“Give it to me,” said the taller kid, stretching out a palm toward his friend.
Jason tossed the book over.
“Why can’t you leave me alone, Ryan?” Lowering her hand, Anna used the edge of the wooden table to push herself to a standing position.
“Because, Mole, I wanna know how you get all these nice things when the rest of us”—he opened the book and rifled through the pages—“have to settle for donations or yard sale trash.”
I gritted my teeth.I’d like to show these little shits what a real monster looks like.Yet I hesitated because I had a feeling this wasn’t the first time they’d bullied Anna. Ryan and Jason were on the cusp between true adulthood and innocent youth, and I drew the line at hurting or killing children.
But they are walking a dangerous line when it comes to my Anna.
I crossed my arms and continued to watch.
“Sister Carrie said the church allotted extra finances to accommodate my disability.” She shrugged. “But I never ask for anything besides books. I don’t expect anyone to treat me differently just because I can’t see.” Such hope shone in her unseeing eyes, and it stabbed a painful spike into my chest.
Does she really think these cruel little demons will ever accept her as she is?
I’d met millions of predators like them in my line of work, and Anna was nothing but wounded prey to these bullies. To make things worse, I had compounded the situation years ago by ensuring the church accommodated her needs by providing funds every year.
Ryan’s face twisted into an ugly sneer. “Well, it’s bullshit that you get anything. You’re pathetic and useless. No wonder your parents didn’t want you.”
The joy and hope on her face fell away and she lowered her head.
Black power burned through my bones, begging me to lash out and strike these boys where they stood, to show them whatpathetic and uselesstruly meant after I finished with their lesson.
With a dark laugh, Ryan ripped a page from her book, the sound sharp and crisp as the paper separated from the binding.
Anna inhaled a quick gasp. “No, please stop.”
He bent forward and laughed in her face, then slowly tore out another page.
My wings flared.This little creep, child or not, will feel my ire.
But before I could do anything, Anna pulled back her fist and punched forward.
Ryan jerked backward, his eyes widening.
Unfortunately, Anna wasn’t even close to hitting his face. The momentum of her swing sent her from the chair to crash to the stone floor at their feet.
Grasping several pages, Ryan tore out an enormous section and opened his fist, letting the pages flutter onto Anna’s sprawled form like falling leaves. “Go back to where you came from, little blind mole. You’renothing.” He tossed the rest of the book down and it hit her on the back of the head.
The boys guffawed, gave each other a high five, then sauntered past the girl, supporting herself by the palms of her hands.
I made a mental note of which direction they took and anchored a tether to Ryan’s mind.
I’ll deal with you in a moment, you little bastard.
Anna carefully rose onto her knees, tears rolling down her cheeks. She searched the floor, gathering up each tattered page, quiet sobs shaking her shoulders.
I crouched down. “Isthatwhy you wish to see?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I don’t know how much more I can take.”
“Here.” I grabbed her upper arms and helped her to her feet.
She clutched the tattered pages tightly.
“Give me those.” Holding out a palm, I waited for her to relinquish her hold.
