Zero Sight Read Online Free

avoiding the worst of it, the Splotches would get their ‘justice’, and we all could get back to minding our own business.
    I challenged Tyrone right in the center of the cafeteria to a duel at dusk. (My performance was quite badass, if I do say so myself.) I needed people to know about it—and I needed him to be forced to fight me at a time of my choosing. A fight at school would probably get me arrested, but that was the whole point. I wanted the LVPD to intervene. It would give the fight a time limit.
    His honor at stake, Tyrone had accepted.
    When we met at the back of the school, the whole gang came to watch. I probably should have known what was going to happen next. Probably should have predicted it. As I stood facing Tyrone Nelson, my emotions started going haywire. I should have known they would—and maybe deep down I did. Maybe I needed a contrived situation where I could finally do what I really wanted. All I know is that as I watched Tyrone Nelson swagger up to face me, my mind went rogue. I thought of all those times Mrs. Newmar hustled up the stairs to make a bed for me, how none of them ever asked me where the bruises were from, how Victor never said a word when I cried myself to sleep at night—and I just saw red. When the punches came, there wasn’t a speck of hesitation. I only wanted to make pain. I was going to drop him. I was going to make him suck blood. Tyrone was going to know what it was like to be on the receiving end. He was going to know what it was like to have no control at all…
     
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    And now his buddies were readjusting my ribcage.
    Hollow thuds filled my ears. Their boots were playing my lungs like drums. I struggled for breath as blows exploded my belly and sides. A particularly brutal one caught a kidney. I gagged as that special pain stretched down the length of my left side. I was going to be pissing blood in the morning. My eyes rolled backwards. My shoulders sagged. And then, just when I thought I couldn’t bear anymore, the cheers of the Splotches were replaced by quietly shuffling feet.
    Whispers and gasps filled the air.
    I could hear sirens closing in.
    I blinked my eyes. I had made it. They were finally finished with me. I should have been relieved, but something was wrong with my insides. Air was seeping out of my mouth. My body was screaming for air, but even as I tried to draw it in, it leaked back out my mouth.
    For some reason the Splotches were walking in a circle around me. Looking at them, I felt like I was at the center of a merry-go-round. Why had the gang gone West Side Story all of a sudden? They whirled about, faster and faster…
    “ Oh,” I thought to myself. They probably weren’t the ones spinning. The rock to the head must have caused a concussion. I blinked twice to try and clear the haze.
    Like at the end of a really long exhale, the leak from my lungs trickled to a stop. I could manage small breaths now, but the strangest thing was happening—only the left side of my chest was rising. That explained the leak. They must have popped one of my two balloons. Still, why hadn’t the Splotches made a run for it yet? I was toast, and the cops were coming. Why were they still hanging around? They were looking at something, something over to my left.
    I turned my head and looked.
    I really wished I hadn’t.
    It was Tyrone. He was walking towards me. Crusty gunk covered his face, and his shirt was soaked straight through with blood. But that wasn’t the worst of it. No, the grand prize went to Tyrone’s right hand. It was dangling like a wet noodle. He wasn’t going to be pitching fastballs anytime soon. But all was not lost. Tyrone still had his left, and that hand looked just fine. Better than fine, actually. It was still able to palm a rather large rock with ease.
    I swallowed.
    Tyrone noted my attention.
    The blood-crusted smile complemented the murderous vibe coming from his eyes.
    Razor-nails girl walked over to him.
    “ Tyrone,” she said.