scream, there was a hand over my mouth, and the three boys descended on me. I was so scared, even thinking about it right now sends fright through me. They threw me to the ground and said horrible things to me. Things they were going to do to me. Arthur boasted that I wanted it. That I was asking for it because I always had my eyes on him. I pleaded with them to stop, but they wouldn’t listen. Just as Justin yanked up my skirts while Arthur and Henry covered my mouth and held my arms, Justin was suddenly pulled away.
It was dark out, and tears were making my vision blurry, but I saw the silhouette of a man as he punched Justin twice before he fell to the ground and didn’t move again. Henry tried to run, but the man caught him before he could. A moment later, Henry was hunched over from a knee between his legs. Arthur still had a hold of my arms, but I was too captivated and shocked to scream or try to get away. It didn’t take much for the mysterious man to take care of Albert. Arthur let me go as soon as his friends were down on the ground, and then he rushed the man. He didn’t get very far before he was down on the ground too, holding a broken arm.
I never once took my eyes off the man, and I still couldn’t see his face properly. He stood over Arthur a moment later, his shoulders rising fast as he breathed harshly. My hands crunched against some leaves when I sat up. The man whirled around, and I whimpered when he stepped closer. I wasn’t sure if he was going to hurt me next. Or maybe do what Arthur and his friends didn’t get the chance to do. I was about to open my mouth to scream when he squatted down and spoke for the first time. He told me it was okay and that he wouldn’t hurt me. That he was only there to save me. As insane as it was, I believed him. The instant I heard his smooth voice, I felt safe.
He moved closer and a small patch of light filtering from the house illuminated his face. I instantly recognized him. He wasn’t a man. He was no older than I was, and he was the same boy I had seen several times in town. He always wore the same britches and shirt, and they never appeared clean. His face had smidgeons of dirt on it too. Even so, I was always fascinated by him. He was dirty and probably had no manners to speak of, but his looks intrigued me. Dark brown hair, light-gray eyes, a sharp chin, and prominent cheekbones. Although his clothes suggested he was homeless, his good genes said otherwise. I don’t know why, but when he offered his hand to help me up, I accepted it. The tingles started in my palm and worked their way up my arm. His name is Jack, and he is indeed my age. I knew this because we spent an hour outside talking.
I sigh, letting the breath I had been holding out slowly. Remembering my own experience years ago with Jensen and Mark has shivers racing down my spine. I was terrified, despite telling Lincoln I was okay, so I know how frightened Anna must have been. Thank goodness the boy, Jack, was there to save her and not do her even more harm.
After taking a sip of my luke-warm coffee, I decide to read one more entry before starting on lunch for the kids and Lincoln.
I saw Jack again today when my parents and I were in town shopping. He was sitting on the street corner with his hand buried in the scruff of the mangy looking dog lying beside him. He didn’t notice me at first, so as my parents were browsing a street vendor, I took a moment to look over him. His dark hair looked cleaner than I had ever seen it, but it still didn’t look brushed. And his clothes appeared to have been recently washed. His head was leaned back against the brick building, his eyes closed, and one of his legs was bent, his arm resting over his knee.
I was amazed at how muscular his arm appeared, given he was only sixteen, and wondered why. How hard was his life for his body to already be so strong