CHAPTER 10

STREETS OF HARLOW CITY

Monday morning.

August 21, 2017.

John Halsey, a busy man, walked into the office building of his work. He had rode the elevator up to his floor, coffee in hand, laptop in a bag over his shoulder. The fur on his head was put up in a ponytail. He, like his son, had brown fur and black spots. He wore a light gray shirt and tan pants. Right as he was ready to open the door to his office, he got a call on his cellphone. He grabbed his phone out of his pocket and looked at the caller ID, which read "Marge". John picked up the phone and pressed talk.

"Did I forget something?" he said enthusiastically.

"No." Marge said, sounding upset.

"Babe, what's wrong?" asked John.

"Peyton's in the hospital." said Marge.

"WHAT!?" John shouted, as he made his way back to the elevator, pressing the button. "Harlow City General?"

"Yeah." said Marge.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" asked an older male voice behind him.

"My son is in the hospital." said John.

"John, if you step in that elevator, you're fired." said the voice.

"Then consider me fired then!" said John.

The elevator dinged and John quickly stepped in once the door opened.

He must've took about 2 seconds from the car to Peyton's hospital room, arriving at the same time as Marge.

"What happened!?" John shouted.

"Some boy at school... Peyton was passed out in the hallway with his pants down... Doctor said he has a broken ribcage." said Marge.

John growled.

"I'm gonna kill the bastard." he said.

One month later.

September 23, 2022.

Lucas had been released from the correctional facility in the rainy morning. Unknown to him, he had been tailed to Harlow City and was walking down the street. John was quietly stalking him, feet not making a sound that the rain couldn't drown out. He stopped, took out a revolver and pulled the hammer back... POW! Right through the back of his knee. Lucas screamed in pain as he fell to the ground. As John approached him, he rolled over to see who it was... Just who he thought. The smoking gun was aimed right at his forehead.
"I'm sorry..." said Lucas. "I won't do it again... I promise."
"I know." said John, the shot the ram in the forehead. Then fired another shot. Then another... His hate for the young ram not allowing him to stop until the gun was empty.

John's P.O.V.
I shouldn't have to cover my tracks for this piece of shit, but... the law being what it is, I figured if it looked like he pulled a gun on me, they won't be asking the tough questions. I sighed, then with a cloth, grabbed a pistol out of my pocket and lied it down in Lucas's hand, using the cloth to close his hoof around the gun.

Rory's P.O.V.

I cried myself to sleep in the Caprice... I parked it alongside the road and was startled awake by a gunshot down the street. I heard a scream and a few more shots before it was quiet and started up the car, ready to leave. I looked in my rearview mirror and noticed Mr. Halsey around Lucas's body briefly before he walked off. I turned the car off, then got out, walking up to the crime scene. I stood there looking for a moment, down at Lucas's body. Right now, I really wanted it to be me lying there filled with bullet holes. I stood there, debating on whether or not to grab the gun. I knew there had to be a reason Mr. Halsey lie it down... But if I really wanted to blow my brains out later, let's face it. It was the only way I could get a gun. I squatted down, very careful not to touch him, and after a little more hesitation, I grabbed the pistol and put it away, in my bra. I then walked to my car and got back in, then took a look at my phone. There were a couple missed calls. One from mom's cellphone, one from Peyton's. Nothing from Cassie. I then called Peyton.

"Hello?" asked Peyton.

"Hey..." I said, sounding depressed.

"Hey, hun..." said Peyton. "Cassie told me what happened."

"Did she tell you I got kicked out?" I asked.

"What?" asked Peyton. "You've gotta be shitting me."

"No..." I said, starting to sob. "My father said I was an embarrassment to the family... He said he didn't want a faggot for a daughter... Mom, she... She just watched everything happen without a peep."

"What a fucking asshole." said Peyton.

"I..." I began. "I think if I were to die right now, nobody would give a shit..."

"Don't say stuff like that, please." said Peyton. "That's not true. You have me. You'll ALWAYS have me."

I started crying.

"Look... I can talk to my mom, beg her to let you stay if I have to." said Peyton. "My parents will accept you."

"No offense, Pey, but I don't think I'm good for your family in the state I'm in." I said.

"I don't care about that, Rory." said Peyton. "I don't want you to be alone and in the streets."
I didn't wanna listen, but I couldn't bear to hear Peyton upset. I didn't know what to say next.

"Please let me help you." said Peyton.

"You're a good friend, Pey." I said. "I don't want to be the reason your day is ruined."

"Rory-" Peyton began, before I hung up the phone. I then dialed Cassie's number and waited for her to pick up.

"Hello. You've reached Cassandra Baxter. I'm not available at the moment. And if I'm not available now, I probably won't be later. Byyyyyyyye!" her answering machine said.

"Cassie... Please talk to me..." I began. "I got kicked out last night... I need you so much right now..." I said, then pressed send.

I then got out of the car once more and stared down at my reflection in its red paint. I then clenched my fist and punched at my reflection... I wanted it to go away... I hated myself probably about as much is my father did now. Before too long, I couldn't tell the difference between my blood and the rain water, pooling in the now dented up hood. I couldn't even feel pain at the moment.

"Rough week?" said a female voice across the street.

I looked up and saw a shark... A few things ran through my mind. First of all was how beautiful she was. She had on a dark blue, almost black dress. She wore matching high heels and had on glasses. She had gray skin, blue eyes and long black hair. Second thought was the confusion of seeing a shark on land for the first time. Third... I wasn't ready to be back in the world yet.

"The worst week of my life." I said.

The shark then walked over.

"Let me take a look at that." she said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because if you broke something, it might be good to patch it up." said the shark. "And considering I'm a nurse..."

"Why do you care about me?" I asked. "I'm nothing... I have nothing."

"Because... I care about people." said the shark. "Let me see it."

I then let her take a look. She then feels around. I reel in a little pain as she pushes down.

"Yeah..." said the shark. "Something's out of place. I have supplies in my car."

We then walk over to her car and she gets out medical supplies.

"What's your name?" asked the shark.

"Rory." I said.

"I'm Tabitha." said the shark as she grabbed gauze out of her car. "Now bear with me. This is gonna hurt a bit."

I nodded.

She then grabbed a couple of my fingers and snapped them back into place with a loud popping sound as I screamed.

"Now..." said Tabitha. "You're gonna want to leave this on until you heal."

"Alright." I said, as she wrapped my hand.

"Do you have somewhere to stay, other than your car?" asked Tabitha.

"No..." I said.

"Alright..." said Tabitha. "I can give you a room for a few days. I know it's not much, but-"

"Thank you." I said.

Tabitha smiled slightly.

"Come on." she said. "Let's get you out of the rain."