A splitting headache crept around Isaac's forehead. Usually prone to migraines for years, this one felts like vines binding his skull, latching on to his eyes, and pulling them together until the bone snaps. Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he leaned against the guard rail and tried with all his might to ignore the pain, and concentrate on the waves jumping over the sea-wall and flailing onto the sidewalk.

"THINK FAST"

Shakily swift hands locked on to Isaac's messenger bag. Before Isaac could even react, he was twisted around, grabbing back onto the guard rail for support, the pain in his head pounding like the waves tearing at the wall.

"Yikes, Izzy, y'know, this bag could sell for quite a bit." A raspy voice called out, gently tapping the bag, "I can compensate for it, how does 5% sound?"

"Matt, listen," Isaac replied attempting to regain his composure, "I'm not in the mood to try to haggle my stuff back, can you jus-"
He held up a finger to Isaac, "You don't look so good, fine, I'm feeling generous. 6%. Final."

The pounding in his head was like a jet engine against his forehead. Matt was an old friend once close, but soon fell into the hole of half of everyone in the deeper parts of the city fall into. Mostly skin and bones with needle scars dotting his arms and neck, Matt was your typical, run-of-the-mill junkie looking for the next thing to pawn. However, Isaac knew that most of the junkies kept to themselves in the lower districts, surrounded by tunnels, overpasses, and the occasional flooding from heavy rains. Matt was out of his niche, and Isaac knew it. Isaac blended in to the rest of the crowd along the coastline, but not Matt.

"What, what are you even doing here?" Isaac said, pushing off of the guardrail.
"What? I can't be posh for a day?" Matt smiling and spinning Isaac's messenger bag around his arm.
"Not if you wanna cause a scene." 
"You and 'blending' in," Matt mockingly retorted with air-quotes "What a drag. Now c'mon, I got a gig for us."
Isaac's eyes grew wide open, "Absolutely not."
"What? Why not? Too good for me and the brothers, eh?"
"HEY. I'm doing good, and y'know I was never into the whole gig thing."
"But you're good at it, that's all that matters! Now don't be a puss, we're going." He said heading for an alley.

Isaac stood his ground. "No."
Matt spun around, with one eye cocked towards him, "S'cuse me? No?"
The pain shooting through his entire body now, gritting his teeth, "No. Not again. The end of the line."
Isaac's vision blurring through torrents of tightening muscles and pulsating veins, Isaac's glare tunneling towards Matt.

"Then the bag is mine. Everything in it is mine. And you'll be next."
"You're a piece of shit. You know that. Always have been."
Isaac began rubbing his eyes, his vision began to shake, like quick vibrations moving his eyes left and right nonstop.

"What? Crying your eyes out? Bitch ass." Matt scoffed.
"No, dude, I can't- Screw it. Just give me my damn bag back. I have my thesis and research over-" Motioning Matt back to Isaac
"Listen, if I can take from the blind, I might as well." He laughed

The pain was splitting his head into pieces, and he couldn't hold it in. Isaac let out an animalistic cry. Matt's sly smile faded as he looked at the crowded boardwalk staring at them both. Hundreds of eyes peering. Murmurs and whispers began to flood the air like a toxic cloud. Isaac dropped to his knees, clawing at his eyes, slowly hunching forward.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa" Matt put his hand on Isaac's shoulder, "DUDE, CHILL. C'mon, here's your bag back. Shit. I'll be back for you ass later." 

Matt dropped the bag in front of Isaac with his hands in the air by his shoulders, walking backwards, then turning and heading for an alley.
Pain like sharpened nails were tearing at Isaac's eyes, as he looked up once more to see Matt about to disappear into the shadowed alley, he screamed-
"MATT!"

[i]SNAP[/i]

Silence. 
Isaac's mouth was wide open as he gently touched his eyes. What he could see was like looking at a broken mirror, his vision was split into fractals throughout his peripheral vision. The fractal viewpoints looked like running water on glass, a steady but slightly blurry sight.
"Matt?" Isaac whispered, looking straight ahead. Matt's body was rigid but standing, with his body half twisted, and neck bent with a heavy head. One of the little fractals in Isaac's vision morphed into a view point, staring at the cut stone, the boardwalk's pathway. Isaac went to look around, as did the fractals viewpoint. Isaac went to look around, but Matt's head moved with his, and countless others in the crowd.