

the brothers peered in through the window. the ledge was precarious and their feet slipped often in the rain, but their determination cut through the weather.

the older started to have doubts as they checked for the steady rise and fall of the large man's chest. surely if this were to happen to him he would be distraught.

the younger brother didn't share the sentiment. after all, it was his fault as a rich sydney man to be stopping over here.

together they lifted up the window as quietly as they could and shimmied through.

the older brother crept, barely breathing, to the side of the bed. he held a deep inhale and started to slip the ring off. it proved more difficult than they were hoping and he turned to whisper to his brother.

"i don't think this is such a good idea."

he was shoved out of the way and his younger brother pulled at the ring without caution.

"what are you doing?!"

the sleeping man startled awake and yelled, eyes widening at the two young men by his side.

"HELP," cried the man.

the youngest slammed a knife into his chest which made him yell louder. he pulled out and aimlessly stabbed as much as he could.

blood dripped down his knuckles and his brother knelt aghast beside him.

the man was limp for the last few strikes and the ring was hastily pulled off.

"what have you done?"

the younger turned to him and realised what this could do for him without being halved.

he adjusted his grip on the knife and looked at his brother's eyes. they widened as he caught on and the younger was tackled to the ground.

blood trickled down the older's arm from a new gash and his hands wrapped around his brother's throat.

"stop. stop and we can leave. pretend nothing happened. please."

there were tears forming in his eyes but his little brother took another ill-aimed stab at his gut.

he groaned in pain and pressed his eyes shut. he felt his brother go limp under him, but didn't move his hands.

he sat in shock before lifting a loose floorboard and stashing the ring.

lights flicked on and shone under the door. he could hear footsteps.

"sir, are you okay?"

he gripped onto the window and gently slid out.

his brother is still looking for the ring. floating around the dining room and searching in cupboards.

people usually just think it's the wind.