Chapter 2

Mason:

I've had just about enough of all of it. "Hey, guys, knock it off," I said in a not very convincing tone. I didn't want them to think I was a total buzz-kill but I could see they were hurting him. "Seriously, guys."

"Oh my God! You're gonna kill him!" one of the girlfriends shouted. She seemed to be more afraid that they would be caught then that he would die. The poor kid made the mistake of thinking that Damon Brooks would be his friend. The only reason I was considered good enough to be his friend (less 'friend' more of an ignorant accessory) was because we have known each other since second grade where I beat up a kid that was pounding on him. He told me I could hang out with him as long as I never told anyone.

Right now he was busy beating the kid up simply to show that he was the bigger, stronger guy and he was better than everyone else. "Mason! Be lookout!" Damon said between punches.

I looked around. We were pretty much in the middle of nowhere. A couple of street lamps every few miles, some houses scattered around. Damon's punching bag yelped out in pain. Someone in the house closest to us must have heard because the lights in the house turned on I looked over at Damon and his buddies about to tell them but instead they were already gone, leaving the unconscious freshman behind. I should have been running too, I should have been bolting before the police came, but instead I took out my phone and dialed 911 in my head repeating the same words, "They set me up". When the operators voice asked me what had happened I was prepared to lie my ass off. "Hello, I found an unconscious boy on the corner of Grove and 84th ."

I tried getting the boy to wake up without me having to touch him. Bad things tend to happen when I touch people.

When the police came followed by an ambulance, I left him behind and ran for it. I really hoped the boy didn't remember who was there that night, and if he did I hoped he at least remembered that I was the one that stayed. I could just imagine someone putting a gold star next to my name. This had to make up for something.

I watched from the bushes making sure he was found. The worst part of it all is that I don't even know the kid's name. I live in Florida in a town that defines small towns. One of those towns that everyone knows everyone and you never have to lock your doors, because you trust your neighbors. Well, that is unless you live near Damon. He's the kid fathers' threaten not to touch their daughters and mothers' keep their children far away from.