The sun had set and darkness was seeping into the narrow alley. The alley wasn't completely enveloped in the dark, he could see a sliver of pale golden light tinged with pink just overhead. It wasn't much but it would be enough. All he had to do was focus on it, the light that was so quickly fading into the oblivion that is called night.
He was in pain though. Even with his attempts to trick his mind from feeling it, his body still ached and burned. His head hurt too, most likely from being slammed repeatedly against the brick topped ground. The sharp copper taste still smarted his tongue and he knew he was bleeding profusely. From both his mouth and stomach.
His eyes flickered up at the sky again, despair filling his being as he saw the light dwindling into nothing. He barely felt the hard kicks to his body anymore, they were just an unimportant detail in the background. He hurt, but he had dealt with far worse before. The boy knew an unfair fight when he saw one and had closely guarded his mind from the beating he was receiving. He struggled to control himself, knowing that if he let control of his mind go the consequences would be dire. His eyes flashed dangerously. The boy knew he had to hold back though.
Except this beating was far different than others. It was not the orphanage director's boot coming down on his stomach or his fist knocking his face to the side. It was Davy Jenkins and his group of cronies. The school bullies.
"Say something you freak!" The words registered in his mind but he didn't form a response. Either in exhaustion or defiance he did not know. Another blow to his already bruised and bloody stomach, surely these imbeciles had done internal damage.
He grimaced, the first sign he had shown of acknowledging what was taking place. It wasn't out of pain, but simple rage. He knew an unfair fight when he saw one. This one was unfair. Four to one was a very unfair ratio, especially when one considered the age difference in the boys. Davy Jenkins and his cronies were in the sixth, though he often wondered how they had managed to make it that far in their education. He himself had just entered the fourth grade this fall. Two years was not a considerable age difference, but in the terms of how puberty worked it did. Davy Jenkins and his group were twice the size of him.
His mind had realized his tricks and started to register the pain that was radiating throughout his body. In his musings the boy hadn't noticed that ebony shadows surrounded him and his attackers. The only light left was provided by a dinky street lamp that flickered every five seconds. He wondered how long it had been. The boy couldn't stay quiet forever, the pain was too overwhelming and he knew as soon as he let out a groan of agony the beating would stop.
He was called a freak for being silent.
"C'mon Elliot, we only want to talk! Stop being such a freak. Are you mute? Did crazy old Martin whip the talk right outta ya?" That was Davy Jenkins. His voice was deeper than most other boys he knew but every now and then it would crack.
The boy called Elliot said nothing. His body had curled in on himself; a sign of defense and protection.
A harsh kick to his shoulder and the boy watched as the street lamp flickered once more. His eyes seemed to dance with a dangerous fire in them, only visible in the flickering light. Their golden depths smoldering. A sign of still burning hope.
The boys were growing tired and their kicks growing weaker. They would soon leave and he would somehow find the strength to drag himself to the orphanage.
He did not have to wait for much longer. In fact, as that last thought had left him he heard a small but determined voice reach his tired ears.
"Davy Jenkins, you better leave that boy alone! No one likes a bully." He decided the voice belonged to a female. She had not yet reached maturity as her voice was high and tinkled like bells, not at all intimidating.
He almost wanted to laugh and instead settled for a disgusted snort. The first sound he had made tonight. It both enraged and amused the boy that a girl had come to his... rescue.
The kicking had stopped, which was nice. Relief came from the cold ground and was starting to slightly soothe his injuries although it felt like a battle between ice and fire. Against his liking, he couldn't find the strength to move his head to even glance at the girl that had come to his... aid. That bothered him.
"What the hell are you doing over here for, eh? Get outta here!" This time one of the cronies had spoken.
He listened intently for that girls tinkling voice. "No, you have no reason to hurt him! If you don't stop I'll tell Miss. Morris that you cheated on the math test, Davy! You leave him alone or else." He could practically hear the smugness in her voice and the intimidation that she tried so hardly to project.
A pair of feet stepped away from his head and stomped over to where he heard this girl talking. "You better keep your mouth shut Brittany!". Davy's voice was barely restrained.
She spoke again. "I will, but only if you leave now. And you don't bother this boy again!" The girl's voice was surprisingly strong, even though he knew she had to be frightened.
Another exchange of words that the boy could barely understand and he heard Davy gather up his cronies and shuffle away with heavy footsteps. He did not hear the gentle ones that stopped near his head. It was only when a soft hand touched his shoulder did he realize the girl was still there.
Groaning the boy uncurled his body and rolled onto his back cautiously, very aware of his injuries. He cracked open his eyes to see the girl looking down at him worriedly. She was tiny and her electric blue eyes glowed in the darkness, giving him hope just as the light earlier had. He couldn't tell much else about her since it was so dark.
"Do, uh, you need any help? You're pretty beat up." The girls tinkling bell voice floated towards his ears.
"J-just need help standing." His throat ached for water. As a matter of fact, his whole body ached.
The girl held out her hand and waited for him to take it. As their skin connected he felt a spark run through him, seemingly filling his body with energy. The boy hauled himself up,
stumbling a bit as he got to his feet. The girl reached out to hold his shoulders and steady him which he was extremely grateful for. Finally he was able to stand on his own.
"Thanks. For everything, tonight." He lifted his eyes off the ground to meet hers. Such blue.
"You're welcome. Will you be able to make it home okay?" Her voice turned extremely soft.
"I'll be fine. Thanks again. See you, get home safe." He spoke and reluctantly tore his eyes away from hers.
Gold and blazing blue met once more before he turned and limped away down the alley towards Luca's Restaurant. He strained his ears to hear her footsteps but heard none. Turning around he saw her disappear around the corner quickly.
Little did they both know, it would be nine years before either saw the other again.