Chapter Twenty-Eight
SEVEN YEARS AGO
A younger Demetrius was walking home from school with his best friend, Mike Westerfield. The pair were sweaty.
Mike: Sheesh, all that hooping...
Demetrius: I know...can barely walk...
Mike: But you still can't guard me, so...
Demetrius: Yeah, whatever.
The pair broke out into a laugh. Demetrius pointed toward his apartment, which was down the street.
Demetrius: You know my birthday is tomorrow, right?
Mike: Of course! Can't be your best friend for five years and not know what day you were born!
Demetrius: Okay, just making sure. It's going to be a big party at my house.
Mike: Sounds fun! I'll make sure to be the first one there! Catch ya later!
Demetrius: Right, I'll see you at school tomorrow!
The pair gave a handshake and went their separate ways. Demetrius walked into his complex, a familiar face ready to greet him.
Mr. Derrick: Hello, Demetrius! Glad you made it home safe!
Demetrius: Oh, hey Mister Derrick!
Demetrius looked back at the entrance.
Demetrius: Wait, where's Mister Joe?
Mr. Derrick: Damn it, that fool must of gone to feed ducks again. I need more guards at that door.
Demetrius: Oh, okay...
He went up the elevator and walked to his apartment door. Once he made it there, he used his key on his door and arrived to more familiar people.
Tiara: Hey son, you're home!
Darius: There you are! You got a big day tomorrow son!
Demetrius: Hey mom, hey dad!
The two hugged him, and he walked into his room, plopping down on his bed. Darius turned to his wife.
Darius: So, I've invited lots of the neighbors, I've already made the guest list, AND I've made sure to order extra, EXTRA food for the fatasses that will take 5 plates.
Tiara: Great, are they all bringing my son a gift?
Darius: Oh trust me, they will.
Demetrius checked out a criminal channel, watching cops thwart a robbery.
Demetrius: (To himself) That's so cool! I want to be one of them one day! Maybe a detective, or chief, or...
He got a ping on his phone.
Mike: (Text) I got a surprise for you tomorrow!
Demetrius: (Text) What is it?
Mike: (Text) A surprise, LOL.
Demetrius: Yeah, yeah.
Tomorrow would be a good day. A very good one.
THE NEXT DAY
After class again, lots of kids were ready to go to Demetrius Anderson's birthday party. The streets were filled with kids who had gifts in their hands or just came to have fun. Inside the condo, Demetrius's parents were busy finishing up the decorations.
Tiara: That should be them all. We can start letting the kids up now.
Darius: Alright, let me call Mr. Derrick.
Ring.....
Mr. Derrick: Hello?
Darius: Let the children up, it's party time.
Mr. Derrick: Well, alright.
Soon after, there was a knock on the door. Multiple, in fact. Tiara opened it.
Tiara: Oh my, it's so many of you! Are you all Demetrius's friends?
Kid #1: Oh nah, I'm just here for the food.
Kid #2: Yeah, me too.
Mike had to basically push his way through the crowd.
Mike: Well, I am.
Tiara: Aww, hey Mike!
Tiara gave him a hug and let him in, looking at the rest with a less than impressed look.
Tiara: Fine, fine, you guys can come in.
The kids eagerly rushed past her into the house.
Tiara: Hey, don't be running in my house now!
Darius went over to Demetrius's door.
Darius: Hey, son! Your party is starting! Kids are here!
Demetrius: How many?
Darius: Lots.
Demetrius: Oh...um...I'll be out in a second!
Darius: Alright!
More and more kids entered, eating some of the food Tiara had cooked: hamburgers and hotdogs, baked beans, meatballs, and mac & cheese. Some of Demetrius's old friends started grabbing plates.
Elena: Wow, this food is literally amazing.
Hank: I know, definitely top notch.
Tiara: You two better not eat up all my food now!
Others just started chilling on the couch and popping balloons.
Kid: We should make water balloons!
Kid #2: I'm in!
Darius: No, no!
Demetrius stepped outside his room.
Mike: Oh, there you are birthday boy!
Demetrius: Yep, me in the flesh.
They gave each other a handshake. Some of his other friends came over.
Elena: Wow, big eleven. I'm so jealous.
Hank: You'll be eleven next month tho....
Elena: But still...
Demetrius: Well, hey to you guys too...
They hugged him.
Tiara: Kids, get the hell out my living room! It's time for cake!
The kids all immediately rushed to the kitchen, some of them falling down, and each lined up. Demetrius and Mike slowly walked behind them.
Tiara: Honey, you first.
Kids reluctantly let him up front.
Tiara: Let's all sing happy birthday to him!
They all began to sang.
All: Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...
And they continued, until they finished.
All: Happy birthday dear Demetrius, happy birthday to you!
Demetrius: Oh, thanks...
Darius: Go ahead son, blow out your candles.
Demetrius: Right...
He blew out all 11 candles.
Darius: Okay, you guys can—
Kids instantly rushed for the cake.
Tiara: Dang, slow down!
20 minutes later, everyone was sitting somewhere, eating their cake.
Tiara: Soon, I'm going to need you all to give my baby his gifts!
Demetrius: Mom...
Mike: Don't worry, soon as I'm done with this cake, I'll give you my gift.
It started to get dark.
Mike: We'll have to go outside though.
PRESENT DAY
Inside Demetrius's apartment...
Demetrius: (Voicemail) Hi. This is Demetrius.
Tiara: Son, where are you!
Darius: Hey, he probably left. I'm sure he hasn't been cool with his grounding...
Tiara: Darius!
Darius: What? I'm just saying...
Tiara got a call on her phone.
Mr. Derrick: Hello?
Tiara: Derrick, what the hell do you want? Now isn't the—-
Mr. Derrick: Yes, uh, it's about your son...!
Tiara: What?!? What is it?
Mr. Derrick: You might want to come downstairs and look.
Tiara grabbed Darius and rushed down to the lobby. She found Andy, and in his arms was...
Tiara: Demetrius!
Darius: The hell? What happened?
He was dressed in the clothes he had on before he left, but Andy had a backpack on, and Demetrius was completely unconscious...
Andy: I...he needs help! He fell off the bridge nearby!
Tiara: What?!?!?
Andy: He...he was pushed.
Those words made his parents sink. They ran up to their son, but his pulse was weak, and he was barely breathing.
Tiara: Call 911!
Andy looked like he had seen a ghost.
END OF CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
In the hospital, Demetrius is lying in a hospital bed, still unconscious and hooked up to multiple IV's. As his parents walk in, they see Andy sitting next to Demetrius, and the doctor approaches them.
Tiara: Is he okay?
Doctor Reginald: He has some broken ribs, a concussion, and injuries to his jaw. Something must have really happened to him, did he get hit by a car?
Andy looked like he wanted to speak, but he kept his mouth shut.
Tiara: Andy here says my son was pushed.
The doctor turned to Andy.
Doctor Reginald: Pushed off of what?
Andy: The...little bridge near his apartment.
Tiara gasped and Darius went wide-eyed.
Darius: What?
Doctor Reginald: Oh my...
Andy: Yeah, fortunately he landed on a parked car, but...
Tiara had a scary look on her face.
Tiara: Who pushed my baby?
Andy: Oh, well...
Andy thought for a moment.
Andy: Some guy in like a hood, I guess he was trying to rob him and Demetrius didn't give him any money so...
Darius: My son got mugged?
His partner called him.
Darius: Look, man, this isn't the time!
A voice spoke from the phone, but only loud enough for Darius to hear.
Darius: Ugh, fine! You got 10 minutes!
As Darius stepped out of the room, Tiara walked over to her son's side.
Tiara: Is he in a coma?
Doctor Reginald: No...I don't think so. I think he passed out from his injuries when he fell.
She put her hand on his head.
Tiara: So, will he be ok?
Doctor Reginald: Hopefully. His injuries are serious, but they don't seem to be life-threatening.
Tiara: How long will it take him to recover?
Doctor Reginald: At best, a few weeks. Maybe 2-3 at the earliest, but don't be alarmed if it takes a month or more. I'll wrap his chest with a plastic bandage, and give him some medicine, but that's all I can do.
Tiara: Okay....
She turned to Andy.
Tiara: So, tell me what you saw. How did this happen?
Andy: Well, like I said, I was walking outside and saw Demetrius, so I walked over to him, and then some hooded guy tried to rob him, and Demetrius said no, and he got pushed off, and now we are here.
Tiara just listened silently. Darius walked back into the room.
Darius: Now we are done.
The voice started to speak but he got hung up on.
Meanwhile, outside the scene of the fight between Riot and...."NIGHTMARE," cops were responding to a call by a neighbor who heard lots of noise outside. They walked into Demetrius's apartment and approached Mr. Derrick.
Officer Arthur: Hello, sir. Have you heard anything outside? I got reports that a fight occurred out next to this place.
Mr. Derrick: A fight? No, I haven't heard any noise...but...
Officer Samantha: But?
Mr. Derrick: One of the families that stay here, their son was in bad shape...
Officer Arthur: Bad shape?
Officer Samantha: What do you mean?
More cops scouted the area while the two officers talked to Derrick.
Mr. Derrick: Demetrius Anderson, he's an 18 year old high school senior. He was helped in here by another boy, I think his name is Andy...and Demetrius was barely moving...
Officer Samantha: What happened to him?
Mr. Derrick: Andy did say he was...pushed...off that bridge next to the complex...
The two officers shared a look.
Officer Samantha: Where is Demetrius now?
Mr. Derrick: In the hospital...the NYC Health Hospital...
Officer Arthur: We'd best go then.
The pair walked outside, and Officer Pedro approached them.
Officer Pedro: Found interesting things at the scene.
Officer Arthur: Oh, what'd you find?
Officer Pedro: Found two pistols.
Officer Arthur: Okay, bring them back to the station, so we can check for fingerprints.
Officer Pedro: Right, you think the vigilante was involved?
Officer Samantha: Can't say for sure, but the guy at the front desk said a kid was pushed off that bridge over there. We are going to pay him a visit now.
Officer Pedro: Right, well we'll be at the station if you need us.
Officer Arthur: Right, talk soon.
The officers spilt up, with Arthur and Samantha heading to the hospital Demetrius was in. Meanwhile, back at said hospital...
Demetrius: Ow, body hurts...
Andy got up immediately.
Andy: Oh wow! You're awake!
Demetrius: Wait...
He sat up and looked around.
Demetrius: Why am I in the hospital?
Andy: Because man, you got hurt.
Demetrius: Wait, where is that guy? Wait, how are you here? What'd he do to you?
Andy looked outside, making sure that neither the doctor or Demetrius's parents were looking at the room.
Andy: Well, he threw you off the bridge, and he took my baseball bat and left. I guess he just wanted to send a warning or something.
Demetrius: Well, it worked.
Andy: Wait...what...?
Demetrius: Yep, he got it. I'm done.
Andy: Your done? As in...?
Demetrius: Done with this Riot stuff. I signed up to stop criminals, not whatever he is.
Andy sighed and sat back down.
Demetrius: And for the record, never attack dangerous people with a baseball bat again.
Andy: Well, had to save the city's rising hero! You know, as your sidekick and what not.
Demetrius: Ugh.
Andy: So yeah man, you can't quit so early on!
Demetrius: I got flung onto a car, and I'm pretty sure something broke inside of me.
Andy: Yep. Your ribs.
Demetrius: Great.
Andy: Well, don't worry, doctor will fix you right back up! And I'll take your place while you—-
Demetrius: No.
Andy: Please?
Demetrius: Nope.
Tiara, Darius, and Doctor Reginald heard the commotion and walked in.
Tiara: Son! You're awake!
Demetrius: Hi mom, hi dad. Sorry about leaving the house—-
Darius: Don't worry about that right now, son. How are you feeling?
Demetrius: You know, sore.
Tiara: Well, you have some broken ribs, baby, but it's going to be fine.
Demetrius: That's…great.
Doctor Reginald: Here, take this pain medication.
He handed Demetrius some pills.
Demetrius: Umm....
Just then, a knock was heard at the door.
Officer Samantha: Police! Open up!
Andy and Demetrius both started sweating anxiously.
Doctor Reginald: Hey officers...what seems to be the issue?
Officer Arthur: We would like to ask Demetrius Anderson some questions.
Everyone turned to look at Demetrius.
Demetrius: About...?
Officer Samantha: How you got those injuries.
END OF CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE.
Chapter Thirty
His biggest fear had arrived: the cops. Demetrius was slightly sweating as a male and female officer approached him.
Officer Arthur: Hello, Demetrius. My name is Arthur Anton and this is my partner Samantha Witley. We heard you were a victim in an incident that took place outside.
Demetrius: Oh...yeah...
Officer Samantha: Can you inform us what happened? Who did you see? What occurred?
Demetrius: Well, I took a walk to clear my head. Then I bumped into a guy, then he tried to rob me.
He looked at Andy.
Demetrius: Then Andy here showed up to try and help, but I was pushed off the bridge.
The officers had a moment of silence.
Officer Arthur: So, did this attacker seem, a bit unsual to you?
Demetrius: I mean, he had a gun.
Officer Samantha: Was that it? Or was there anything else?
Demetrius gave her an unreadable look.
Demetrius: Is there something you're trying to imply, officer?
Officer Samantha: Listen kid, we want to know if you were attacked by that vigilante that's been taking action lately.
Demetrius: I don't know, he had a hoodie on and a gun. And he could throw me off a bridge and that's it.
The officers gathered in a huddle.
Tiara: Baby, just tell them all you know and they should go away.
Demetrius: That is all I know.
Darius: You know cops in this city can be a bit, persistent son.
Demetrius: Yep.
Officer Arthur: We found two guns at the scene Demetrius. And a certain someone has been mentioned using two guns.
Officer Samantha: So, unless one of them was yours...
Tiara: It wasn't. My son doesn't have a gun, we don't even have any in our house.
Officer Samantha: Means that there is something more to the story.
Andy: The gun was mine!
Everyone looked at him.
Officer Arthur: You own a gun?
Andy: No...my dad's, but I keep it on me when I leave because of stuff that's going on...
The officers studied him.
Andy: Yeah...I pulled it out when Demetrius passed out, scared the guy off...
Officer Samantha: Well, seems after this, we'll need to have a talk with your father.
Andy gulped.
Andy: Okay...
The officers walked back outside the room to discuss. Everyone else relaxed a bit.
Tiara: They think you bumped into a...vigilante?
Darius: You haven't heard about him? The Riot dude?
Tiara: How do you know about it?
Darius: My partner keeps tabs on lots of stuff. It's becoming widespread news, really.
Tiara shook her head.
Doctor Reginald: Yeah, I've heard of him. Says he's a gunslinging master martial artist.
Andy broke into a laugh, and Demetrius gave him an unamused look.
Andy: Well, anyway...guess I gotta inform my dad.
Tiara: Your father just lets you keep a gun?
Andy: Like I said...protection.
Demetrius pulled Andy close enough to whisper.
Demetrius: (Whispering) Why would you tell them that? Now they'll be on your case when they find out you're lying!"
Andy: (Whispering) They won't find out. They can't prove it's not my family's gun, unless they dig deep.
Demetrius: (Whispering) For starters, the gun has no fingerprints on it.
Andy: (Whispering) True, but I'll just tell them u wore gloves, simple fix.
The officers turned back around.
Officer Arthur: Your name is Andy, right?
Andy: Uh...yeah?
Officer Arthur: Come with us.
Meanwhile, back at Diamond's house...
Diamond: Mom, Dad, you can't go around embarrassing me like that. Like...really?
Michael: Oh, come on sweetie, he seems like a nice kid, so we welcomed him with open arms!
Lakisha: Yeah, he seems way better than that other boy you were with last time. The big, loud one.
Diamond: Mother, I was not with him!
Michael: So, how did you come to like that boy?
Diamond: Uh, I'm pretty sure he liked me first.
Lakisha: Aww, that's so cute!
Diamond: Mother!
Michael: And then? Did you two hit it off in class? Or?
Diamond: Well, at breakfast, but it's not even like that.
Michael lifted an eyebrow, with a slight smirk on his face.
Michael: Then what's it like?
Diamond: Look, I just need to get to know him. That's all.
Lakisha: Period!
Diamond sighed and walked to her room. She sat on her bed, and checked her phone.
Diamond: This boy again?
Bryant had sent her three text messages in the span of three minutes:
"You home?"
"Tryna hang?
"I'm finna go to that Demetrius kid's house. Tryna hang after?"
Diamond: Wait...
She texted Demetrius.
Diamond: (Text) Do not let that boy in your house.
It took him a while to respond.
Demetrius: (Text) Who's this?
Diamond: (Text) Wait...did you...did you delete my damn number?
Demetrius: (Text) Oh...Diamond. Hey...Diamond...
Diamond: (Text) Boy, don't play with me.
Demetrius: (Text) Anyways, uh, don't let who in my home?
Diamond: (Text) Bryant.
Demetrius: (Text) Oh. Okay. He can't get in anyway?
Diamond: (Text) Why you say that?
Demetrius: (Text) Because I got my ass kicked and now I'm in the hospital.
Diamond covered her mouth.
Diamond: (Text) What?!? Are you okay?
But he stopped texting.
Meanwhile, at Aurora's house...
Aurora was busy hanging up her clothes. She could hear her dad on a call, screaming from his room.
Mayor Tyler: Listen jackass, I don't give a damn what you want. I told you not. To. Tell. The. Public.
Aurora walked over to her dad's room.
Aurora: Dad, is...everything ok?
Mayor Tyler: Oh, of course! Look honey, it's getting late, you should get some sleep.
Aurora: Okay, I will, but what were you arguing about? What don't you want the public to know?
Mayor Tyler: Listen Aurora, we aren't like them. They get to live their peaceful and safe little lives while we have to manage everything and keep that peace. We walk out this door with a target on our backs constantly. If the wrong thing gets out, we suffer the consequences.
Aurora: What wrong thing?
Mayor Tyler: Come, it's time for you to head to sleep.
He guided his daughter back to her room, kissing her on the forehead.
Mayor Tyler: Goodnight, Aurora.
Aurora: Goodnight, dad.
He closed her door and went back to arguing over the phone. Aurora heard a noise by her window.
Aurora: What...hello?
She got up from her bed, looking outside the window, and then...
???: Stupid girl.
Aurora: Who...are you? Dad! Dad, help!
As Mayor Tyler burst into the room, a gloved hand pulled Aurora out of the window.
END OF CHAPTER THIRTY.