Like most cases in a small, northern New Jersey town with barely anything to report upon, the accident was eaten up by local news sources, even some from up and down the coast. Luckily he was able to quickly get ahold of the police shortly after the car had been crashed. Passerby's comforted William, the panicky child as he clutched his bloody leg. Within the span of minutes he was rescued by screaming ambulances. Everything after that was a blur. Anesthesia blocked his mind and he was in and out. After the only doctors, which were fifteen minutes away, did some quick research, they came to a conclusion; Jack had broken five bones in his left leg and minor injuries sprouting from his head.
Although, his situation could have been worse. His mother had been hit more severely since she was in the driver seat. Head busted open, possible permanent headaches for her lifetime, broken limbs, all around she had been beaten up and was on pain medication for the next few days.
William didn't believe in luck, and especially not magic at all. But one thing seemed certain that night- he sure was lucky to be alive and walking on the earth. That was one of the only time thus far he felt like luck was real.
Things lightened up, such as William being donated gracious money by neighbors, including an old lady he recognized earlier driving the car next to there's. She seemed to be awkwardly popping up everywhere. He was showered with candy, money, video games for consoles he didn't even have. He began to feel like he hit a jackpot. Williams leg began to feel better, and after his mother was released on demand. She claimed that 'she didn't need to be treated like a newborn'. Sounded like the typical thing his mom would say.
Neighbors came in to help, including an old fellow who called himself 'Hank Kennedy'. He was burly and had a heavy build. William wouldn't be surprised if Hank was a ex-WWE wrestler. Looked like he knew some moves. He claimed that he had a daughter that lived with him down the street, who was about Williams age. Hank looked intimidating, and when William asked about the old lady around Hank spoke with caution, staring that the old lady had killed her husband in the 2000's and served a prison sentence for twelve years.
Within days William adjusted to the quiet life of Springfield. His apartment was on the seventh floor, overlooking the other small apartments below with people looking like beetles whizzing about. In his Californian home it was large and luxurious.
To be honest, William liked Springfield better. It felt vintage with the barely occupied pubs, the uneven streets and sailing birds, but even that wasn't a replacement for the zero reception. He ended up reading for a bit, which was unusual for the quite active youngster.
Unfortunately, William started to have night terrors about the car crashing, his mother sobbing beside the car in a pile of rubble. Every time he tries to reach for his mother, but he can't quite reach her and he slips away into the void, leaving his mother and splintered car.
One morning in particular, he awoke covered in dark patches of sweat and leaped off his bed, realizing that he was almost about to be late for his first day of school. In a flimsy panic, he darted for his clothes as slung them around his arms, combing his hair and then dousing his armpit with deodorant. He tried not to think of his terrible vision he had in his sleep as he crept downstairs, trying to avoid his sleepy mother. This was regular for her, as she was on pain medication that quickly put her to sleep. Luckily William was skilled enough to cook a waffle and scoffed it down violently, nearly choking as he sat used a fresh cup of orange juice to cram it down. As he was about to leave he turned back around and saw his mother, resting peacefully on the couch.
In awe, he went to kiss his mother goodnight, but something seemed off. Her head felt awfully warm, and she seemed off, but nonetheless he had to get to school and kissed her shoulder before running outside to get to school. He trotted down the stairs, and eventually made his way outside where he felt the fresh air. As he used his phone to direct himself towards the school, a boy his age emerged from the pub, and what followed after was the most shocking scene yet. He was handling two ice cold beers, diving forwards as a car early crashed into him.
Cars had now induced a fear in William, and seeing that car almost stuck it to that kid sent shivers down his neck. But he head no time to think before a Italian looking guy butted the doors open and balled his fists in anger at the underaged kid escaping the small pub. It seemed to be the owner.
"Get back here Robert! Robert Bach!" The supposed store manager barked. But Robert was already off, and heading straight towards William. Surprisingly William felt a grip around his collar and was dragged along with Robert, who expectedly drifted his way though the streets.
"Robert! You little piss-drinker!" Robert was long gone and William sat anxiously with Robert in an alleyway, both of them catching there breathe as they realized what they'd done.
"My names uh- Robert. Robert Bach. But just call me Rob." Rob had frizzy ginger hair and freckles that made him like-able. His smile was infectious and he handed a cold Shiner to William, who wasn't having it.
"What is this-" William spat, holding up the can of Shiner and recoiling in disgust.
"Beer. Never tried it? Take a sip. Have a bit." Robert shrugged as took a sip of his beer and began chugging it vigorously.
"I really need to get going. I'm late for school." William stood up with his backpack and dropped the beer onto the concrete.
"Cmon. What have you got to lose, ya know? Just have a chat instead walking off to that prison. Not like they teach anything anyways." Robert begged, crushing his empty beer can and tossing it towards Williams legs.
"I can't miss the first of school. I'll get in trouble." William defended himself, as Robert grabbed another can and cracked open the top, alerting the shop owner.
"Oh Robby!" The pub-owner called, as Robert stood up from the murky alleyway and poked his head from the corner, only to see the pub owner coming with a steak, mesmerizingly clean-cut and sharp.
That could easily slide through the fragile children, which is why Roberts eyes widened in fear of the silver dagger.
"Oh shit. Let's get out of here." Robert grabbed onto the collar of William and pulled him along as they started farting across the streets, littered with trash bags and empty cans of beer with glass shards. The pub owner was also running, about to ready to be sentenced to two counts first degree murder on the slightly innocent children.
"You can run but you can't hide!" The psychopathic pub-owner shouted through the misty morning as the kids turned a corner into a secluded alleyway. They were cornered, and the only way to escape was to climb over the trash cans and grip the brick walls to reach the top of the building.
Robert tried to hop over the trash bin and climb the bricks to the small, flat roof for protection, but William was caught with a knife to his throat, handled by a grown man.
"Now I've got ya, slippery penguins." He had a slight Scottish accent as William squirmed. But the Scottish pub-owner had the upper hand with his shiny knife.
"You sicko. You wouldn't dare kill him." Robert practically dared, as tears streaked down Williams cheeks.
"Watch me. Now lay me in full cash and best case scenario- you go to young offenders." This seemed like a unfair deal, but given the circumstances it was deserved. The only unfair thing was how William was tangled up in the mess.
"Put him down now. He's my friend." Robert pleaded as he caught his breathe again, examining his newfound friend being threatened at knife point.
"Gimme the money, runt." The pub owner scowled as William felt the knife rub against his pale skin, and he couldn't tell if he had cut it or simply brushed it against his skin.
"You know what?" The Scottish man joyously announced. "No." He cackled at his own joke as William looked desperately in Roberts eyes of mischief.
"Fine. Just take my one hundred and leave." Robert pulled a single bill from his pocket and unwilling threw it on the ground. As the Scottish man retrieved the money, he let William go. At that moment William had to duck to miss a gnarly kick directly into the Scottish mans head. He was sent stumbling back, collapsing on the floor in a daze.
"Cmon." Once again Robert guided the frightened child, this time up the trash can and onto the roof, covered in puddles of rain as Robert nearly missed a knife slash from the angry adult.
"Shit." William couldn't help but find the joy in this ad two kids ran across the roof freely, and William felt like a good fit. He thought he finally mattered, belonged. Like he was important.
YOU ARE READING
The Eight Amulets, Vol. 1
General FictionEvery since William had arrived in Springfield, things had gone haywire. Car crashes, bullies, and trouble following him everywhere. But then there was a final straw when his mom became incredibly sick. It all leads to one curse, and it's down to Wi...
