The Last of Them

r way to the park, their sanctuary. The swings creaked sof

sunny sky as the first hints of dusk settled over the town. "Do

ned. "Af

nd them. "This town. Our l

. We'll go to college, live in some crappy apartme

d. "Sounds l

happen." Dev nudged his shoulder. "

d to him.

. "Like leaving. For r

ight?, I thought we were

y place, my dad doesn't w

a deep sigh. "So what do you suppose we

from my house. Money, clothes, whateve

ed. "Dev, ar

ng dirt off his jeans. "We can't keep wa

nce between them. Devan could s

e are in this togethe

p, then slowly

patted Cole's shoulder. "Stay her

***

rt pounded, not just from running but from the i

closer, he h

t door. Inside, his father's voice boome

n this house!" one of his

her shot back. "You thin

t Helen cried. "An

stering the fight happening around her. Dev's mother was diagnosed with cancer. It kept his Father working very hard s

said, her voice shaking wit

ched his fists

garet, do you think I li

s, and that's it" Ma

Dev slip into h

Bills were stacked carelessly inside, emergency money, probably. Dev

backpack from his room, an

at the park, exactly

?" Cole asked as De

We're

well,

t a shiver do

a

is gang, Dan, Eli, Ian and Chou, stepping

nsed be

dripping from every step. "Where

damn busines

business. See, you embarrassed me back at

Cole said, his v

d's looking for you. Bet he'll be real happy

face we

should let him know wher

ack, leave us alone" Dev sai

? You two gonna run away toget

and Eli grinned. Only Ch

k away,"

ffed. "O

was

lu

erupted i

swinging. Jack fought back, shoving

, slamming him into a sho

tting whoever was

He tackled Ian, knock

were too m

hed in the stomach so har

away, but Dan grabbed h

of this!"

oing to stay out of it. He swung at

, turned his

hove

a

foot

flailed f

th

ening

le

d, his head against a rusted met

dy m

y bre

Dan wh

forward, eyes w

s knees, his brea

espo

p," Dev pleaded, shaking hi

e didn'

siren snapping the b

ror creeping into his expr

"Yeah, man. We need

oice cracked. "W

d his arm.

like that

g Dev

h C

of sirens gr

he boys they saw running away invited them there. Two office

ling. "It wasn't me!" he choked out. "It wa

e. He exchanged a glance with his partner, then

orld sh

not too long." Dev crawled forward, grabbing Cole's

icer said gent

ldn't b

stepped forward. "

im!, He pushed him. They came, they attacked us and then th

one of them reached for his radio.

widened.

g pulled to his feet, his hands yanked behind

!" Dev struggled. "Yo

***

arrested. But Jack's

y, everythi

at Sealed

of the long metal table, playing the role of the shaken witness. Dan and Eli sat beside him, their hands folded, express

hands clenched into fists beneath the

out to destr

s about t

sions neutral but firm. One of them, a tall

"We need to know exactly w

gling to find the words. "It...it was Dev," he started, his voice

ed an eyebrow. "

st passing by when we saw him and Cole fighting. It was bad. Dev was

ut in, shaking his head. "It

de was always a little unstable, righ

d. "So you're sayi

hard, and Cole... Cole just fell." He swallowed hard, playing up the fak

"We tried to help, b

there. Like he didn't even

lance, their pens scratchi

do next?" the se

said, "We panicked.

rrested us, like we were the bad guys. You shoul

cocky remark, turning to

said. "You've been quiet.

ould feel Jack's gaze burnin

s lying, that Dev had never laid a hand on Cole, that it was J

s hand

uth, Jack would m

throat and shook his head. "No," he mu

barely noticeable

few more notes. "Alright. We'll need

sadness. "We just wa

Ian echoed t

leaned back in his chair, stretching

ed. "Dev'

t's what he gets f

way Chou almost cracked? Man,

ion darkening. "But he didn't,"

idn't

ched Dev's life

ad staye

evidence to p

. Dev was painted as a

t fight for him. Didn't argue. Didn't be

t to juveni

turned

th

al punishmen