Chapter 1
The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the fields as he ran. He had been running for at least 15 minutes, ever since he had escaped from the bullies. He was tired, hungry, and thirsty. Panting and almost breathless, he decided to catch his breath for a few seconds.
If he were to be caught, he would be beaten to a stupor for he was the hunted. He had been dealing with this since he got into college and spent most of his time running through the fields, away from the bullies.
He continued to run for miles, before finally finding a place to rest. But his joy was short-lived. He heard their footsteps. The bullies were coming. He started running again, and he did not stop until he came to a deserted apartment.
He lay on his back, gasping for breath, before finally getting to his feet. He was free. He had done it.
"One more word or step from you and I will make sure you never see the light of the day ever again, such guts you have got, trying to run away from me" a voice promised, whoever it was had something pointed to Shawn's head but he dared not look. That was the voice of the leader of the bullies.
Downcast with head bowed in shame, Shawn knew he had failed yet again to escape the bullies.
"I guess I underestimated you, look where we are. I have just the perfect plan for you" the leader added.
"Take him back," the leader said to the boys who had come with him pointing to Shawn. Both his hands were tied to the back as he was being led back to the fields.
As they got back to the fields, the leader asked that his best whip be brought to him, and taking off his shirt, he tied Shawn to a tree, stripping him down to his legs slowly and with not much effort, savoring all the ways he could torture him.
The first land of the whip and all Shawn could do was shout in pain. No one would see or help rescue him today. When they were done with him, they dragged him to the streets and ran off.
In any case, Shawn did not see these rather he strolled peacefully, unmindful of his environmental elements. Happily, he thought about my work. He had to be there regardless of the pain, he had to show up. Wincing and sucking his teeth, Shawn dragged himself out of the street.
Shawn worked part-time at a restaurant as a waiter, just to help pay the bills and cover miscellaneous expenses.
"Shawn, there's an order on table 5, you take that and not be hanging around lazily. I pay you to work and be here for the customers" Shawn's boss pointed out to him, glaring.
Lucky for him, the boss did not notice his scowl or deflected uniform.
Shawn's boss was always like that, throwing orders around and did not care what they had to do to satisfy his customers. Nothing else mattered to him.
"Yes, sir" Shawn replied struggling to carry his feet around, but Shawn could not let him see this. It would only mean trouble.
"You alright, mate?" The customer at table 5 had asked
"You look sick, perhaps you might want to see a doctor" he advised.
"No, it's normal. It will be gone in the next 15 minutes, I promise. Here is your order" Shawn disputed, wishing it would all be over soon.
"Thank you," he said and handed Shawn a dollar note, something he could not refuse.
The boss had warned them from taking tips from customers but well, he needed it. He just had to make sure the boss didn't see that.
"Ugh! Shit!" Shawn cursed as he was in the bathroom.
Painful urination was another effect of the beating he had received earlier. Sometimes, he wished he could get back at them for all they did to him. He wishes he had taken karate lessons, that way, he would have been able to defend himself to an extent.
"Well, Shawn, unfortunately, you did not. You better get back to work before the boss starts asking for you" Mike smirked.
Not that Mike and Shawn were friends, they just looked out for each other.
"What was it this time, you took their girlfriend, eh?" Mike asked grinning. Sometimes, Shawn liked to think Mike enjoyed seeing him in pain.
"Get off, man. I've got work to do" Shawn rebutted heading to the exit of the restroom.
"Better keep your dick in check, she's not worth it" Mike jested.
"Can I take your order now, ma'am?" Shawn asked the customers that had just walked in
"Yes, waiter. I'll have the most expensive thing on the menu" she replied grinning from ear to ear.
Shawn could tell the man was not comfortable, he sees that all the time in here. And how much he hated being called a waiter. He knows he is one, no need for anyone to remind him.
"Yes, ma'am. And you, sir, what will you have?" He asked turning to face him.
"Just a glass of water, please," he answered.
"Would that be all, sir?"
"Well, yes. Now waiter, hurry along before my daddy changes his mind. He hates to have his lady waiting. Ain't that right, honey?" She asked and he went silent.
Shawn brought in her dish and went ahead to get that glass of water when she said,
"I think I'll want that glass of water too. I mean, who eats without water?"
"Yes, ma'am," Shawn agreed
"Just give her the glass of water and get me another" the man had said.
"As you wish, sir"
"Hey!" She shouted and it threw Shawn off balance, he tripped and fell not first without the water pouring all over her, and the glass, shattered on the floor.
Man, Shawn knew he was in deep shit.
"Do you know who I am? Boy, this dress cost over ten dollars" she wailed.
And carefully, Shawn examined the dress, anyone could see that she was lying.
"I'm sorry, ma'am" he muttered
"You're sorry? I will make sure you pay for the dress and lose your job" and went on and on babbling and rambling about poor restaurants and cheap waiters.
"What is going on here?" The boss asked, rushing in.
"Such poor customer service you have here. Look what your waiter did" she said pointing to the floor and pursing her lips.
"I'm so sorry, ma'am. Order anything you want, all on the house. I'll take care of this, I promise" he said and dragged Shawn out.
"Stop it, sir. I'm hurt" Shawn snapped
"You should have considered that before doing what you did"
"It was not intentional, sir. Besides, no way that dress would cost ten dollars"
"You know what, I've had enough of this, you are fired"
"But sir?"
"I never want to see your face ever again. Now, leave"
As Shawn was seated on the bus heading home, he thought of all the things that had happened in the past few days. Looked like the whole universe plotted against him, he thought.
Getting home, he was thankful for the company of Winter, his pet dog. The only good thing in his life right now.
"Let's go pick that call Winter, shall we?" He said and went to pick up the call.
"Hello," he mumbled
"Hello, young master," the manly voice at the other end said.
"You? What do you want from me"
"For you to come back home," the caller blurted out.
Chapter 2 "For you to come back home," the caller blurted out. "That would be the death of me" Shawn retorted, scoffing. With a curl on his lips, he was sure this was all part of his father's plan to get him to go home, and he was not about to back out now, not just yet. Grinning, he took in the air of the environment. He was happy for today is the beginning of a new semester. He hoped it would bring new and happy things to him. Hurriedly, he grabbed a pair of blue jeans and his favorite shirt, he did not want to miss the bus. "A gentleman would give up his seat for a young lady" a voice hovering above Shawn's head had said. Shawn lifted my eyes to a pair of one of the most beautiful eyes he had seen. When poets said the eyes are the windows to the soul, do not doubt it. With blue eyes widened, she threw up both hands. “Now hold on a minute, you look surprised,” she raised a brow "Well, some guts you have, telling me to give up my seat" I complained"As every gentleman would"
Chapter 3 "Hey! Stop that! Right now!" A voice had said and they all turned to see a man in his fifties or sixties maybe wearing a tux, standing by the door. Heaving a sigh of relief and smiling was Shawn, he was grateful. Using one of his hands behind his back, he dialed a number hoping the old man would show up. "Yo, old man, this isn't any of your business. Now get out of here before I do something we both would regret" the bullies' leader implored the old man. The old man only shook his head and smiled. "Mate, you better tell this savior of yours to run along now," he threatened, turning back to Shawn. "You! I said, get out!" He screamed becoming angry. As he approached the old man, a few men in black suits entered the room. Only then did Shawn see a bit of fear and hesitation in his eyes which he quickly hid away. "What y'all want? This is my home, this is my city. Ain't nobody going to come in here and mess up my business. Now, I don't want to repeat myself, get out! Now!"
Chapter 4 "Hello" he started with the bullies watching keenly, about to find out what the "old pal" could do. "Looks like you lost network there pal. Need help with that, are you even sure you can handle a phone?" The leader of the bullies cajoled, grinning from ear to ear. This had sent the bullies roaring into laughter as they could not fathom how this old man and Shawn could pull this stunt with a few phone calls. Making them lose everything they have, surely this was impossible. Anyone else could have been a probability but not Shawn, he was a nobody, he had nothing and it would take him whole millennia to be able to pull this off. "Boss, they thought we would fall for this trick" one of the bullies nagged smiling. "Not even a baby would fall for it, you have to do better than this" another had gibed. Calmly, the old man dialed a number again. "Hello, I want the families of..." The old man continued. The bullies were beginning to lose their balance. Shawn saw the looks t
Chapter 5 "Young master, please do not tell me you have checked the internet" the old man begged. "Why?""I'll be with you shortly," He urged."Young master..." "Do not call me that, do not ever call me that" Shawn retorted"I presume that you have seen it then," the old man answered bowing his head in shame "How can I not? I'm the number talked about person on the internet as we speak, I am trending and for all the wrong reasons" "I take responsibility for it, I will tell your father it was my mistake. Please, do not take this to heart, I promise I will take care of it" "That is the problem. You all think that I need help and cannot take care of myself. Go on, go on and mess my life up like you always do. Just this time around, make sure you do it properly" "I'm sorry, young..." He said and must have remembered Shawn said not to be called young master ever again. "Didn't you collect all their phones and anything else they might have used?" "I did, sir. You saw me do it""Of
Chapter 6 "Shawn? Shawn! Where are you?" It was a lady's voice, what was she doing in the men's? "Hey! What are you doing here? This is the male section" "Shush," she said placing her fingers over her lips. "Who are you?" Shawn inquired "I know what the bullies did to you, and I am the one that will help you get your revenge," she explained."I do not understand, revenge? I never said I wanted revenge" Shawn puzzled "Who are you anyway?" Shawn inquired and she went silent"Answer me" Shawn yelled "You ask too many questions and worry too much. It's no wonder they were able to get you" She retorted "What does that mean?" Shawn queried, trying to control himself from losing his patience "For now, we have to figure out how to get you out of here," She thought "We sure do" Shawn agreed "Such an ungrateful son of a bitch" she jeered "How do we get out then?" "When classes are over" she answered simply "Are you mad? You expect me to stay here in the men's..." Shawn started bef
Chapter 7 "Okay, I think I can pull some strings" Shawn admitted almost cursing himself for doing so. "And about her, I can't forgive her. I am sure she has some secret she is hiding. I will find out and make her pay" Shawn promised "How?" She inquired, this was the part she liked best. "I hope you're smart enough to know you can't approach her by yourself?" She added"Of course, I know that. I am not that dumb" Shawn objected"You were dumb enough the first time" she jeered "She will pay, and well" Shawn smiled mischievously "You just do your thing and I will do mine" Shawn added "I am Leah, and I think we will be great partners" she stretched out her hand. Shawn was confused as to what the handshake was for. For the partnership or for having a deal. "We are strangers," Shawn said trying to remind her of her early advice "I won't forget that, now the problem is you. Can you remember to pretend to not know me?" She asked and just then they were interrupted by someone ente
Chapter 8 "What?" She repeated "Tom" she heard her voice playing over the video, moaning "Leah, the cam girl." Another guy jeered "Oh my God." Was all she could mutter and she ran towards where she knew she could find Tom "Tom." She started "I'm already on the phone talking to my dad's lawyer," Tom whispered "Um, I gotta go. Thank you, Derek." He finished "Hey." He finally turned toward Leah"How could you do this to me?" Leah asked, tears filling up her eyes"What? I didn't do this. I got hacked." And Leah scoffed "Easy, Mayweather." Tom taunted laughing"This is bullshit," Leah screamed "I'm sorry you feel that way." He responded (At the headmaster's office) "Will your mother be joining us?" The headmaster asked "No. She works nights, so she's asleep." Leah answered with her head bowed"Leah, I want you to know this brings me no pleasure. If you had just come to me when you saw the video, we--" The headmaster started "Oh, so this is my fault?" An enraged Leah asked "
Chapter 9 "You know I once punched a guy in the face for leaking my tape" Leah dropped"Is that your ex who leaked it? Is that why you punched him?""Are you gonna talk this entire ride?" Leah asked regretting why she even mentioned it"What happened to him? Your ex?""Oh, you know, what happens to every guy. Nothing. I'm the slut on probation,and he and his tiny little dick get away scot-free. They always get away scot-free." Leah lamented"Mm-hmm." Shawn nodded in agreement "I know what it's like to get screwed over by someone you thought you could trust. Hell, I know too much about betrayal. When I was 13, uh, I went to day camp with this girl, and she existed on this like…untouchable plane. She glowed. I pretty much already knewthat I liked girls, but I hadn't told anyone yet. But this girl, I guess I thought that if she liked me, it would validate my entire existence or something, and I finally talked to her, and… it was great. Like, she made me feel so free and confident and