The boy next door

It all started 4 years ago

Derek's POV

I was awaken by ice cold water being thrown at me. Most people would have jolted up but I didn't, I like cold water. I like how it feels upon my skin.

So instead of jumping out of my seat I just opened my eyes and said, "Great now all my clothes are wet, thanks to you!" Luke just sat there and looked at me confusingly. "What?" I barked at him. He shook his head and said, "Nothing it's just that most people would have jumped up when they felt the water hit them."
I responded, "Ya well I'm not most people, you can't break me," I paused, "now can you let me out of this fucking chair, my neck is killing me from the way I slept on this thing."
"Ok." Was all he said.

He unwrapped the chains from my legs and chest, and unlocked the handcuffs. I stood up and lost a bit of balance cause I haven't set foot on the ground for hours. And you know what, I have to freaking pee. As I regained balance I decided to make a run for it but right before I can even move my foot, Luke punched me right in the nose causing me to bend back. It's like he knew what I was thinking.
"Now that we've done that can you please fucken follow me. I have to show you something," he paused and came closer to me, "and if you try something like that again, I'll tazer your ass." And he pulled out his tazer. "Fine," was all I said.

He brought me to this section of the gang house that I remembered used to be a gaming room but now it had turned into a training room. They had set up dummies, punching bags, and weapons all over the place. I saw little boys from ages 13 to 22. I felt so sorry for all those little kids, they have so much ahead of them but instead of focusing on what normal teenage boys focus on, they were fighting their asses off to stay alive. I was disgusted. I let out a small groan as I saw little boys fighting one another. And when I say fighting I freaking mean fighting!

Luke turned his head to me and saw that I was looking at them in such disgust. And he said, "Oh don't feel bad for them. Cause I remember once upon a time there was this young boy who would train like a monster, he trained so much like one he became one. He was the favourite out of everyone because of how strong he was and his power of will to destroy everyone consumed him so much that he was unbreakable," Luke paused and whispered in my ear, "ring a bell?" He walked away and I just stood there looking at the boys practically kill one another, I sighed and started walking towards Luke.. That monster once upon a time was me.

I caught up to Luke and asked, "Why are you doing this to them? Especially at such a young age!"
"Because if we lose one of our older guys in a fight we know that we have backup. And if we train them from a young age we know that they'll always have our backs and that we can rely on them," he paused, "it's better to train them at a young age cause then when they're out fighting when they're a bit older they'll have plenty of experience."
"It seems like you're preparing all of them for something big" I asked as I looked around the room. He laughed dryly, "That's right no one told you."
"Told me what?" I asked.
"Jonathan. He's coming for is again. He has created an even stronger army then he had 4 years ago. They're coming for our men, our weapons, our money, us!"

I backed up a bit, "Woah woah woah! What do you mean us? I'm not apart of this gang anymore. I thought I made it clear when I left 4 years ago." He looked at me with such a serious look and I saw the anger in his bright blue eyes, the eyes that have never escaped my mind. The eyes that have been haunting me for 4 years.

He pulled me by the collar of my shirt and dragged me into a private corner where no one can hear us. And he began,"Listen Materazzi, Jonathan thinks you're in jail. He thinks that the night he killed Romeo you got caught by the police and since there was no one there to testify, he believes that you got your ass thrown in Juvenile Detention. He thinks you got arrested." What an idiot I thought. Luke continued, "When Jonathan decides to attack us and he will, we'll be hiding you and when it's time, out of nowhere you're gonna pop up and give him the element of surprise. I know you're capable of it. You need to bring out the monster that was once inside you.. I know he's still in there." I looked down at the ground and thought real hard and careful about what I was going to say next, "What if I say no? What are you going to do? Kill me, torture me?" Luke leaned his head back and let out a dark cold laugh, "Oh no no no. Physical pain is tolerable after a while. You get over it." Where was he going with this I thought to myself? He went on, "It's psychological pain that will destroy you. It can take years and years to recover from it. To really hurt someone you go after someone they love."

My skin was boiling, my head was pounding, my fists were throbbing, my stomach had flipped, but most of all my heart was breaking. He leaned closer to me and said in a low voice, "So now I believe you know the answer to your question." I grabbed his neck and smashed his head to the wall causing it to make a little 'crack' sound. 'Boy I wish his skull had just cracked' I thought. He looked at me with terror but he didn't seem so surprised.

With my free hand I grabbed the tazer that was in his back pocket, switched it on, pointed it to his neck and said with my teeth clenched, "How the fuck do you know about her?" I said every word hard and slow.
"Know about who?" He tried playing dumb. I pushed his head harder and deeper into the wall, "Malia!" I shouted. He tried lifting his head but I smashed it even harder onto the wall he winced a bit and began to speak, "I've been tracking you down for 4 years, 4 YEARS DEREK! I know all about her, I know how you feel about her and how she feels about you." He paused to breathe, "You thought that when you walked out on this gang that you were done with us, but you were oh so terribly wrong. This gang is forever. Even when you think you're done with us we'll be there watching you and sometimes it isn't always for worse, but there's no way you can get rid of this gang. We're not only you're past, but we're your present and future."

I swallowed hard after what he just said. I was in shock. I'm speechless, I have to say yes to this or he'll go after Malia. I made a promise 4 years ago to her father, that I would protect her and keep her safe from this gang. But I failed, the least I can do is fight off Jonathan. I looked at Luke long and hard with my dark black eyes, "Fine. I'll help you. But after that I'm gone, you'll leave me alone and keep Malia and her family out of this," I paused and stared harder at him, "do I make myself clear? Because I have my ways too, Luke. I will tear down this gang and house and do whatever it takes to protect Malia." Luke tilted his head to the side and thought about his answer, "Fine, but if you screw up and don't accomplish the job.. You'll belong to me and join The Rippers again." My breathing became faster and harder. I can't go back to who I used to be! If you think I'm a monster or psycho now, you had to see how I was 4 years ago. I slightly whispered, "Ah fuck Malia, the things I do for you." I lifted my head up and shook Luke's hand, "Fine you have yourself a deal." Luke smirked mischievously.

Raphy came with fresh clothes and said, "Time to train now."
"What do you mean train?" I asked. Luke stepped in and said, "If you're going to help us kill Jonathan you need to give 110%. You need to train like an animal." Ok I can't take it anymore! "K before I 'train like an animal' can I please go freaking pee! And if I don't pee soon I'm going to piss all over this place, including you!" He laughed a little but I was dead serious. "Go down the hall and turn to the left."

I followed his directions and found the bathroom. I'm surprised Luke didn't have his men following me. After I peed -and let me just say how amazing I feel right now- I looked in the mirror and said, "It's time to get the hell out if this fucken place." I need to come up with an idea in order to do that. It's time for a grand plan.

Hey guys! I'm so so so sorry that it took me pretty much forever to update this freaking chapter. And I feel sooo bad for making you wait this long! I just got caught up in summer and I kind of had no ideas what to write for the next chapter. But it's all good now I'll go back to updating more often and have chapters published much more often.

Thank you for sticking around, I love you all xx