Casting Shadows

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 (Brendon's POV)

*130 years ago*

Patrick, my best friend, and I approach Gerard and the girl he is with. They are looking lovingly into each other's eyes, but I know they aren't dating yet. He is going to make his first move on her.

"Gee, look," the girl says as she notices us. She keeps her head down and back away when Gerard lets go of her hand.

I think her name is Lindsey. Her parents are rich, but then again, everyone that goes to this school is wealthy. She joins the crowd that has gathered around for the show.

"Brendon, please don't," Gerard begs as I back him into the lockers in the school hallway. His lip quivers as he tries to hold back tears.

The mass of people cheer me on. Patrick stands beside me, waiting for me to give him the signal for us to start beating the kid up.

"We used to be friends," Gerard mumbles into his chest. His words are true. For a while I was best friends with him and Patrick, except the two of them never got along. When the time came, I chose Patrick over him.

"Things change, people grow apart," I say as I grab him by the shirt. I used to be able to relate to him. In the first few years of school, I was different. Slowly, as Patrick and I grew closer, I changed.

"Throw him down the stairs!" one of the students in the crowd shouts.

I grin at the idea and so does Patrick. We both grab Gerard by the hair and arms and drag him to the staircase railing. Right before we push him over the edge of the two story drop, I see a glimmer of anger in his eye. Usually he just shows fear and confusion, so his expression throws me off for a moment.

Shaking it off, Patrick and I throw him off the railing, causing him to fall two stories down onto the floor below. He lands on his back with a loud thud. The other students cheer for Patrick and I to bring it even further by continuing to hassle him. Without thinking, only the attention motivating me, I go down the stairs and begin to kick Gerard in the side. Patrick and I beat him until we are positive he is dead. The whole time I am using my demonic gift on him, giving him the sensation that he is burning.

His nose has blood trickling from it and his heart isn't beating. He has a split lip and his hair is all messed up. The kid looks like he's been mauled.

I'm not sure how long I'm standing over his body, but it's long enough that all of the people, including Patrick, have moved on with their day. The hall is empty except for Gerard and I. Without the encouraging chant of the crowd, the guilt begins to creep up on me. He was my close friend and I've been bullying him ever since I chose Patrick.

My parents disapprove of my friendship with Patrick because his father is also a district leader. They say that his family will be the downfall of the dimension. All leaders tend to have a rivalry with each other, that's just what the job does to a person. It makes them cynical and malicious. I promised myself that I wouldn't let the same thing happen to me, but it appears that I've already become that way.

I look at Gerard's body one last time before turning around and making my way to class. Of course, the teacher yells at me for being late. I honestly couldn't care less though because I'm already guaranteed a job as a leader when I grow up. I'm in the top ten in my graduating class, so it's not like I'm dumb.

The whole lesson my mind cannot seem to focus. All I can think about is how much I've betrayed Gerard. My body overflows with guilt and I find it hard to breath. My heart thumps against my chest harder than ever and I feel like I'm being eaten alive from the inside.