“Is my family here too?” Eva asked.

“Yes.” The token responded directly.

“Are they alive?” Eva asked.

“Yes.” The token responded.

Her eyes widened the dim yellow light shining above her. Even though she was stuck in this cage herself she began to worry about them. Her thoughts first went to her mother, she was soft-spoken but strong. She had raised them mainly by herself as her father worked long hours. Her mother was small, slim, and gentle. She couldn’t imagine her hurting a fly let alone killing to survive.

She was less worried about her father, he was a stern man who had started from nothing working his way up to create his own business empire. She had always seen him as calm and composed no matter what came his way. Well unless Alex pissed him off.

Speaking of Alex, how would he do? A memory floated up to the surface of her mind. The memory was still as clear as the day it happened. Even in her current situation, she shuddered as the memory flashed before her eyes.

She had been a freshman which had made her brother a junior. He was known in the school for being a little strange. He practically never spoke and kept his distance from everyone. For some, he creeped them out but the more surprising result was a keen interest by many girls.

She was sure if he wasn’t attractive they would have found him creepy with his actions. Instead, they found him fascinating, and wanted to know more about him. Girls would come up to her, just to ask about her brother, annoying her to no end.

He was tall, attractive, and athletic, his cold personality only made him mysterious. Many girls wanted to open up his cold heart. There were many rumors about him and many girls asking her about him. She wanted to say he was truly just as boring as he acted but nothing she said mattered.

For as long as she remembered Alex always kept a low profile, seeming to disappear into the shadows. The same was true at home, she nearly never saw him. Yet his want to not be in the limelight only seemed to draw more attention toward him. Especially for their father, he was always on Alex warning him to work hard, focus on his studies, and join a sports team.

Each time Alex would refuse, their father would rage yet there seemed to be no effect as he just stared back blankly. Her father had finally given up, which meant her father and brother did not talk to each other.

She was frustrated with Alex too. He was so talented yet wasted the talent by walking around like a zombie accomplishing nothing. He was bursting with potential but refused to use it. When he tried something he would succeed without fail, she hadn’t seen him try for years though.

She had tried talking to him when they were young but that didn’t work. Feeling her mother and father's frustration at him. She started taking on all the expectations, which turned her frustration into resentment. She didn’t know why she was thinking of all this now in this place. No, she did know, she never got to say thank you to him her own ego wouldn’t let her.

If he wanted to get straight A’s he could have with ease. He would have been the all-star on any sports team. He could have done this without trying. She hated that about him because she was the opposite. She tried so hard to meet the expectations of her parents, teachers, and coaches and yet was barely passable.

Since junior high, her schedule had been the same. She woke up at six AM to put on her makeup and prepare for the day. Arrive at school early to make sure she had everything prepared. Go to school during the day, staying attentive and asking questions or she would easily fall behind. Go to practice afterward and stay for an additional thirty minutes to work on her lackluster skills. Go home and help her mother finish dinner. Then she would go and study the rest of the night before going to bed.

Others didn’t have to work this hard, she did, her hard work did not make things easier. She was put in accelerated programs that only made each year harder. In return for all her hard work, all she received was more expectations. She was exhausted and drained, she had given so much to those around her and felt as though she was given nothing in return.

Even though her brother didn’t try he still passed all his classes. People were still attracted to him wanting to be a part of his life. Everyone’s awe of him only made her more resentful, especially when she knew what he could be. She had tried for so many years to get her father to notice her, to say that he was proud but he never did. Maybe that’s why she let Chris into her life at all.

When the senior boy starts talking to the freshman girl that’s usually a red flag. But when he is the football all-star, tall and athletic with blonde hair and blue eyes that becomes easy to look over. Then when he gives you the most heartwarming smile and says the kindest words that make you feel noticed. Well, that’s when it's over when you fall head over heels for him.

That’s why when her brother came to her and told her not to talk to Chris any more anger surged through her. Her brother who had hardly talked to her the past few years, was going to just come up and tell her not to talk to someone. Especially someone so good to her. She had thought then that the reason Alex had told her that was because Chris bullied him.

Bully was a strong word to a blockhead like her brother. In fact, this had been what was holding her back. Chris liked to slam her brother into lockers. Hit things out of his hand, trip him, etc. the normal basic bully things. She didn’t love that Chris was like this, yet she was angrier at Alex for doing nothing. So she ignored the bullying, if Alex wouldn't defend himself why would she?

Besides Chris was like that to others but he had only been sweet to her. So, she continued talking to Chris, longer than she should have. While he had the perfect smile, she began to feel like a monster was hidden beneath that smile. He had advanced on her further and faster than she wanted. She had heard how he talked about her to his friends. She had even seen concerned looks from teachers and her friends. Yet he gave her everything she wanted, so she continued talking to him.

Everything changed on that day, Chris had become more forceful towards her. Touching her during school when she didn’t want him to. Trying to get her to hang out with him alone. She always had the excuse of practicing and getting home to help with dinner. That day though, when Chris walked by and pinched her butt, someone had seen that action that shouldn’t have.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Chris’s three goons laughed as they walked by, high-fiving him. Small things like this had been happening for a while. But this was by far the most brazen thing he had ever done, in front of everyone too. Yet in that moment she took it, she took it like she took everything else. She ignored the whispers calling her slut, even though she had never done anything with him.

Her eyes watered, turning away books in hand embarrassed. As she turned she froze in place. Her brother stood there down the hall looking at what had happened. She wanted to tell him it was nothing, that she was fine. Nothing came out, she could only look down away. Seeing her brother's broken expression had hurt her far more than she’d imagined.

She had tried getting back at Alex, her father, yet she had only hurt herself. Now she saw the strongest emotion she had ever seen on her brother's face. She felt like she had betrayed his trust, he had only ever asked her to do one thing and she hadn’t done it now she was in this situation. The tears streamed down her face but she refused to sob. She felt trapped and controlled at that moment, unsure of what to do.

A whooshing sounded out, she looked up dazed to see Alex rushing past her. The look in his eyes, she would never forget, a look she didn’t know her brother was capable of. Pure anger, not uncontrolled, not crazy, just pure and calculating. Maybe that was what was so scary about the look. Like a serpent prepared to kill its prey.

With a graceful fluidity, his backpack full of heavy books came off and was flipped at Goon One smashing into the boy's head with a thud. Alex didn’t stop with that though, his leg came up smashing between Chris’s legs with so much power even she flinched as the boy came slightly off the ground. As for her, she remained frozen, unmoving watching from afar as though watching a movie, unable to do anything.

Chris dropped to his knees holding his crotch, unable to even groan in pain. The others in the hall didn’t move to stop the fight, they simply created a circle that quickly surrounded the fight. She naturally became a part of the circle, still watching and unable to move.

There were still two other goons though, even though he had blindsided them it was four vs one. The others were all older and bigger than her brother. He didn’t seem to care as Goon Two rushed from the side. Alex spun the football player going or a tackle only met an elbow that smashed into his nose. A crunch sounded in the hall, and Goon Two fell back blood flowing from his nose.

Goon three, terrified, punched toward Alex’s face. To which she saw her brother smile for the first time in years, not a smile of happiness. No, a crazy smile, his fist came out knuckles meeting directly below Goon Three’s knuckles.

The punch was already pitiful in the first place, a third crack rang out as the sound of a hand breaking echoed. Goon three screamed out as he fell to the ground clutching his hand. She watched as Goon One who had a backpack thrown at the back of his head was now getting up. He came from the back and smashed an elbow on the back of Alex’s shoulder. She saw him get up and move toward Alex but had been unable to say anything.

Alex's gaze became unfocused, only for a moment though, when he turned around, there was no disorientation left. Anger, so thick she could see it. Goon One must have been terrified by the gaze too as he stepped back.

“No, please, I didn't mean to.” Goon Three stuttered.

“I understand.” Alex walked forward, “But it's too late, blame ever meeting Chris.”

The man hollered fist coming back to punch. Alex was faster, far faster, the man's punch flew right by Alex’s face even as Alex stepped forward. Alex's palm came up, Goon One’s arm between Alex’s head and arm. His palm smashed into Goon One’s face then continued, his feet came off the ground and his head was smashed into the ground. Goon One became the third one lying on the ground groaning in pain.

Finally, he walked up to Chris who was just gathering himself. The others were either knocked out or in too much pain to get up. These people weren’t hardened fighters, they were just football players, bullies who had never seen anything real in their lives.

Chris turned to him moaning out, “You're going to be in so much trouble.” He wheezed out through the pain.

“Then I might as well finish the job.” Her brother said.

“What? No!” Chris was on his knees but Alex gave him no more time, rushing the few steps a knee smashing into his face.

She had never felt so helpless in her life, as she watched, as everyone watched, in horror, as Alex grabbed Chris, with a strange strength and dragged him to the lockers, people quickly moving out of his way.

He opened the locker and put Chris’s fingers in it. He then looked around taking the time to look into every person’s eyes, even the goons. The people who thought they would get to see an enjoyable fight not whatever this was. None of them had ever seen anything like this. Finally, he spoke.

“Chris and his goons attacked me. I feared for my life and defended myself. If I hear any other story going around, I don’t care if I go to prison, when I get out, I’ll visit every face I see here and you’ll wish you were dead instead.” Without another word, Alex kicked the locker closed.

Chris, who was between consciousness and unconsciousness, woke up screaming and crying. Alex simply left, walking to the principal's office. She had finally been able to move and so had the others, everyone quickly left, they didn’t check on Chris or the goons.

If someone else had said those words, then people may have laughed. After watching the most gruesome scene of their life they refused to say anything else. Rumors quickly spread saying that Chris and his three goons had attacked Alex. Other rumors about Chris spread far worse than a little bullying. One thing was clear, Alex had acted in self-defense.

Four senior boys attacked a junior who fought with the fear of death after having been bullied by them for several years. Her name was never even mentioned. Both fathers had shown up and in no time it was obvious who was in the better situation. The simple act of mentioning some of Chris’s less desirable actions made his father drop the idea of pressing any charges. The boys were expelled and Alex was suspended under the school rules for having fought. They drove home with their father.

“I don’t want to hear about you hanging out with people like that anymore Eva. That boy has been reported by several girls of sexual assault, but there hasn’t been enough evidence. If that many have been reported then there are many more. At least he got what he deserved in the end.” Her father said.

She didn’t know what she expected but not that. Their father hadn't yelled or asked questions. She knew he was indirectly telling Alex that he approved of what Alex had done. Her head was spinning, she knew a few rumors had gone around about him. Why had no one told her? Why had none of her friends told her?

When they got home her mother said nothing. Everyone ignored that the situation had ever happened. She had no one to talk to, no one asked if she was okay, and no one said anything. She closed herself off after that, she went back to school acting like nothing happened. She continued to be what everyone expected her to be, perfect, knowing that she was far from it.

Her family brushed over a traumatic experience just like they always did. She followed suit burying her emotions deep within.

She looked around at the bars all around her and an unconscious smile appeared on her face. She was happy her family was still alive. She was scared for her mother but she had the feeling her brother and dad would be fine. For now, she needed to worry about herself, all she had to do was worry about herself.

The insane thing was when she first appeared in this cell she had been worried that she wouldn’t be able to turn in her final paper. She hadn’t thought of her family or her situation but her responsibilities. The second more insane part was after realizing her situation she let out a sigh of relief.

She tried to stop as the smile spread across her lips but it only grew wider. No more responsibilities, no more playing a character, no more trying to be perfect. The rules were set before her and they were simple, survive. That was it, one thing.