The Doll

Part 2: Suspicion

Part 2

Suspicion

Clay looked into the mirror. He was a mess. He touched his black eye and winced. "Asshole..." Clay reached into the medicine cabinet and pulled out make-up to hide the fresh black eye. He groaned as he applied the foundation.

He backed up to look himself over once more. He tossed his hair around so his bangs would shadow the injured eye. He thought it was a Goth look, but he pulled it off. He sighed.

Clay stepped out of the bathroom and picked up his bag. He heard shuffling in the kitchen. He had a chance to sneak out. Clay picked up his boots and tip-toed into the hall. He crouched along the wall as he listened to the sound of pans clanging on surfaces.

Just before reaching the front door, Clay was grabbed by the collar and thrown onto the couch. "Where do you think you're going, punk?"

Clay scrambled to his feet. "Got to get to school." He glared at the man he called father. "Federal law."

Senior Swan lit the cigarette hanging on his lips. He scratched the stubble on his chin as he glowered over Clay. "That's a waste on you." He noticed the black eye missing. He smirked. "Wearing make-up like a little girl? Wanna be a princess when you grow up?"

"Gotta go." Clay tried to walk past with his head held high.

His father backhanded him. Clay crashed into the front door. "I asked you a question, boy. And don't think I'm done punishing you for your little adventure in the middle of the night. When you get home, I'll be waiting."

Clay balled a fist. He picked up his boots and walked out the front door, slamming the door.

"BOY! You slam my door again and it'll be the last thing you ever do!" The front door swung open. Clay bolted down the hall. He jumped down the stairs and ran to the other side of the street.

"I fucking hate you!" Clay leaned against the fire hydrant and pulled his boots on. He stormed down the street. He knew his face must have been red with fury by the way people scurried out of his way. He touched the fresh cut on his lip. It had stopped bleeding but the pain was still throbbing.

He turned down the corner to find three jocks hovering over someone. Clay cocked his head to see his nerdy friend, Blaine, cowering. Just what he needed.

"Ain't nobody here to protect you now, scrawny." The greasy black-haired jock known as Brian cracked his knuckles. He pulled his fist back.

Clay grabbed Brian's wrist. He twisted it and forced the jock to his knees. Clay kicked Brian's side. "I don't think three-against-one is a fair deal."

Blaine ran behind Clay. He fixed his glasses. "Thank god you're here."

"I need to let out some steam anyway." Clay cracked his neck.

"Your arrogance is going to be your downfall, Clay." The tallest jock, Jack, punched Clay in the face. Clay took a step back for balance.

Clay wiped the blood from his lip. The cut his father gave him reopened. "You hit like a sissy." Clay lunged at Jack and drove his fist into his stomach. Jack keeled over enough for Clay to slam his other fist across his face.

The last jock, Kevin, threw his hands up in defeat. He turned tail and ran. Clay spat out the blood building in his mouth. "I wasn't done releasing my stress."

Blaine came up to Clay's side. "You're a beast, man."

Clay wrapped an arm around Blaine. "Nah, I'm just a guy cursed to fight."

"More like slaughter." Blaine glanced back at the writhing jocks.

"Come on, man. The faster we get to school, the faster I can see Mina." He walked ahead.