Lewis hurried to meet with Josie. He couldn't be sure how long Mr. Gray would leave him unattended. He still had so many questions he wanted to ask Josie. As he entered the small greenbelt beside the field he could hear Josie talking to somebody. It was a boy, although he couldn't see who it was through the trees.

"You have no choice, it has to happen," said the boy.

Josie made a frustrated whining sound.

Lewis ducked through the brush. By the time he was at Josie's side all he saw was a flash of blue as the boy ran out the other side of the greenbelt and disappeared.

Josie looked shaken as she turned around. "Lewis!"

"Who was that?" he asked.

"Nothing," said Josie, not realizing her answer didn't fit the question. "So how are things with Kenzie?" She was trying to change the subject. Lewis thought he detected a hint of jealousy in her voice.

He gave a half-shrug. "I really liked her for a long time, but now that I'm in it, it just doesn't feel right. I'm not even sure what I thought I saw in her to begin with if I'm being totally honest. I don't even know what I want anymore."

Josie's focus shifted back and forth between Lewis's eyes as he spoke.

"You know, it's kinda funny," he continued, "when Mr. Gray first appeared I asked him what he wanted and he said the real question was what I wanted. I thought I knew, but I guess I don't." Lewis crossed his arms. "Except I know I want the truth."

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Josie's mouth pinched up. She had sad eyes.

"So are you going to tell me who that was, or...." Lewis didn't hear the footsteps approaching in the soft soil behind him until it was too late.

He spun around just as Andrew with his black eye slammed into his chest. Lewis hit the ground hard sending the wind rushing out of him. Josie screamed. Jeremy and Landon were there as well. Jeremy quickly grabbed Josie around the middle. He pinned her arms to her sides as she kicked out and screamed again, trying to struggle free. He was easily twice her size.

Landon glared at Lewis in silence.

Enraged, Lewis turned back towards Jeremy and Josie.

"We know what you did," Jeremy said to Lewis. He wrenched Josie around several times trying to subdue her struggling.

Andrew dragged Lewis up and shoved him against the trunk of a tree. He pressed his forearm firmly to Lewis's neck. He could barely breathe.

"I told you to stay away from Kenzie," said Landon. He punched Lewis hard in the stomach with his non-injured arm. Andrew pushed even harder on Lewis's throat as he cried out in pain.

Jeremy held his hand over Josie's mouth, muffling her cries. Lewis directed a hateful glare at Jeremy as Landon placed several more gut wrenching punches against his abdomen.

"You can have Kenzie!" Lewis cried out. "I don't even like her anymore!"

"No kidding," said Landon. "Too late, though."

Lewis felt like he was going to vomit as the attack continued. His body felt like a bruised banana as he fell to the dirt. Landon and Andrew began using their feet, kicking Lewis repeatedly all over. He tried to block their blows, clenching up into a ball, but each kick still felt like he was being hit with a sledge hammer.

All he could hear was the grunts of his attackers as they ruthlessly beat him, and the heart wrenching whimpers of Josie through Jeremy's smothering palm.

Blood filled Lewis's mouth. The metallic taste was thick on his tongue. A blow to the head made his vision shake. Blotches of darkness filled his mind. There was nothing he could do. The pain was too much. The last thing he thought he heard as he slipped from consciousness was the wiry cry of Mr. Gray yelling: "Stop!"

Everything went dark in the blur of the torment.