Chapter Four:Zeph's Flashback
Once they have return back to the cave where they have met up, Kemetri was trying to heal Zeph the best that he could to make him feel better before going back out there and explore the island some more.
"Man, Zeph, I really hope the hell I'm doing this right," Kemetri says putting some sort medical cream on his wounds follow by him wrapping them up with bandages. He got all of these from a first-aid kit that he went back in town later on and found on the beach in a shack.
"Don't worry about it. No pressure at all, dude," he responds sounding a little strained as laid back on the ground.
Once Kemetri was finish, he puts the things he didn't use back in the first-aid kit to use when they need it later. Zeph sits back up and recovers some of his strength after his friend have healed him.
"Thanks, man. I owe you one, big time," Zeph says while patting Kemetri's shoulder. Then a thought came to Kemetri's mind right after he healed Zeph.
"So, Zeph, I've also been meaning to ask you something else that I need to know, how come I'm the one that have physically changed completely and you still look the same?" Kemetri asks then another thought that came to mind, "As a matter of fact, how did you come to get here anyway? Why? For what reason?" he asks out of curiosity.
Zeph was silent for a few minutes, Kemetri was about to respond. But soon Zeph regains his composure and answers quickly.
"Well, Kemetri, there's something that is kind of hard for me to tell you," he states sadly.
"Hard to tell me? How come?" Kemetri prompts, giving him a look of interest of what was in his mind.
"Well, for one thing, I'm not your so innocent preteen kid you meet at school everyday. To be honest, friend, half of my family was kind of a big Mafia crew," Zeph explains.
"My uncle was kind of an annoying, evil, crazy, self-absorbed, prick and..." Zeph pauses when he decided that's all he he wanted to describe about him.
"You know what, that pretty much covers it about that bastard," he says, stopping in mid-sentence.
"Okay, just tell me what is on your mind. I'm your friend, you can tell me anything. Just tell me your back story, I wanna hear it," Kemetri insists.
Kemetri did help him and probably saved his life twice so the least he could do was tell him about his hell of home and family life.
"Okay then... Uh...? You've ever heard of Baton Rouge or New Orleans?" Zeph asks sitting up.
"Yeah, I've been there with my freaking hell-hole, dumbass family," he answers.
Zeph's flash back...
The city of New Orleans was quiet and was often too quiet for that matter. The city looked run down and a little broken up from how Zeph saw it. There were graffiti on brick walls, broken down cars, and some abandoned looking houses that looked as if it could be used as a bunch of hide outs and/or drug houses.
There was also the smell of smoke of either, nicotine, weed or cocaine in the air along with the scent of burning gas or alcohol in the air which was very distracting and unpleasant; very sickening. Which was one of the things Zeph couldn't stand about his so called "home" he had to live in when his father went to jail and had to stay with his great uncle. And for some people it might have been good for a kid to be with some of his family members while their parents are away, but for him, it wasn't because unlike most other uncles his was out of his god damn mind. Zeph didn't have that many bruises, but he still had a few on his arms from the last attack from his uncle and because he didn't make it home exactly at 4:30 a.m. and came home at 4:31 a.m.
His grandfather was in charge of their crime family while his father was in prison for something he was framed, for Zeph also had reasons to believe one of his uncle's "boys" were also part of it. Right now Zeph was just outside sitting on the hood of one of his uncle's broken down old cars, waiting for the little friends he had now. It have been a while since he have called them to come over it have been hours now it was obvious that they couldn't make it for some reason. And then just to the young preteen's disappointment his uncle car pulled up to the drive way. Sometimes when his uncle decided to abuse him, he would let him fight back but sometimes Zeph would lose and be sent to bed; however, if he won. He was punished by his uncle, who locked him in a cold room and gave him no food what so ever for two days.
"Hey, you little bastard get your ass over here before you make me come over there and kick your ass myself!" his uncle roared looking drunk. Zeph's uncle was not overweight, nor skinny. Even though he wasn't that young, but he wasn't that old either he was about 49 and had grey hair and a beard. Although he was a tad bit old he was in good shape, humanly strong and powerful as well as very threatening too. When Zeph didn't move the first time he called him he threw a giant beer bottle he had in his hand at him and it struck his shoulder making him fall on the hood of the car then rolling off the car and falling to the ground.
"YOU STUPID LITTLE FUCK! I OWN YOU NOW AND YOU COME WHEN I CALL YOU AND DO WHAT I TELL YOU!" He yelled at the boy who was now on his knees getting ready to get up from the ground.
"YOU HEARD ME! THAT MEANS WHEN I SAY JUMP YOU SAY, "HOW HIGH!" WHEN I SAY RUN YOU SAY, "HOW FAR!" AND WHEN I SAY, "DANCE YOUR ASS!" YOU BETTER STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND FUCKING DANCE!" he threatens, but Zeph really have no fear of him at all and have been taught by his father to never give in and all ways fight for what you believe in. Right when Zeph got up from off the ground he punched right in the face making him fall back on the ground followed by him grabbing Zeph by his neck and raising him up in the air.
"Let go of me!" Zeph protested beating on his arm but to no avail he threw him almost half-way across the yard making him hit the wind shield of a car leaving the wind shield extremley cracked when his body made contact with it.
"You deserve the shit that is happining to you," he growled. "You're the reason Makis', your old man, is in jail you little dick! He became a fuckin' priss after you were born!" he spat at Zeph.
"You're calling my dad a priss?" Zeph chuckled trying to take in the pain as he breaths it out; even though he was definitely feeling it, "Have actually looked in a mirror your self old man?" Zeph mocked as he chuckled a little again. Zeph was indeed a really brave and strong boy to say that to his face. As his uncle heard, that got him even more mad and made him charge at him, but with some patience and perfect timing, Zeph manged to kick him back with both of his feet knocking him down giving him some time to run.
As he ran his uncle caught him by the back of his shirt and threw him down. While he was on the ground he started stomping on his chest and after that he picked him up slammed him against a car and started to repeatedly punching him in the face. Zeph now had a giant red spot on one side of his face and two large scratches on the other side of face that reached down to his chin and was bleeding from his mouth. All of this was from his abusive uncle assaulting him. Then after one more punch to the face he was knocked out and his uncle threw him to the ground and left him there.
Flashback break...
"Wait a minute" Kemetri exclaimed, "Your uncle really said and did all of that to you!" he states in a shocked tone. Zeph nods his head.
"But Kemetri from as bad as that was, that has nothing to what i'm going to tell you next," Zeph speaks.
Back to Flash back...
Zeph woke up later, feeling water fall all over his damaged and battered body. When he came to a little more he found that it was raining very hard. He tried to get up as quick as he could and leaped back into his house, which also looked trashy and rundown from the outside and the inside.
Zeph was completely all soaked and wet, also covered with some mud. When he came into the house he noticed his uncle was sitting in his chair holding a metal baseball bat.
"Hade a nice dip, boy," he said with a wicked smile. Zeph did not respond and just stared at him. He chuckled at the pain he caused and got from his chair swinging the bat around.
"Now, that otta teach you not to talk to me like that again, and should show you that I don't like any back talk, boy," he said as he brought the bat up to his chest.
"Oh, and guess what, you get to skip school today. I wouldn't want ya to try and rat me out or anything," he said now frowning, "And to make sure you don't I'm gonna invite your ex-friends from school to come and "hang out" that will be good for you and very good for me" he said with a chuckle.
"By the way, all this mud and water better be cleaned up. You got that, you little fuck?" he hissed at him right before walking out the door.
"Bitch" Zeph said right after he left. As he left, Zeph changed his clothes and got into some cleaner ones. Then he cleaned up the mud and the house was already trashy and rundown enough he hated where he now lived but he didn't want it to be any more cluttered with mess. He then ate some food and went to the sofa to sleep until the rain stopped.
After a few hours of him sleeping Zeph finally woke and went back outside. Once he was outside he slammed the door hard not really caring how he closed. Zeph decided to just rest on the lawn chair for the rest of the day to relax himself a bit, but his peace and quiet was soon interupted when someone threw a rock a his stomach Zeph looked up and growled as he heard the familier voices and saw their faces.
"Hey, Angel kid, guess what time it is!" One of the bullies said.
"Yeah, whatever, it's payback time or whatever, now go get killed!" Zeph said in a frustrated, annoyed tone.
The bully laughed, "Oh! We have a funny guy. ...I hate funny guys!"
Zeph retorts angrily, "Well I rather be hated for being funny, than to be a fuckin' dumbass piece of shit with no life like you three!"
The boss shouts the order, "That's it. You two grab either arm!"
The two nod and follow the command as Zeph tries to punch them and knock them out, but his hands get caught.
The boss walks up, "Time to teach this little kid about what happens when you mess with the best."
Zeph spats, "If this is your best, I feel so sorry for you."
The boss' face becomes red and started pounding on Zeph in the face, after some swings he stopped.
He looked to Zeph, "How'd you feel about that? Huh? Now who's the dumbass, dumbass!"
Zeph smirked and says, "You're really dense aren't you, you little fucktard."
Zeph stomped on the right one's foot, which released his hold and then Zeph elbowed him in the back of the head. Knocking him to the ground and then he turns to the other.
He says, "Hey there, you don't mind if I kick the shit out of you. Do you?"
The other bully laughed, "Try you little ass."
Zeph smiled, "Fair enough."
He kicked the bully in the groan, automatically releasing his hand and then he does a double hammer fist to him. He sets his madden gaze onto the boss and the boss stuttered with fear, "I-I'm n-not afraid of y-you."
Zeph grinned, "Good."
Zeph sweep kicked the bully, he lands on his back and then Zeph jumps up and drives his elbow onto the bully's chest. The bully spat in pain, "AAHG!"
Zeph stands up and dust himself off, "Told you were dense, you fucktard."
He began to walk away, until he heard a voice. "Watch your back!"
Zeph listened to the voice, he turned and sees the bully had manage to stand up again and was about to attack him. Zeph back kicked the bully, after he fell to the ground.
The voice shouted, "Come over here!"
Zeph cast his eyes to a small boy figure and then back to the bully, he decided that it was best to hightail than to fight anymore. So he followed to where the kid was, only to find a dead end.
He mutters, "Fuck!"
Soon he hears voices, "Where is that little asshole!"
Zeph puts his back against the wall and prepares to face the bullies once more, but soon..
Psssst
A sound catches his eyes as he sees a little hole, he walks up to it and he sees an eye looking back at him.
The boy says, "In here, they won't find you."
Zeph nods and climbs through the hole and hides with the kid.
Soon the bullies showed up and one said, "I saw him coming this way!"
The other counters, "Probably went another when we weren't looking."
The boss adds, "No one makes a fool out of the Coyote Crew! When I see Zeph, I will destroy him!"
The sound of glass breaking was heard, followed-by the sounds of steps leaving the place and both boys release a sigh in relief.
Zeph looks to the boy and mutters coldy, "Thanks."
The other responds, "No problem. By the way, I'm Kemetri."
He extends his hand and then Zeph takes it, "I'm Zandros, but people call my Zeph. Well, actually very few do."
They shake and quickly part, Zeph looked to Kemetri. He asked, "Why you'd saved me?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "I guess I thought I should help you."
Kemetri questions, "Are you okay?"
Zeph smiled, "Yeah, I've been through worse things than this. Way worse."
Kemetri says, "I think you should come to my place, maybe my mom can look at those wounds the bullies gave you and then take you to the hospital."
Zeph dismisses the generous offer, "Nah. I'm fine."
Kemetri states, "You don't look fine, not even an eh would be suffice."
He asks, "Why not your folks move you out of this? I mean, the have to have other kids?"
Zeph looks at the ground, as his eyes become darken as he thinks about the past; a woman with a boy and girl..all three seem to becoming closer into view, until he is interrupted.
"Did I...ask something that I shouldn't?" Kemetri questioned with guilt.
Zeph repsonds, "Nope, just thinking about the past. Don't give it a second thought."
Kemetri retorts, "Oh...okay. But, doesn't your mother know about this? How about your father?"
Zeph becomes rigid and releases a tear, as it rolls down his eye.
He angrily spats, "DON'T EVER CALL HIM MY FATHER! THAT MAN WILL NEVER BEEN LIKE HIM! HE IS A FUCKIN' PSYCHO, BUT I'VE TO LIVE WITH HIM SINCE MY DAD IS IN JAIL! AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THAT BITCH!"
He calms down a little, "She left me behind. She took my brother and sister with her to California, but she left me. Me alone, the youngest one the trio. Why? Why did she leave me? Then soon after that, my dad, Makis, trained me to become as strong as a Spartan. Hence the name Zandros, also I got into many fights at almost every school I've been and I've been expelled so many time, I can't even count. Another reason why for Zeph instead of Zandros was because if my dad couldn't afford to move, I would use a fake i.d. and then everything would be set until I was in another fight. But then one day, my dad was arrested for something and I know deep down in my heart he is innocent; however, my gut didn't change the jurors mind because of the evidence and my family's history he was sent to jail and since my mom was nowhere to be found I ended up at my uncle's place. He isn't even my uncle, more like my Great Uncle since he is my dad's uncle. Yeah we fight, but one day everything is going to change and this smudge that has followed me will be cleaned when I start a new life."
Zeph inhales and then exhales as he wipes his eyes, "Sorry you had to hear about that. ...Huh?"
Kemetri looked down to the ground as he sobs, "Sorry, I didn't mean to ask a touchy topic. Your life has been heel and I feel so sorry for you."
Zeph looks to Kemetri and asked, "What did you say? S-Sorry for me?"
Kemetri looks to him with teary eyes and says, "I'm
Zeph looks to Kemetri, picks him up and pushes his back against the crumbling wall. "WHAT ARE YOU SORRY FOR! FUCK WITH YOUR PITY!"
Kemetri speaks, "I'm s-sorry... b-but I didn't meant-"
Zeph yells, "HELL WITH YOUR 'I DIDN'T MEANT IT'! NOTHING BUT STRAIGHT UP BULLSHIT!"
Kemetri sobs, "I'm sorry... So sorry Zeph."
Zeph hollers, "STOP YOUR BAWLING AND GIVE ME THAT LOOK! THE LOOK OF DISGUST! THE LOOK OF HOW 'I HATE THIS PIECE OF SHIT'! THE LOOK OF HOW YOU LOATHE ME! HATE FOR MY EXISTENCE! I DON'T NEED YOUR WORTHLESS APOLOGIES, I DON'T NEED YOUR SHITTY SYMPATHY!"
He shakes Kemetri and slams him into the wall, "STOP CRYING! I TOLD YOU TO STOP FUCKING CRYING! DON'T GIVE ME THAT LOOK OF FEELING SORRY FOR ME! I WANT YOU TO FRICKIN' STOP! STOP GOD DAMNIT! JUST STOP!"
Zeph eases his grip and Kemetri stands against the wall as Zeph in slouching over Kemetri with tears rolling out of his eyes, "Just stop... Please... I... I don't...don't deserve anyone's pity..."
Kemetri hugs Zeph and pats him, "Zeph... There, there... Let it all out... Don't worry. ...I'm here... I'm not going anywhere soon. ...Take as long as you need."
"Zeph," Kemetri states, "you've to believe me. I never wanted to hurt you like that."
Zeph comments, "I know you didn't...It's just... I should be the one apologizing about this entire thing..."
He adds, "Kemetri... You're too kind."
Zeph pushes Kemetri and speaks as he wipes some tears, "Look at me, being washed in your kindness. I mean, we just met and already I'm ranting around things."
He looks to Kemetri and says, "Sorry to have bothered you with my issues."
Kemetri responds, "Naw. It was no sweat. Really."
Zeph looks to Kemetri and ask, "Why were you here anyway?"
He replies, "I was walking around and I heard those doofuses and I knew that trouble wasn't far and so I followed them."
Zeph looks to Kemetri fragile body and asks, "Why would you follow those losers?"
Kemetri replies, "Easy, for adventure."
Zeph deadpan, "Adventure?"
He laughs, "You're as dumb as a sack of shit!"
That is when Kemetri punches Zeph on the head, "Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Fucking shit! What the fuck? WHAT THE HELL WITH THE HEAD BLOW! Why did you do that for?"
Kemetri counters, "Oh excuse me! That should've been my question back when you pinned me to the wall! You think everything revolves around you, I hate to bust that bubble. But it doesn't revolve around you, you're not the center of everything! We all have bad past experiences, but you know what forcing whatever you want people to believe about you is...is...is stupid! First you talk about having a new life, then pinning me to the wall and the moment I said I want to live an adventure you can and try to tear me down! I should just call those bullies back and watch as they beat you down!"
He adds softly, "But...I can't down that. It isn't right to hurt another, just for the sake of it. Because I don't want this to be a bad memory for you, to be another negative experience for you."
Zeph shakes his head and the stops as he looks to Kemetri with a happy smile, "You know... I'm happy. I mean really glad and it was because of you. I'm really glad I've met you, Kemetri."
Kemetri takes out his cell and yells, "Is it really that late! I'm so sorry Zeph, time passed us and everything else."
Zeph comments, "It is okay. Really. No problem. You helped me in more ways than one and also better than what my other friends would do."
He adds, "We should hang more often?"
Kemetri speaks, "Yeah, here is my number."
Zeph states, "Here is my number."
After both get the numbers into the cells, both grab the other's hand and shook it.
Zeph says, "We're going to be best friends."
Kemetri adds, "Yep, for a long time."
End of flashback...
Kemetri asks, "Why you never told me about your abusive great uncle?"
Zeph answers, "I didn't told you because I thought you wouldn't want to be my friend anymore."
Kemetri shakes his head, "I would never stop being your friend."
He asks, "But what about the appearance?"
Zeph replies, "Easy, I've more control and so I can change by will if I wanted to."
Kemetri nods, "Cool."
He asks, "I guess now I know why you left you house and went to the park, you couldn't stand another minute with him?"
Zeph comments, "Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! We've a winner!"
Kemetri playfully punches Zeph, "I forget how sarcastic you can be some times. You ass."
"Jerk off!"
Both happily laugh after that.