Necessary Evil Chapter 4

CW// Homophobia, transphobia, violence, brief implied racism, gross teenage boys, strong language

February 24th, 20XX

Those assholes are getting Stalker mixed up with them. I don’t think he’s realised that it’s a trap. Poor Stalks… I tried to stop him, but Rager thinks this could be an opportunity to mess with the Narrows. It would be fun to give them a taste of their own medicine, but I really don’t like the idea of using Stalker as bait, at all.

“Yo, Rager!” Theo called. Ceres ran over to stand beside him. “You see Stalker on your way here?” He asked. Ceres thought, before shaking her head.

“Nope, don’t think so.” she replied.

“I brought him some clothes.” Theo explained. “Just in case his dad pulls another stunt like the other day.”

For now, the two just hung out in their usual spot, outside the second floor boys’ bathroom.

“I saw Dad yesterday. He was.. fuckin’ exhausted.” Ceres said, a frown threatening to slip on her face. “I tried to do what you ‘n Stalks said, ‘n helped him out ‘round the house. I just feel like it ain’t enough.” words turned to soft cries, and Theo quickly wrapped his arms around Ceres.

“I know. It’s okay to cry. I promise things’ll get better.” Theo whispered, a gentle hand rubbing soothing circles over Ceres’ back. “How’s Jennifer and the boys been?” Theo asked, in an attempt to take Ceres’ mind off of her troubles.

“She’s alright. I don’t talk to her much, though. Ben and Isaac keep tryna’ get me to go hikin’ with ‘em.” Ceres replied quietly. “‘N Brodie don’t really talk to me.”

“Well hiking sounds fun. It could help you get to know them better too.” Theo suggested. Ceres shook her head, a groan rumbling through her throat.

“I’m fine without ‘em.” she grumbled. 

Theo couldn’t help but sigh. He wouldn’t say it out loud, but Ceres needed to learn to depend on people. She was always so insistent on doing things alone, and it hurt both Theo and Ghost to see her struggle to keep herself afloat, while refusing help from anyone and everyone.

Ghost turned the corner. He came to sit beside the other two. His face was paler than usual, his breaths shallow and short. Rager and Chaser quickly turned their focus to Stalker.

“Worried about later?” Rager asked. Stalker nodded. Rager nodded back, scooting closer and placing her hands on Stalker’s shoulders. “Thought so. Look me in the eyes, Stalks. It’s gonna be fine, yer’ gonna be fine. I promise. If the Narrows say or do anything’ mean or dumb, we can just laugh at ‘em for it later. Okay? But I don’t think that’ll happen. Now breathe with me.” She instructed, before guiding Stalker through deep breaths to regulate his breathing. Chaser rubbed Stalker’s shoulder, an attempt at comforting his friend. Soon, Stalker was calm. The trio relaxed, and hung you in their usual spot, before the bell rang, signalling their first class.

While the day seemed to pass like usual for Ceres and Theo, it felt like it had dragged on for eternity to Ghost. He couldn’t seem to get rid of the anxious sick feeling in his stomach, either. Once the final bell rang, Ghost met with the others.

“I’m terrified!” He whined.

“Stalks, you don’t have to go.” Chaser said. Stalker was conflicted. He hummed, but before he could speak again, a pair of arms wrapped around one of his.

“Ghooost! You ready to go?” Came a sweet voice. Cassy. Stalker was speechless. His mouth hung open, before he nodded. Rager and Chaser both internally facepalmed at Stalker’s behaviour. Cassy led Ghost away, to join her group of friends.

“... You wanna follow them and see what happens?” Theo asked, a harsh glare in his eyes.

“Fuck yeah.” Ceres replied.

The air was bitter, which led to the group of teens starting a fire in a clearing at Narrow Peak, a usual hangout spot for teenagers. They all sat around the dancing flame, Cassy keeping a comforting hand in Ghost’s. Ghost could practically hear his racing heart over the sound of the chatting group and crackling flames. Thomas and Claire were practically attached to each other by the lips, while Kevin, Mark and Cassy chatted. Sevena sat texting, silent. Ghost stayed quiet, not even sure what to say to any of the group members. They looked over at Sevena,

“Um.. hi.” Ghost said with uncertainty. Sevena gave a small glance in his direction, before looking back down at her phone. “Your coat is really nice.” He commented, looking at the thick white fur coat the girl wore.

“I know.” Was her only reply, this time not even looking away from the screen.

‘Okay, good talk.’ Ghost thought to himself.

“Why don’t we play a game? Like truth or dare, or never have I ever?”

“That’s so cliché, Cassy.” Kevin laughed, but ultimately agreed, as did the rest of the group.

And so the game began.

Theo and Ceres were sat a fair distance away, though still hearing the voices of the other group.

“I’m worried about him, Rager.” Theo said with a sigh as he attempted to look through the trees and catch a glimpse of the group. “As nice as she’s been to him… I think she’s up to something.”

“Who, Cassy?”

“Mhm… I don’t trust her. She can’t be friends with those types of people.. and still be all nice and friendly.”

“Ah.. point.”

“Mark! Truth or dare?” Cassy asked. The boy smirked.

“Truth.” He replied.

“Give your honest opinions on everyone in this group.” Ghost internally winced. He couldn’t help but dread hearing what Mark would say about him.

“Easy. Cass: too nice, probably secretly a cult leader, Claire: nice tits, my favourite bitch, Thomas: you need to talk more, dude, Kev: you’re too much of a smartass for me to understand, Sev: … cute, for a-”

“Choose your next words wisely, Levin.” Sevena said, a sharp look aimed at Mark. He scoffed, raising his hands defensively,

“Don’t be a bitch! I was gonna say-.. for a.. rich girl.” Mark finished, though his pauses implied that that was not really his original answer. Sevena’s eyes returned to her phone, responding with only a scoff.

His eyes fell onto Ghost, and it was at that moment that Ghost wished they could curl up into a ball and disappear. “And you…” his gaze lowered, from Ghost’s face, to his chest. “Nice tits on you, too.”

Ghost hated life.

“How did you manage to offend all of us in one go?” Cassy asked with a laugh. Ghost folded his arms over his chest, bringing his knees upwards too to cover more of himself. Cassy noticed, and shook her head down at Ghost. “Don’t listen to him. He thinks with his dick.” she said as she wrapped a comforting arm around Ghost. He looked up into Cassy’s eyes, and seemed to just block out the rest of the group, as all he could focus on in this moment was her smile. He stopped paying attention to them, his heart beginning to race as the eye contact between himself and the blonde became intense. The space between their faces got smaller, as Cassy whispered with a small giggle,

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Um.. I.. don’t know..” Ghost replied, in more of a squeak than a whisper,

“What.. do you wanna kiss me or something?” Cassy asked. Ghost’s heart practically came out of his chest as his eyes widened. It took them a moment to process what Cassy had just said, and in response, Ghost nodded.

“Yeah…”

And that was when the world came crashing down around Ghost. Laughter consumed the group, as Cassy shoved Ghost backwards by his shoulder. Her smile had twisted from one of gentle kindness, to a devious grin.

“That’s disgusting! What, do you think I’m a lesbian or something?” She asked, the others continuing to roar with laughter. Ghost turned to look at the rest of the group, and his face paled a shade to see a phone camera pointed in his direction. Kevin seemed to have been watching the entire interaction through it. The quietest of the group were Sevena and Thomas, Sevena simply giggling at her friends’ cruelty, and Thomas only glaring at Ghost with… disgust? 

“Really, how can you expect anyone to think of you as a boy when you show up to school like this?” Kevin asked, turning his phone to Ghost to reveal a photo of Ghost from a few days prior, when he had been forced to come to school in a dress. Ghost could feel his lungs failing him, his stomach turning, his entire body feeling as though his skin ached to be pulled from the muscle beneath. Ghost got up from his spot, tears stinging at his eyes as he staggered away from the group, whose laughter only became more unhinged, calling out to him mockingly,

“C’mon! Don’t be such a baby!”

“Awh! You gonna go cry?”

Theo and Ceres’ eyes were wide. They heard the laughter, but couldn’t at all make out Ghost’s voice amongst it. The two had caught one word, lesbian. They shared knowing, and extremely worried, glances. When they heard the group’s taunting, they felt their blood begin to boil. As Ghost walked down the path, Theo couldn’t restrain himself from trying to follow him, to comfort his friend. 

With the group, once the laughter settled, the game continued.

“Thomas. I dare you to…-”

“What, I don't even get a choice?” Thomas asked.

“Nope. I dare you to prank call someone.” Mark dared. Thomas clicked his tongue.

“Easy.” The blond muttered as he grabbed his phone.

Ceres kept an eye on the group for a moment longer, taking her time to cool off before she acted irrationally, though her deep breaths didn’t seem too effective. She decided she needed to get away from the group who had hurt her friend, though, had disturbed a few branches beneath her feet, catching the attention of the group member closest to where she and Theo had hidden.

She quickly moved away from the spot, hiding behind a thick tree trunk, before noticing her phone screen lighting up. A text from Theo, who had found Ghost and was comforting them.

‘They humiliated him. Kevin recorded the whole thing, too. I’m fucking pissed.’

Another message came through seconds later.

‘He has a photo of Stalks in that dress from the other day.’

Ceres felt the anger swell tenfold. She knew Kevin well. He would use this to break Ghost, to reduce him to a fearful desecration of what he is, and get Ghost to follow his every command. That blackmailing bastard…

As the boy stepped through the trees, investigating the noise he had heard with the flashlight of his phone, Ceres decided this couldn’t go unpunished. She led Kevin further away from the group with small noises, before grabbing him from behind a tree. She gripped his shirt with one hand, covering his mouth with the other.

“You bastard! What the fuck is wrong with you?” she practically growled, her teeth clenched. Despite her small stature, the girl was fierce and strong. She released Kevin’s mouth, while still keeping him held tight by his shirt.

“It’s this thing called fun. Look into it. I’m surprised you even had the balls to confront me, anyway. You know what I know, and you know what I can say. Then again… having balls seems to be your thing, doesn’t it. You have more balls than that “boy” does, anyway, right?” Kevin had a sick smirk on his face, and Rager saw red. Her eye twitched as her free hand lifted to grasp Kevin’s throat.

“I fuckin’ hate you. I promised him everything would be okay. You made me a fuckin’ liar!” she seethed, her rage bringing forth tears, as she began to aggressively slam the boy’s head into the bark behind him. This repeated, until a particularly harsh slam had knocked the boy’s glasses right off of his face. Kevin mustered the strength to shove Ceres aside, before crouching down to find his glasses. His poor vision and the dim moonlight made the task close to impossible, so the boy never could’ve even seen Ceres, view blinded with rage, approaching behind him with a large rock.

(This is the chapter where shit gets intense. Pls lemme know ur thoughts on this chapter!)