I would often come home from college covered in bruises, most of them caused by that bastard Scott and his little group of flunkies. I could fight them off on my own but they always got a few good hits in. It was the same damn thing every other day, Scott was a persistent bastard. There was bad blood between our fathers and it seemed to be carried over to us, although I wanted nothing to do with him or his friends.

“Jesus Mark, are you alright?” Matt asked me, noticing the cut I had on my cheek, “You look like you took a nasty hit.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I reassured him, “Nothing to worry about.”

“Scott and his goons?” He inquired, I just nodded in response. “Good god Mark, are they out for your blood or something.”

“Some stupid feud or something that went on between our dads.” I shrugged, “Beats me why he’s so insistent on hounding me about it though. He’s been at it for years.”

“Any how c’mon Mark we’re late enough for class as it is.” Matt motioned me to follow and we made our way to class.

The day went by slowly, again with that damned rule about the end of the week. The teacher was going on about how to create brushes, and how to recreate effects like water colour and oil based paints using different settings. It wasn’t the interesting class mainly due to the teacher spoke in a disinterested monotone voice.

“Is there something you’d like to share with us all Mr Geary?” He droned on in that monotonous voice of his.

“No sir.” I answered, he shook his head.

“I’d like to speak with you after class.” He told me.

After everyone had left but the teacher and myself, he waited a moment before asking me something that caught me off guard.

“Is everything alright at home Mr Geary?” He asked, he sounded almost concerned.

“Everything is fine at home sir, is there something wrong?” I answered, confused to where this conversation was going.

“Mark, the other members of staff are becoming worried.” He stated simply, “Every other day you’ve been showing up with more and more bruises. Are you sure everything is alright at home?”

“Sir everything is fine at home.” I answered, “It’s just some arsehole I have to deal with.”

“Have you informed the police?” He asked.

“I have sir, but they don’t seem to give a shit about what the police do.” I answered frowning. “It’s some issue one of them has with my family sir, something that went on between my father and his from what I know about it.”

The teacher shook his head in disbelief and muttered something about “the sins of the father” under his breath.

“Mark just how long has this been going on?” He asked me, his voice sounded worried.

“Years, sir.” I answered, “Scott’s a persistent and stubborn bastard. He can’t seem to take the hint and leave me alone.”

“Fine get going, I’ve kept you here long enough.” He told me, and I left after wishing him a pleasant evening. He began rubbing his temples and sighed, “I’m going to have words with that boy’s mother about this.”

I found Matt and Shane waiting for me outside the classroom.

“Christ Mark, what happened to you?” Shane asked, “Let me guess Scott?” I just nodded and he just shook his head. “Just when is he going to take a hint?”

“Beats me, I doubt the hint will get through that thick skull of his.” I shrugged, “C’mon let’s get going, you still owe me that rematch remember?” Matt just laughed and shook his head in disbelief.

“Fine, fine…” Shane said shaking his head, “I’ll still kick your sorry ass anyway.”

We made our way to hang out at Shane’s home, taking a moment or two to check out the gaming stores on the way there and generally having a laugh. I honestly wished I had met Shane and Matt when I was still at school, ah well either way I’m glad I had friends as good as these.

It was becoming a pleasant day, at least until a certain someone and his thugs showed up.

“Oi well look what we’ve got ‘ere lads!” One of them, Scott said to his groupies. I noted that it wasn’t his usual groupies either, those two looked like they meant business. “If it ain’t Geary ‘nd the two pussies.”

Shane and Matt just frowned, it’s bad enough Scott targets me but I’d rather keep my friends out of his harassment at the very least.

“And it was such a good day too.” I muttered under my breath, “What do you want Scott, I’m not in the mood for your shit today.”

My answer was met with Scott’s fist connecting with my face, cursing from the pain and I could practically taste blood in my mouth. It didn’t take much for a fight to break out between the six of us, Matt and Shane taking on the other two while dealt with Scott.

“Heh, what’s wrong Geary? Ya losin’ ya touch?” Scott taunted, “Ah gots me some new friends, one’s that’ll teach ya not to fuck with me ‘nd mah crew!” Another punch flew my way, but a quick block and a moment later my leg connected with his side causing him to flinch from the blow.

“…Tch” I cursed, I didn’t hit him hard enough.

“What’s the matter Geary?” He mocked grinning, “Ya gonna have to do better than that!”

We came to blows once again, I was doing my best to block and counter his blows, but he did always beat me in terms of physical strength and his blows were nothing short of punishing when he managed to connect his punches.

From what I could tell Shane and Matt weren’t doing much better either, those other two weren’t fucking around either. I quickly came back to my senses in time just to dodge something trying to cut me.

“!?” I cursed again under my breath just as the metallic object just miss my chest. Scott must of pulled out a knife while my attention was elsewhere, and he began to swing it again in another attempt to cut me.

“Ah just can’t have ya keep movin’ around like that now can we.” Scott clicked his fingers and I found myself being restrained by the thug that was fighting Matt.

“Let me go!” I demanded, “The fucks your problem with me Scott!” I was answered by blow to the face, and another and another. Scott was just laughing all the while as he whaled into me until I was nothing but a bloodied heap on the floor.

*Crack*

“Ya know what Geary? You’re a fuckin’ pussy ya know that!” Scott mocked, as he continued his beating.

*Thwack*

“All because ya old fart can’t keep ‘is trap shut and out of mah old man’s business!” I felt his boot stamp into my chest, causing me to wince in pain and cough up blood. If the kept this up he was going to be the death of me.

“Leave him alone you piece of shit!” Matt screamed at him, as he threw him off me and began beating him into the ground in nothing short of a blind fury.

In my blurred vision I noticed Shane was still out cold and beaten just as badly as I was.

“D-damn…it…S-Shane…” I said weakly.

The next sound I heard was Scott’s mad laughter and a sickening squelch; as Matt had keeled over and proceeded to him beat Matt further.

“M…M-Matt…?” I gasped when I saw the knife embedded in Matt’s side and the next thing I knew I saw nothing but red.

“Tch, fuckin’ idi-!?” Scott was cut of mid-sentence, as he was thrown off Matt and his back made contact with my knee with a painful crack. He winced in pain, “What the fu-?!”

*CRACK*

“…” Scott glared at me through the pain, as my fist connected with his cheek.

*CRACK*

Another fist connected this time with his chest, winding him causing him to kneel over which was promptly met with my knee smashing into his face with a sickening crunch. Scott howled and roared in pain.

“Don’th jush fuckin’ stand there!” Scott screamed though his pain, “Fuck ‘im ‘nd ‘ish friendsh up!”

“…” One of his flunkies came at me, and was met with nothing more than the shattering of one of his knees in nothing more than sickening crack as his knee snapped from one well-placed kick to shatter the join. Another snap was heard as I practically yanked his arms out of his sockets, I stopped once I realised he had stopped screaming. His other friend had run off like a coward, once he saw the cold fury in my eyes.

“Geth back ‘ere ya son of a bitsh!” Scott screamed at the fleeing coward he once called an ally. He got up ready to try and get revenge for the injuries I gave him.

“…” I advanced towards him in a slow steady pace, glaring at him with Icy cold eyes.

“Whath wrong Geary?” He mocked, “Are ya mad ah cuth one of ya friendsh? Are ya gonna run away again, liketh ya ol’ Farth!” I stopped in my tracks, and glared my anger and rage finally reaching full circle.

“I must not fall…” I muttered like a mantra, as I resumed my advance. “…I won’t give in…” Scott launched himself at me, and was met with nothing sort of the biggest beating in his life, “…I won’t give up…” the beating continued, blow after blow rained down upon him. “…I won’t be rejected again…”

Shane stirred and got up, he noticed Matt was bleeding badly from the knife in his side. Shane’s attention soon turned to me and Scott, the sickening sound of squelches and muffled sounds of agony catching his attention.

“…I must not fall…” Scott had fell unconscious from the pain.

“M-Mark?” Shane shouted worried.

“…I won’t give in…” The sounds of his wrists snapping was next, and soon after his shoulders being dislocated.

“Mark, stop please!” Shane urged me. His cries falling on deaf ears as I continued beating Scott into the ground.

“…I won’t give up…” I was determined to make sure he never harmed anyone again.

“DAMMIT GEARY! THAT’S ENOUGH!!!” Shane shouted, “You’re just hurting yourself now!”

“…I won’t be rejected agai-!?”

*Thwack*

The next thing I knew, I collapsed from a quick blow to the back of the neck and the last thing I heard was the sound of sirens.

When I came to, I found myself in the hospital with my mother watching over me worried beyond belief. I cursed mentally I didn’t want her to be dragged into this; I couldn’t stand to see my own mother cry like that.

“M-Mom?” I asked weakly, “Where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital sweetie.” She answered, trying to reassure me. “it’s okay, Scott and his friends won’t hurt you anymore.” I mentally sighed, that’s my mother for you always trying to be so overprotective of me.

“Ow…My head hurts!” I complained wincing from the pain, “I feel like I was hit by a truck…” Then realisation hit me, “Where’s Matt and Shane? Are they okay?”

Just then a doctor walked into the room, with a police officer followed soon after.

“Mr Geary I’m here to ask a few questions about what happened.” The police officer explained, “Would you mind telling me what happened?”

I explained what happened to the officer up until the point where I saw Matt being stabbed by Scott, everything after that was just blank and I couldn’t remember a single thing.

“I see, given what I have learnt from your friends this was a case self-defence as the culprit provoked and initiated the attack on you and your friends.” He paused for a moment and quickly reviewed his notes. “Given your previous history with one of the culprits, he will be facing some jail time for the next 6-7 years at least.”

“Urgh…do what you want to him.” I sighed, “I’m only 18 I shouldn’t have to deal with this shit at my age.” I felt tired and exhausted.

“Very well then,” the officer started, “I’ll see to it he’ll never bother you again.” And with that the officer left the room leaving the three of us alone.

“Doc, how are Matt and Shane doing?” I asked weakly.

“Shane is recovering, he was the least injured out of the three of you, and he was the one who called the ambulance.” The doctor explained, “Mathew is in intensive care right now, he’ll pull through although it’ll be a couple of weeks before he can leave.”

“Oh thank god.” I sighed in relief.

“As for you…” He paused for a moment, “We found you unconscious, and from the looks of it you had taken the worst of the beating out of your friends, stab wound aside of course. A dislocated shoulder, a broken wrist and a couple of ribs, various cuts and bruises, and a minor fracture in the Jaw and lower left leg.”

“God lord, why would he want to do that to you son?” Mom finally asked.

“Urgh..beats me something to do with the old man.” I replied, frowning I haven’t seen that bastard in over 6 years and he’s still causing me hassle.

We were interrupted by a knock on the door, the doctor told them they could enter. A nurse enter along with a wheelchair bound Shane.

“How are you holding up mate?” He asked cheerfully.

“Like shit Shane,” I answered back, “Sorry for getting dragged in this mess…”

“Ah don’t worry about it, just remind me to never piss you off.” Shane joked.

“Huh?” I looked at him confused, “What are you talking about? Scott practically handed my ass to me.” Shane shook his head.

“It’s nothing to worry about.” Shane replied, “Just be glad all this shit is over and we’re all in one piece despite we look and feel like shit now.”

Over the next couple weeks, our wounds healed and we made sure to visit Matt every day. Thankfully he woke up a few days later and was recovering just fine. I still can’t remember what happened, but like Shane said it’s nothing to worry myself over. It wouldn’t be another seven years later I would encounter Scott again…

Author's Note

I kept getting questions of what exactly happened between Scott and Mark. So I hope this chapter answers some questions. I must thank Chrome Masquerade for the inspiration for the chapter title. i will be doing chapters like this from time to time to flesh out the story abit as I go through and rework some of the chapters.

So I hope you enjoy this mini update and let me know if you want more chapters like this and what you want to see.

Stay classy
- Silent