How to Slay a Beast (Book 1)

Chapter 10

"One must never underestimate the beast one is seeking to slay," I whispered, staring down at the book on my desk. The swords were due to come in the mail today, which meant that I had to go by the house after school, and Enoch and I would stash them in his room, and then I would go back home with my mom. I was not paying attention in class. But nobody had really cared about that much so far, after all, my brother had just died. I wasn't expected to pay attention. They just had no idea what I was thinking about.

I heard noises behind me. Giggling. I glanced back. A couple of kids where whispering behind their hands and laughing.

"Bear food." Those were the only words I needed to hear. I stood up, a pencil in my hand, stepping forward carefully.

"Hey---what're you doing freak-girl?"

"Okay we're not gonna do that," Mr. Breeden took my shoulders and basically dragged me backward away from the bullies. 

"Let go," I said, twisting.

"Nope, come on," he said, leading me out of the classroom, wresting the so very sharp pencil from my hand as he did, "Don't do that."

"Let go of me, you don't get to touch me," I said, trying to jerk away from him as we stepped into the hall.

"You don't want to do that," he said, quietly, holding me by the shoulders really very gently.

"Let go," I said, twisting but he didn't let go. Then I started crying. I had no idea why.

"Shhh. Shhh," he said, as I cried, "Just cry."

"I miss him so bad," I said, leaning against his shirt, "I miss him so, so bad."

"I know, I know, it's hard," he said, lifting his hands from me, "I'm so sorry."

"I just want him back," I sobbed. I didn't want to have to kill the beast. I didn't want to have to do anything I just wanted my brother back.

"I know," he said, letting me lean against him, "That's not gonna fix it. hurting them isn't gonna fix it."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said, "I'm pretty sure."

**

"You---where are you going?" I was walking down the street, it was dark out and people knew little boys shouldn't be out wandering the streets at night.

"For a walk," I said, continuing walking, not looking back, ahead or behind or anywhere.

"Why are you walking this late at night?" the concerned neighbor left their porch and ran up to me.

"Because I'm not allowed to go for walks," I said, not stopping.

"Where are you parents---what's in your hand?" she asked, staring. I looked down at it myself. I was bloody.

"A knife."

"And where are your mom and dad?"

"Back at the house."

"Why don't you come inside with me? It's awfully cold out."

"No. I'm going for a walk." She called the police eventually and they came and picked me up.

"Yes, I'm positive it won't do any good," I said, as Merry leaned against me just crying and crying.

"Are you gonna come to the funeral?" she asked.

"I didn't know they were having one," I said, which was true, I didn't. I never saw any point in funerals myself, it hadn't really occurred to me.