Episode 8

"See, Kev, I told you today would be a good one," I said in a happy, genuine tone, pleased about the day."

"Jack," Kevin replied with such seriousness.

"Yeah, Kevin."

"We're being followed; we need to get moving."

And without any time to respond, Kevin grabbed my hand and ran faster than he ever had before.

What, since when did people start following us home?

The footsteps behind us got louder and harder as we ran; all I could think about was how Kevin was right all along. It didn't take me long to figure out who the people following us were. It was Mark and his friends; Thomas flashed me a nasty grin.

"Kevin, we need to slow down; I'm basically out of breath."

"Come on, Jack, we can't stop. They've basically caught up with us."

And just as we finished our brief, exasperated exchange, I felt two hands push me down on the pavement of the sidewalk and hold me there.

"LET ME GO, KEVIN. SOMEBODY, HELP."

But nobody heard me.

I looked up and saw Kevin being held up by his arms by one of their other friends; Mark was standing in front of him, fists balled up, ready to strike.

Mark took a swing at his stomach.

"AGHHH," Kevin wailed in pain.

People around heard his yelp, but nobody cared enough to come help or even call anyone. A woman passed by. My eyes met with hers, and she quickly looked away and kept walking.

Why the hell wasn't she doing anything? Did she not see two kids helpless?

I called out to her, "HEY, HEY!" but she sped up.

That's when it all clicked for me: why she didn't help and why she did nothing. I looked at the color of my and Kevin's complexions, and then I looked at Mark's and his gang's and the woman's. She wasn't helping us. And it was just because we didn't look like her.

Just as this clicked, I felt a heavy kick to my abdomen.

"Shut up," Thomas said in an almost cold, unattached tone, as if he were talking to a stray dog.

That's when Mark spoke. "Did you actually think I wouldn't beat you guys up today?"

He continued, "You know it's funny; I gave you hope, and you ran with it, but it brings me even more joy that I get to crush it."

"You're a monster," I replied

"Yeah, yeah, who cares? Jack doing this is the most fun I've had in ages."

"WHY THE HELL ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US?" I screamed

"Did you not just hear me, you idiot? I'm doing this because it's fun." He replied

"And you know what, Jack? I don't appreciate that tone you're taking with me."

He smirked. "I think I'll make Kevin pay for your transgression."

His fist connected with Kevin's face. I heard a crack as blood started flowing from his nose.

"AGHHHHH, IT HURTS!" Kevin cried.

Thomas spoke up, "Hey Mark, don't you think you're going too hard on him? I mean, you just broke his nose."

"Shut up, unless you want to end up just like him," Mark scowled.

"S-sorry," Thomas said, cowering.

I guess even being his friend doesn't stop you from his beatings.

I struggled under the weight of Mark's friend; Thomas saw my futile attempt to move and kicked me in my ribcage.

"Ack," I said in pain as I felt the wind leave my body.

Why does my life have to be so shitty? Things were just looking up, and now we're worse off than ever. Kevin was right; I never should've doubted him.

Kevin kicked and spat at Mark.

"Ow, you little bitch, you know, that really hurt," Mark said

He continued, "Kevin, you seem to be fond of those legs of yours; with you doing track and all, it would be a shame if something happened to them."

When Mark finished saying this, his friends pinned Kevin down with no hesitation and grabbed hold of his legs.

"No, stop, please," Kevin begged, but this begging was to no avail, and the sound that would come next was both deafening and horrible.

*CRUNCH* *CRUNCH*

Kevin gritted his teeth and screamed in pain, "OH GOSH, IT HURTS, IT HURTS SO BAD!"

Tears fell from our eyes as the boys standing above us laughed. This was worse than any nightmare.

"Alright, guys, I think we're done for the day," Mark said with a chuckle in his voice.

"Yeah, let's get out of here; it's beginning to rain," Thomas added

We lay on the street in silence after they left; no words needed to be said, and it looked like Kevin was beginning to pass out from the pain.

Jack, you really are human garbage.

With my bruised arm, I reached into my right pocket to pull out my phone and called the emergency services and silently sobbed to myself, contemplating my whole existence.