Its Kinda Like a Game: Press Play

Chapter 1

            “I look up from the sea of monsters before me, above all of them. Smiling above me are those that I once cared for. With that I drop my guard, and walk forward. I am not afraid of death. Death should be afraid of me. For I walk in a light, brighter than the sun. The light of love.” I read concluding my creative writing assignment.

            A few of the students around me seemed to have been caught by my writing, but the majority looked ready to throw spitballs at me. Being entirely honest on the subject, it wouldn’t be the first time.

            I looked to my teacher hoping for authority to head back to my seat. She nodded, and I ushered myself at a heightened pace back to my desk, where I was able to escape the cruel stares of my upper classman. After all everyone there was a year higher then me.

            The classroom was silent so my teacher finally spoke up, “Very good Jack. I found that a well thought, and well planned paper.” She was a very kind teacher naturally, which was very refreshing as all her comments were meant.

            She turned and began to write on the board, and as she did a wade of crumbled paper flew across the room, and hit me smack in the face. I un-did it and found that it was the normal note. Stupid sophomore. You think you are so smart. We can talk about that after class. I looked over the corner of my eye to the giant lump of muscle in the front row.

            Dillon, captain of the school wrestling team, and James, the star player of the defensive line, were both snickering back and forth glancing over at me occasionally. I slouched down in my seat a few inches, fretting over what they would do to me today.

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            Thirty minutes later the final bell announcing the ending of school rang its monotone chime through all the halls and classrooms. I stuffed what I had out into my bag and slide out of the room, but not fast enough.

            Dillon took hold of my right arm and James took hold of my left. Together they lead me out into a small hallway, which held a door leading to the back of the school. I squirmed and fought to get lose.

            The only moment that their strangling grip released was when they shoved me to the ground full force, causing me to scrape up my lip, cheek, and chin. There was a second of pain before I was able to try and stand again.

            When I turned around they were practically looming over top of me. I started to back up, but the fall had also caused me to twist my right ankle, making escape and impossible idea. What do I do, what do I do?

            “Well Jack, you don’t fear death?” Dillon said in a very mocking tone. His smile made every word he stated sound like liquid poison.

            “I-I didn’t say that.” I stutter, forcing a slight chuckle. My injury to my leg caused me to move at only half the speed that they were advancing on me with.

            “No, I’m pretty sure you said ‘Death should be afraid of me’.” James corrected, laughing evilly with a very vile smile across his lips. I could tell that I was in for it with that one. They were going beat me within an inch of my life.

            I felt Dillon’s big hands grab hold of my collar and pull me in before I could visually register it. I had to turn my head to avoid gagging from his horrible breath. I really didn’t want to add insult to injury.

            I saw his other arm moving, and then like a freight train his fist slammed into me, just under the rib cage. Instantly the air in my lungs was sucked out like it was never there in the first place. I heard him cackle with pleasure as he did it again, and again, before finally throwing me to the ground.

            I sucked in as much air as I could when James’s foot flew into my right side, creating an instant stabbing pain all down that part of my body. There were many repeated attacks before finally I felt a foot on my chest, and once again I had the breath of a troll being blown into my face again, this time it was James however.

            “Dillon and I are your death, and you would do best to remember that now ok?” James said getting in my face. I wasn’t allowed the second to respond before he kicked me again and walked off, stuffing his hands into his pants pockets.

            As I laid there and wondered if I was going to have the strength to get up, the air was able to flood back into my lungs, which made the situation more comfortable, but also much more painful. After ten agonizing minutes of self-pity, I lugged myself of the concert and walked in the direction of my house.

            The walk itself was gorgeous. The trees were starting to realize that autumn was on the way, and began changing My Street was full of mid color transformation trees on either side. However at the current time, I was not enjoying it very much.

            After what felt like a never ending battle with the door know, I managed to slip inside, and into the hall bathroom. I had to grab hold of the sink rim to balance myself on my feet. The area to the left of my lip was bloodied, and bruised. The area to the direct side of my left eye was covered with short, skinny lines that were now caked with red.

            After a horrible struggle I lifted my shirt and found that the entire right side of my body, from my waist to my upper chest was covered in blue and black. I could make out faint shoe toe marks that ran in random spots along my side.

            I tried cleaning up my face, but found that it was agonizing and painful with every thing that came in contact with it besides air. I reached into the cabinet and grabbed the Aspirin bottle and popped two quick pills in and gulped them down with a full glass of water.

            I looked at the clock on the wall and hurried myself up the stairs. I felt each movement my right side made as if I was still being kicked again and again. As I rummaged through my closet and drawers I pulled out the stark grey shirt and faded blue jeans that were required for my work.

As it was a Friday night I had a four-hour shift at a video game complex. There was an idea that perked me up. I had been working there for the best two years and I had loved every minute of it.

The complex was built out of what had once been an extremely large laser tag place. The inside had been renovated with the newest technology, and video game consoles.

If you paid for a membership, you had an account on all the different consoles and you could compete in tournaments and win money through bets. It was definitely a fun place to hang out.

As I reached for the door I stopped for a minute. Most teens had to talk to their parents before they left the house, not planning to return till midnight. However, in my case I had no need to worry about such things. My dad was probably at a strip club again, as he normally was. Mom was on another business trip again and wouldn’t be back till next week. Happy life to me. I think to myself looking back at the empty, lifeless house.