Hunter
“YOU DID WHAT?” I demand so loud I’m sure wherever they are Rob and Scotch can hear me from the warehouse or wherever they’re hiding. “I-I . . . I just kissed his cheek. He said if I did he’d stop fighting us.” Rose confesses. “I can’t believe you!” I shout angrily. I hate Joe. He killed my girlfriend and now he’s making my friends kiss him. “What about Jake?” I squeak. Rose shrugs. “We’re just friends. And so are me and Joe.” She blushes looking at the floor. I don’t know what’s making her blush. Kissing Joe or thinking of Jake. Girls just can’t settle for one. “Joe is not your friend.” I feel a little cruel even just saying it. But I still won’t forgive Joe and I wish Rose wasn’t so overly-nice and forgiving. Joe’s a murderer! “You can’t control who I’m friends with!” she snaps. “It’s not like he killed someone you cared about.” I’m so soft I wonder if she even hears me. Her eyes widen as if she only remembered now. She stays quiet. “I’m going to talk to him.” I announce. “Why?” Rose asks. I look her in the eye. “He said he was gonna join our side and he’s gonna keep his word.”
I transform and run straight to the warehouse not stopping for anyone. I don’t stop or even slow down until I’m through the doors and running up to Joe. He and Nick perk up when they see me. “What do you want?” Nick demands angrily. I ignore him and walk straight over to Joe. “You little fag!” I snap angrily. “What?” he asks innocently. “Don’t play dumb! You kissed Rose!” I cry. He turns red. “What?” Nick asks shocked. “Actually she kissed me.” he corrects me. “What?” Nick repeats. “Only because you said if she did you’d join our side.” I shoot back. “Wait what? Since when?” Nick asks growing annoyed. Clearly Joe didn’t tell him anything. “I never said I’d join your side. I said I’d stop fighting you.” I scowl at him. “Well are you gonna stop fighting us?” I speak softly trying to sound intimidating. “Maybe.” He answers. “That’s not what you told Rose.” he shrugs. “You’re not really quitting are you?” Nick demands angrily. Joe shakes his head quickly. I slap him hard across the face.
“What the fuck was that for?” Joe shouts. “You liar! You said you’d stop fighting us!” I yell. He pulls out his gun. “I was gonna until you hit me!” He shoots and aims at my shoulder. He misses by a lot. “That all you got you lousy-aimed asshole?” I challenge. He shoots again and this time hits my side. I fall over bleeding heavily. Pain throbs through my body. I cover the hole in my side and scream. Tears of pain and anger stream down my cheeks. I need the healing medicine. I need to get out of here. No! I tell myself. I need to help Rose. I gotta fight Joe. I scream again and rise off the ground. Blood soaks my shirt and my vision blurs. The edge of my vision gets all black and fuzzy. It’s like I’m looking at Joe through a narrow hole. I push myself off the ground. A warm feeling overcomes me. Is it the blood soaking my clothes? No. It’s the white stone in my back pocket. I’m glowing.
It’s a soft orange glow and it feels amazing. All of the sudden the hole in my side doesn’t hurt anymore. I feel like I was never shot. I feel like every scar and scratch inside are all better now. For Katy! I think as I jump to my feet. Nick and Joe exchange glances and back away. I kick Joe down. From the ground he shoots up at me. You can see in his eyes he knows it’s worthless to try because all the bullets do is tickle. “Give up.” I say fiercely. Joe nods terrified. I nudge him with my foot just to show off. And for the first time since this boy dragged me to the school parking lot and beat me until I turned into what I am now, I feel stronger than him. But I don’t want to be like him. A sadistic murderer who won’t rest until he has his way. And even when you’re on the ground crying and pleading for mercy, he doesn’t let up. I don’t want to be like that. So I back away and my glow fades. I transform back to normal. I look like the same immature brown-haired boy who didn’t even know what Super Six was. But I’m not anymore. And everyone knows it.
Joe stands up slowly. “I’ll stop.” He whispers. His voice sounds like a little whistle in the wind. “What was that?” I ask. “I’ll stop fighting you. I’ll help you.” he mumbles. I widen my eyes. “Really?” I ask hopefully. “Really?” Nick echoes me only unlike me, he sounds furious. Joe nods a lot. “Fuck you. You can’t quit!” Nick cries. He doesn’t sound angry. He sounds terrified and I don’t know why. “Too bad I’m not doing this anymore.” Joe announces confidently. “B-but . . .” Nick stutters. “Look Nick, you can either do the same as me and stop fighting Super Six or stay here like the coward you are and fight for Rob and Scotch.” Joe’s words sting Nick. You can tell. “At least I’m not dead meat like you!” Nick shouts back. “And so what if I am? They’ll probably just kill all of us either way!” Joe spits back. I shudder. My turn to defend Joe. “I won’t let them!” I shout proudly. “Yeah!” Joe agrees. “Fine. You two can go and get killed. I’m gonna stay here and do what I’m supposed to so I can save my ass.” Nick sounds soft but angry. Like he’s using all his strength to control his voice.
“Fuck you. C’mon Hunter. Let’s get out of here.” Joe mutters opening a portal. He walks through and I follow. But not before stopping and giving Nick the finger. I actually regret it. He shrinks down and I see a tear drip from his chin. He’s like a kicked puppy and now everyone is abandoning him.
