The shrill ring of the school bell reverberated through Sam's mind piercing his ears and rushing head-long into his veins. His flushed white skin stood to attention, adrenaline pumping through his body like an electric shock being administered to the heart.

He felt as though his entire body were about to explode, the constant throbbing of his heart causing an intense pain against his skinny torso. It was almost as if he were being stabbed with a knife, each crushing blow of the imaginary silver blade digging a little deeper into his body.

He was trying frantically to control his breathing but it was virtually impossible. With every sharp in-take of breath that fell like death upon his lips the anxiety increased, each new breath growing faster and faster, his lungs struggling to keep apace with the frenzied rhythm of his heart.

A large crowd had gathered just outside the school gate, kids jostling with one another in order to find the prime location to bear witness to the fight. The street leading away from the main school building had been turned into a modern day coliseum, children shouting and screaming with nervous anticipation as Sam warily made his way through the melee and into the centre of the circle.

Whack! The fist landed on his top lip splitting it wide open, sending a river of dark crimson blood across his white school shirt. His eyes glazed over, a swell of water blurring his unstable vision. Hopelessly he tried to regain his senses but it was futile. Another blow rained down on him, his left cheek taking the full force of a right hand upon his tender face.

Down Sam went, his fragile mind left hanging in the air as his legs gave way from under him. The fall took less than a second but Sam felt as though he were falling forever, the darkness enveloping his mind, down, down, down he went.

The ice cold concrete pressed against his face, somehow it felt strangely soothing, the ground transformed into an ice-pack pressed firmly against his swelling cheek, preventing him from falling any further.

Trying to gather his thoughts was proving an effort, he felt like one of those cartoon characters who has just been punched, the stars visible above their heads, whirling around in a circle of disorientation.

Dazed and confused Sam lay waiting for the final insult, for the victor to rain down on him a final flurry of blows. They never came.

Suddenly the crowd dispersed, fleeing in all directions, the stomping of children's feet echoing through Sam's mind.

A large shadowy figure stood over him, stretching out a hand that Sam took as an olive branch. He grabbed at it in desperation, gradually pulling himself up until he was back on his own two feet.

Never before had Sam been so glad to see the Headmaster.

Want to comment on this Short Stories? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Short Stories and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...