The Neighborhood Watch

Chapter One- The Old Gods

The fight usually ends with someone on the ground, but I wanted him in the ground. I wanted him six feet under and with no mourners. He had touched my sister without permission, and she had come to me crying. This would be the last time he touched anything.

Soon enough, a teacher would come to break this up, but soon enough wasn't fast enough to save him, however. I had him by the waist while he dug his elbows into my back, but I barely felt them. I was too busy running him into the brick wall behind him. With my shoulder in his stomach, I felt the air leave his lungs, and I didn't let it come back.

I stood straight and punched him in the face, feeling the bones in his nose shift and crack. Blood ran from his nostrils and headed toward his open mouth. He threw another elbow, getting me across the jaw while I wasn't looking. I felt my lip split, but it only fueled me more.

"Mika, stop!" I heard her cry. "You'll get into trouble!"

Catching the wrist of the arm that had struck me, I pulled his arm straight and punched upwards at the elbow, breaking it. A crowd had gathered around us, cheering on the fight without really knowing why it was occurring. Still, once it was over, they'd go back to pretending like I didn't exist.

As the freshman sobbed over his arm, I drew my fist back to finish the fight, only to realize the cheering of the fight had stopped. A hand wrapped itself around my upper arm and ripped me backward, off the lower classman. The school's SRO officer's eyes flashed around at the crowd, and without a word, all the children turned and ran for the class they were supposed to be in.

With his shotgun draped over his shoulders and his bulletproof vest on his chest, the SRO officer was a threatening figure, but the kids who had run from him didn't know half of it. "What did I say about getting into another fight, Mikael?" He pulled me back until I was standing in the middle of the hall and then let go of me. "I told you the consequences, did I not?"

"Yes sir," I nodded. "But-"

Before I could explain I felt the shotgun whipped across the back of my knees, bringing me down to them on the old school tile. "It's not his fault, sir," my sister cut in, trying to help. "I shouldn't have told him what happened, it's my fault." Marrisa tried.

The SRO shook his head. "Then it seems more training is needed for the both of you."

"Dad-" Marrisa began. His eyes flashed toward her, making her shrink beneath his gaze. "Sir, Mika was only trying to protect me, like you say he should in a battle. It won't happen again, I swear."

We all knew that was a bald-faced lie, but it was what our father wanted to hear. "There will still be consequences."

"Yes, there will be." We turned to see Principal Green walking towards us, flanked by two younger new students. "I overheard from Marrisa's teachers that the freshman was pulling her braid during the lesson and calling her something distasteful. As twins, I understand you both have a special bond, but violence is unacceptable. I run a school, not a fighting ring." She turned to the SRO officer and nodded. "Rest assured Officer Darcy that I will handle this."

My father narrowed his eyes at her but nodded, not wanting to try anything in front of strangers. "Very well, Elizabeth. His mother and I will discuss what will occur at home." Glaring at me once more, the SRO draped his gun over his shoulders and walked back the way he'd come. I knew I had only been saved for now, and once we made it home, there wouldn't be any difference.

There never is. I hushed that voice in my head and turned back towards the principal. Now was not the time to listen to the whispers. "I'm sorry, Principal Green. Things got out of hand."