THE FEAR OF VIOLENCE

Rerun sat watching TV in the lounge room, sprawled on the red bean bag. He wanted to get his mind of the incident that had happened at school.

"Why feel guilty?" he told himself "That punch was just so that kid wouldn't annoy you again".

And anyway, it was all good, there hadn't been any repercussions.

When Lucy found out what he'd done to Jacob Black, she told him he'd definitely taken a risk. However she said she'd sort it out with Edward, and proceeded to congratulate him on following her advice in being intolerant.

Rerun heard the door slam, and looked up as footsteps entered the room. Suddenly, the TV was switched off.

"Hey!"

Turning around to face his brother, he found Linus glaring at him, red faced. Rerun had rarely seen him get this angry, let alone directed at him.

"Explain Rylan" Linus growled. "What were you thinking?".

"Dunno" Rerun shrugged.

"Don't play dumb with me" Linus warned "do you think slugging your classmate just for trying to chat, is okay?"

"Well" Rerun huffed "Lucy said she thought it was fine".

That's what concerned Linus. How Rerun was now following more of Lucy's ideas.

"I know you've joined the clique" he revealed to him.

"And", Rerun was surprised. How'd his older brother find out?.

"Rylan, you know that's wrong. Do you want to be another bully that sides with Lucy and Violet, as they damage more childhoods?".

Rerun gazed at his lap as Linus shook his head.

"Maybe, it's better than being a weirdo like you" he muttered.

His brother heard him.

"This isn't about me…"

"YES IT IS" Rerun spat "Lucy was telling the truth. I am ashamed of you."

He stood out of the beanbag "And yes, for the record, your blanket sucks".

He gestured, "I bet you care more about it than you do anyone else".

"THATS A LIE" Linus yelled angrily.

"Then give it up for me" Rerun demanded "Right now!".

He looked expectantly at his brother.

Linus tried to reason with him, "That's not a fair ask".

"Life's not fair" Rerun spat "Lucy showed everyone that."

That wasn't a good reason, but Rerun didn't care what he said now.

"And y,know, maybe instead of calling me a rerun" he stated "I should've been a do-over, and you should've stayed disowned".

Immediately, Rerun put a hand over his mouth. He'd gone too far with that comment.

"I'm sorry I".

But Linus had had enough.

"Get out" he sneered at his brother "NOW".

Rerun ran to his room, visibly upset about the fight he'd caused.

And Linus sat down in the beanbag, but didn't turn back on the TV.

He began to silently cry. But these were tears of anger.

He knew it wasn't Rerun speaking, it was Lucy's influence. It was always her hurting everyone.

Now, he was furious at his sister, ironically on a level that would make her proud. No, make Edward Black proud. He swore, wiping his eyes, he was going to train until the football match. Then, he would end all their bullying and cruelty, alongside SOJAS.

He would make them pay.

Because there was no way Edward's idea's could be any worse.

5 had expected scoring and refereeing the football match to be a great experience.

Now that Lucy had a fist an inch for his face, he thought otherwise.

"Write me down as the punter for the football game" she ordered him.

"Punter?"

"The ball holder blockhead"

5 realised what she was planning, "No. You'd pull it away, wouldn't you"

"You don't say" Lucy mocked "you've got to the count of 5, or the one thing I won't pull away, is my fist"

She prepared to hit him.

And 5 quickly gave in, to the chagrin of Edward, who had accompanied Lucy.

Shuddering, 5 wrote Lucy's name down on the game organiser.

Lucy smiled insincerely and looked behind her, to where her "friend" nodded in apparent approval.

"Our works done here, Edward" she told him.

"If you don't mind, I would like to make another request" Edward replied "a minor suggestion".

Lucy shrugged, "Fine, suppose I owe you".

She left for her home, leaving Edward alone with 5.

He double checked Lucy was gone, then looked at the boy.

"Whatever she's threatened you with, we'll prevent, and all you need to do is put my name as ball holder instead" Edward explained.

"What, why?" 5 asked.

Edward had a simple answer. "Because, I want to win the game".

"And I'd want to not get pounded by Lucy" 5 spat back.

That's unfortunate for you, Edward thought, but my patience is spent.

He was done being nice.

Stepping forward, he held out two fists. "I'd worry less about Lucy, 5, and more about me".

5 looked scared.

"Do as I ask, and you'll be defended. But disobey me, and I will do worse" Edward threatened "worse than Van Pelt ever could".

5 shuddered even more as he obeyed. And he crossed out Lucy's name, writing down Edward's as the ball holder instead.

"This is nothing personal" Edward instructed "Tell no one".

And with that, he left, as 5 slowly walked indoors.

Edward wore a satisfied smile. 5 was afraid of his strength. They all were.

Good, he thought, they will never fear Lucy again. Not, when they have me.

For I never represented her power, but boy, I am going to usurp it.

This clique will realise the cost of siding with her, they will submit to me out of fear.

And when this girl realises this, then Lucy will see how much I loathe her.

She has been spreading fear for years.

But it is my anger that will truly, he scowled, make her feel, afraid.

Well, guess Edward isn't acting like a noble hero after all. Stay tuned