Violence Begets... Read Online Free PDF Page A

mind started swimming.
“Let’s forget it. Come on. Jeremy, how’s that science class with Barney? I have
him next semester,” Kevin said as he started walking down the street, dropping the
intimidating attitude almost immediately. I was on edge waiting for him to freak
out on me again, but he continued like nothing had happened so I  convinced myself
that I’d imagined his threat.
    To reassure myself of this, I put on
the best show I could and tried to join the conversation. “So how’d you come up
with the name Zarahemla?” I asked as casually as I could, hoping my voice didn’t
betray my nerves.
    “It’s the name of a place in the Book
of Mormon ,” Mike replied. Kevin looked right at me, but I couldn’t tell what
he was thinking.
    “The what?” I asked, completely unnerved.
    “ Book of Mormon . It’s a book
like the Bible, but it’s for the Mormons.” Brett actually sounded like he didn’t
hate me. Maybe he was taking pity on me and my swollen eyes.
    “It’s our own little holy land,” Jeremy
laughed.
    “So, you guys Mormon or something?”
Things felt like they were getting easier.
    “It’s Utah, we’re all Mormon,” Mike
laughed.
    “Not so fast. I’m not,” Jeremy protested.
    “Do you actually go to church and all
that?”
    “I do. My father insists,” Kevin said
evenly, slipping back into his normal nonchalant-but-edgy mood.
    After following an alleyway—well, as
much of a secluded road as you get in the ritzy suburbs of Salt Lake City—the place
they called Zarahemla appeared. It looked like an old horse barn, obviously deserted
and trashed.
    “Sit.” Kevin motioned me to a cinderblock
as they each settled on other left-behind remnants. Kevin perched himself on what
appeared to be the remains of an old wall. He leaned back against another adjoining
wall, and I noticed that it immediately gave him higher ground, almost a regal setting.
    “So, I have a treat for you guys tonight,”
Kevin said, setting his backpack between his legs and unzipping it. He pulled out
a bottle of what looked like dirty water and a six-pack of beer.
    “Where’d you get that?” Mike asked excitedly.
    “I have my ways. Here, Jeremy, why don’t
you do the honors? You’ve been quiet tonight and I think you need something to loosen
you up,” Kevin said, tossing him a beer.
    “I’m not really sure, Kev. I have a
test tomorrow.” Jeremy had an edge to him with everyone else, but when face-to-face
with Kevin he acted like a scared puppy. The uncertainty in his voice threw me.
    “What, afraid of the calories or something?”
Kevin said, laughing as Jeremy turned red. I couldn’t help laughing until Kevin
turned to me and tossed the water bottle.
    “As my guest, you can do the honors,”
he smiled. I wasn’t about to piss him off again, so I pulled open the top with my
teeth and squeezed a bunch in my mouth. The second it hit my throat my gag reflex
pushed it right back out and I spit it all over the ground.
    “What the…? It tastes like rubbing alcohol,”
I coughed. Everyone was laughing at me and I felt myself turning red like Jeremy
had. I was blowing it. “I’d like to see you take a swig of this. It’s disgusting.”
I nearly threw the bottle at Brett, who was almost in tears laughing at me.
    “It’s not supposed to taste good, you
idiot.” He put the bottle in his mouth and took a long drink. “Sweet Lord! That’s
brutal,” he said, grinning as he handed the bottle to Mike.
    “Not up for the beer?" Kevin said,
bringing the attention back to Jeremy, who cracked it open and took a sip. Kevin
reached for the bottle from Mike. Both he and Brett had downed the mixture without
much problem, and I realized that none of them were new to this like I was. After
Kevin took a shot he handed it back to me.
    “Wanna try again, tough guy?” The thought
of putting that concoction back in my mouth made my stomach churn.
    “What exactly is in this?”
    “Whatever was in Jeremy’s parents’