Totally Innocent

Book bags thumped to the ground, one by one, as each student stopped short. They had reached the small clearing in the woods. You could hear their excitement, their chants, and their desire to see bloodshed as they approached. Tommy had captured his prey, who had been trying hard to escape his almost daily beating. The boy had been literally dragged to the clearing in the woods¾ the usual designated fight spot, hidden from school officials.

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“Oh, and one more thing,” added Tommy, grabbing the boy’s arm as he began to run off. “You tell anyone who cut your shirt up… and I mean ANYONE… I will kill you.  He spoke slowly and boldly through his teeth. The others were dead silent, their eyes fixated on the sinister action in front of them, just watching, as Rich stared straight into Tommy’s evil eyes, and nodded a terrified nod. He knew that Tommy would not think twice about killing someone.

Tommy let the boy’s arm go.

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All the remaining spectators picked up their book bags and headed out of the woods. Nicole and Tommy exited the woods together, arm in arm. Nicole, as she strolled through the forest with Tommy, made it a point to glance over at Andrea. She purposely taunted Andrea by walking close to Tommy¾ so close you’d think they were Siamese twins in need of separation. They kissed as they walked.

“Gag me,” mumbled Andrea. “She’s such a fucking slut.” The envy was written all over Andrea’s face. She was jealous! She wanted that date so badly. So badly, she would do anything to win back her lover¾ but not as long as her lover chose to be with Tommy.

Nicole knew that Andrea was a lesbian, and that she wanted her, so she purposely played hard to get¾ just to piss Andrea off.

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Another whack knocked him forcefully to the ground, where his step dad decided to choke him. Between gasps, Tommy got out a few words, fearing for his life. “Dad…stop... please! Owwww!!! Alright, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Then, his step dad pulled the knife, threatening to slice Tommy’s throat.

“Now when I tell you to clean that kitchen, you clean it so it’s spotless! You understand me?”

“But Dad, please! Please Dad! It wasn’t my mess.”

But the drunken Mr. Delaney did not really care about the mess. All he cared about was what was about to happen next.

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School officials and law enforcement officers stormed through the school that following day, all in search of answers. Police, trying desperately to get to the bottom of it all, interviewed students with every chance. Nicole’s parents became regular faces on the evening news, begging their daughter’s kidnapper, if there was one, to bring her back.

“I think she ran away,” said Tommy.

“What makes you say that?” asked Andrea.

“Cause of your fight. She couldn’t take it anymore and ran off.”

“Oh, you mean the fight that she knew YOU started?” Andrea replied.

“I didn’t start jack!” barked Tommy with a smirk, happy that the attention was now focused on finding Nicole, and not on his sexual orientation.

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“What the fuck?!?” shouted Chris.

“I really need your help, man,” said Rich.

“And I - I - I told you I would help you. So, why…” He gulped. “Why are you pointing a gun at me? And - and - and where’d you get that thing, man?” He froze, petrified.

Rich lowered the gun and laughed. “You really do ask too many questions. Now listen, here’s the deal. Where I got it doesn’t matter. Anyone can get one of these, man. It’s only a fucking gun. But if you tell anyone what I’m gonna tell you, I will use this, and then, those search people who are looking for Nicole, will be hunting for you. Got it?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Good. This is what I need your help with.”

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“I will now read my verdict, but before I do, I ask you all… Is anybody in this room totally innocent?”