“Why the hell do we have to do this when it’s freaking 12:00 AM?!”

“Because you wouldn’t do this if it was 6:00. Besides, it’s 6:00 somewhere.”

I sighed as I slouched my shoulders already feeling exhausted before we actually did anything. Milan used my trumpet and screamed it in my ears while I was sleeping, I fell out of my bed. Then my mom just smiled and said, “breakfast you two.”

Like how does that even happen? A stranger freaking pop's out of nowhere playing your ‘daughters’ trumpet and you basically ignore that and say “breakfast.”

“I don’t wanna do it either way. I just wanna go back to my bed.”

“You’re just going to wallow.” I shrugged and gave a lazy grin and placed my hands in my burgundy hoodie. “It’s whatever as long as it gets me coffee and gets me through the day.” Milan ignores me completely and points forward towards some dude towering over someone. What is the heck up with this? “What’s the point of this?” I questioned completely confused.

“Your job is to gain your first member.” Wah?

“Eh? You’re kidding right?” She showed no signs of kidding. “Me,” I pointed towards myself raising an eyebrow, “go against that huge dude?” She crossed her arms and nodded while rolling her eyes. “Yes now go do it you turd.” She slapped my back making me topple forward.

Thanks to my beautiful luck I tripped over air and slammed into the guys back. I was trying to escape my fears not to face them. When he turned around all my sense heightened and when I touched him... I saw his whole story.

I have opened my eyes and saw that I was in a small mussed up house. I saw a crying boy in the corner, a man towering over the boy like how he is currently doing now to this other person. Then, I hear a scream and see the man pulling the little boy’s hair. “Stop!” I yell trying to stop him but I go right through him. It’s a memory...it’s real but I can’t touch it.

When the man drags the kid to the next room, I teared up. He has the same look as I do in my own eyes. Forgotten, Unloved, uselessness and pain.

I close my eyes and start shaking, closing my fists and re-opening them. I opened up my eyes again. I’m back.

“Stop,” I hear myself say even though I wasn’t planning to say anything, I breathe. “You’re better than this man.” He slammed me down on the ground and I start shaking again because it’s that feeling again, when I ride my bike, when I ran in the middle of the night away. That feeling it feels so good and it’s making my heart race, I realize its adrenaline.

It’s a hella of a good feeling. The pain ’s just so….not there, the only feeling there is of adrenaline is just pumping.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

But, I saw the fury and despair in his eyes, I stared right back and pushed him off of me. “You bitch!” He exclaims when he lands in a pile of garbage. I’m not even in control, it feels as if I’m just watching from the sidelines again. I don’t want that. I want control. So? I take it, it’s a bit of struggle to see as it felt as if it wasn’t my own body.

But, I can see his future movements, it’s just so obvious. He’s planning to punch my nose and when he launches himself? I dodge. He tries to punch me in the stomach? I dodge. I keep dodging but I don’t attack back. I’m waiting for the moment and there it is. Clear as day, he’s exhausted.

So, I went behind his back and tapped his neck and he collapsed.

But, then I feel so fucking tired. It’s getting harder to breathe and I turn around to see the person staring at me with wide eyes and I just feel so exhausted, but I smile at them and then I see Milan and her eyes are just shining at me. I never felt so accomplished. Then, it’s dark and I feel the pain but it’s ten times as stronger.

It burns.

I opened my eyes and yelped as I tried to move and almost immediately I saw two people at my side. It was my mom and...Erin? The hell? I...helped her? Did I help the most popular girl in my school? The one I have a huge, big fat gay crush on?

Confused out my mind I heard a voice, “Lay back down stranger.” My hands started sweating as I gripped the bed sheets roughly with my bandaged hands.

“You okay there Charles?” I could just hear the damn smirk on her face. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you! You fucking idiot!” I gritted my teeth. “If you didn’t she wouldn’t have been here right now.” She pointed towards Erin. Fuck. She’s right. I wouldn’t even change my actions if I knew it was her anyway.

I kept quiet as my mother woke up and when her eyes landed on me I grinned nervously. “Hi?”

“Charlene Elizabeth Eddison! What are you thinking of getting into street fights?!” I winced. She’s really upset. “What would’ve happened if you got stabbed?!” But, how did I hurt my hands? “The force of the speed directed it to one of the main points of your body,” Milan whispered.

Once my mum was done rambling she sighed,”Just...be ready for Friday.” What’s Friday? “Don’t tell me you already forgot Charley?” She groaned.

“You’re heading to your grandparents' house. I know how much you love it there.” My whole face went pale at the mention of going back there. I don’t wanna go back there. “I don’t wanna go,” I mumbled looking down. “What was that Charley?”

I gave her a small smile and shook my head trying to signal nothing was wrong. Mom looked at her watch, “It’s time for us to go. Come on Milan.”

“Where are you going?”

“We gotta pick some things up from the grocery store.” She responded and started leaving the room with Milan following behind, her winking at me. “Sooo...uh..thanks for uhm saving me.” I looked towards Erin in surprise but the looked down.

“No problem.”

“I’m sorry.” I looked up as my eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Sorry for what? You didn’t do anything.” I furrowed my eyebrows.

“I meant for my friends...they have always been jerks to you and I never said anything about it.” I just shrugged and her eyes widened. “Look don’t worry about it. They can’t fuck me up more than they already have. Besides, you shouldn’t have to apologize for their actions love.”

“If there is anything I could repay you with, I’d be more than willing to help.” I shrugged and thought for a moment. What could she repay me with? Then I realized the reason why I’m here.

“Actually, there is one thing.” “What is it?”

“Wanna join my group?”

She shrugged, “I don’t see why not.”