The Hum Read Online Free

eased up, Wayne would beat him to a pulp, possibly even kill him. Before long, Kevin began to notice the pounding and the humming inside his head lighten up, replaced with a guilty excitement at what he was doing.
    Five swings later, Wayne didn’t move anymore and the humming had completely subsided. Spent from his efforts, Kevin cautiously brought the sock down next to his side. He was ashamed at what he’d done; in his excitement, he must’ve tagged Wayne in the face, because a huge red welt was already forming underneath his older brother’s right eye.
    Leaning in close to make sure Wayne was still breathing, Kevin almost wet his pants when his brother’s hand flew across his body from an involuntary muscle spasm. Satisfied Wayne was still breathing, Kevin crept back into his room, locked the door, and prayed that God would work things out in his favor. At the very least, he knew his dad would give him a beating, so he did his best to prepare for the worst.
    Kevin didn’t sleep a wink that night, as he waited for dawn to arrive. All night long he’d wondered why Wayne hadn’t yelled out for his parents, while he was doing such an evil deed. Surely they would’ve come to his rescue.
    A small part of Kevin urged him to go back and finish the job, but the little eight-year-old boy couldn’t bring himself to do such evil—at least not yet.

CHAPTER 2

    When dawn arrived, Kevin heard his mom go in to wake up Wayne while he waited fearfully in his room for her to start yelling for his dad. When no yelling came, he began to wonder what was going on. As he made his way over to the door, he was met by his mom’s smiling face.
    “You’re up already? This is early for you. Get dressed and come on down for breakfast.”
    Before he had a chance to even ask about Wayne, she was gone. When he made it to the table, he saw Wayne with his head down trying to avoid eye contact. Studying what he could of Wayne’s face, he saw what appeared to be their mom’s make-up. It suddenly dawned on Kevin that Wayne hadn’t told on him, and he couldn’t figure out why. Not only had he not ratted him out, he’d even tried to hide the evidence of Kevin’s heinous crime.
    Kevin began to wonder if his older brother was a little ashamed that he’d gotten the best of him. Satisfied with that explanation, he breathed a huge sigh of relief, and breakfast suddenly sounded like a good idea again.
    After eating two fried eggs and two pieces of sausage, Kevin skipped his way out to the bus stop without even looking back for Wayne. He made it just as the bus pulled up. Sitting in his usual seat in the middle of the bus, he watched as Wayne got on and headed in his direction. Kevin said a quick prayer that he wouldn’t sit with him or start a fight on the bus, but that prayer didn’t work out in his favor.
    “Move over punk! We’ve got a few things to discuss!”
    Kevin’s hope that it was all over quickly dissipated. From the look in his brother’s eyes, he could tell this nightmare was just beginning.
    “What’s to discuss? You beat up Tommy, and I made you pay.”
    “You jumped me while I was asleep. Do you know why I didn’t tell mom and dad?”
    “I don’t care why you didn’t tell. I’m through being afraid of you.” Kevin said, the words practically spewing out of his mouth, even though he knew it was all just a lie. Truthfully, he was terrified.
    “We’ll see about that after church next Sunday! Meet me out back of the barn, and we’ll settle this. This time I won’t be asleep.”
    Seeing the way Wayne acted as if he could give him a beat down anytime he wanted, only fueled the fire inside of Kevin. He started to feel the humming inside his head again, and as the volume intensified, he replied, “I’ll be there! Now get out of my seat!”
    Wayne looked him over and laughed, and then he got up and took another seat near the back of the bus. Kevin wasn’t sure but he thought he saw a bit of hesitation in Wayne’s eyes