How did he know where I live?Why did he even come here?Just to see me cry and beg for mercy?
Those questions echoed in my mind as I curled up on the floor, arms shielding my head while his fists rained down like thunder. Venny. He wasn't even one of the main bullies, yet I feared him just as much. Maybe more. His twisted joy in seeing others suffer made my stomach churn.
He wasn't alone.Elijah was with him—the first person who ever started bullying me.
I had actually thought today would be peaceful. I should've known better.
SpitI coughed up blood, my vision already spinning.
"H-How did you even find out where I live?! Aah!!" I screamed, barely able to form the words.
Venny smirked. "Oh? You've still got some fight left in you. Cute."
*Punch**Kick*More blood. More pain.Laughter.
"I don't know why they do it... Maybe people like me are just... fun for them." I muttered, half-conscious.His friends roared in laughter, as if my suffering were a comedy show.
Then... I heard the last voice I ever wanted to hear in that moment.
"I'm home."
My heart dropped.
Lyra.
No. No, not her.Not now.
"What will she think of me?" I thought, panic rising in my chest.What if they went after her too? Were they that far gone? Would they seriously beat a girl—my sister—just for the hell of it?
And Neva... Raphael's girlfriend was there too. If she joined in—
"Ooh? Who do we have here?" Venny turned toward the entrance. "Are you his sister?"
Lyra froze. Her eyes widened as she saw me, bloodied and broken on the ground. I saw fear take hold of her.
"What's your name, sweetie?" Venny asked casually, like they weren't in the middle of a nightmare.
"P-Please... spare u-us..." she whispered, voice shaking.
That broke me.
Seeing my sister, trembling and begging for mercy, it shattered something inside me.
"Oh, don't worry," Venny smirked, glancing at his friends. "I'm not gonna hit a girl. I'm not that cruel."
Relief washed over me.
"I just have some unfinished business with your brother."
"Please... spare him too..." Lyra begged, tears streaming down her face.
There was sweat on her brow, her hands trembling.
Venny paused. "Alright, alright. I'll spare him..."
Wait—what?
That wasn't like him.
"But—" he continued, and the pause sent a chill down my spine—"I'll spare him ifyou come out with us tonight. We're having a little party."He flashed a smile. "Name's Venny, by the way."
...
What...?
Did he really just say that?
I knew what this was. I knew Venny.He wasn't trying to be polite.He wasn't letting us go.
He was using her. Maybe he was hitting on her.
That's when something inside me snapped.
The fear melted.The pain disappeared.I didn't care about myself anymore.
My vision turned red.
I staggered to my feet, blood still dripping from my mouth, and stared Venny straight in the eye.
Veins bulged across my forehead.
I screamed—
"What the f**k do you think you're doing, you a**hole?!"