Hey guys, sorry this took so long. It was a hard chapter to write. I hope it was worth the wait though!
Chapter 9
Yumi watched William and a number of Skids form a long line just outside the clearing. They were still hidden by the forest surrounding the clearing. Flashlights weren't allowed yet but fortunately, the full moon allowed for the kids to move around without running into each other, or trees.
Her watch read 11:55. She used the small light on her watch to find Milly. The redhead would need a head start to find a suitable look out position. Milly nodded when Yumi met her eyes and took off through the trees, disappearing into the dark.
Yumi's heart beat anxiously in her chest. What if something went wrong?
"She'll be just fine." Sam came up and put a hand on her shoulder.
Yumi sighed and tried to believe the dark-skinned girl. "Are you and Nicholas ready? You should leave soon if you want to find Theo as soon as we start."
"On it," she nodded. Nicholas followed her and they headed towards the opposite border by way of the edge closest to the school.
Yumi looked around for Naomi. She found the pretty brunette already in place, standing behind a tree off to the side. Her main goal tonight would be to watch William and make sure no one attempted a sneak attack.
Naomi gave Yumi a thumbs-up when she noticed her staring. Yumi decided it was time for her to take her position as well.
She paused behind William. "I'm going now. Be safe."
The Skid leader turned his head. He was wearing a ski mask to protect himself from being identified but Yumi could still the sadness in his eyes. "You too."
11:58. Yumi ran.
When she reached a point about halfway between the two sides, she stopped. The woods around her were silent. She checked and double-checked that her knife was still secure in her boot. Then, she looked in the direction of the school. The fight would be starting any second now and Yumi hoped to miss the first few moments of chaos.
The clearing was behind the school, completely secluded except for the storage shed and science building's garden. The tall lights illuminating the roped-off garden and the shed light provided enough light for Yumi be almost positive that no one was in the area.
Would it be paranoid to check behind the shed?
Yumi heard what sounded like a stampede, meaning the two gangs were on the move, but all the footsteps were well within the clearing. She should stay as close to her friends as possible, she decided, just in case.
Someone shouted in pain and the sounds of fists and feet connecting with their targets made Yumi cringe. Knives clashed against more knives and fabric ripped apart.
Most everyone would be in the center now. The scene in front of her empty, Yumi decided it was time to check on the progress of the fight. She turned, about to walk away, when heavy, clumsy footsteps came crashing towards her.
Yumi stepped behind a tree, her hand reaching for her boot, and the figure came into view.
"Johnny!" The dark-haired girl gasped, recognizing the boy from the light behind him.
The lanky 8th grader froze.
"What are you doing?" Yumi hissed, trying not to draw the attention of any of Theo's spies that might be wandering nearby.
Determination replaced the shock on Johnny's face. "I'm here to fight," he announced. "I want to help so William will let me join next year."
Yumi tried not to groan. When William took over the Skids, he also set an age limit. Only freshmen and older would be allowed to join the gang, but anyone interested in joining could always ask for protection and pledge as a future member.
"You need to leave. This isn't safe." Yumi tried to make the younger boy see reason. "William wouldn't want you here."
Johnny shook his head. "William keeps the bigger kids from bullying me. I'm going to help him."
A branch snapped just inside the clearing. Whoever it was, they were close and uninterested in fighting in the center because their movements were so slow and deliberate.
Yumi signaled for Johnny to be quiet. She crouched down and stepped lightly towards the noise.
She could make out two figures, most likely males because of their height and stature. Then, the boys stopped.
Yumi's fingers wrapped around her knife and she slowly stood back up, pulling the blade out of her boot. The boys were looking around now. Yumi wondered if they had heard her and Johnny talking.
They seemed to be looking into the trees but Yumi couldn't be sure how much they could see without flashlights.
One of them stepped towards the pair. It was Theo.
Johnny started running before Yumi could stop him. He charged at the gang leader, hands out to tackle him.
Bang!
Johnny stopped mid-stride. He slowly tilted backwards, and then fell, unable to catch himself. A quiet gurgling sound escaped his lips but he never moved.
"Don't move!" Theo shouted at her. They were closer now and Yumi could see the small handgun in the other boy's hands. Now, she recognized its owner.
"Herve..." Yumi's voice broke. "You killed him!" She tried to hold back the sobs that threatened to overtake her body.
"I-I didn't mean to!" He cried. The gun was now on the ground and the shaking boy was staring at his hands. "It was supposed to be you!"
"Stop shouting." Theo ordered. "And pick up your gun. We need to keep Yumi from causing anymore trouble."
Yumi couldn't believe her ears. Surely, Herve wouldn't shoot her? And how could Theo want to keep fighting? No one was ever supposed to die...
"Like hell you will!" A familiar voice shouted. Sam appeared behind Theo and quickly had his neck in the crook of her arm.
Nicholas held Herve's arms behind his back just in case, but the skinny boy clearly wasn't going to put up a fight. He fell to his knees and let the bigger boy hold him still.
Theo tried to wriggle out of Sam's headlock but she twisted, hard, and he fell face-first onto the ground. Her connected firmly with the side of his head and he fell limp.
She stood back up, grinning. "You won't mind me taking him for a visit with my father, will you? I promise I'll return him alive."
Yumi tried to focus on the situation in front of her. They would have to clear out as fast as possible. The whole campus, including Delmas, might have heard the gun shot.
"Fine." Yumi acquiesced.
Then, she looked at Herve. "Get him out of here too. But don't hurt him."
Sam rolled her eyes but Nicholas nodded. He picked the gun up off the ground and stuffed it barrel-first into his pocket. He helped his classmate onto his feet before hefting an unconscious Theo over his shoulder.
Yumi watched them walk back into the forest, relieved at least, that with Sam's protection, they'd make it out ok.
The clearing was mostly empty now. The fear that some kids had brought guns to the fight had scattered them; no one wanted to stay around and get caught.
Another group of footsteps came running towards her.
"Yumi," William gasped. "Are you ok?"
He had two other boys with him but Yumi ignored them. "Johnny's dead. Herve shot him, trying to protect Theo."
The Skid leader looked at the body in disbelief. He opened his mouths but no words came out.
"I thought you said there wouldn't be guns!" Yumi shouted at him, finally accepting what had happened.
"I didn't know!" William yelled back. "No one else had one! There's no way I couldn't known one crazy kid would freak out!"
"You should have known!" Yumi's eyes were flooding with tears. She didn't care if she was hurting William's feelings. He deserved it. "He came here to help you. You got that little boy killed!"
"That's enough." William snarled. "We need to get out of here."
He knelt down beside the lifeless body. "Give me something to stop the bleeding. I'm going to take him to the hospital."
One of the boys gave William his sweatshirt. He wrapped it around the thin torso and picked the body up.
"Go home, Yumi. The fewer people involved with this, the better." William told her before walking off with the other two boys.
"Fuck you!" Yumi screamed after him. Tears spilled down her cheeks and she wanted to just lie down on the ground and curl up in a ball.
But, as much as she hated him, William was right. She ran towards the stadium, towards the exit closest to her apartment, taking cover in the dark.
Yumi stopped once she reached the gate, preparing to climb it as it was always locked after hours.
But she didn't want to go home. She didn't want to leave the school and abandon everyone who had to stay.
Yumi realized there was only one place she wanted to go.
.
"Yumi?" Ulrich opened the door, still half-asleep. "What are you-"
Yumi fell into his arms, cutting him off. He tensed in surprise but he quickly accepted the embrace, wrapping his arms around her tightly. He kicked the door closed and led her to his bed.
Her lips crashed against his as soon as they sat down on the bed. Ulrich returned every kiss, his hands tangling in her hair.
Finally, her sniffling quieted and her eyes couldn't produce any more tears.
She stayed on his lap, trying to calm her gasping breaths, and savored the warmth of the living, breathing body beside her. Ulrich smoothed her hair and didn't let her go.
"You going to tell me what's wrong?" He asked gently.
Yumi wiped away the wetness from her cheeks. She couldn't find the words.
"An 8th grader was killed. And it was my fault," she whispered.
Ulrich frowned. "What?"
Yumi nodded to reaffirm what she had said. "There was a fight. I was supposed to keep everyone else out so they wouldn't get hurt."
Ulrich pulled her in closer and pressed his lips against her hair. "That's not your fault. You did all you could."
The dark-haired girl didn't say anything else. She wanted so badly for what he said to be true.
"Here, you're freezing," he pulled the covers over them and got her to lie down. His arms remained protectively around her and Yumi snuggled into his chest.
"Everything's going to be just fine, don't you worry." He whispered soothingly. "It'll be ok. Just wait and see."
Yumi let her eyes fall shut. Exhaustion washed over her and she let the warmth and comfort surrounding her shield her from her thoughts. She fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
.
The next morning, they awoke to a banging on Ulrich's door. Yumi was up and out of the bed instantly but Ulrich groaned sleepily.
"Go away, Odd!" He called.
"Open up!" A voice on the other side of the door shouted back.
Yumi and Ulrich looked at each other curiously. Neither recognized the voice.
The banging resumed and Yumi checked the peephole. Two Skids stood outside the door.
