Hellraisers Read Free Page B

“Pretty stupid thing to do, Marlow, even for you. What made you scratch that on the principal’s car?”
    â€œIt was a rocket ship,” Marlow muttered.
    Charlie cracked a smile, but it slipped off his face after a second or two. “Seriously, dude, what are you going to do now?”
    Marlow didn’t answer, just turned and walked down the alley. Best thing to do to a question like that, turn your back on it.
    Charlie scampered after him, his feet kicking up gravel. “Marlow, I’m not kidding, you got to start facing up to things.”
    â€œI am,” Marlow said. “I hated that place anyway.”
    â€œSo you’re bolting again? You’re running out of places to go. Gonna be prison or the army at this rate.”
    Not the army. No way. Marlow closed his eyes, thought of Danny. He barely even remembered his brother, but he saluted his yellowing, fading photo—full combat gear, bleached in desert sun—on the kitchen wall every single day. Had done ever since he was five years old and his brother hadn’t come home. Once upon a time all he’d ever wanted was to be a marine like Danny. Maybe that way his mom would look at him the same way she did that photo, with love.
    Then he thought of the empty coffin. The flag draped over it, folded by the honor guard and handed over to his mother at the funeral. Cowards can’t be soldiers, his brain said, and he stared up at the sun to try to burn the words away.
    â€œThey’re hiring up at the concrete plant,” Charlie said, kicking a crushed can into a section of fence. “Not great but at least it’ll keep you out of trouble.” He snorted. “Though trouble always seems to find you.” He snorted. “Picking a fight with Yogi Bear.”
    â€œI’ve seen you do worse,” Marlow said, looking at his friend. The first time he’d met Charlie the kid had been in a fight with two college jocks over in Tottenville. He’d been outnumbered and outgunned but he’d been giving as good as he got. They’d both ended up bolting, holding their bloodied noses. Charlie probably would have chased them halfway across the state if Marlow hadn’t stepped in to hold him back. He’d almost gotten a black eye for his trouble.
    â€œI’m the very definition of sweetness and light,” Charlie said. “Where we going now?”
    Marlow pulled his cell from his pocket and checked the time. It was nearly eleven. He half thought about calling his mom, telling her on the phone. It was better than seeing her face crumple, watching the tears fall. But he couldn’t face her, not even on the phone. It wasn’t the anger that worried him, he dealt with that all the time. No, it was the disappointment.
    He needed some Dutch courage before he spoke to her.
    â€œGonna go celebrate my newfound freedom,” he said, flashing a bitter smile at Charlie. “No more school, man. Just sunshine and partying. Wanna join me?”
    â€œGetting hammered before lunch? That’s your big plan?”
    They exited the alleyway onto Park, a solid line of traffic bleating like robotic sheep and pumping out fumes. Marlow coughed, feeling the tickle again, the beast slipping its fingers around his throat. Man, he hated this city, hated the cars, hated the schools, hated the people.
    â€œMarlow?” Charlie said, reaching out and grabbing his shirt. “You don’t want to end up like your mom. Like my old man.”
    He shrugged loose, the anger burning up inside him like the sun.
    â€œI’ll be fine,” he said, walking off so that Charlie wouldn’t see the fire reach his face. “Just go back, do your thing, live your life.”
    Push, push, push. It’s all he seemed to do sometimes.
    â€œYeah, real fine,” said Charlie. “Go have a morning cocktail, Marlow, run away like you always do.”
    There was the sound of scuffing heels as he made his way