“About the same as you, beat . . . but in a good way,” I answered.
“Me too . . . is it weird that I feel strong?”
“Nope, because you are strong,” Carrie answered.
“Feels like winning, doesn’t it?” Ashley asked.
“It does, it really does,” Molly stated.
My smile went away. I was remembering what that felt like . . . when I killed Logan and watched the zombies eat him alive. Winning. Death has nothing to celebrate about and never will, but that feeling when I killed him – it felt so real.
“Guys,” I spoke.
“Yeah?” Molly answered.
“Can I tell you something?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“You remember back in Denver, when we were on the roof of the mall . . . and Logan shot those soldiers?”
Everyone was quiet when I brought that up.
“We remember . . . why?” Ashley asked.
“After I killed him, when I was watching the zombies eat him and that I was letting the thought that for the first time I had killed a human sink in . . . do you know what it felt like?”
They were silent as they looked at me.
“It felt like winning . . . I never told anyone, because I thought for a moment there was something wrong with me. I rationalized by thinking that it was just victory and that I saved everyone, but . . . am I messed up guys?” I asked.
Molly pulled her hair back behind her ear and sat close to me.
“Sonny, there’s nothing wrong with you. Almost everything, every kind of thought crosses our minds and all sorts of feelings come up, but that doesn’t mean we’re nuts,” Molly explained.
“The world isn’t split between good and evil, it’s not that black and white. There's a bit of both in everyone, everyone. So, what you felt that day wasn’t something sinister or malicious. You’re a good person. You think I haven’t felt like it was winning whenever I killed a zombie? I felt it almost every time,” Ashley explained.
“Let me ask you something, Sunshine. If you had to go through everything we’ve been through all over again, would you do things differently?” Jess asked.
“No, I’d try to save some people that are dead now but—"
“You see? Not many people would, but you would for us and everyone back home. That makes you a good person and that’s what’s important,” Patch said.
“You’re right, people are defined by their actions,” I stated.
“Exactly, you can think and feel whatever you want, but what you do is really what matters,” Carrie stated.
I smiled and hugged everyone.
“Winning, huh? That’s what it felt like? Your first human kill?” River asked.
“Yeah, in a way,” I answered.
River studied my face.
“I felt like it was messed up when I realized what that feeling was. That’s why I never told anyone. I thought you guys would think less of me,” I stated.
“You know that would never happen,” Carrie stated.
I smiled.
“I can understand that feeling,” River said.
We all turned to her.
“That’s what it felt like – my first human kill.”
I sat down as she continued.
River explained, “It was some bandit trying to steal from us. I was on watch. I didn’t even call out. I just drew my arrow back and aimed at him. As soon he heard me, he turned around and . . . I just let go and the arrow went right into his chest. He died before even hitting the ground . . . his eyes were still open. I can’t tell which was worse, the arrow in his chest or the bullet I had put in his head.”
We stared at her silently.
“I guess, we all got shadows in our past, right?” River asked.
“Yeah, but better you alive than him,” Clark said.
“Word,” Cody added.
Almost every day, we would sneak into the gym for the black belt teens to train us. This went on for almost two weeks. It felt good that we were ahead of everyone else in class. My friends and I started to hang out with the littler kids that were being bullied. Turns out, they were having a bit of a rough time fitting in. They all still had nightmares of being out there. Their names were Billy, Dominic, and Stanley. Stanley was the redhead, Dominic was a brunette, and Billy was the one with a knife scar. They opened up more when we told them that we were from the outside. We even invited them over to Will and Kayley’s place.
“Where the heck is Jess and Patch?” Carrie asked.
“They said they needed to pick something up after work. Jess said it was something special,” Molly answered.
They were chowing down on some chicken stew. They were smiling as they were chowing down on it. We ate out in the balcony. Billy and Dominic couldn’t stop looking at the view of the ocean.
“How’s the food, boys?” I asked Billy, Dominic, and Stanley.
“It’s delicious,” Billy said.
“Yeah, everything is better homemade,” Dominic added.
“Good thing you don’t cook then,” Stanley joked.
“Oh, you don’t think I can cook? Keep this up and I’ll cook you for dinner!”
“But who would eat him? Even the zombies don’t want him,” Billy stated.
They laughed. Every time a gust of wind blew, they stopped and inhaled the wind. I tried it and it’s actually nice breathing in the fresh air. Then Jess and Patch finally came back.
“Sorry I’m late. We had to take the scenic route,” Jess said.
Kayley gave her a look that said she saw right through her with her arms crossed.
“What?” Jess asked innocently.
“Jess . . . every time you say that it means you were doing something. What were you up to?” Kayley asked.
“Nothing bad.”
“Is it anything good?”
“Well . . . for me, yes.”
“Jess,” Kayley said firmly.
Patch stepped forward, “Alright, alright, you got us. We swung by school.”
“What for?” Will asked.
“Extra credit. We were low on some grades and asked our teachers for some extra credit to boost our grades up,” Jess added.
“Yeah, see for yourself,” Patch said, handing them some papers.
“Extra credit huh?” Kayley asked, as she and Will looked at the grades.
“Yeah, sorry we didn’t tell you earlier. We just didn’t want you to be upset over the bad grades before,” Jess said.
“I’d prefer you tell anyway. Bad grades or not, I need to know what you’re doing so I don’t worry,” Kayley said.
“Okay yeah, we’re sorry,” Patch said.
“It’s alright, just no more tip-toeing around us, okay?” Will asked.
“Yeah, you got it,” Jess said.
As soon as they both went out on the balcony, Jess and Patch came over to us, opening their backpacks.
“What were you guys really up to?” Carrie asked.
“Doing extra credit, but that wasn’t all we were doing,” Patch answered.
I glanced at the balcony door then back at them.
“What else were you doing?” I asked.
Jess pulled out a zip-locked bag with some small containers filled with liquid.
“Planting some very effective stink bombs in those bullies’ bags,” Jess answered.
“Stink bombs? Where the hell did you find stink bombs?” Ashley asked.
“Martial Arts training isn’t the only thing those black belt teens can provide. Jess had a wonderful idea of ruining their odor. You just break these, plant them and run,” Patch said.
“Those assholes had detention. So, we snuck in during extra credit and planted a dozen in each backpack. I even put one in their hoodie!” Jess added.
“Holy shit,” Carrie said, amazed.
“Shit is what they’re gonna smell like,” I stated.
“Worse my friend. Worse,” Patch added, with a smile.
The three boys were smiling with satisfact
ory delight.
“We figured that should lighten things up for you three,” Jess said, giving them a wink and a smile.
“Thank you for that. Thank you,” Dominic said.
“Oh, I can’t wait for tomorrow now!” Billy said.
“Me, too!” Stanley added.
The next day, we could smell the foul odor on them. It was so bad that they had to be sent home. It was bad timing for the bullies with all the kids laughing and mocking them. Although, Billy, Dominic, and Stanley got a little carried away with the name-calling as they walked out. We watched them from the lockers.
“Now tell me, have you ever seen a more perfect sight in all your life?” Patch asked us.
“I can literally smell their humiliation,” Carrie asked, as we walked to class.
“No wonder losing stinks,” Jess punned.
“Was that a pun?” Ashley asked as she grabbed a textbook out of her locker.
“Nope, but this is. What did the ocean do when she saw her old friend, the beach?”
We didn’t say anything. Molly and I put r textbook in our lockers and grabbed our history textbook for our upcoming class.
“She waved,” Jess answered leaning against the lockers.
Some of us chuckled while the rest rolled our eyes.
“Oh, I got a million of them. Why shouldn’t you write with a broken pencil?”
Molly rolled her eyes, “Let me guess, it’s pointless?”
“Damn you know that one? Alright, why don’t eggs tell jokes?”
We got to history class and sat at our usual sits. Not looking forward to the test.
Ashley sighed, “You’re killing me Smalls.”
Molly answered again, “Because they’d be cracking each other up.”
“Alright smartass, let’s hear you say one! Then I’ll stop!” Jess challenged.
Molly sighed, “Okay, why didn’t the bullet show up for work?”
“Why?” Patch asked.
“He got fired.”
Everyone chuckled.
“That’s so dumb. I love it,” I said, with a smile.
Luckily, the smell didn’t stay in the school. Jess and Patch were right about those teens, because they knew their way around this city with all sorts of cool stuff. Ashley, Carrie, and I were able to hook up with some tech guys that kept a digital storage of music and movies. For some point cards, we could buy songs, game apps, movies, and even show episodes and download them into our iPod Touches or buy any other smart device. We bought several – like kids at a candy store. God, I miss those, too.
****
Things were going well. At least, until we ran into the three little boys again and they had black eyes and bruised cheeks or lips as they were headed the infirmary. Ashley, Sarah, and Molly marched straight to them to look closely at their faces.
“Who did this to you?” Ashley asked, seriously.
Stanley looked away.
Ashley pulled his face to look at her and demanded, “Stanley, tell me who this is to you.”
“You know who did this,” Billy answered.
We turned to him.
“Same guys . . . same assholes. McKenzie and his goons and just like before, they’ll get off easy.”
A very sharp and strong anger boiled in me. My left eye twitched and my fists clenched.
Patch shook his head declaring, “I’ve had enough of this bullshit. I don’t care if I get in trouble.”
As he walked away Jess called out, “What are you gonna do?”
Patch didn’t answer.
“Boys, we’re gonna take you to the infirmary to get you some ice,” Ashley said.
“It’s okay. Nurse Margot is there. She’ll help us,” Dominic stated.
“Are you sure?” Molly asked.
“We’ll be fine,” Stanley said.
They walked into the main building while we went after Patch in the gym. The gym was full of all three, elementary, middle, and high school kids. River and her brothers were hanging with some other teens. Everyone was either playing, or hanging out with friends.
“Where’s Patch?” I asked.
“I don’t see him,” Shaun said.
“Neither do I,” Scarlet added.
“Alright spread out,” Carrie instructed.
Molly stuck with me, while Shaun stuck with his sister Scarlet and Warren, and Carrie went with Ashley. We searched until finally we spotted him. He was approaching the bullies. They were hanging in one side of the court mostly talking, walking, and laughing.
“Hey!” Patch called.
They didn’t hear him.
“Hey asshole! I’m talking to you!” Patch called louder.
They stopped and turned around.
“What’d you say?” McKenzie asked.
“I saw you and what you did to those three kids. You think that’s funny? Huh? Bullying someone like that?” Patch jabbed.
“Didn’t you hear what the counselor said? It’s healthy to blow off some steam,” Troy stated.
“Yeah, besides we weren’t bullying. We were just messing around,” Jimmy stated.
“Yeah, just harmless horsing around. You know, bros gotta bro,” Michael added.
“You call giving someone black eyes and bruises horsing around? You call that harmless? That’s bullshit!” Patch stated.
“We were giving them a proper greeting and making them feel welcomed. You shouldn’t lecture and judge other people for their actions. It just makes you look retarded,” McKenzie said with a smirk.
I swear to God, his smile pissed me off just looking at him. It was the kind of cocky smile that all dickheads make when they think they’re tougher or smarter than anyone else. The argument was getting some attention as both kids and teens watched from a distance. I looked over and saw River and her brothers, Clark and Cody seeing us.
“But if you want to stand on our shoulders and call yourself tall you can do that, but it’ll just make you look more insecure and stupid. You should stop following us before you get hurt,” McKenzie said with the same smirk smile.
As they walked away, I suddenly couldn’t control myself any longer. The angry was boiling inside me, the blood in my head started to rush, and I clenched my fists. It’s not wise to start fights, but there’s no way in fucking hell I can live with myself by letting those assholes walk away with that. I moved past my friends, past Patch and marched straight towards them. I headed for McKenzie first. I bent down, grabbed both of his ankles, and pulled hard lifting up to make McKenzie fall flat on his face – he fell directly on his nose. Almost immediately after he hit the floor, everyone gasped and looked at us wide-eyed. McKenzie was writhing and moaning in pain as he turned to his side while covering his face with both of his hands as blood was already streaming out. His buddies tried to help him.
“Oh shit!” someone called out.
“What the fuck?! What did you do that for?!” Jimmy yelled.
“What’s your problem?!” Troy demanded.
“You’re my fucking problem dickhead,” I stated, grimly.
“You broke his nose, you son of a bitch!” Michael yelled.
Patch walked up and stood next to me, “What are you gonna about it, bitch?”
Troy, Jimmy, Peter, and Michael looked at us wide-eyed before making angry faces.
“You fuckers! You’re dead!” Troy roared, before charging.
Troy tried to kick Patch in the chest, but Patch caught his foot and did a Sanda takedown which was basically trapping the kick between your arm and torso, then kicking the standing leg to make the other person fall down. Jimmy tried to come at me, but Warren stepped in front of me and did a Uchi Mata throw on him, by grabbing his arms and by pulling him back to his side to throw him off balance and then by using his own leg as a lever to go in between Troy’s legs, Warren was able to throw him hard to the ground.
I did a rear horse kick, which was a spinning side kick on Peter and hit him in the ribs. Michael threw a few punches before doing a roundhouse kic
k and just like Patch I grabbed his leg and locked it in between my arm and my side before kicking his standing leg to do a Sanda takedown. Peter threw a roundhouse kick at me, but I ducked underneath and then he threw a few punches before I locked his arm in my armpit and punched him in the gut a few times hard. He gasped and grunted as I hit his side, then I kicked Michael before he could come at me, and then I kneed Peter in the face sending him down. Everyone got excited and made noise as we fought, but by the sounds of it they were cheering for us. I looked over and saw Patch and Warren dealing with Troy and Jimmy. They were winning the fight with well-placed punches and kicks. Before I could help, McKenzie tackled me from behind. We both spun around as we fell. Then McKenzie punched me in the ribs.
“Ah!” I grunted.
“Nate!” Carrie called, while Ashley and Molly were holding her back.
McKenzie grabbed me and locked his arm around my neck as he pulled me up. I tried to pull his arms off, but he had me in a good lock.
“What’s the matter, outsider?! Having trouble breathing?! Not used to the city air?!” McKenzie mocked.
I elbowed his side three times, used the back of my head to hit his face before grabbing his arm and doing a shoulder throw – I grabbed his right arm to use as a lever to pull hard and throw him over me. McKenzie landed hard on his side and was writhing in pain.
“Oh! Yes!” Jess cheered, with a smile.
“Is that all you got?!” Patch yelled.
“Come on! We’re right here!” Warren called out.
A teenage boy ran up and pushed me down, “Get off him!”
Before I could get up, River ran up and punched him hard in the face. He stumbled backwards and fell on his ass.
After he fell, River replied, “You get the fuck back!”
The teen glared at her. “You fucking bitch!” and tried to punch her but she did a shoulder throw on him.
As soon as he hit the floor, Clark hollered, “Let’s go motherfuckers!”
Outsider teens and domestic teens charged at each other and a big brawl erupted. Everyone was punching, kicking, tackling, and even headbutting – thankfully Ashley, Carrie, Molly, Jess, Sarah, and Scarlet weren’t engaging. Although, from the look of Carrie’s face she wanted to fight. River and Clark busted some real sweet moves. River punched a guy in the face with her left, kneed his gut, and then executed a perfect flying head-scissors takedown – by facing his side and jumping her legs from his back, locking her legs around his head, and then spinning her weight to his front she pulled his momentum down hard as he landed on his back. She then began punching his face. Clark threw some punches on another teen, but when he was punched in the face, Clark did a Kata-Guruma on him – when the teen threw a right punch, Clark grabbed his right with his left, then quickly got down to lock his right arm around the guy’s right leg, then pulled the guy’s arm down while lifting his leg up, Clark threw him over him and he landed hard on his back. Cody ran up to a teen and did a successful double-leg takedown on the one loud asshole. The instructors rushed in to try and stop the fighting, but it was going to take them a while to defuse it.
The Dark Days Series | Book 2 | Sanctuary Page 12
