The Boy in The Bubble

The Beginning and The End.

A boy walked alone on a dimly lit sidewalk, it was currently 6:15pm. A group of teens stalked behind him, all males. The group was loud, the boy ignored them, drowning their sounds with his music. The boys called out to him, he walked faster, soon he was hit with the impact of a glass bottle hitting back. He winced, turning around to face the group of boys. His heart was racing, mind running, he rose his hands up.

"I don't want any trouble." , The boy spoke.

The group laughed at him, they clearly had no intention of leaving him alone anytime soon. The boy let out a loud sigh before balling his hands up into fists, holding them in a boxing stance.

"I'm ready for a fight if that's what you want." , The boy shook slightly.

The boys approached him with aggressive stances, once again his heart pounded. Squaring him up, his chest was exposed, a boy in the group swung his fist, punching the boy in the nose. Again, again, and again the boy repeated the blow till the boys nose broke. Groaning out in pain, the boy held his nose as a crimson liquid flowed from both nostrils.

"You're shaking like a damn girl Allen!" , The boys laughed at him.

The boys kicked out his legs, falling to the ground the boy attempted to regain his footing before he was roughly kicked in the chest. His head hit the cold pavement, a loud grunt left his lips as he was repeatedly kick and battered by the group. Allen's chest screamed with pain, heart pounding violently, nose still trickling blood. In a brief moment Allen saw his chance to get up, scrambling to his feet, he rose his fists once more.

"I'm ready for a fight." , He reiterated.

"Damn it Allen! You'll never learn will you?!", A boy shouted.

A boy from the group swung at him, Allen dodged him, but at a price. Another boy from the group saw his chance, grabbing Allen by the collar of his shirt he threw a left hook to his jaw. With a violent impact Allen felt an impact to his temple, his vision clouded before going black. His body went slack in the boys grip, seeing that they had nothing else to gain the group left him lying on the sidewalk. The loud rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance.

Allen had now woken up, looking at his phone it was 6:38pm, and three missed call from his mother. Unlocking his phone he texted mother "Ten minutes out.", standing up he groaned in pain. After grabbing his backpack a a few things that had fallen out of his pocket he began his walk home once again. Thunder and lighting sounded, it had started to rain. Pulling up the hood of his jacket he began to run home despite the pain. Reaching his home, his heart started pumping as he opened the small gate to their front yard. Walking up the sidewalk he stopped when he reached the front door, the air was freezing, he felt sick to his stomach. Shaking his head he got out his key, unlocking the door he quietly opened and closed it. Looking at the couch he saw his father, drowning his thoughts in a glass of whiskey.

"Come here, boy.." , He was looking for trouble, he held his belt in one clutched hand and set his glass down with the other.

"Dad, i'm not looking for any trouble.." , The boy trailed off.

"Bullshit Allen!! Complete bullshit!!" , Allen's father stormed towards him in his drunken rage. With one big swift movement Allen had been turned around and hit in the back harshly with the belt. Allen cried out in pain, his knees hit the floor.

"Get up Allen! Get up!!" , His father thrashed at his back violently with his belt in hand.

Allen let out whimpers with each impact, hearing the commotion Allen's mother ran in.

"Don't hit our son! Please don't hit him!" , His mother begged as she shielded him. Allen's father only let out an angry grunt in response before grabbing his keys and storming out of the house. Allen looked up at his mother, tears streaming down his face, his mother stroking his cheek as she kneeled on the floor.