Chapter 13: Pay Attention, Tyler
(TYLER)
I stare at the cell in my hand as I feel its weight, and a thought creeps in. Sasha thinks I'm on his palm just like this phone is in mine. Does he though? Probably. I take it he doesn't like getting nos for an answer. Of that, I was certain, considering how pissed off he was when I didn't jump at the chance when he offered it to me.
Serves him right.
Shouting and screaming from outside distract me from my thoughts, and I crawl to the flap to take a peek. The encampment is swarming with cops. I'm in utter shock as I watch them tear down tents and beat up people with batons. I glance sideways and notice two of them heading towards my tent, eyes cold and calculating, and I scramble to get out.
The city sent cops to wipe out our camps often. But it has been long since they last did. It hadn't happened in months and I was starting to think that they no longer cared that we were living here. But as it seems, I was wrong about that too. So, I leap and run, fear slithering through me.
But even that is of no use. One of the cops runs fast behind me and as he advances, he raises his baton. My hands go up instinctively as I try to shield my head from the impact, but the baton slams into my hack with such force that sends me flailing to the ground. The other one joins in and begins to whack my arms and legs.
The baton slams into my thigh, making me scream in agony. "Fuck you." I hiss as I kick at the cop, and my slight connection only earns me another terrorizing whack to my shoulder. I'm in pain, terrible pain and I'm only hoping that slob didn't break a bone. I spread my palms to the ground and try to drag myself away, but the man grabs a hold of my shirt and drags me backward.
He lets go of me with a hard shove and I fall to the ground. I am wheezing and groaning in pain, not that they care. The burly one perches beside me and grins at me wolfishly before slapping me. "Hey, Tyler, listen up."
"Fuck off," I yell at him despite the ringing I'm now feeling in my ears.