The Mercenary and the Mortician (The Silent Hollow #1)

74. Ryan Fairview

8 years old

T he hallways started to fill with students switching classes as I ran, half-blinded by tears, toward the bathroom.

Keeping my head down to avoid further humiliation, I rushed through the crowds, not bothering to look where I was going.

I slammed smack dab into someone, and I yelped in panic as a pair of hands firmly gripped my shoulders, keeping me steady on my feet.

My heart leapt in excitement.

Was this my dark angel?

Maybe he had come to help me after all.

I looked up, hoping to find the heavenly being that my mother kept promising would come to be standing before me, ready to kick some serious bully butt. My heart sank when I realized it was just Theo.

She frowned down at me, her dark gaze immediately cataloging my reddened eyes and wet cheeks.

“Hey. What’s wrong? Wasn’t your big presentation today? Why are you crying?” she asked, and I sniffed, throwing my arms around her waist and burying my face in her white button-up uniform shirt we were all required to wear.

There was a girl version with a skirt and a more tailored top, but Theo always wore the boy uniform instead, even though it got her in trouble with Father Samwell.

I couldn’t even form words to tell her that my flowers were crushed and that the other kids had laughed me out of the class.

I just shook, completely devastated in her arms, when I heard a familiar mean voice shout down the hall behind me.

“There he is! HA! Look at that! The faggot undertaker and his dyke sister! Look at those freaks!” Kenny jeered, and I froze, suddenly unable to even breathe.

He had followed me out here. Ruining my project hadn’t been enough; these kids still wanted to torture me more.

Before I knew what was happening, Theo was shoving me behind her, her face contorted with rage.

Theo was three years older than me, and from the look on her face, she knew what those words meant, and she was not happy about it.

“The fuck did you just say!?” she snarled. Kenny sneered at her, giving her the finger.

“You heard me, dyke. Why don’t you and your faggot brother drop out? No one wants you here.”

Everyone in the hallway fell silent and seemed to stare at Theo, waiting to see what she would do. She had a bit of a reputation as a scrapper, and people typically didn’t try to mess with her. Not nearly as much as they messed with me, and it quickly became apparent why.

Even though Theo was a girl and Kenny was a boy, Theo was still older than Kenny, and she had recently taken up boxing. So, when she shot forward and chucked him against the lockers, he didn’t stand a chance.

The entire hall watched in horrified silence as Theo unleashed on Kenny. She slammed her fist into his face once, twice, three times, before he even realized what was happening.

There was a sickening crunch, and everyone gasped as blood shot out of Ken’s nose like a messed up firehose.

It was over as quickly as it started. After the third punch, Theo dropped Kenny like his touch disgusted her. She curled her lip at him as he groaned and cried on the ground, holding his bloody face in his hands like he could fix his nose just by touching it.

“Say that shit to me or my brother again, bitch, and I’ll break more than just your nose,” she spat.

The hallway was completely silent, with the exception of Kenny’s pained moans and whimpers.

No one seemed to know what to do or say when suddenly, I heard Clarissa’s high-pitched whine.

“Down here, Father Samwell! She’s out of control!” The crowd turned collectively to witness the school principal appear, as he was led by the hand by Clarissa Davis.

I didn’t like Father Samuels. I knew he was a respected member of the church, and that meant he was supposed to be someone we could trust, but there was a meanness about him that had always made me want to stay out of his way.

“What is going on here?” he asked, his gaze falling on Theo and her bloody knuckles. He didn’t say it like he was upset with Theo. It was almost like he was happy to have a reason to punish her.

Father Samwell loved giving out detentions, but he seemed to have a special interest in my sister specifically.

Theo just glared at Samwell. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists at her sides. After a beat, when it became clear she wasn’t going to say anything to protect herself, I stepped in front of her.

“Kenny called us bad words, and he was bullying us! Theo was just standing up for me,” I said, doing my best to keep my voice from shaking.

Father Samwell cocked his head to the side, and an evil grin spread across his face.

“Is that so? Well, I hardly think calling someone a few names deserved such a violent rebuttal.” His gaze skated over Theo’s body, and her eyes narrowed. Her face turned white with hatred.

“It seems as if we also have another uniform violation that needs addressing,” he crooned.

“Sir! What about Kenny? Look at him; he needs help!” Clarissa squealed.

Father Samwell glanced at Clarissa and nodded. “That he does, child. Why don’t you take Mr. Samuels to the nurse’s office?” He turned back to face my sister. “Theodora. You’re to come with me. We’ll need to have a chat about what sort of behavior is becoming of a lady.”

Theo shook with either rage or fear. Maybe both.

“No,” she hissed, and Father Samwell chuckled.

“Hmm. Well, maybe your brother could benefit from a lesson. Shall I put him in detention in your place?”

Theo’s eyes widened, and she shook her head, shoving me behind her as she stepped forward.

“No. No. I’ll come,” she said, and I frowned, not having a good feeling about this.

“Theo, I don’t think -”

“It’s fine, Ry. I’ll see you at home,” she said, following our principal as he led her in the direction of his office.

Clarissa helped Kenny to his feet and took him away as well.

I was left standing there, feeling lost and confused about everything that had just gone down.