A sigh left his mouth as he looked up at the school with a melancholic tired look in his green eyes.
It was one of his many rituals he did in the morning, the robotic tasks bringing a slight amount of comfort to the boy- named Rayfield.
One could say it was showing its age but that couldn't be further from the truth, constant vandalism and other reasons for its accursed state. However today it had a certain charm which he enjoyed.
The lights which led to the school shined a white light as they were covered by a ghost and a sign with orange and black letters was arranged above the entrance.
'Happy Halloween'
Shaking himself from his day dream he walked in and through the metal detector which stood guard in front of the door. The police officer who stood guard leaned back against his chair and opened up a magazine.
"Working hard Jerry?"
"Hardly working."
He shot back the usual greeting with a small smirk. Another tradition.
Rayfield quickly moved throughout the school with quick speed, almost like a speed walk. He dodged and weaved through the crowded halls before he reached his biggest obstacle.
"What do you think of my nails? I got them done yesterday?"
"OMG they look so great!"
"What do you think of this devil costume? Will it get me dress coded?"
A group of girls walking side by side formed a long barricade in the halls and they talked to each other. Moving at a snail's pace they recounted their weekends to each other and other stupid stuff.
As Rayfield scanned the line he found a break, instantly he moved toward it.
"Excuse me Racheal!"
He twisted his body sideways as he moved between a girl in a rather sparkly dress and the wall.
"Damn it Rayfield! You brushed against me!"
She yelled back as Rayfield continued his blazing fast walking speed to his destination.
He merely waved his hand at her and let out a 'sorry,' before continuing on.
It's not like he was in any rush, he just hated walking slowly. A small tic of his some would say as he often found himself having to slow down and wait for people whenever they walked with him.
Reaching the top of the stairs he made a quick spin on his heel and found his destination- his locker. Latching onto the lock he began to spin the combination.
17-32-10
He threw it open and let out another sigh before reaching out into his pocket and pulling out his phone. His safe space, his place of relaxation. Just standing in front of the locker was enough for him in this school.
The locker to the left of him was open as well so he had quite a bit of privacy… or so he thought. Peeking her head from behind the locker came a girl who looked very out of the dress code with her crop top and skirt.
"What are we looking at Rayfield?"
Quickly he shut his phone and stared at her blankly as she giggled.
"Don't tell me… It was another weird anime?"
Rayfield shook his head before shoving his phone back into his jeans.
"It's not my fault, you always seem to appear at just the wrong time. Is this how you like to spend your free time anyways Tiffany? Looking over people's shoulders and staring at their phone?"
She put an exaggerated finger to her chin as if deep in thought and even tilting her head to the side.
"It's fun but I would probably choose someone more interesting than you."
"Harsh but I'll take it."
He grabbed his pen and 'everything' notebook before closing his locker. The only notebook he had and one he used for every class.
With that in hand he closed his locker and began to walk away from the bubbly waving girl.
"Have a good day Rayfield!"
He turned around and waved back before continuing down the hall to his new destination.
His ears were filled with various noises coming from each direction, people talking to each other, the closing of lockers, the many steps making their way to class.
Soon he felt the phone in his pocket ring and his head immediately perked up. Deciding the bathroom would be the best place to look at the notification since perhaps some privacy would be needed for the delicate topic.
He weaved through the halls in his usual quickened manner and went for the bathroom at the end of the school. More toward his first period class.
"You still owe us for that protection, Lloyd!"
Rayfield turned the corner and his breath hitched as he stopped dead in his tracks to look at the sight in front of him.
2 teenagers twice bigger than the one they had pinned up against the wall- Lloyd, a familiar face to Rayfield. One he has seen in a few in his classes as they were in the same grade.
Though he felt no kinship toward Lloyd a slight fury burned at seeing what was in front of him. An injustice, even if Lloyd had wronged these men this was no way to go about it, right?
All eyes turned toward him, the 2 bullies narrowed their eyes as if analyzing him while Lloyd simply stared back with pleading eyes. One wishing to grasp onto anything, someone, a savior in this dark moment which he could not escape.
Rayfield's fist clenched up for a moment before relaxing.
"I'll pretend I didn't see anything."
Turning tail he put his hands into his hoodie and nonchalantly walked out.
"Hmph- good. Wouldn't want to have any problems in this school right, Rayfield?"
One of them called to him with a slight chuckle but Rayfield pretended not to listen as he left the bathroom.
It's better to not butt your head into something that isn't your problem right? If you try to play the hero and intervene then you will be met with retaliation from those you stopped.
Violence can only be met with the escalation of more violence, its human nature to hate losing.
Perhaps he could tell a teacher but then they would know it was him and he would become their new target out of revenge. They seemed like the type to be petty enough. In the end shouldering the burden of another's trouble was not something he was interested in.
-
The first period bell rang signaling its end . He closed his notebook which was filled to the brim with the few notes he was able to pick up in the middle of his day dreaming sessions; which was not a lot.
He sat at his desk for a few minutes before getting up once most of the class had already left. A way to avoid the massive crowd which stampeded out of the classroom every time class ended.
Walking out he saw a familiar face standing near the door- Lloyd.
Lloyd pushed his body off the wall and stood up straight to meet Rayfield eye to eye. His face was swollen and a black circle surrounded both of his deep brown eyes. A shame honestly since he was a decently attractive person one could say.
…
Later that night Rayfield was walking home, he had stayed late to use the libraries computer as he didn't have one at home.
his head down as he walked at his usual fast pace. Though this time his mind was somewhere else, the words Lloyd had spoken to him wrapped around his head and would not let go no matter how much he tried to shrug them off.
The voice of Lloyd echoed in his head, attaching itself like a parasite and would not let go.
'Why did you not help?'
'... There was nothing I could have done?'
'What do you mean by that?'
Rayfield kicked a rock which skipped across the road in front of him.
'What could I have possibly done?'
He scoffed at those words. Those lies which he told himself, always. A lie which he had to keep up.
Soon his ears perked up as he heard the sound of multiple voices up ahead.
"No! Please!"
The sounds of a girl came from the alleyway up ahead.
'You could have stepped in! You could have helped me! Tell the teacher!'
The visage of Lloyd tearing up as he poured his heart out quickly came to mind.
With burning guilt in his heart he slid against the wall and slowed his footsteps. Trying to silence his footsteps he stepped on his heel first and slowly the rest of his foot came down.
'Then what? Do you know what happens to those who step in? Instead of targeting you then it would have been me! Once you put yourself in one of those situations you can't get out… I would know.'
Peering around the corner he saw two men, both clearly not in the right state of mind, surround a girl who was in a rather revealing bunny girl outfit.
Panic surrounded her eyes as she scanned the area and tried to push the men who surrounded her away which only caused them to giggle as they stepped back. Only for them to take the original place back.
"Please! You don't have to do this!"
A pit formed in Rayfield's stomach and he clutched it. As he looked closer however his eyes widened as he recognized the faces of the three. Chester, Roy, and Samantha. Three people who were in her class.
He pulled his head around the corner out of view and shook his head.
Perhaps it's better not to get involved, if he did then he knew what would happen. Chester and Roy were part of a gang in the city and he knew what happened to the last person who snitched on them.
School would be far from a safe place for him, constantly looking behind him. In the end he would look like Lloyd.
Though perhaps there is something he could do, call the cops. He rummaged in his pocket and grabbed it but stopped.
He peered around the corner again and narrowed his eyes.
"Oh come on Samantha, we drove you. The least you could do is treat us."
The taller and wider one, Chester grabbed her wrist.
On Halloween night he doubted they would make it in time even if he called now. The damage would be done and it would be far too late…
'I couldn't even call for the teacher, they would know who did it if I did… There was nothing.'
The words he said earlier came back to mind.
'Saving others would only end with retaliation later, worse than what the victim experienced. Violence is met with worst violence even in the name of good. It continues to escalate.'
He pulled his hand out of his pocket and sighed.
He pulled his backpack off and unzipped it.
-
Roy came behind Samantha who was now being tugged into a tight hug by Chester.
"My such a great costume too, it is perfect."
His slurred comment slithered out his mouth. The words stunned Samantha who was still trying to process the situation. She was completely silent as she felt the cold touch of hand begin to slide up her back.
Soon however they stopped as footsteps rang out behind Roy.
"What the-"
Came the words of Chester who gazed at the thing running behind him.
Quickly Roy turned around and instantly a rush of pain coursed through his head and white took over his vision. A heard the clang of what sounded like a metal pipe reverberate against his skull and he fell to the floor.
"Aaaaahhhh!" He let out a scream as he clutched his forehead which leaked blood out of it. His vision quickly came back to normal as he peered at the strangest sight ever.
A man with a fox mask stood in front of Samantha and Roy. The mask bared its canines and the yellow eyes were sunken in almost like wild animals with rabies. It spoke of pure madness.
in his right hand he held the metal pipe with a slight dent in it, the one that had caused such pain to him but he kept his left hand out of sight from the two.
Only Roy could see what it was; just a normal brick.
"What do you think you're doing! Trying to interrupt a special moment between friends."
The masked figure didn't respond and this only angered Roy more who quickly shoved Samantha to the floor, she let out a small yelp as she fell on her bottom.
Quickly she scurried to the side as Roy slid on a pair of brass knuckles, ones he always kept in his pocket.
"Perhaps I should teach you to learn to stay out of people's business."
"Chester! Wait!"
It was too late however, the left hand which was hidden from Chester now launched the brick toward him.
"Hey!"
The brick collided with Chester's head and he quickly took a step back from the impact. The figure quickly used the opportunity to strike at the biggest part of Chester's body, his gut.
Gripping the pipe with both hands he swung with the form of a baseball player and with a loud thud it sank into Chester's stomach.
Immediately Chester vomited his dinner and keeled over, clutching his stomach. Chester let out a loud gasp for air. His body was trying to fill his lungs as quickly as possible as if all the air was smashed out of it.
The figure stood over Chester's body, the fox tilted its head as if examining the body before turning to Samantha.
Immediately she let out another yelp.
"Please no! Not me too! Don't hurt me too!"
She pleaded to the fox and put her arms over her head as if to shield herself from an impending impact.
The fox merely stopped in its tracks and looked down upon her. The words must have stung deep in his heart and he seemed to want to say something. Perhaps to clear up what its intention was but instead it came out in a huff.
Seeing an opportunity Roy reached into his pocket and pulled out his pocket knife. Looking up he silently brandished the blade and quickly went to his feet and charged at the figure with his back turned.
"Aaaahhh!"
He screamed as he charged toward him. The foxes head perked up and quickly tried to turn around but it was too late. The blade was driven into his stomach before the pipe smashed against Roy's head again.
Roy's body went limp and his hands let go of the knife before falling to the floor with a thud. In the midst of the chaos Samantha stood up and ran away screaming.
The fox let out a hiss as his hand touched the handle of the blade which was dug into his stomach. Blood dripped out and stained his sweatshirt.
After confirming that Roy was out cold the yellow eyes of the savage looked over instead at Chester who finally regained most of his air back.
It limped over and raised the pipe above his head with both hands slowly.
"Wait!"
CLANG!
While it still had most of its strength the metal pipe went down and Chester's vision went dark.