MONDAY

Lucas and his dad watched as the casket was lowered into the ground. It was so hot. Such a hot day. Lucas felt dizzy. He fell to the ground. People were there but even their help did nothing. He wished no one had caught him and he had fallen into the pit and being buried would have felt better.

TUESDAY

Lucas sat on the couch listening to his dad muttering in the chicken he was on a phone call. After about five minutes he heard him mutter some goodbyes and thank yous then the kitchen was quiet. His dad finally emerged sitting on the couch beside him.

“Remember that job offer I had a while back.” He said, his voice sounded almost horse.

“yah…” Lucas said shortly, staring at the wall.

“I-Id need to leave Saturday.” He said shortly.

Lucas felt a jolt run up his body. His dad was leaving him. Leaving him now. But he hid his feelings well.

“Are you going to go?” Lucas asked, glancing over to his dad. 

He looked broken and exhausted.

“I-I Think I have to.” He said his voice was faltering.

“Where'd I go?” Lucas asked evenly. 

“Pennys parents. I mean they offered, they have a spare room.” He said, trying to grasp some emotion from Lucas. He almost felt afraid. Surly his son felt something but his face showed nothing. He felt his heart break a little more. Had he come home sooner. He might have stopped all this. Spared his only child from hearing and seeing whatever horrific thing he had. 

“Pennys parents?” Lucas thought out loud.

 He was honestly surprised. He had thought Penny's mom didn't like  him after their first encounter with him being psycho.

But Lucas only nodded. 

These days flew by until Saturday came.

SATURDAY

Lucas had packed a suitcase and backpack. He didn't know how long he'd be staying. Neither did his dad. Penny and Lucas dropped him off. Lucas watched him leave. His dad gave him a tight hug forcing a smile. Lucas half returned. He could see the pain in his dads eyes. 

I hope you feel it. You're leaving me here, you dont know you dont understand. He thought to himself angrily. 

He watched him go, getting back into the car with Penny.

“You ok?” Penny asked, her voice full of concern.

“Yah.. I mean at least he's safer.” 

Both Lucas and Penny shuddered. He had filled the group in on what had happened. Mark to his credit had been able to not make a face. It was still obvious he didn’t believe him. 

Soon they were outside of Penny's house. It was nice. Not like a huge obnoxious nice, but just a kind of nice, nice. Pennys mom, also known as Mis Lane, greeted him with a tight hug. She chartered  a lot. Lucas still didn't think she liked him. SHe hid it well under the warm fake exterior but. But there was still a kind of suspicion. Lucas wondered how his dad had got her to let him stay. Lucas settled into his room. It was fine. Everything looked fine. 

SUNDAY

Sunday was ok. The group hung out. The air was calmer, at least a little. Lucas could play it off enough as light. 

MONDAY

That Monday the group was going to some summer event put on by their school. Lucas was not too excited to go. Honestly Lucas didn't like going anywhere anymore. He just wanted to stay home and stay safe. But he did not argue he had to pretend to be healing. So many eyes on him know.

The event had been going well so far. It was just like a glorified picnic. 

Lucas was standing alone under a tree. Mark and Roxanne had wandered off and Penny had left something in her car. Lucas sat leaning against the tree with his eyes closed. Someone nudged his foot. It was Jean. Lucas was pretty sure this guy was some psychopath. He was almost psychotic, not just some school bully. It was a known fact that his cousin had shot up a school, he joked he'd do the same. Because of this he'd been expelled from school. He'd been to juvie multiple times, Most people were surprised they kept letting him out. Lucas felt his spine shiver. What the heck was he doing here now? 

“What do you want?” Lucas asked, getting to his feet.

“Oh calm down. I just want to ask you something.” Jean said with an abnormally bright smile. 

“What?” Lucas said coolly.

“Oh it's just. I mean. I heard about your grandpa.” Jean said, tilting his head in mock pity.

Lucas felt a kind of anger beginning in his gut. 

“What about him?” Lucas asked, sensing trouble.

“It's just there's this rumor that you did it.” He said leaning in to a whisper.

Lucas felt his eye twitch. 

“It's a lie.” He said fighting to control his voice.

“Really. I mean there's this other thing about you going crazy.” He asked, stepping back and speaking louder. A few people glanced over looking for some nugget of entertainment.

“Jean, what are you talking about?” Lucas said glaring.

“Oh I mean, when you killed him was it on purpose?” Jean asked, grinning.

“I'm not doing this.” Lucas said, turning to leave.

“Hey freak, I didn’t say you could walk away!” He said, grabbing Lucas' arm.

“Don't touch me.” Lucas said, yanking his hand back.

“Or what, come on show me how you ripped your grandpa to shreds. I heard they found you crying! Come one you cried really? I heard you wouldn't even come out of your room.” He said, throwing back his head in laughter.

Lucas heard some kids in the crowd snickered a little. He felt his eye twitch again. 

He continued to walk away.

“ok fine if you won't talk maybe Pretty Penny will. I mean the fact you had to move in with her to even relax jeez man.” He said laughing again. This got the group of kids to laugh as well.

Lucas felt his body stop going rigid.

“Oh come on, you dont want me talking to Penny? You know I dont know how shes with this guy. You know I heard he fainted at his own grandpa's funeral. I mean really.” He said addressing the crowd and laughing.

Lucas turned, staring at him. He felt himself shaking and breathing hard.

“Come on. All I'm saying is honestly. Your grandpa dying, right after your friend, what's his name, Gasper? I mean come on, what'd you do?” He said laughing again.

This was it, Lucas screamed and ran at Jean. He only smiled, this is what he wanted. He easily sidestepped and kicked Lucas in the ribs, sending him rolling.

“Come on man, take a joke.” He said laughing, kicking him again in the face. Lucas grabbed his leg but Jean fell on him with his knees. Getting up and kicking him again.

“Man. And I thought someone who killed people would be a little bit harder. Come on get up.” He said backing off.

Lucas had blood gushing from his nose and lip. He glowered at Jean completely blinded by the hatred. They both stood for a moment before Lucas charged again. All the stress and anger and depression he wanted to let go. 

Lucas smacked into Jean who punched him but Lucas took it and used it as an opening to smash his fists into Jean's ribs. Jean shouted and nailed Lucas in the back with his elbow. He in turn smashed his entire body into Jean. And smashed his elbow into his shoulder. Jean hit Lucas in the face again. He rolled so he was on top, Lucas pinned to the ground. He screamed and hit Lucas in the face again. Black seemed to swim in his vision. Jean was yelling something but all Lucas heard was a kind of buzzing sound. He felt his body going limp. And then something strange happened; it was like pure adrenaline shot through his veins. He screamed and threw everything he had at Jean. He threw his arms up to protect himself from being hit. But Lucas did not go to hit. He rolled and bit into his arm. Jean almost screamed in shock. 

“What the heck!” He yelled. 

But Lucas did not stop; he felt hatred and anger boiling in him. Somehow all this was jeans fault he was going to make him pay. Jean threw himself at Lucas, Lucas grabbed onto him clawing and biting. He punched his face. He hated his face, he wanted to kill him. He felt someone grab him from behind but only jerked his shoulder backwards, kneeling whoever it was with his elbow. He continued to beat Jean until he was yanked back again. This time he was pulled up both arms yanked behind his back. He felt someone shove him forward into the tree. Pinning him against it. He screamed and kicked.

“Lucas stop it!” Someone shouted. It was Mike. Lucas stopped fighting. 

“What?” He muttered trying to look behind him. It was Mike. Mike who was holding him against the tree.

“Lucas what the heck happened?” He heard someone yell. It was Penny.

“Lucas, I'm going to let you know.” He heard Mark say.

Lcuas felt himself let go and nearly fell. He felt dizzy and exhausted. He turned around. Jean was laying on the ground. His entire face was swollen and bloody. Mark's eye and nose looked swollen and were dripping with blood.

“I-” Lucas stammered looking at Jean to mark.

“Man, you ok.”  Mark asked.

“Lucas, y-your face.” penny stammered. 

“I told you he's a freak.” 

everybody turned it was Jean, he was standing up supported by a few of his friends. Glowering over at Lucas. 

“You guys may not see it but I do.” He said, spitting blood. 

“No one bites people who are normally. He’s some messed up demon.” Jean said, hobbling off with his friends. 

“What happened?” Penny asked, voice full of consearn.

“He said people think I killed my grandpa and Gasper.” 

Penny, Mark, and Roxanne all seemed to wince. 

“We should probably get this looked at.” Penny said kind of changing the subject.

“Why'd you stop me?” Lucas said, staring at Mark.

“W-What do you mean?” Mark said he looked half afraid.

“Why'd you stop me?” Lucas repeated. watching Jean hobble out of sight.

“Lucas, you could have killed the guy,”Mark said. The others looked scared too. 

“Like you think I killed the others.” Lucas said staring dead into Mark's eyes, he flinched.

“Lucas I know you didn't.” He started.

“But you dont believe me when I tell you what we all saw. So what was it?”

“S-some kind of animal. Lucas, come on let's just go.” Mark said, turning.

Lucas reluctantly followed glaring at everyone who stared for too long. But no one approached him. there were enough witnesses to see that Lucas had acted in defense, mostly. In the parking lot Penny helped Lucas clean his face a little with her first aid kit she kept in the car. 

“He kicked you in the face.” She said, sounding angry.

Lucas did not respond but just stared at nothing.

“Come on Mark, tell me what do you think happened?” Lucas said after a bit of silence.

“What?” He said looking uncomfortable.