A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing : Chapter 2: I Will Save You

“Please forgive me, I didn’t mean to. “Begged the young child with tears threatening to fall from his eyes, his father was angry like he always has been looking at him with anger and hate in his eyes, “I told you not to talk to that kid in school! “The kid flinched at the venom in his father’s voice and tried his best not to look in his eyes “But...but….he…is…my…friend…”But as he said that, he looked up to see his father getting even angrier. Why is he this angry? What did I do to him? That was what the kid thought. All of his life; his father has been like this ever since he can remember. “Your friend? “Said the older man with a calm yet dangerous voice which made the kid even more scared. “Look at me.” Added the father in the same tone but the kid averted his father’s gaze afraid of what he will see “I said look at me! “His tone was back to the venomous angry one; not wanting to make it worse the kid obeyed his father and looked up to find the same hateful gaze piercing through his soul , certainly not a way a father should look at his own child. “That kid is not your friend, no one in the school or neighborhood is your friend! Do you hear me? You have no friends! You’re alone, you’ll always be alone and you will never be anything other than a miserable, worthless pest who will only listen to me, do I make myself clear?!” Said the man as he kicked the child in his stomach making him wince in pain “Do I make myself clear?!” he nodded his head shakily but there was only one thing that he can think of, why do you hate me? 

And then I was snapped open from my once again ‘wonderful’ dream. It happened again, this is the second time in a row, why am I seeing him now? I thought I got over the bastard, he caused me nothing but pain and I forgot about him, why am I remembering him now? I looked at the alarm clock, 12:19, why do I always wake up at this time? I didn’t even sleep for 4 hours. On 7th October 2020, it’s been almost a week since I joined my new school, things have been normal so far. I haven’t talked to Anna and the others since then, I did talk to Hope a few times ...she’s a bit awkward socially. But I feel like she’s a good person. There’s no point in getting back to sleep, so I just layed there till the morning came. I got out of bed and headed toward the kitchen to find breakfast ready with a note hanging on the fridge saying “Good morning Marcel, sorry I won’t be there when you wake up, I have to get to school early because you know, it really sucks to be principal. Anyway, breakfast is on the table, and doesn’t forget to close the door. Have a nice day, Uncle Aaron. “Poor Uncle, if I was a high school’s principal I would’ve killed myself. Well, time to have breakfast. After breakfast, I brushed my teeth, got dressed, and headed to school. While I was walking in the hallway, people were staring at me, some with appreciation and others with surprise and curiosity. Oh, yeah probably because of what happened with Blake before, it’s been happening for the entire week. Great, like I needed more attention. I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the sound of a thud before me. I turned around to see Hope on the ground with her books on the floor. “Watch where you’re going! “Said a guy standing next to her while his friends smirked, this guy, it’s Blake. I see he’s still a prick, he picked on Hope again; a coward. She didn’t say anything and proceeded to collect her stuff. Watch where you’re going? You’re the one that pushed her down! And as usual, no one helped, this school is really rotten. He spared me one last glance before He walked away but I ignored him and went to help her.”Asshole” I muttered quietly as I was helping her in gathering her books. She murmured something under her breath as a reply but I couldn’t hear it.”What?”I asked, trying to get her to repeat it.”Thank you, for your help ...” She repeated in a quiet voice averting my gaze, she really is not sociable. “No problem, Hope. “She gathered her stuff and walked away without saying a thing but I was able to see the faint smile that graced her face even though it didn’t last for long, it made her cuter, wow get it together Marcel! You’re losing it,Focus on the subject at hand, looks like I’m making progress. I followed behind to Class and entered and took my seat in the back row. “Good morning Class “Greeted the cheerful Mrs. Harper our history teacher and everyone greeted her back. “Open your books on page 32, we’re gonna start with our lesson about world war I. “Great, an hour talking about genocides and useless fighting, I’m out. I zoned out and let her carry on with her lesson.”Mr. Jensen!” I was snapped out of my thoughts by the teacher’s voice who was calling my name and clearly not with a happy tone. Crap! I zoned out, she won’t let it go. “Yes, Mrs.?” I replied trying to pretend like I wasn’t asleep but failed when her face hardened and the rest of the class sMarcelered. “Can you tell me how long World War One lasted? “She asked me expecting me to stumble and not be able to answer, well everyone did but…”It lasted for 4 years. “To everyone’s surprise, I answered simply. The teacher seemed to be in a daze before she snapped out of it “That is correct, and can you tell me from when to when? “Is she expecting me to get it wrong and embarrass me in front of everyone or something? All to prove her point or to get back at me for ignoring her lesson. Nevertheless…”From 1914 to 1918.”I’m quite familiar with history. She was about to speak again but I cut her off “The agreement of Versay 1919.”Once again she looked in a daze with the look that said ‘How did he know the question I was going to ask?’ “Is that it?” that seemed to snap her out of her thoughts “Yes, very good Mr. Jensen…Let’s carry on with the lesson.”

With that, the lesson carried on and I was about to zone out again “Didn’t know you were good at history.” I turned to Hope who seemed to snap me out of my thoughts. I was not expecting her to talk to me all of a sudden. “You weren’t expecting me to talk to you?” Damn it! I space it out again “Is it that obvious?” I replied trying to hide my embarrassment.”Yeah, you tend to space out and now you’re embarrassed but you think that you’re hiding it very well, it kind of makes you look like an idiot. “She replied plainly, '' Great, I got roasted by the lone wolf of the class. “Shut up. “I said in a high-pitched voice which made her smirk in victory. After the class was over it was time for launch, unlike last time people didn’t approach me, probably because they were afraid of Blake.”Hey Marcel, you wanna join us to launch?” Asked Anna with a hopeful tone, she looks like she’s still ashamed of last time, maybe I’m too hard on her. She still didn’t help. “Sorry, I have other plans. “I replied, rejecting her offer. “OH, it’s okay, I’ll see you later.” She said quietly, disappointment and sadness evident in her voice. I might’ve been rude but she has to change.”Hey Hope, wanna join me for lunch?” I turned to her, she was about to leave but I spoke again” Come on, I get it you don’t trust me but I’m not like that idiot.”She seemed reluctant but she nodded her head in agreement. “Great, let’s go before the break is over” I started heading to the cafeteria and she followed after me. As always the place was quietly packed and people were giving me surprised looks, I guess walking with Hope makes me an open target for Blake and his ‘entourage’, but I paid it no mind. After launch, we headed back to the classroom. While we were walking, Hope was quiet the whole time. How can I do it? How can I get her to be more sociable, to open up more? But I was forced out of my train of thoughts when I held my hand behind my head to catch a punch from Blake who was trying to attack me from the back.

“Nice reflexes. “He complimented me but I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him right now. “What’s the big idea?!” I asked in an irritated voice, he didn’t appreciate my tone but he kept his composure and put a fake smile on his face “There’s no need to be hostile; I just wanted to hang out with my friend.”

This bastard, does he think I’m stupid or what? Who does he think is fooling with that fake smile?

“Do you try to attack all your friends from behind?” He laughed for a bit before he answered” No, it was just a joke, to test you and I gotta say you got great potential.” I really hate pretentious snobs; acting like everyone should be grateful to walk on the same ground as them, and this guy is the worst kind, the control freak manipulative one. “Let’s just go Marcel.” Hope tried to drag me away from there, probably not wanting me to get in trouble,” No one is talking to you!” He yelled as he pushed her down. “Hope!” I quickly rushed to her “I’m fine, let’s just go.” Why are you pretending to be fine? Quit being concerned about others! Worry about yourself first! ” Why do you still even come here? Don’t you get it when no one cares about you? No one wants you…you Worthless pest!” She flinched under his tone; his words seemed to have struck a nerve in her. She didn’t even move when he tried to hit her but I caught his arm in my grip, this time too tight that he winced in pain “Let go of me!” He yelled trying to free his arm from my grip. But I wasn’t paying attention to him, his words even though they weren’t meant for me, struck a nerve in me too” What did you just say?!” I whispered in a dangerous tone. He was about to speak, probably was gonna say something stupid but my glare was enough to shut him up. ‘You good for nothing burden!’ His words rang through my head . ‘you worthless pest!’. ”All of you!” I said as I got up and my grip tightened. His words brought only one thought, Just like that bastard ‘you worthless pest!’ I did something that I hadn’t done in a long time, I snapped. “You call us things like worthless, pest, and burden! You all think that you can control us!” Everyone was staring at me in surprise, some even in fear including Blake and his friends that tried to back away but my glare held them in their place. “I’ll show you what happens when you try to hurt me or those close to me!” I said in a threatening tone as I started approaching them slowly. I didn’t even look at Hope who was stunned herself, stuck in her own thoughts.

(Narrator pov)

‘What is this? What is happening? Is that Marcel? No, something is off, it’s like a switch has been pulled on, he’s like a whole other person!’ She was looking at him with wide eyes unable to comprehend what was going on in front of her but one thought was plaguing her mind. ‘He’s terrifying! Just like…just like…’ an image of an older man that she was very familiar with came to her mind.’ Just like him!’

She was visibly shaking, why did he remind her of the worst man that she has ever known? The major reason behind her suffering. She couldn’t help but watch as he started approaching Blake and his friends in slow steps. “Stop screwing with us!” one of them attacked him with a right hook but he caught it and slammed the guy’s head on the closet, he passed out and fell on the ground. The other three were surprised but one of them snapped out of it and attacked him head-on with a left hook only to be dodged and kneed in the stomach making him spit saliva and fall. The other wanted to run away but he was afraid that Blake would do something to him, so he followed his friends only to be punched in the face with a right followed by a back kick to the face knocking him down.

And just like that, Blake’s entourage was taken down. To say that everyone was shocked would be an understatement, including Blake himself. Not only did someone stand up to him and his friends, but he was also able to take down his friends within a minute.’ You’re kidding me? right ?’ He thought in surprise but it soon turned to fear when Marcel looked at him murderously” You’re up next !” said Marcel in a dangerous tone before his eyes reverted to a blank state .”Get away from me!” Shouted Blake as he started backing away but to no avail, Marcel just kept walking toward him in very slow steps which made Blake even more scared.”Screw you!” He yelled and attacked Marcel head-on with a sloppy punch, but Marcel was unfazed and grabbed his hand with no effort, now Blake knew he really shouldn’t have done that. He tried to free his grip but Marcel tightened his grip and it was too strong for him.

“ You seemed to enjoy yourself when you hurt people with this hand.” commented Marcel in a calm yet dangerous tone as his grip tightened even more making Blake struggle to stand up until he gave in and fell on his knees.” Say, how many bones are there in the human body?” To most people, that question made no sense, but some got an idea about what he was implying and horror was evident on their faces.``Huh? What is blabbering about ?” Blake was confused but he was alarmed, he felt that Marcel didn’t ask him that question because he genuinely wanted to know, a shiver went down his spine, he knew...this wasn’t going to end well for him.”No answer ?” He sighed before he continued.”I guess I’ll just find out ...Let’s start counting!”

“You...what are you thinking?... I won’t…”But he was interrupted when Marcel snapped his wrist causing him to scream in pain and hold his broken wrist. Everyone who was watching backed away a little, unable to believe what Marcel just did he did. But he was far from over.”One…” Started Marcel as he grabbed his other wrist.”Please..don’t..I’m sorry…” Pleaded Blake but it fell on deaf ears when Marcel broke his other wrist, he let out another ear-piercing scream before he fell on the ground unable to contain all the pain he was feeling. They were all absolutely terrified, but what made it even worse is that Marcel felt absolutely nothing. He showed no reaction, no remorse, no regret, no sympathy...absolutely nothing...just a blank face.

“Two…” Continued Blake as he put his foot on Blake’s damaged body.”Please...stop...I’m begging you...I’m sorry...I’m sorry…”Begged Blake,’ This really hurt...I can’t take it anymore...please stop...someone stops him….’He thought as he looked at those who were standing there with a desperate faces, begging for help, but they all looked away.No one was coming to save him, perhaps it was karma for hurting others or maybe they were just too afraid to move.”Shut up...insect!”Growled Marcel as he pressed his foot against his rib cage.”Please...no more...no more...Ahhhh !” Another snap echoed, this time from his ribcage, making his screams even worse, everyone flinched while girls put their hands on their mouths in horror, some even started crying while others just pitied him, not even Blake deserved this, it wasn’t self-defense...This was just torture. But like any torture, Marcel got bored of playing games with his victims and his eyes narrowed at Marcel who shrieked in horror, he was sure that he saw a twisted smile creep on Marcel’s face before it was replaced with his usual blank face.”You will never hurt me or those close to me ever again!”Said Marcel as he crouched on top of Blake and readied his fist.” You’re kidding, right?”,” What is he planning to do?”, “Hasn’t he done enough?” Came the murmurs from the crowd. But to Marcel, he was not a helpless boy, he was a shadow of the man that ruined his life, of everyone that made him suffer.”You won’t take anyone from me!”Yelled Marcel as he punched him, what is he talking about? Blake didn’t talk to anyone from him! They were all confused.”Stop…” But he has punched again.” No more …” He just kept punching him.”No more…” Mumbled Marcel With a punch every time he said it.” At this rate, he’ll really kill him!”, “ Someone stop him!”, “ Does he feel nothing? Is he a monster or what?” The crowd was absolutely horrified, some looked in horror, some covered their mouth, others looked away, some were even throwing up disgusted by the bloody scene.

Hope was another story, she knew that Blake deserved the beating but still it was going overboard.

‘And what’s with the sudden change of behavior? And the blank look? Why did he mean by saying you won’t take anyone from me? He just met Blake! And who are those that control him ?’ Wondered Hope, more questions with no answers, she just kept watching while her mind was somewhere else.

Blake was beaten to a pulp, two broken arms and a broken rib, broken nose, and jaw. If he takes more, he’ll really die. “You’ll die here.” Said Marcel as he readied his fist for one last killing punch, but before it connected, his hand was grabbed from behind.”Why did you stop me!” Whispered Marcel in a monotone voice without turning his head but no response came.’Who dares interrupt me! Who would interrupt me from getting my justice!’ Thought Marcel angrily, still no response. Marcel turned around, his blank face replaced with that of a killer. But he was surprised to find Aaron looking at him with a blank stare.

“What are you doing? Let go of me...he’s the one responsible for everything...I lost everything because of him…” Yelled Marcel trying to free his grip, but Aaron was unfazed, he just stared at him.

“Look around you...What do you see ?” Asked Aaron, Marcel turned around expecting to see the person who caused him pain, but he was shocked when he saw Blake’s friends laying around unconscious, and Blake beat to a bloody pulp.” Do you see an enemy? “ He didn’t understand the question but as he looked down, he was horrified to see blood on his hands, and images of what happened started coming to him.”Did...I...do...this ?” He asked in a trembling voice.``He doesn’t remember ?”, “Don’t be stupid, he’s just acting!”, “ Yeah, you’re right.” Again, it was the crowd but Marcel wasn’t hearing any of it.” Yes, you did it.” Came the harsh truth that crushed down the faint hope he had that somehow he was innocent. He started shaking uncontrollably as he stared at his bloody hands, knowing that it wasn’t his own blood, he just felt regret, dread, disgust, and self-loath.’ What the …” The three of them said as they started to stir up. They looked around to see their friend in a horrible state.” Take him to the clinic.” Ordered Aaron which snapped them out of their daze and complied.

“ I’m sorry..sorry…” Aaron was pained to see his surrogate son in such a vulnerable state, he was probably the only one that knew what really happened with Marcel, he hoped to never see him again like this. His face softened and he put his hand on Marcel’s shoulder which seemed to calm him down.

(Marcel’s pov)

I’m the one who did this, again I lost my senses! How can I lose it again, I ended up hurting others! They’re all looking at me like I’m a monster now! “ The show is over, everyone back in class! This is not a circus !” Ordered Uncle Aaron, the crowd started to disperse each of them giving me a certain look before they left. I turned around to see Hope still looking at me, but with an unreadable expression, it doesn’t matter...she must feel like them too.

“ You two, come with me...I need to talk to you.” I just nodded slowly and got up. I glanced one last time before I followed after Uncle Aaron with Hope trailing behind me. We entered the office and sat on the chair across from him. He put his elbows on the desk and rested his chin on his two fists.” So, why don’t you tell me exactly what happened ?.” I was about to answer before he put his hand in front of me, cutting me off.”I mean her.” He pointed at Hope, oh boy, I’m screwed.

She looked at me before she nodded hesitantly and started telling him everything that happened from her point of vue. Surprisingly, her voice didn’t tremble and stayed perfectly calm telling everything I did, she might be the only one who thinks Blake had it coming.

After she was done, Uncle Aaron remained silent for a few moments letting everything sink in and trying to find out what to do. Knowing him, he probably wants to let me off the hook, but with so many witnesses and the fact that this school is totally against violence, his hands are tight.

“ Okay...Marcel let me ask you this.” He spoke again as he looked at me.” Why did you do what you did?” He asked, he might be trying to get me out of it but still everything I say will be used against me and he’s my guardian, I can’t cause him any trouble. So I said what I thought was right.”I did it because he deserved it, he was bullying Hope.” The truth, the only thing I can think of. He nodded at me, “ I see, so you protected her? “ He asked, which surprised me. He's really good at this. I tend to forget that Uncle Aaron always has a way out despite the seriousness of the situation.”Yes, I did.”

I went along with his plan, he nodded again before he continued.” When I found you, you were as stunned and horrified as everyone else there, you asked ‘ Did I do this ‘ and started shaking, kept apologizing. I’m confused, did you not remember what happened?” What does that have to do with...Oh, I see, so that’s your plan, not bad Uncle Aaron.” That’s right, I snapped, all I saw was black, not Blake or the other students, It was like something took over me.” Jackbot, his face lit up after he heard my answer, it seems he figured it out.” I see, I heard everything I needed to hear. What you said seems to go with Hope’s testimony, you were out of it and I saw that myself. But still, it doesn’t change that what you did was a crime of violence, but given your condition, you will recommend that you visit a therapist, the school will provide her services along with a week of detention, you’re dismissed.” He finished with a smile on his face, I underestimated you, Uncle Aaron, you’re a genius. I’m really impressed.

When we were done, it was already late.” Wanna walk home?” I asked Hope, ``I dragged her into this, the last thing I can do is walk her home, it’s not safe for her at this hour.” Yeah, I really appreciate that, thank you.” Why is she thanking me?” I’m just walking you home...there’s no need…”

“ No, I mean thank you for everything you did.” She replied with a smile on her face.``I'm really happy I got her to smile.” Sure, anytime...let’s get going.” We headed home, she was in the same direction as my house. On the way, we talked about small things, what it was like to live in England, to start a new life in America. “ Do you live at home with her parents? “ She asked, damn it! I didn't expect her to ask me about my parents. I can’t answer her, but how do I do it without being rude.I was about to answer when she interrupted.” We’re here...Thank you for walking me.”

I was about to answer when the door suddenly opened revealing an older man in his late thirties wearing a pair of boxers and holding a cigarette in his left hand.” What took you so long?” He asked, seeming like he cared about her, but I heard the venom in his voice. “ I...I…” She started trembling, her hands were shaking uncontrollably, her breath hitching and she was averting her gaze.

A gust of wind came and her sleeves went up revealing various bruises and scratches on her hand, certainly not self-inflicted or by accident. The way she’s behaving, her shyness, loneliness...All of it..it was all your fault, wasn’t it! I I glared murderously at him with gritted teeth, he didn’t like it and I can see that he was trying to intimidate me, but it didn’t work. He looked down on me.”Come on, let's go inside!” He ordered, she was hesitant before he pulled her in by force and slammed the door.

How wasn’t I able to see it before? The way she’s behaving in school, it was like me when I was a kid! And the bruises, how was I so blind? I’m sorry Hope for not noticing sooner, but I did and I finally understand now. I won’t let this go any longer now, I swear Hope, I will save you!

Chapter 3 : Sweet dreams