User blog:Simon7055/Sam's Ordeal - Chapter 4

A/N: The following is a re-edited version of the fanfic, "Sam's Ordeal" by Erinn Zach III, of which can be found on Fanfiction.net.

Warning: Chapter 4 contains some Graphic Content related to Brutal Beatdowns. Proceed at your own discretion.

Chapter Four - The Subjugation

A month gone by...Or was it six weeks?...Well, time certainly passed, though not much had changed. Sam occasionally found nasty notes hidden inside her locker, the handwriting impossible to trace. Her belongings kept getting stolen, and when recovered, were either vandalized or destroyed. One time, she arrived at her locker only to find the door had been kicked-in; when she opened it, a horrible musk came out with a stench so foul that it made her smell bad for the rest of the day.

She never let it get to her...She figured so long as the perpetrators didn’t get violent towards her, or target the ones she loved, she’d get through it.

Sam had gotten so used to the abuse and neglect, that when Saoirse herself approached her in the halls one day after school while Sam was on her way to chorus lessons, Sam was surprised. For some reason, Saoirse seemed really nervous as she walked up to Sam and smiled.

“Hey, S-Sammy… Listen, I wanted to say that… I’m really  sorry about what I said to you...I…I like you too. I really do, it’s just…You see how everyone’s been treating you… I guess I was never as brave as you are." Saoirse said, now smiling with uncertainty. Sam gasped.

"R-really?" she asked. Saoirse nodded.

"Yeah... Come here." She said, cupping Sam's cheek and moving in, but pulling away just before their lips could touch.

"Is that strawberry lip balm I smell?" Saoirse said, smiling sweetly, her eyes half-lidded with a gaze that screamed desire.

"Yeah... My lips... G-get dry..." Sam whispered nervously. Saoirse giggled, and pulled Sam in real close, planting a genuine kiss on the lips. <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" id="docs-internal-guid-8929d59a-7fff-e02c-308a-7c4a98fa1c14">Sam could feel her entire being heat up with each passing millisecond, as her heartbeat began to quicken.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"You want to keep going?" the red haired Irish girl asked, kissing Sam again, pulling away after only a second, her lips barely brushing against Sam's, leaving the blonde girl begging for more.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Yes..." Sam gasps, her own eyes half-closed, her cheeks a faint pink.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Come with me…I know a spot behind the school. I usually eat lunch there…So much quieter than the cafeteria…"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam allowed her hand to be taken, her blush brightening at Saoire’s surprisingly warm and gentle touch. Saoirse laced their fingers, playing with Sam's hand, teasing and tickling it as they walked out back. <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">As they got there though, a bunch of guys and girls from Saoirse’s posse crowded in.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Saoirse smirked at Sam. "I have to admit... This was kind of fun... I've never kissed a girl before... Not sure I wanna do it again, it was weird, but try everything once, right?” she asked sardonically. Sam was confused.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Ah... You thought I was being serious... I love how easy it is to manipulate people like you... You're so trusting, and the fact that you like me didn't exactly do you any favors. Surprise, b****." Saoirse said with a shockingly sweet smile, laughing. Then she went on.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Did you really think you were good enough for me? God, just <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">look <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> at you… You're skinny as a stick, no strength to speak of, and I hate to have to be the one to say this, but your violin skills… leave a <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">lot <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> to be desired. Maybe you'd be better off sticking to a guitar, like a savage." Saoirse said, enjoying the look of devastation on Sam's face.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Come on… You would have been better off had you just let me keep pretending to be your friend… I probably could've stomached your presence for two or three more months… You at least kept me amused with your mediocrity on occasion. Still, I honestly need to end this… relationship, if you want to call it that." she said, stroking Sam's cheek mockingly.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"But you said..."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I lied. I thought that would have been obvious by now. No, I just wanted to give you the haircut that you so desperately deserve... Why don't we help her stay still...? We wouldn't want her head getting cut while we shave her, would we?" Saoirse asked, stepping back.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" id="docs-internal-guid-c9813b79-7fff-98d6-3e55-381c43436425"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Two large guys shoved Sam up against the wall, one holding her arms down, and the other pressed against her chest to keep her from squirming.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam felt the wind being driven from her lungs as the second guy slammed against her chest, driving his elbow into her stomach.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">A girl came up to her, and fiddled with an electric razor.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" id="docs-internal-guid-88b8dbd6-7fff-b4be-ab5a-f9669769da37"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Don't panic, Samantha... This'll be over pretty quickly... Well, relatively speaking. I think we can make it last at least 20 minutes… What do you think, guys? Miss McCullen?" she asked.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Saoirse smiled.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I think 20 minutes is a good start... I wouldn't be disappointed if it lasted that long. But let's see if we can stretch it out to 30 minutes, what do you say?" She asked. The rest nodded and the girl turned on the razor, and slowly moving it towards Sam's head, pulling back at the last moment as Sam flinched away, clearly terrified. Saoirse laughed at her fear. Even Saoirse's cruelest laugh was lyrical.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Mm, Sammy... This new haircut will be so 'you'." Saoirse said, walking over and smiling maliciously. Seeing Sam crying like this was just too perfect.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Come on. Be happy. You've finally gotten my attention. Isn't that what you wanted?" Saoirse asked condescendingly. Sam was still struggling to get out of her captors’ grip. But they were far too strong for her.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Stepping away, the girl waved the razor, turning it on again and taking a tiny bit of hair off the top of her head, not even going down to the scalp.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">They were teasing her, making it as terrifying and long as possible, and after a moment, one of the guys punched Sam in the stomach, causing the blonde haired girl to gasp for breath. Saoirse scoffed:

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Geez, you Americans are <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">so <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> unathletic. In Ireland, we do sit-ups in gym every day. It's just part of our warmup…Well, it <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">does <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> make it fun to watch you squirm like this, you slutty little carpet muncher... Go on, Abby. Get going on her head… For real this time, yeah?" Saoirse said.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The girl named Abby shaved a few more hairs, strands still, when suddenly she gasped as she felt something heavy and jagged hit the back of her head.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Saoirse spun around and saw to her surprise a small 9-year old boy shaking with fury, his breathing heavily ragged, a blood-stained rock clutched in one hand. His hair was blonde like Sam’s, same for his eyes, a shade of blue, and currently sporting a look of livid rage.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">His arm was already trembling from the effort of having swung the rock so hard to hit Abby. Saoirse looked over at her erstwhile ally, seeing her on the ground.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Let Sammy go! Now!" He demanded. Abby groaned, her body trembling from the sudden strike to the back of her head.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">One of Saoirse’s posse moved in to hit him, but Saoirse stopped him.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Ah, you must be Simon. I've heard a lot about you. Sam speaks so fondly of her baby brother. It’s admirable, truly admirable, that you wish to defend her. But do you <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">honestly <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> think you can take on the…Let's see." Saoirse said sarcastically. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12… 13…13 of us? Well, 9, if you don't count the three who're holding your Sammy down, and the one you just beaned on the head with that rock you're holding… And one of you… And by my calculations, most of them are at least twice your size… I doubt a fight between you and them would go very well." Saoirse continued to mock.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I don’t have to take ‘em all on. Just <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">you <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">. Or die trying!” Simon growled, shivering with a combination of rage and fear.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"NO! Simon, run! Now!" Sam pleaded, only to have a hand clamped over her mouth.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Alright. Well, this wasn't part of the plan. I don't normally like beating up infants. But I suppose you've earned my respect." Saoirse said delicately, still recording Sam being shaved by a different person now. This one was being a lot less cautious than Abby, who had merely been teasing Sam's hair. This one seemed much cruder, and was getting dangerously close, the buzzing of the razor deepening as it took off relatively large amounts of hair, though not once touching her scalp.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Simon charged, screaming in rage, but dashed right past the teen who tried to kick him, leapt over another who dove for him, and tackled Saoirse, punching her in the face.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"There!" He screamed, landing another punch before one of her goons pulled him off and threw him aside. Saoirse recollected herself, then looked for her phone. <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Simon had it. He nicked it when he tackled her. <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Saoirse smiled at Simon, but her smile never reached her eyes. It was almost a little eerie. "You know... I could be convinced to let your Sammy go...if you give me back my phone. My parents aren't rich, you know." She was lying, of course. Everyone knew the McCullens were one of the richest families in Ohio.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"They won't be happy that I lost my phone. They certainly wouldn't buy me a replacement." She said,

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">extending her hand. "Besides... Sammy came with me of her own free will. She still likes me. You wouldn't want to break her beloved's property, would you?" she asked.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Saoirse could see that Simon was visibly conflicted. She could tell that he was seriously considering her offer. Of course, she had no intention of keeping her promise. Once she got her phone back, she’d just have her followers beat him up. Him and his dyke of a sister. But Simon didn’t know that.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Simon carefully weighed out his options. He could save Sam if he just gave Saoirse back her phone. But Saoirse was a liar. A manipulator. A monster. She humiliated his sister. No way was he going to let that slide. So he showed her the screen and deleted the video, then tossed the phone in the air and caught it.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Alright, Simon…You've done what you meant to do. I can't use that video against her anymore." Saoirse said, her voice still calm, but now laced with a silent rage. She wasn't used to not getting her way. She <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">definitely <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">wasn't used to having someone she couldn't manipulate. "Give me my phone back... Please." she said.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Simon smirked. "You know... Sammy said you were beautiful... I just don't see it, though. You look like a troll to me." He said.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Very droll, young man. My phone… Now.” She said, no longer amused by this child’s antics.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Simon’s smirk widened.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Sure… Go get it." he said, throwing the phone as hard as he could at the wall behind her, watching with satisfaction as it smashed into itty, bitty little pieces.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Again, one of Saoirse's goons moved in, but Saoirse held him back.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"No, no... I admire his courage. Just hold him down. I want him to watch while his precious Sammy gets the haircut she so desperately needs. We'll see if he still wants to make out with her after we're done. Capisce?" she asked with a sweet smile.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Suddenly, Simon went into full berserker mode, <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">and jumped up, kicking the one holding Sam down in the side of the knee.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Although Simon's kick wasn't really that hard, the young teen crumpled to the ground, howling in pain, a mask of rage covering his facial features. Suddenly, Simon was kicked in the head and collapsed to the ground, barely moving. They could hear groans of pain coming from his mouth, so they knew he wasn't dead.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Alright, why don't you hold him…? So we don't have a repeat of that unfortunate knee break?" Saoirse suggested. A large, hulking teen grabbed Simon, and proceeded. But just as he began to clamp his hand over Simon’s mouth, the blonde-haired kid bit down on his finger, <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">hard <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">. The young man screamed in pain and rage, <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">and began to beat Simon over the head, repeatedly.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Simon could hear Sam crying out for him, but it sounded so far away with the constant blows to his head. Still, every blow just made him bite down even harder. If he was going down, he was taking this brute’s finger with him. Finally, the teen landed a blow that dazed Simon long enough for the teen to pull Simon off of him. The teen examined his finger. It was bleeding, badly, and there were even bits of skin and muscle hanging off!

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Alright, Billy. You can go to the hospital. Just know that if you tell anyone what’s happened here, your life’s officially over. Clear?”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Y-yes, Saoirse…" he hissed, still gritting his teeth in pain.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Good. Now, hurry along. You don't want to lose your finger, right?" She asked, not even bothering to tell him to call her ma'am. Now wasn't really the time. She was evil, not a savage, she thought turning back to her followers and looking at Sam, who looked angrier than Saoirse had ever seen her.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The red-haired girl just smiled though, and walked up to Sam, seeing the blonde screaming profanities at her, struggling even harder now to escape.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Mm… You're so passionate… I love it." Saoirse said, smiling as coldly as she had before.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">As she made it up to Sam, though the blonde haired violinist snapped out at her, her teeth clenching shut mere centimeters away from Saoirse's nose.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"F*** YOU! YOU F***ING B****! I'LL KILL YOU!" Sam screamed, tears streaming down her face, not seeming to get tired no matter how much she struggled.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Saoirse looked surprised at what Sam had done.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Why don't we break a few of her teeth? She seems like she'd be only too fond of using them again." Saoirse said. As she said that though, Simon staggered to his feet, his eyes bleary, blinking rapidly with the concussion he had received, breathing heavily.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Not if...I have anything...to say about it...!" Simon gasped, standing to his full height and attacking again. He was more reckless this time, taking hits like he barely felt them and throwing punches wildly at his targets. None of them seemed to do any damage, though. It seemed like all he was really trying to do was distract them.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">As long as they were hurting him, they couldn't hurt Sam, and the harder he fought, the longer they would be distracted.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam could feel tears flooding down her cheeks as she watched Simon get knocked down, over and over again, only to get back up, and then get knocked down again.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Her struggling got more and more violent, trying everything she could think of to get out, snapping at her captors' arms and hands with her teeth.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Finally, one of Saoirse’s goons came up behind Simon, and smashed him over the head with the same bloody rock that had been used to daze Abby. Simon crumpled to his knees, a gasp of shock escaping his lips as he collapsed, no longer moving.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam shrieked in rage and felt a sudden burst of energy, breaking free from her captors' arms, taking a swipe at Saoirse's face with her fingernails, and kicking her immediate captor in the groin before running over to her bruised and bloody brother, scooping him up in her arms and running. She didn't have time to put him on her back, so she carried him in her arms.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" id="docs-internal-guid-de7d327e-7fff-bf92-1852-fca0804b1fe4"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Saoirse’s remaining posse began to give chase, only for Saoirse to screech at them to halt.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Clutching her face in pain, Saoirse began to think.… Sam would pay… Ohhh, would she pay…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">She’d pay for having the audacity to damage her face. But now wasn't the time to call her debt. It would take time, effort and planning to set things up, and clearly, Sam was very spirited. Breaking her would prove a challenge.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The irony behind it all was that initially, Saoirse was willing to let things be after today.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Seeing Sam come to school with a shaved head, looking like some reject from the hobo bin would have been satisfying enough.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">But no more.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">She hadn't planned any further ahead than this, but now, she had to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to destroy Sam. Her hatred for the blonde girl had been pretty restricted to innate contempt for her supposed mediocrity before.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Now, though, she hated Sam with a passion.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Taking out her compact, Saoirse inspected the damage done to her face in the mirror, grimacing with fury as she turned her head from left to right. The scratches actually weren't that bad. Sam had hit hard and fast, and it had partially been the shock of being hit like that that made her think it was worse than it was.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Her nose was a tad swollen from when Simon had punched her, but that would be gone by tomorrow. Some concealer would take care of the scratches for now

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam Sharp now had her full, undivided attention.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The ultimate goal to her was obvious. She just hadn't shared it with most of her collaborators. They weren't smart enough to follow anyway. They could obey orders, but following an eloquent and complex plan like hers and not being disturbed by its brilliance was too much to ask… For now, anyway. They would come around and realize that she knew what she was doing. So for now, she just moved one step at a time, watching Sam fleeing like a whipped dog with her creepy little brother in her arms.