A Silent Cry

Chapter Four: A Cry for Help

A/N: Okay. So. This book might seem very similar to I'm Just Septic-Eyed, but hear me out. There is a method to the madness, trust me.

It was only a couple days after the visit with Minx that things really started turning to shit. Cry couldn't walk two feet without being insulted -- or assaulted. By the end of the day, he would always come home with bruises on his knees. By the end of the week, they reached a dark purple color. It was the only time he was glad he never wore shorts. Whenever he came home, he would have to take extra care of not bumping into anything. Nathan always made it harder. The boy never seemed to stand still.

The only time Cry saw all of his friends at once was math class. He waddled in -- nearly late for class -- and was stared at by all the students. Cry wasn't sure for what reason. As soon as he sat down, Russ whispered to him. "This seriously has to stop. Tell someone -- anyone. You need someone to help you."

Cry sighed. He replied without turning to face his friend, "I'm fine, Russ. Minx is helping, remember? If she figures something out then maybe we can stop this."

"That's not what I meant --"

"Quiet back there," the teacher looked up through his glasses. When he was sure the two stopped, he continued his lesson.

Cry didn't pay attention. Math was boring and school was too tough. How could people just suddenly start to pick on one person? He began doodling on the margins of his notes. He didn't stop until he felt someone's eyes on him. Normally, that wouldn't mind him, but under these circumstances, it was a cause for alarm. Cry didn't have to look very far to find the perpetrator. It was a student a few desks away. He had pools of crystals for eyes and his brows were pulled together. His mouth was a tight line. Cry didn't know his name, but he recognized that look. He wasn't a threat.

After class, the student approached Cry as he expected. Russ looked like he was about to instigate something but Cry stopped him. The student shifted his feet awkwardly. He looked at everyone before him. "I-I, uh," he rubbed his neck. "I really don't want to do this. I don't even know who you are. But I guess you kinda noticed that Keith has everyone wrapped around his finger." He gave a small smile. "Uh, I'm Ian, by the way. I just wanted to make it look like I did something. So -- uh -- bye." He waved and left without another word.

"Well he was nice," Scott broke the silence.

~~~

The day went on like any other. Cry was insulted, shoved around, and humiliated; but he made it to the end nonetheless. He tried to get out of school as fast as he could, but someone stopped him. He was taken off to the side by a girl he had never seen before. She had a streak of blonde in her brown hair. Cry was a bit surprised by this. He was half expecting her to punch him and walk away or spit out some insult, but she just stood there as if she was expecting Cry to talk first. So he did. "Yes?" He started. "Do you need something or...?"

The girl stayed in silence for a moment. Her face didn't give away any emotion and her eyes were stone. "No. Just wanted to hear your voice, is all. Later." As she walked away, she turned over her shoulder to wiggle her fingers at him.

Cry stood there in shocked silence. That was one of the oddest things to happen to him. "Um... thanks, I guess," he muttered to himself. He turned his attention back to leaving school.

But he was stopped once more.

Someone yanked harshly on his backpack. He turned around and froze. This was certainly someone he wasn't expecting to greet him. The only thing he could move was his eyes. He looked around to see if anyone was noticing this. They looked away if he made eye contact with them and the students walking, walked faster when they neared him. He was alone.

"Plus, even if someone wanted to hurt you, you could just use that magic voice of yours."
"Your charisma is like a ten..."
"You could easily convince someone..."
"He's like a pit bull."

Russ's words came into Cry's mind like a one-chance effort to escape. He wracked his brain for anything to say before Keith could do something else. "Listen, you're a sensible guy, right?" Cry felt as if he was stalling his stall. "I could imagine you'd like to go home -- s-so would I, actually. So, uh, why don't we both do that? That's a good plan, right? Home is nice. I like being at home. We should both do that... that thing I said." He laughed nervously.

Keith didn't show any indication that Cry's words affected him. Cry felt like his charisma had been lowered to zero. "Maybe I should get better at DnD," he mumbled. "But about that home thing... I actually have a friend waiting for me. We always go home together, you see, so I should really get going." He tried his best to back away, but Keith put his arm around his shoulders to steer him away from freedom. Cry felt like a child compared to Keith. Keith was just so bulky compared to Cry's smaller frame.

"Y'know," Keith spoke. Cry was caught off-guard with the Scottish accent; he had never heard Keith speak before. "I pretty much rule this school. Everyone bends to my will, and do you wanna know why?" Cry really didn't want to know why, but he didn't get the chance to answer, anyway. "Because actions speak louder than words."

Cry had a chill run down his spine. That certainly wasn't a good thing to hear; it gave Cry a terrible feeling. He desperately searched for someone to help him, but they all turned away. He looked over his shoulder toward the front doors of the school. Sarah and Russ would certainly be waiting for him by now. "Please, Russ," Cry begged in his mind. "Come look for me. Don't wait around, please."

Keith didn't say anymore and Cry could hardly walk. He wanted to know where he was being taken but he couldn't bring himself to say another word. He was terrified. He became desperate enough to look for a staff member, but it didn't seem as if any were around. How convenient. Cry felt some hope in him when they began to pass the computer lab. There was a chance Minx was in there. So Cry did something he might regret -- he yelled for Minx. "Minx! Mi--!" He was cut off by a large hand. It made fear surge through Cry's body.

~~~

Russ stood there for a while. Sarah offered for him to wait in the car, but he declined. They waited for longer than what would be someone running late. Sarah was beginning to get scared. As the eldest, she was pretty much a second parent, it was her job to watch over her siblings. "Russ," Sarah said. "Why don't you go look for Cry? He has to be somewhere around here."

"Right," Russ agreed. He had an odd feeling in his stomach. "I'll be right back." He turned toward the school.

When Russ entered, he was immediately suspicious. There were groups of people whispering to each other and they all looked at him as he passed. It was a little unnerving, but also a cause for alarm. Russ continued to walk without anyone interrupting him. He didn't even know where he should be looking. It's not like Cry had some secret place he could go to. But it seemed luck was on his side. As Russ neared the computer lab, the door opened. Minx peered out with that hood over her head. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. "Russ!" she whispered. "Come in here."

Russ didn't have much of a choice. Minx dragged him inside and shut the door. "How do you know my name?" Russ asked.

"That's not important," Minx waved it off. "What is important is that I could have sworn I heard Cry. He was yelling for me. I didn't look out until it was too late -- he wasn't anywhere." Minx shifted uncomfortably. "Do you think something bad happened to him? Did I miss the chance to help him?"

That odd feeling in Russ grew -- it almost made him feel sick. "I'm sure he's fine," he lied. "C'mon, you can help me look for him." Russ opened the door but didn't step out. Keith Watts was walking by; he looked Russ directly in the eyes as he passed. Russ felt his lunch beginning to bubble up.

A/N: Yeah, so I made Keith Scottish because reasons. Anyway, let me know what you think of the chapter. Any theories on what happened?