Sinners Never Sleep | Stikolson *COMPLETED*

Chapter One

RICKY

"Hey faggot where do you think you're going?"

I kept my head down as I sped walked past my daily tormentors but today it looked like I couldn't avoid them. Why couldn't they leave me alone, I'd never done anything to any of them but they got their kicks out of bullying and beating me up?

"Hey Olson, Ronnie was talking to you."

Andy grabs my backpack pulling me backwards, then the other followers circle me like vultures scouting a recently deceased body. Andy stood behind me, Oliver to my left, Austin to my right and that left Ronnie stood wearing a shit eating grin in front of me.

"Can't we go one day without you guys making my life hell? Don't I at least deserve a day off?"

Ronnie throws his head back and roars with laughter while Austin sniggers to my right.

"Did you hear that Ronnie, little Ricky wants a day off. What's the matter Ricky can't play with the big boys?"

"Is Ricky going to cry like a baby?" Oliver chuckles and shoves my shoulder quite roughly.

I wasn't going to let them see that they were getting to me, the second I cried they had won. I made that one promise to myself; no matter how much they punched and kicked me I wouldn't shed a tear.

"No, I'm not going to cry."

I'd never spoken back to them, but today I felt brave. Of course, that was quickly going to come back and bite me in the ass. Andy grabs both of my shoulders digging his nails into my skin making sure despite my struggles that I wasn't going to be going anywhere anytime soon.

"We're going to teach you a lesson Ricky, you never talk back to those superior to you."

I readied myself but the first punch still hurt the most as Ronnie swung hitting me directly in the stomach sending me to my knees. I knew all those times I skipped gym would come back to haunt me, I just hated running laps and climbing ropes when I wasn't as athletic as the other guys.

"Come on guys it's open season."

Andy released me before he took his boot to my back pushing my face against the tiled floor while Austin and Oliver went for the rest of my body with their feet. I did my best to shield my face but felt the familiar red liquid trickle between my fingers.

The beating continued for what felt like an hour when really only around ten minutes or so had passed which was their usual time before calling it quits and leaving me until tomorrow to endure the same pain again. It was after college hours so there were no students or lecturers' so no one was going to come to my aid.

"I think that's enough fun for today guys, we'll pick this up same time tomorrow Ricky."

I stay on the floor until I hear the four walk away laughing about how pathetic I was. When I knew they weren't coming back for seconds I drag myself to an upright position and slump against a wall. My whole body ached from head to toe and I knew I was bleeding in more than two places, I needed help and only one person came to mind.

Flinching I'm able to get my phone out of my bag with minimal movement to stop the throbbing pain. Vinny was my best friend, and well the only friend at college so he wouldn't leave me hanging.

Ricky (To Vinny): I need help! I'm in one of the corridors near the music hall...Ronnie and his goons did another number on me and I can't really move!

Luckily Vinny was always glued to his phone so it didn't take too long to get a reply.

Vinny (To Ricky): I'm on my way don't move...well you can't so just scratch that...

It even hurt to smile and Vinny knew how to make your day that bit much better.

Ten minutes later I hear a scurry of footsteps down the other end of the corridor, sneakers squeaking on the freshly mopped floor. Next thing I know my best friend drops to his knees in front of me staring at me with wide horrified eyes.

"We need to get you to the bathroom Ricky then I can patch you up. They really did a number on you."

Vinny helps me up off the floor with some difficulty, we both weren't the fittest or strongest of people but we managed. Each step to the bathroom was agonising. But when we got there I found the strength to hoist myself up onto the counter allowing Vinny better access to my wounds.

"I don't know what to do anymore Vinny. I can't snitch on them and I can't rant to TJ because he'll tell me to man up before hitting me."

Vinny shakes his head and motions for me to lift my arms up, I comply and he lifts my shirt up enough that I can see the faded bruises on my ribs which were turning fresh again.

"You need to rant to a stranger Ricky, it worked wonders for me and it's how I met my boyfriend."

I knew Vinny had found his boyfriend online on some website, but I wasn't so sure it was for me. You could be talking to anyone, everyone lies on the internet. I gasp as Vinny starts to wrap the bandage around my ribs.

"People could track you down Vinny. It doesn't sound safe."

"It's called Anonymous, and that's the beauty of the site you can't track anyone. All that shows is a profile pic and your age. Don't knock it until you give it a try Olson, it will be a lot cheaper than therapy."

I stay silent for the rest of the time it takes Vinny to patch me up head to toe. I was silently contemplating giving the site a chance, and if I didn't like it I could always delete my profile. After blending the third layer of foundation onto my pale face I looked relatively normal.

"Thanks, Vinny for coming to my aid."

Vinny grins and packs away his first aid kit, "do you need a lift home?"

I shake my head, "TJ is picking me up at the library after work. But thanks for the offer."

My boyfriend TJ wasn't picking me up, he'd never once picked me up. I intended to visit Anonymous in the safety of a public library, that way if I could be tracked the person on the other end wouldn't know my home address.

I wave Vinny off and limp towards the library, my favourite place on campus because Ronnie and his goons would never step foot inside making it my one safe sanctuary. You could tell that I was a regular because the second the librarian saw me limp in she started to fuss over me, telling me to sit down and she'd bring me a hot chocolate and some biscuits.

I sit down at one of the vacant computers and log in with my student details. I thank the elderly librarian as she places a mug of steaming hot chocolate in front of me. Once she was out of sight I open the web browser and type in the web address.

Anonymous didn't look dodgy from first appearances; it was quite minimalistic and easy to create a profile on. I decided, to be honest, and post my real name, age and a most recent picture of myself without any bruises. Under what I was looking for I typed 'looking for someone to rant about my shitty life with' not really expecting any results because most people were probably on here looking to hook up with someone.

I leave the site up as I sip the hot chocolate and make a start on copying up my notes from class. The library soon emptied and I knew I had to be home soon so I could make TJ tea when he returned from work, he was the breadwinner and I was just some final year college student.

No one had checked out my profile so I decided to go ahead and delete it when suddenly a message pops up in the corner from some person called Ryan. His profile picture was stunning; his full name was Ryan Sitkowski and he was 25 so four years older than me.

Ryan: Hi, tell me your problems cutie and I can make them all go away

I couldn't help but blush, thankfully Ryan couldn't see me through the computer screen. I hover my fingers over the keyboard and chew my lip ring unsure of how to reply. Maybe Vinny was right, I needed this.