Page 78 of Spooks & Specters

Austin was well aware he’d gotten lucky tonight. They could have seriously hurt him. Maybe even killed him. And for what? Because Travis was possibly attracted to Austin? Any sympathy he might have had for the other guy evaporated with every kick that connected to his ribs, back, and legs.

Why was it Austin who always had to suffer? They needed to pay for what they had done to him, although with their money, and the family history Austin had, he was doubtful anything would be done to them.

If anything, they’d probably make it seem as if Austin had made a pass at Travis and Travis had retaliated, somehow making it all Austin’s fault.

They should pay. Travis had made Austin’s life a living nightmare. Maybe it was time Austin made Travis’s life a living nightmare.

“Do you hurt others?” Austin’s voice trembled slightly with this question.

“Only those who wish harm upon you,” the monster replied, its tone almost protective. “Your father learned that lesson. He put his hands on you.”

A small smile flickered across Austin’s face. “He did, didn’t he?”

“I can stop them—stop the bullying.”

Was it worrying that his monster understood indirectly what Austin was asking? “You can?”

“I can.”

“But you won’t kill them, right?”

“Would you care?”

That was the question, wasn’t it? He was angry, furious in fact, but did he want Travis and his little group dead? No. He wasn’t that type of person.

He didn’t want their deaths on his hands, but he wanted them to know what he felt—the fear, the dread, the sickness in his stomach, the helplessness. He wanted them to leave him alone. He’d asked Travis to do just that, several times in fact, and what had that gotten him? Nothing.

In fact, Travis had escalated the attacks.

Would Travis eventually hurt him badly? Austin felt like he would. He could’ve done that tonight, in fact. One well-placed kick to the head could have resulted in something horrible. Something deadly.

“Austin?”

“I don’t want them dead. Travis is the main one, the other guys just follow his lead.”

“Give me their names,” the monster under the bed said.

Austin rattled them off. “If you can make Travis quit, the other ones probably will too.”

“They willallstop bothering you, I promise you that. I’m allowed to do whatever I want short of killing them, correct?”

Austin took a deep breath. Again, he knew exactly what his monster was capable of. He had terrified Austin’s dad into a psychotic break.

“Yes.” And he refused to feel bad about it. Travis should’ve stopped when Austin had pleaded with him.

The room grew colder. “So be it.”

Austin lay back against his pillow, his body aching but his mind somewhat relieved. The darkness of the room seemed to thicken, absorbing his whispered thanks to the invisible force that shared his space.

Sleep, however elusive on most nights, came surprisingly quickly after the assurance from his monstrous guardian.

THE FOLLOWING Monday, Travis and his crew were not at school. Whispers fluttered down the halls like leaves caught in a gusty wind.

Something had happened over the weekend.

The rumors of Travis and his friends having a psychotic break spread like wildfire throughout the school. Austin watched from a distance, not wanting to get caught up in the chaos that was sure to follow.

During lunch, he overheard snippets from a cluster of students huddled around a table. The story was that each boy had experienced some sort of terrifying vision, something to do with seeing a monster coming out from underneath their beds.

---