Fif15teen

by Nik Davies

  ****

  Pox was hiding behind a boat fuming as she watched her Angels retreating into the corn followed by a herd of raging boys. Thaniel dove over the boat and slammed into her. She wasn’t prepared for the hit and soared backward, rolling across the sand. She came to a halt on her back with her head in five inches of river water. She pulled her head up, coughing and sputtering, but before she could get a good lungful of air Thaniel was on her, hands around her throat. He thrust her head underwater until her kicking became frantic and desperate, then he pulled her up.

  “When will this end?” Thaniel pleaded.

  “When you’re dead!” she sputtered.

  “Wrong answer,” he said and dunked her head again. She fought savagely, but he was far too strong for her. She came up sputtering water in his face.

  “How many times do I have to say I’m sorry?” he asked.

  “A million times would never bring Ren back,” she said. That name on her lips sent daggers piercing into his heart. He dunked her head again, so she wouldn’t see his pain. When he pulled her up again, she stared at him earnestly. Her voice was strained with repressed tears when she finally spoke.

  “Kill me,” she begged.

  “If I have to suffer for all eternity, you’ll suffer right along with me. It was just as much your fault as mine!” He hissed before he cocked his fist back and punched her with every drop of anger he had. Her eyes rolled back in her head before she passed out. He picked her up out of the water and tossed her in a crumpled heap on the sand, then stormed off into the corn.