Light Through The Darkness

Bullies

    “You idiot! Just die already! No one likes you!”

    He already knew this. He didn't understand why they made such an effort to repeat themselves constantly.

    “You disgust me!” another boy spat with a grin, “Stupid Alex!”
Alex looked up, pushed his dark colored hair out of his face, and wanted to ask them why they thought that. He considered himself to be quite smart, but knew asking them would only aggravate them further. He made the mistake of asking how he was a pussy once.

    “Gonna snitch?” One teased in a mocking tone. “Gonna go cry to daddy?” The others thought that was hilarious because they all laughed, high-fiving the abnormally lanky kid with bright red dots covering his face.

    The boy with a mustache jeered, “Everyone knows your dad is the principal! Does it make you feel safe? Knowing your daddy is just around the corner?”

    Alex did feel safer. Even though the bullying had increased since his dad became their school's principal; He loved going to his dad's office to eat lunch. He also highly enjoyed debating against his dad, sometimes regarding something talked about in class or about the presidential election. His dad always brought up points Alex never thought about.

    “Well? Does Virgin Mary have anything to say?” They all laughed again.

    “That…” Alex started, “That doesn't make any sense. Are you calling me virgin? Are you making it a point that I am a girl? Or are you trying to tell me I have a child?”

    “You think you’re funny?” Pimples shouted.

    He wasn't trying to be funny. He was genuinely confused. Maybe they meant all of those things.

    “You won't be laughing after this!”
He wasn't laughing but his thoughts were cut short when his eyes spotted the gun Mustache pulled out of his bag. Alex tried to take a step back but Pimples had found his way behind him.

    “Where you going, Alex?” Mustache snickered as he pointed the gun at Alex.

    “I don't think this is a fair fight.” shrilled a new voice. “Don't you three agree?”

Alex looked over to his sister, who stood on the staircase above them. He didn't answer.

     “Let your dear sister help you out!” She walked down the stairs, every step echoing throughout the silent hallway. “Here you go, Alex.” She said confidently, handing him a large shotgun. Alex looked from the gun to his sister.

    “Cindy, What are you doing?” He asked, his voice rising to a panicked tone.

    Cindy looked at him bewildered. “What do you mean? I'm obviously helping my brother! Now go on, take the shot.” She said, nodding towards Mustache. By this time, Pimples had run away.

    “No.” Alex choked out.

    His sister smirked. “Excuse me?”
“I don't want to shoot anyone.” His voiced cracked.

    Cindy smacked his back and laughed, “Don't remember asking, dear brother.” She breathed into his ear.

    Alex felt chills go down his spine. A voice in his head screamed at him to run but not a single muscle dared move. He felt his sister's grip tighten on his shoulders, threatening him to
hurry. “They've been bullying you for years! Shouldn't you be happy you can finally kill them?” She questioned, her grip on him becoming painful. “Every time I try to help you this happens! You're just an ungrateful bitch! Hurry up, Alex! Shoot him!! Get it all over with!” Cindy yelled.

    Alex couldn't think anymore. With a shaky hand he raised the gun at the boy standing before him.

    “N-no! Wait!” the boy cried. “I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me!”

    Alex didn't particularly hate them. He always admired the way they could easily voice their opinions.

    “Do it!” Cindy growled. “Kill him!”
Alex's finger flexed on the trigger then stopped. He can't. He can't kill anyone. He didn't want this. He didn't like their bullying but this is too extreme.

Finally finding the courage to move, he elbowed his sister away from him and ran. Ran as fast as he could up the stairs, the gun still held tightly in his arms.

    “Alex?” a familiar voice questioned. “What's wrong?”

    Alex looked up into the face of his dad. He saw his dad's eyes dart to the gun then back at him accusingly. He took a step toward Alex with has hands out.

    “Alex… Calm down, okay? Hand me the gun.”

    Alex felt tears sting his eyes. He knew what his dad saw, nothing more than a troubled student. He knew nothing would be the same. He felt his entire fate change, as if the earth
shifted slightly. Shifted a bit off it's normal path and sent us all hurdling out to space. The consequences of having a weapon on school property was great. He may even go to jail. It
wasn't his fault, but who would believe him? He's always been a troubled student. Thoughts of fear crowded his mind. What would happen to him and how his dad would think of him from now on. He didn't want that. He felt tears sting his eyes.

   “Alex… “ His dad breathed. “Give me the gun.”

    He couldn't think straight. He didn't know what to do.

    “Just kill him, Alex.” Cindy said calmly from the stairs.

     Alex's dad looked at Cindy confused. “Excuse me?”

    Cindy never liked Arthur, Alex's dad. When their mother died, they both went to live with him. Cindy always would complain about how Arthur was annoying and strict. She would say her dad was better. Not that her saying that would make a difference. Her dad died when she
was little in a car accident. Since then their mother has remarried three times.

    “You heard me.” She sighed, bored. “He won't do it, though. He's too much of a coward.”

   “Alex! Give me the gun, now!”

   “Don't do it, Alex. He'd be better off dead.”

    “Don't listen to her! If you kill me, bad things will happen to you!”

    “Shut up!” Alex screamed. He couldn't organize his thoughts when they were both yelling at him.