Zenon's Game Chapter 103

"How much money do you have?" one of the gang members asked.

They were deciding what to do.  They had been on their way somewhere, before getting distracted by Bryce's fancy car. Now they could see the boys wouldn't go down easy.

"Nothing," Layton answered, "There's only one rich boy here and you can have him."

"Hey!" Bryce yelled, clutching his bloody nose.

Layton unbuckled his belt. He pulled it off, wrapped his belt once around his hand and used it as a whip.  "What? We aren't friends."

Zenon rolled up his sleeves, "You're about to be brothers now."

Zenon swung a ferocious punch at the leader and knocked him out cold. He'd targeted the decision maker to cause confusion and gain a momentary element of surprise.  They were outnumbered after all.  

"What the- where d'you-"

"He boxes in his spare time," Bryce said gleefully, dodging a right hook.

"Take the necklace! They have a necklace!" the boys from the bike called out, "And the car!"

The attacks got more intense and the blows were heavy set.  Despite being outnumbered, the fight was even-matched.  Damage was being done on both sides.

Axel ran into the fight, yelling, "I'm here!"

The Laughing Heads bar was not far away and he'd been sprinting for the last five minutes straight.

"Only you? You didn't bring backup?"

"I am the backup."

The fight submerged him.  It was still two-to-one but the gang was armed.  Layton' friend got sliced by a knife on his right arm and Bryce was being kicked to a pulp by his car.  Axel was dodging as much as he could, but getting tired quickly. 

Layton had three boys on him, fighting to take him and his whip down.

And suddenly, shining against the dark street, were blinding taillights. Motorbikes appeared under a deafening roar.  It got everyone's attention.  And there, sitting in the back secret of the leading bike, was Candace.

*Candace's POV*

Sometimes, when you walk in on a devastating scene – when you see the boy you love bloodied up and his best friend lying on the cold pavement – things begin to move in slow motion.

The deafening sound of the motorbikes faded into the background. The screaming became a shrill melody that I overlooked.

My vision could only see those I loved. Their pain and my hope to rescue them.

My little hope.

I felt the gambler's men push past me and rush to break up the fight. The gambler sat me on his bike and yelled in my face not to move. I could barely process what he was saying. My eyes were on Zenon.

"Go go go go go," one of the gang members yelled when the bikers took on those closest to Axel.

Axel was rescued and pushed out of the fight. The attackers surrounding Layton began to flee, knowing the bikers would go for them next. The fight escalated in intensity since the bikers brandished their own weapons.

Zenon and Bryce were the furthest away.

In the scramble that followed, one of the gang grabbed a semi-conscious Bryce and pulled him up by the scruff of his shirt. "Give us the necklace and we'll leave."

He held a knife to his neck. Bryce felt the cold metal pressing against his skin. The biker-rescuers were furthest away from them. They wouldn't get here in the next few minutes.

"He doesn't have it," Zenon said, loudly even though he was being wrestled back, "I do."

Bryce's eyes rolled, but he couldn't get the words out. Zenon didn't have the necklace; he was just protecting him. 

The knife released the pressure from his neck and drops of blood leaked out of a shallow cut. The gang members cornered Zenon now. Bryce tried to see what was happening, but they blocked his view. He could only hear the threats.

"He's trying to help me," Bryce called out.

His mind was racing back and forth: let Zenon take the fall or go down with him? It's hard to be brave. In a painful, life-threatening situation, the easiest option is to stay quiet.

The necklace was the last attempt the gang members had of leaving this street fight with something. They hadn't stolen the car and only Bryce carried cash, which they had taken out of his wallet. This necklace could be pawned off for a good amount.

"He doesn't have the necklace," Bryce repeated, "I do."

With bruised hands, Bryce reached into his pocket and pulled out the silver jewelry. The gang members turned around, but before they could grab it from him, he said.

"And you're not touchin' it."

He raised his hand and yelled, "Catch!"

Bryce threw it into the air, aiming towards the only person free in this entire mess. The only person sitting on a bike, away from any danger.

Candace.

"CATCH!"

Candace's face turned into one of absolute horror as she realized she was expected to do something athletic.

Surrounded by his attackers, Zenon sighed, "Oh, we're f*cked now." 

Candace had neverin her life caught anything. She knew that, he knew that. Why didn't Bryce know that?

Some of the gang who could break free from the bikers ran towards her. She jumped off the bike, running around in circles.

"Hands together, knees bent," she whispered, remembering the words of advice she had received as she stared up at the shiny piece of jewelry flying against the night sky like a shooting star.

"Stay calm... stay calm," she repeated, losing her calm, "STAY CALM!"

Plop.

The necklace landed with a firm plop into her hands. Her fingers curled across the cold metal, as she stared incredulously at what had happened.