Part 1: Blood

Part 1: Blood

Between the girls on the playground and the little kids chasing each other it was impossible for a group of guys to get in a soccer game. Our game was stopped this time as Charlie fell flat on his face. A little kid from Mrs. Single’s kindergarten class ran directly in the path of the ball that Charlie was charging after.

“Watch out,” was all we heard before Charlie halted, spinning on the sides of his feet, barely avoiding plowing the little girl over. He stumbled over his feet a couple of steps, the girl stood like a statue with her mouth caught open, then there was the sound of flesh smacking the cement. Ouch. It rang like the lunch bell as it ricocheted through the crowds and every kid in range stopped to stare. A chorus of hoots and cheers came from the guys.

Jake ran over to check on him. Jake’s mom was the school nurse and he’d know what to do until someone got her. I stayed to keep an eye on Michael. I was the largest of the four of us and while I kinda thought Michael might be able to take me, he’d never tried for it. Out there in the unfenced areas, bigger didn’t promise you’d survive and we both knew it.

“Should’ve ran the brat over.” Michael snickered under his breath at me. I didn’t answer him. Michael was a great guy to play ball with but he wasn’t someone I wanted around my little sister. I think not only would he have ran over that little kid, he would have done it on purpose and ran all the harder just to make sure the kid was hurt as bad a possible.

I shot him a look.

“What?” He shrugged at me. “If we had to run they’d all get us killed, you know that right? Plus, they’re brats.” It was my turn to shrug. Sure, they might be brats but they were just babies and they couldn’t protect themselves. It wasn’t their faults they were brats, it’s just how little kids are. I spotted my sister over in the line for the slide and smiled. She stood out from the rest of her group with her raven dark hair up in pigtails. Mom counted on me to watch out for her while we were here.

“They’d only get you killed if you stopped to help them. You give me reason for hope.” I punched his arm.

“Hope for what? That I’ll run down little leeches so you’ll have a clear path to safety? If that’s it, you’re right and stick by me.” I wanted to think he was kidding but there was something behind his eyes that chilled me.

I walked away from Michael hoping he’d follow me so I could see what was going on with Charlie. Whispers were starting to become louder, and Charlie was still flat on his face. Jake kneeled on the ground next to him. They weren’t related at all but Jake and Charlie looked like they could be brothers. Both were average size for 14-years-old; short, dark blond hair; brown eyes. Jake looked like his mom with this skin that was golden all year long. It was one a telling difference between the two of them. Charlie was so pale I wasn’t sure how he was able to go outside at all without an instant sunburn.

“What’s going on?” I lowered onto my knee next to Jake after making sure Michael was close by. He stood slightly behind me looking bored.

“Ms. Sarah is getting mom. She should be here soon.” Ms. Sarah was the playground attendant. We mostly liked having her out there because she never paid attention. Every afternoon Ms. Sarah would come out with all us kids, take a seat wherever the shade was best and nap. I started to ask him how she knew but his were glued to Charlie. Jake was looking awfully pale. I leaned forward to get a better look and noticed blood had started to pool around the cheek mushed into the ground. I bolted to my feet.

Blood wasn’t good.

There were a lot of kids here. The school was reinforced and we had all been taught what to do in cases such as these, or worse, but it was like everyone was frozen. We had to get them out of here.