Little Caesar and Big Brutus.

Two weeks earlier.

Huff.

Huff.

Huff.

Huff

Shrriiiiiiiii. The loud cry of the whistle rang out in his ears making him wince from the pounding created in his brain. His head hung low his eyes on the ground as he ran. His ears strained to hear and to find the sounds he actually dreaded to hear. As he ran faster pushing himself to catch up with the tag of students jogging ahead his mind prayed and begged hoping to make it on time.

'Almost there.'

'Almost there'

'A little bit more'

'Move legs goddamit move ' he mentally screamed as his legs seemed to weaken. The vibrated and shook like jelly from the strain of doing something it wasn't used to. His lungs burned and his breathe thinned as he began gasping for breathe harshly. Finally he halted bending over and leaning on his knees.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

He gulped in huge lung fulls of air like one who just escaped the grasp of the sea. In about a few minutes he was able to stand straight his green eyes searching ahead for the others who had gone a long distance already. Sweeping his hand through his brunette locks that ended just above his ears he cursed mentally. Swiftly he moved to run again hoping to catch up before they got to him.

Snap.

Crack

Snap. The sound of cracking and snapping twigs and dry leaves and grass entered his ears. His body halted, his figure frozen as his mind screamed pathetically at him for his stupidity and foolishness at thinking he could actually escape and then at stopping once he'd actually began running.

'Foolish '

'Stupid'

"Oh. If it isn't little ole Ceasar." The voice that spoke sent shivers and tingles from his spine and not in good ways.

Slowly the footfalls from behind him came upfront revealing five students. Four boys and a girl. The first looked rough and wild his black hair all spiked up and going well with his biker jacket. The second who stood to tbe back was more neat looking with his well gelled hair and sharp features. The other one was bland looking and had no interesting qualities other than a bulging belly. Then last make though had his left arm around the females waist, his blonde hair neatly styled to tbe side. Ash eyes staring Ceasar down intently with lips stretched in a creepy joker grin that would be sure to get him scouted for just the amount of sadism portrayed with just the grin. The female was smiling sweetly her eyes locked on him too while smoothing her platinum blonde hair liken it was a precious gem. Ava, Lukas, Byron, James and finally the joker grinner himself Flint.

"Miss us Ceasar." Flint asked his grin widening if it was when possible. "You better did, cause we missed you. Right boys?" he asked looking to the others for support. Choruses of affirmation were heard from them all.

"Well. What's it gonna be Ceasar?. Did my little angel boy not miss his daddy?"Flint asked still grinning. Caesar though, was in a good conundrum. His answer didn't matter. it never did. No matter what he said, what he did. He'd still go through the same hell on earth that was the Flint Tinder touch. Deciding to suck it up and keep mute hopefully they'd talk long enough for someone to pass by and save him from them.

No one came though and soon enough.The joker grin on flint dissolved into a calmness that frightened Ceasar more than tbe grin had.

" You've been a bad boy Ceasar."Flint spoke turning to James and nodding. The fatso grinned and began unzipping his pants. The other two moved and flanked Ceasar. Before the lad could even blink a blow forced tbe wind outta him sending him bending over. Which was bad cause his face went down to meet a knee flying up to greet him.

A wail left his lips as he tried clasping his face in pain to at least massage his now broken and bleeding nose but the cronies on either side wouldn't bulge. With his eyes shut and the screams leaving his mouth he barely realized himself getting shives to his knees and head getting yanked back. It wasn't until a water bottle roughly brushed last his lips and the crude smell of urine reached his stinging nose did he gasp.

He shouldn't have gasped. Mouth open a bottle of urine opened and turned upside released it's contents. Fingers pressed to his nose blocked out the air entering and another to his throat through which he found hot liquid going down as laughter resounded around him. His eyes burned with tears of pain, shame and hatred. But there was nothing he could do about it. Fists greeted him and boots stomped and kicked him till a really good wack to the back of his head had him dazed and seeing real stars.

"Off we go boys". Flint ordered his grin now back as he pulled at Ava leading tbe still smirking bimbo away and followed by his cronies. Caesar unmoving just kay there his eyes staring blankly up into the sky as he watched the white clouds floating over the blue sky a tear drop sliding down his right cheek. Tbe only thought he could her constantly ringing in his head was a huge 'WHY'. Unfortunately, there was no answer for him, if there was there wasn't anyone to give it.

Present-day.

Asher

" Your weird today?' Benjamin spoke his eyes staring me down. My eyebrows instinctively rose up in response.

"You're smiling?. Not that it's a bad thing but it's a weird smile that I've never seen on you,"

"Ohkay" I murmured. Ignoring my okay he just looking deep on thought.

"I know I should be apologizing for the other day. I'm sorry bro, shouldn't have said that. That aside man right now you really are being weird man. Anything you'd like to tell me your long time bro?" He asked his eyes thinly narrowed. Shaking my head I replied.

"Nope. No" I made a thinking face. "Nah. nothing ".

" Hmmmmmh" he nodded half-heartedly nodding. Then he raised his cop of juice to his mouth taking a swig just as Aurora appeared behind me all smiles and leaning over dropped a peck on my cheek and retreated throwing a wink at me as I sat there frozen. Benjamin just stared confused frozen in half motion as His brain tried to comprehend. Mine didn't need to comprehend but it sure didn't expect 'this'.

"Wh.....' he spat out the juice in mouth out with shock drenching my polo as he stared me down in shock.

" Grest." Shooting a glare at him I began attempting to fix myself up only to note the futility.

"You, her,that." he kept muttering incomprehensible words as he looked fork me to the direction of Aurora now sitting with her equally wide eyed friends. I didn't bother noting their thorough behavior to it though, as I stood heading for the locker room. Behind me Benjamin sat still holding on to his juice and staring at me like I had grown two heads.

'Was it so strange' I pondered. My flashed mind to the past night's events a smile creeping it self up my face unnoticed. I remembered having to flee hastily after knocking down her bedside lamp the sound sure to bring a curious parent. Remembered the smirk on her face as she threw me off her balcony. Literally.

Shaking my head smile still etched on my cheeks I walked into the boys locker room and froze at the spectacle of four students besting and treating another student like a punching bag or toy.

"What the..."

Well, I wondered when this sort of cliche scene would happen. Guess it was now, the question was did I go through the motions of teenage hero or walk pass.

While helping was the morally right thing to do, I couldn't help.but ponder if there would be consequences. I wasn't stupid to think that I'd just waltz in and save his ass then leave. However my mind was made up the moment he looked up his now blood stained face in view his gaze piercing me almost like they were staring into my soul. I stared back for what felt like hours but was just a second watching as the little light disappeared in his eyes on seeing me. I decided there and then , my feet moved as I walked forward anger washing up in me, my lips moving as I spoke in a voice that was mine but not mine at the same time.

"Back off!". Without waiting for a reply my feet met the first boy smack to the abdomen sending him into the locker behind him and then the ground. The rest all fixed their gazes on me all their emotions irreverent except for one that made my blood boil even more. Contempt. Not at me but the boy under feet and knowing this I barely noted the lone vein straining on my forehead.

For Ceasar things hadn't been go as per normal since today. The only thing that had remained constant was the bullies but even they had been reduced in number. It was a minuscule change in number but was good for him.

The bells rang loudly making him flinch a bit as it signaled the class end. he had looked around quickly as he rose packing up his books and leaving the class. He found his way to his locker ignoring all existences around him.

He was at his locker already his head hidden within the space even the found him again like they always did. A bang to the side of his locker echoed making him jump and strike a cheek against the edge of the locker door.

" Ouch. That must have hurt a bit" The sadistic voice of Finn sounded out. He rubbed against his cheek as he stood there unmoving refusing to retrieve his head from within the temporary sanctuary of his locker.

In minutes he was surrounded and a hand on his shoulder pulled him back and out of the locker.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you" Fljnt's voice dripped with malice prompting Ceasar's head to rise. They were only four this time around which gave him a little relief. Less fists to hit him.

"Shall we" Flint motioned wrapping an arm around his shoulder slightly a bit harshly urging him away. Ceasar's eyes scanned the students milling about the terror in his gaze very obvious but still getting ignored.

'Please someone, stop them anyone'. Of course no one was a mind reader so he got pulled along till they all entered the boys locker room flint finally removing his arm.

A kick to his back sent him to the ground and then fervently crawling he mentally began shutting them out prepping for another round of beating.

Only a few minutes had passed before the besting had suddenly halted a new unfamiliar voice sounding out.

'Was it a teacher' he had hoped. But on looking up her seen another student standing frozen staring at them. The little hope he'd been rekindling snuffed out immediately as he head began drooping down again. But it stopped as he watched the next scene unfold in front of him. Watched in a stemmed silence as the student began mopping the floor with everyone save the girl who fell to her bum in terror as she watched the student pound in Byron's face and then smack James head repeatedly on the lockers. Hard enough to to hurt him but enough to kill.

By the time he turned to Flint his hands were already stained with bits of blood. Fixing his gaze to Flint, everyone watched as the student walked up to him. Before he could react Flint threw a punch whipping the boys head to the side. A chill went down everyone's spines even Ceasar as he watched the student slowly turn back to look at flint.

Something about the way his head turned left a chill and created a creepy feeling in the air.

A first met Flint's face straight breaking his nose and giving him a whiplash. His head rebounding was met with another first that splashed blood as he head shot back again and his body fell this time.

Caesar watched Ava shiver and huddle up into herself once the students gaze landed on her. The student though simply made a head gesture to the door his like moving in a whisper.

"Leave. Now".

Caesar didn't know if he should feel angry that she didn't get the same treatment but he couldn't careless. His eyes stuck the boy as he watched him drag the fallen and moaning bullies to the side>before turning to him.

The student crouched in front of him and started at him for a while before sighing as he scrutinized his wounds.

" Let's get you cleaned up bro".

He didn't even realise when the water works broke as the tears poured down. The student though simply patted his shoulder with a warm smile on his face.

"You're safe now."

A glint appeared in Ceasar's eye as the tests flowed a stray thought sounding out in his head.

'Am I really. Safe?'.

*******

The Audi turned into another street the headlights illuminating the dark streets. The rain pounded against the car roof and asphalt, the glass wipers working well to clear up the screen. He squinted trying to make out the road in the downpour even with the pain on his face as the increasing downpour made it harder to see. He made a curse in his mind vowing revenge for the pain he was in. His car shot past a signpost showing Rose Lane. Mile 34.

A few seconds after a crouched shape moving at am even faster speed than the car shot past the same signpost. The Audi fought the rain and wind that howled in the night, dark clouds covering the half-moon that should have shown a path for night drivers like him. Hissing in annoyance he looked to his dashboard to on his radio when a movement outside his car caught his attention. Starting at it his eyes first squinted, then they widened. Fumbling he went for his phone hurriedly rushing to unlock it he missed the change in the movement of the thing outside the car.

It was too late by the time he looked up again as a loud bang responded and the sound of shattering glass pierced through the air before getting silenced by the rain. The Audi swerved like a deranged drunk and spun terrifying him to no end as he screamed. Fear wasn't a new emotion for him, but it was one he rarely felt being a top dog and all.

His brakes automatically stamped on the brakes before pulling at the handbrake quickly fortunately or unfortunately stopping the car. Rain fell in through his driver-side mirror and soon enough with the rain and wind tossing the droplets around he was thoroughly and well soaked at this point.

His eyes scanned his surroundings searching for the perpetrator of his near-death experience. Fear slowly died out in him and was replaced with anger. Opening his door he stepped out and looked around as the rain began soaking him to the bone. Finding nothing, no deer or animal that he could have rammed into he hissed murmuring.

He made to enter into the vehicle and drive off when his car rattled a crunching noise coming from it before it suddenly moved flipping over front and onto it's roof with it's headlights pointed at him. The anger in him evaporated a new feeling encroaching in him and trying to overtake the numbness he currently felt. The rain seemed to increase even more as he noticed a figure crouched on all four move towards him. As it neared he could hear the barley audible sound of bones cracking and breaking. Then he watched as the four-legged figure rose till it stood on two legs. He blinked twice his brain entering an overdrive.

'What the hell' he muttered subconsciously stepping back. The figure stepped forward slowly its faze locked on him. With the headlights shining from behind it he couldn't make out the things features. All he could see was a masculine body that was definitely nude. But that wasn't his main issue. He was more concerned with how his car got flipped and how the dude went from four to two legs. He couldn't grasp his head around it.

The human mind was a great thing though. Always ready to understand or make it seem like it understood something in this case. Humans after all had only two things to strange events, rationalize it or fear it. When the first didn't work fear came next.

That was exactly what happened to him. Thinking of it as a fluke or maybe just a drug junkie or something. His mind found various possibilities to the situation, but avoided the obvious of all. All this led to his arrogance blooming.

" Who are you dude? Why are you walking like an animal?. I guess you escaped a psych ward eh. Mental health problems. I'll let this slide since you look sick so you can do home now". he spoke. A dry chuckle came first then evolved into a full blown laugh.

"What's so funny mate?". he asked feeling his confidence shaking but not giving it due to his arrogance.

" I'm gonna enjoy what's about to happen. You? probably won't." the voice spoke. Then the headlights died out almost like it was choreographed. He stumbled back shocked as he realized something that has been bugging him. He'd just casually been ignoring it die to the lights but now he had no explanation. How was he supposed to understand how exactly human eyes were a blazing gold?

Before he could even try rationalizing or processing the figure moved in a blur that he could barely spot. Pain bloomed on his gut and the ground removed its support for him as he crashed face first splitting his lip.

"What the... arghhhhhhhh" his scream was drowned out quickly by the rain. His right leg now in a different shape as he toes faced backwards instead of forward. His screams turned to cried as the other leg received the same treatment.

"What...please stop. what, who are you?" he asked his lips clenched as he fought the pain.

"Friend of a friend. Call me Brutus. It's always best to introduce myself to friends." Brutus stated now standing over his weeping body.

"I hope you enjoy this treatment Byron, Lukas barely screamed it was annoying but I still have hope for you I really do hope you scream, after all art without music is a but boring." What came next was less of a beating and more of a torture session. Punch after punch met various parts of Byron's body. Specifically aiming for deadly spots Brutus punched his ears till the bled, broke his nose and smashed in his teeth. both eyes were swollen and shut as blood continuously, poured only to be washed away by the rain.

"Aish. Bad weather for art." Brutus mumbled as he finally halted his ten minutes long assault. His bruised fist slowly and visibly stitched itself up while he stood watching the now silent but still trembling Byron. He looked like a high blob of meat and well no blood thanks to the rain. Standing tall Brutus stretched his neck as he hummed a tune with a distant smile etched on his lips.

"Not to worry now Little Ceasar, soon they'll all be gone and no one will dare look your eat again. " he mumbled quietly to himself before fixing his golden gaze on Byron. If his eyes were open he'd surely have been more terrified to note the bloodlust and killing intent visible within those eyes. Five claws stabbed into Byron"s shoulders making the boy whimper and shudder in pain and fright. His body dragged on the floor as Brutus walked back to the overturned car.

"Let's make set in here" he spoke loud enough for Byron who had by now understood what art entailed to begin shivering. Still unable to do much he was dragged into the car where he was lain with half his body in and half out.

"Little Ceasar says go to hell ehh " with a smile stretching up his lip he carved a single straight line with a claw onto Byron's throat. Blood oozed out and poured down into the car.

"Finally, art" Brutus mumbled softly his eyes gazing lovingly at the blood pooling beneath a stiffening and gurgling Byron. He cut again on the same line making it deeper and spilling even more blood. He kept at it until Byron's movement halted his breathing stooped. A frown passed across Brutus face as he started at the unmoving corpse.

"Not enough, need more color" he grumbled but made no attempts to cut again. Looking reluctant he began painting twisting and trailing the blood on the car roof as a loving smile came on his face.' Finally'.

Stepping out he stood in the rain and turned towards the direction Byron was headed to and began walking as the rain washed blood off his hands.

'Two down, another step closer to you joker,"He looked up as the rain pelted his face bones rearranging on his body until a huge black wolf stood in Brutus place for a second shaking out its fur then dashing off as a howl ascended into the sky surprisingly undisturbed by the sound of the rain.