The Proxy Recruit

The Party

Zachary pulled his hands over his ears and ran upstairs. Is this what all high school Christmas parties are like?! The thundering music left no room for his own thoughts in his mind. As he tried to make his way into the bathroom to escape from the chaos around him, he ran into a jock in a football uniform. "Hey! Watch it pipsqueak!" The guy shoved Zachary away from him and caused Zachary to collide with a girl carrying a cup of beer. Zachary's impact sent her cup of powerful-smelling alcohol right onto his shirt. Before she got her wits together and manged to reply, Zachary quickly apologized and ran to the bathroom. 

Once he got to the bathroom he was shocked. It was hardly better than what was going on outside. There was a group of drunk girls around the toilet attempting to help their puking friend, a passed out guy in the bathtub wearing nothing but his boxers, and a couple making out near the sink. The thick, sickening smell of alcohol and barf reaches his nose and he had to run all the way outside just to stop from puking, himself. Why did I agree to this? It was bad enough that he had gotten separated from his older sister (Lisa) and her boyfriend, but now his shirt was soaked and he reeked of alcohol. He felt a burning hatred for his sister's boyfriend, and he knew it. Every time Zachary, Lisa, and her boyfriend, Sanders hung out together, Sanders would always give Zachary nasty looks behind Lisa's back. I hate him.  Zachary was convinced that Sanders was making his life even more of a living hell than it already was. Zachary's older brother Sean agreed with Zachary completely. 

Zachary shivered as a blast of fall wind easily passed through his soaked shirt. He looked around nervously and shivered, feeling exposed on the stone steps out front of the giant house. He tried to warm up by rubbing his arms, but it did him no good. He looked inside one of the front windows to see Sean talking with a few of his friends. Sean looked worried as they pointed to the front door and then he passed out of Zachary's view. Zachary sat there. He didn't know why, but he made no move to go inside and escape the 35* weather. He could freeze to death out here if he didn't get inside soon. He sat for a few more moments and pondered. Maybe there's a little part of my mind that wants to see mom and dad again that badly.... He quickly shook off the idea. He had pondered suicide many times, but he could never do it. His mom would be horrified that he had wasted his life just to see them again, his dad would be disappointed that he would try such a cowardice thing. 

Zachary felt a heavy, warm, soft blanket wrap around him and pull him close to a natural source of heat. Not taking time to think, his natural survival instincts took over and he got as close to the warmth as possible. He felt himself being picked up and brought inside. He looked up and saw Sean holding him bridal-style. "S-Sean?" "I can't believe you Zach. You should know better than going outside all alone. It's dark and cold." Zachary looked down in shame. Lisa ran up to them and embraced Zachary into a tight hug. Sanders followed her more slowly, and Zachary could tell by the way he was walking that he was drunk. Sanders looked down at Zachary, then (Not caring at all) turned to Lisa. "Lisa~! Come on~, I have some friends I want you to meet." He kissed Lisa's cheek lightly and she blushed. Zachary and Sean's faces got red as well, but from anger instead of weak flattery. Lisa pushed Sanders away and shook her head, clearing her mind of his charm, "Sandy! Can't you see that Zach is hurt!?" Sanders just now seemed to notice Zachary. "Yeah? So what? He just needs to get warmed up a little." 

Sanders grabbed Zachary from Sean and started towards the living room. Zachary yelped in surprise and struggled to get away from Sanders, but the drunk's grip was strong and the blanket was wrapped around Zachary so tightly that it restrained most movement from his arms and legs. Where is he taking me? "Zach!" Lisa ran after them and tried to rescue Zachary from Sander's arms. Sanders laughed a little and pushed Lisa away from him. They arrived in the living room and Zachary spied what Sanders was walking towards. Sean's friend was the son of a filthy rich realtor and they had a huge expensive house. The living room was massive and had long black leather couches. At the end of the room there was a live fireplace that a few teens were roasting marshmallows on and making s'mores. Sanders made a beeline strait for the fireplace and Zachary began to feel it's intense heat. Kids seemed confused and some of the more drunk ones chanted for Sanders to toss Zach into the fire, jokingly. One of Sanders' friends talked to Sanders for a quick second and then the unwrapped Zachary from the blanket. 

Zachary relaxed a little and seemed to calm down a bit, but his calmness was short-lived. Sanders grabbed Zach's feet and his friend grabbed Zach's arms and they lifted him into the air. Zachary's eyes widened in terror and they began to swing him back and forth. First an inch away from the flames, then away, and then back again. They laughed like it was some sort of sick joke. Lisa sat there crying, completely unable to help Zach get away from the brawny boys. Sean run in with a few of his friends. They tackled Sanders and his friend and tried to wrestle Zachary away from them. In the process, Zachary rolled a little too close to the flames and the sleeve of his Rudolph Christmas sweater caught fire. He panicked Stop, Drop, and Roll, he hit the deck and began rolling around on the floor. By now everyone noticed and people were screaming. Someone thought quickly and grabbed a cup of water, he threw it on Zach but it didn't do much good. The fire had spread to his chest and had met with his alcohol soaked sweater. The fire spread rapidly as people rushed around, calling 911 and grabbing water. Zachary started breathing in smoke and steam. He couldn't see and his eyes got watery. He fought and struggled to stay conscious, but he lost the battle and his vision faded to a black canvas.