The Perks of Being a Freak (Editing)

101. Four-Story Gap

As soon as Simon struck Tony, I was back on the ground, trying not to flinch as my boyfriend accidentally beat me black and blue. Part of my mind informed me that I had the most abusive relationship in the history of relationships, and I told it to shut up so I could focus on not screaming.

Simon punched Tony in the jaw, and while he was reeling, drove his knee into the younger boy’s stomach. I bit my lip until the coppery tang of blood filled my mouth. I couldn’t scream. Screaming would just distract Simon. He didn’t need to be distracted, he needed to knock Tony out or incapacitate him so that we could bring him to the police and get him locked away.

And maybe they would help us remove these goddam chips in our necks.

I blurred in and out of consciousness. The guys were still fighting, rolling around the roof in a bloody tangle of limbs. I knew every single one of Tony’s injuries, and was surprised that he was still able to stand. Maybe that was part of whatever training he had been going through when he was back in his cage.

One time, when I was conscious enough to whimper, Tony looked over at me and smirked. Then he took his own hand, and bent it back quickly and brutally. With a crack, our wrists broke, and I lost my control and howled. Tony swayed and grinned through the pain, before Simon caught him again and slapped him, open handed, across the face.

I cradled my wrist, and wondered what had happened to the real Tony O’Neil. Who was he before all this heartbreak and confusion? Now I would never know. He was too far gone. He was lost to us all.

Then I didn’t react quickly enough.

One moment, the two of them were grappling near the edge where I lay, draped helplessly against the lip. I saw Simon stand with his back toward the street and wipe blood away from his mouth. I saw Tony glance at me, and then look at the space between Simon and the edge with cold calculation.

And then he shoved the love of my life off of a four-story building.

I couldn’t move. I was frozen, fighting to hold on to consciousness. I saw Simon lose his balance. I saw him look at me, and his eyes said all the things that he could not. I saw the triumph in Tony’s eyes morph to fear as Simon caught his wrist and dragged the younger boy with him over the edge of the building.

And then I was alone on the roof.

I screamed at the top of my lungs.