Chapter 2: The Pain Hurts
The sound of Falcon’s radio-cracking voice brought him back from his daydreaming. “Hey, Eagle, you still there?”
“Y-yeah, still here” he replied
“What happened?” the high-pitched voice that Hummingbird produced, even from a radio, startled Clyde a little “Heard you got yourself beaten up. Is that true?”
Clyde touched his right side, as if reliving the pain, and true enough, winced as he did
“Yeah, I did…” he answered quietly
“Oh man,” Sparrow’s voice echoed through the room after a brief silence “I can’t believe we weren’t there. I mean, they would’ve left you alone if we were there” Clyde laughed at the comment. It was true, though. If they were there, then they would’ve left him alone. Just the sight of Sparrow’s piercing eyes sent chills down everyone’s spine, and to think that he was just a fresh 13-year old.
But they weren’t, so he would definitely get beaten. After all, he didn’t have Sparrow’s eyes, or Hummingbird’s speed, or Robin’s intelligence, or Falcon’s skill. He didn’t even have Parrot’s annoying voice, and Parrot’s voice always gets people annoyed.
He held his right side as if the pain was there again, and mistakenly closed his eyes to relive the tale
He just parted ways with his “flock”, as he liked to call it, and started trekking home. Halfway there a familiar, scary voice called him from behind
“Clyde!” the teen-ager called. Clyde could barely move from his place. He knew the voice, and best it was avoided before anything else happens
“Hey, Clyde!” he called again, now starting to walk at his direction “Can’t you hear me, Clyde?” Clyde dare not look at the figure that was approaching him
He was shocked to feel strong arms holding him by the shoulders, forcing him to turn around. In front of him was the most feared 18-yar old in the street.
“What’s wrong with you, Clyde?” He smirked evilly across his face. Clyde shivered “Didn’t you hear me when I called you back there?”
“I-I” He stammered “I did, Trey. I just didn’t look back”
“And why would you do that?” he said, staring at him with creepy, black and bloodthirsty eyes.
Clyde wasn’t answering. Trey clenched his fist and threw it with as much power as it could muster, towards the face of the frightened 12-year old. Clyde closed his eyes; he didn’t want to see the blood gush out of him.
He hated blood more than anything; creeped him out more than anything. He could take falling into a pit of poisonous snakes, but he couldn’t stand the blood coming from a small paper cut
He waited for the knuckles to come into contact with his face, but he couldn’t feel anything. he risked opening his eyes, only to see the face of the menacing 16-year old shoot him with a wicked and deceptive smirk. Trey placed his hands on his shoulder, patting him comfortingly. Then, he laughed.
“Oh, you should’ve seen the look on your face!” he said in between his laughs “It was just priceless!”
Clyde was shocked. He was in safe waters, but he knew that he wasn’t safe just yet. He cracked up a fake laugh, earning him a glare from the delinquent.
“Hey, only I have the right to laugh, okay?” he shouted, holding Clyde by the collar of his shirt “Why? Did you see anything, funny?”
Clyde kept silent once again. He managed to shake his head no, which lightened the heat Clyde was slowly getting himself into “Good” he smiled “Anywho, watcha got for me, Clyde?”
“W-what?” Clyde asked
“You know…” in a flash, he snatched the bag that slung from Clyde’s shoulder “…Dinner, probably a midnight snack as well” he opened the bag and started fiddling for something “It’s gotta be here, somewhere”
“Give it back!” Clyde shouted. He was ignored. He shouted again, trying to jump for his bag. But with his short height, he couldn’t even touch it. “Give it back, Trey!”
“Or what?” Trey answered back “Whatcha gonna do to me? What can you do to me?” Clyde was silent “Yeah, that’s right, nothing! Without your stupid gang, you are nothing!”
Trey met his “Flock” a few times, and all of them resulted in him chickening out. But Clyde was alone, this time; he knew, and he knew that Trey knew, that he had no chance of winning.
Trey removed the bag’s contents one by one, examining it before pocketing it or throwing it out in the open. After much rummaging, he found what he was looking for. Pulling it out of the bag, Trey held a fat brown, wallet. “Bingo!” Clyde continued to jump for his bag, but to no avail. He pocketed the wallet and continued with his scavenging.
“What else do you need?” Clyde complained, still jumping for his bag “I mean, you already have what’s left of my money!”
He was ignored. Trey was almost done with his fishing when a glint caught his eye. He reached for it hastily, overcome by his curiosity of the object. What he found in his hand was a golden pen, with the initials “C.C.” encrusted at its side. Clyde was wide-eyed when Trey pulled the pricey-looking pen
“Lookie, here!” Trey hollered “Look’s like little eaglet managed to snab some expensive stuff”
“Give that back!” Clyde shouted. Trey threw the backpack and examined the pen in his hand “Give it back, Trey!”
“Dang, this looks like real stuff!” Trey commented. It was, actually. His dad gave it to him when he was home. And his dad was barely home. It was a treasure, and he dare not let anybody else take it from him
“Give it back, Trey!” he repeated. Trey shoved him, and Clyde fell down the concrete with a thud.
Clyde had enough. He stood up and dusted himself off. Trey was still distracted with the shiny object that he held in front of him. With as much force as he could, he kicked Trey in the knee. His kick, however, wasn’t strong enough. Heck, it wasn’t strong at all! It was as if he hit by the hammer used in hospitals. But Trey noticed it. He shoved the pen in his pocket and looked at Clyde menacingly.
“Oh, so you think you can fight me, huh?” Trey shouted. Clyde stepped back and looked at the angry teenager he just kicked “You think you’re some tough guy now?” Clyde was walking backwards, while Trey kept on shouting threats. He back up against a wall, while Trey approached him furiously.
“Okay, Eaglet” Trey answered “you want a fight, I’ll give you one!” He started pummelling Clyde. Clyde couldn’t fight it. He moaned as he took a punch to the side, one after another. Trey eventually tired out, and backed up from his position. Clyde slumped down from the wall and put his arm protectively over his stomach, barking coughs as he tried to breathe. Trey took out Clyde’s wallet, removed its contents, and threw it back at him. “I think I’ll keep the pen! So long, Bird-brain!” he shouted before turning around and running away.
Clyde managed to get up, pocket his wallet and walk home.
He arrived with a swollen eye, a bloodied nose, a painful side, and a broken dignity. Not to mention one golden-pen poorer.
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Ciaossu! I’m back! Which just goes to show how alive I am! hehehe!
Well, that is, by far, the longest chapter I have ever written. Hopefully, not my last. Anyways…
More coming up! I mean, summer means more time!
For now, that’s just it. Please tune in for…more?
Peace!