The Young Fighters

CHAPTER 7

The children still spoke out to the ones around them in question as to what the meeting was about and they all started to grow silent when Caden walked up to his desk for all to see him. With a small wooden mallet, he gently hit the table to get the crowd's attention. Bang! Bang! Bang! Everyone faced Caden as he looked around to make sure everyone was seated. Up in the front row was young Elliot facing him and appearing worried. He could understand why the little guy would be in such a mood. After all; it's not every day you come across a child covered in his own blood. What Caden planned on telling everyone was something worth fearing.

Minutes ago, he was told that Will was heading over by car with Michael riding along with him. Caden informed him to wait in the car until he was needed to speak as a way of briefing the public before showing them the child.

"My fellow town's folk;" the same way Caden always opened up with his town meetings, "we have a situation that has come to my attention that needs to be brought up." He paused, "Around noon today, Jackson and Elliot," His hand moved towards the two as everyone looked over by them, "had stumbled something that none of us could wish to have found. Both of them found an outsider whom none of us have seen, covered in blood." The public started to grow panicked, "The child was taken to Doctor Will's home where he was treated for his wounds. The cuts that were found on his body weren't from any accident that may have occurred during labored tasks, but from an aggressor, as Will told me only moments ago." Few people gasped that moment. "Will has also informed me that this child managed to fend off his attacker by stealing a gun that was being carried by the assailant. This new comer has wondered as far away as Washington City to our home town. He's been treated for shock and his cuts and is soon ready to speak before us." People started looking around for any faces they did not recognize. "I welcome before us, Michael Davis." Caden extended his arm forward down the middle of the room as Will wheeled the boy forward along the walkway in a wheelchair.

The townsfolk were shocked by what they were seeing. Along his arms and wrists were a series of long bandages that nearly covered his entire left wrist. Another long roll came about the top of his head where the skin met his scalp. The right side of his arm was reddish pink from sun burns he'd received from staying out in the sun for so long. Will applied Aloe Vera to Michael's skin, the boy felt terrible pain just from the slightest touch on the small blisters. Some of the women in the audience covered their mouths in horror to avoid all from seeing fright on their face.

Michael was placed in the very front of the crowd where all could see him now. Whispers broke out as they exchanged feelings of sorrow. Jackson himself started to become grieve stricken from seeing the aftermath of the attack. Hours ago, Michael was covered in blood, but with Will's help the child was all clean now. The boy looked over at Jackson with sadness in his eyes and Jackson couldn't take his view off the victim's. It almost felt like an eternity had lasted until Michael took his sight off of his savior. Jackson peered down at little Elliot only to see him going up into tears and placing both hands to his face to cover his weeping eyes.

Jackson leaned down over Elliot as his elbows touched his knees, and Jackson whispered in the boy's eye, "It's going to be okay." He didn't know for sure if that was true or not. Saying anything would be better than keeping quite during this time. Jackson patted Elliot on the back and gave him a rub as he looked up and around the crowd. One of the members at the meeting was Mila and Parker. Right now she was speaking softly to her brother, her voice was kept at a low volume to the point where Jackson couldn't make out a single word she was saying.

"Will?" Caden asked the doctor as he nodded his head towards the Lead Elder, "Can he speak?" From looking at the child's neck, he did not observe any cuts or wounds; and assumed the child might be able to talk during the meeting.