Madie Beartri

The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the rooftop of Bear Country High School as Lisa carefully unfolded the chair tucked against the wall. A gentle breeze ruffled her hair as she settled into her familiar spot, the melody of a song swirling in her mind like a delicate wisp of smoke.

Lisa wasn’t one to dwell on sadness, despite the melancholy undertones that often permeated her music. Instead, she found solace in the rhythm, the beats that pulsed through her veins and stirred something deep within her soul. Each lyric she penned was a reflection of the world around her, a testament to the highs and lows of life in Bear Country.

The rooftop had become Lisa’s sanctuary, a haven where she could lose herself in the music without the distractions of the world below. Here, amidst the tranquil expanse of the open sky, she felt free to let her thoughts and creativity flow unencumbered.

As she strummed her guitar and sang, her voice carried across the rooftop, mingling with the gentle hum of the city below. The students of Bear Country High School often gathered to listen, their smiles and applause a balm for Lisa’s weary soul. In those moments, she felt a glimmer of hope, a reminder that even in the midst of darkness, there was still light to be found.

Though she longed to mend the brokenness that plagued her community, Lisa took comfort in the small moments of connection and positivity she shared through her music. For in those moments, she knew that her songs had the power to uplift and inspire, to remind others that they were not alone in their struggles.

And so, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the stars began to twinkle overhead, Lisa continued to strum her guitar, her melodies weaving a tapestry of hope and resilience in the fading light. For even in the darkest of nights, her music would shine brightly, a beacon of light in a world filled with shadows.

In the dimly lit gymnasium of Central Bobcat High School, Xavier, known to all as The Hulk, held court on his makeshift throne, encircled by his loyal crew of goons. Their eyes were fixated on the cage fights unfolding before them, the atmosphere thick with tension and anticipation.

For Xavier and his goons, these fights weren’t just a pastime; they were a vital part of their strategy to assert dominance over the community. If Xavier harbored any hopes of extending his influence beyond the school walls, he knew his crew needed to be battle-ready at all times. And besides, there was no denying the twisted thrill they derived from watching the chaos unfold in the cage.

The sight of frightened kids being thrown into the pit, their pleas for mercy falling on deaf ears, sent a shiver of excitement down Xavier’s spine. Yet, beneath his veneer of callous indifference, Xavier was a strategic thinker. He ensured that when the stakes were high, his enemies faced off against his own crew. After all, he couldn’t afford to risk the safety of his top fighters. Building an army required strength and resilience, qualities Xavier’s crew possessed in abundance.

But amidst the adrenaline-fueled chaos of the fights, there was one figure who lingered in the shadows, the Runt slouched in the back of the cage, his small frame overshadowed by the larger children around him.

The Runt had no desire to prove his worth in the cage fights. He had spent his life avoiding confrontation, preferring to blend into the background rather than draw attention to himself. As he watched the mayhem unfold before him, a sense of dread gnawed at his insides. He prayed that he wouldn’t be chosen as the next participant, knowing all too well that he lacked the skills to survive in such a brutal arena.

For The Runt, escape was his only goal. He longed to return to the safety of Bear Country High School, far away from the violence and chaos that consumed Central Bobcat gang. The prospect of fighting in the cage was a nightmare he couldn’t bear to contemplate, a fate he would do anything to avoid. And so, as the fights raged on around him, The Runt plotted his escape, determined to break free from the shadows of the cage and reclaim his freedom.

I held a meeting with the community leaders of the larger
gangs that are allies with Bear Country. I love community meetings.
No, actually, I don’t but sometimes they are a necessity. I am not a
very good diplomat. I have trouble hiding my emotions. I always turn
a bright shade of red when I get flustered. What I hate the most is that
these meetings always end up loud and noisy. Getting everyone to
agree is always a challenge but I think we have a workable plan. All
the gang leaders have agreed that getting someone inside the Bobcat

campus is a necessity. Bear Country will have to get someone inside
but first we have to find out what kind of security the Hulk has in
place so that we can get information out once we are inside.

I went to see Tony after the meeting. He is still angry with me.
At first, he pretending to be working on something and ignored that I
was even standing in the same room. I said I was sorry and that if I
could bring back Runt I would. I said I needed his friendship. He thru
a wrench across the room (It barely missed my head) and he said I wasn’t
a very good friend. A friend is someone you can count on. Someone
you can depend on. I said, “I was dependable.” He said I wasn’t. He
said I should have kept a closer eye on Runt. Perhaps he was right. I
should have kept a closer eye on the little guy. However, honestly, I
can’t be everywhere at once. I have a great deal of responsibility. I
would have done my best to look after Runt if Tony had died. We all
would have looked after him. It’s what we do in Bear Country. We
look after each other. No one could have prevented Runt from leaving
if he wanted to leave. No one is under lock and key.
Tony went back to what ever it was he was working on and I
left the room. I said I really was sorry.

There are days and then there are days. Matt and Jonas fought
at the plaza today. It was awful. Both boys were injured. They both
had bloody lips, cuts and bruises. A couple of venders are going to
have to rebuild after Matt and Jonas crashed thru their kiosks.

It didn’t take long for a crowd to develop. People began to cheer for one or the
other. It always annoys me that people encourage fights. You would
think that the proper thing to do would be to stop the fight but not in
this town.

Any way, as the fight grew in intensity a couple of the Hulk’s goons from the Central campus arrived. They just stood back and watched. I am not surprised. The fight ended as Matt pinned Jonas to the pavement. Some words exchanged that I would rather not repeat. Then Matt released Jonas and stood up. Jonas struggled to his feet. He yelled at his brother that they were no longer brothers. I wanted to cry.

After the show, the crowd dispersed as quickly as it formed except for the Central goons. They were interested in Matt. I wasn’t close enough to hear the conversation, but Matt left with the enemy.

Jonas limped back to Bear Country. He didn’t say a lot when
he got back. I cleaned up his wounds and made him something to eat.
He didn’t eat much. I am not sure if it was because of his physical
injuries or because of the mental anguish I am sure he feels. The whole
thing was just incredibly sad. I find it hard to think about one without
the other. Matt and Jonas have always done everything together.

I have such a headache. Probably stress. The preparation for
the naming ceremony is going well. Casey is getting so excited and the
baby seems to be thriving. Casey is also doing well. Plans for the
festival also continues. We have had several responses from several of
the local gangs who wish to participate. The same gangs come year
after year. I can’t wait; we need some diversion, some fun. My brain is
tired. What else can I tell you? Oh, I know, Jonas is climbing the
walls. We still have not heard from Matt since he defected over to the
Central Bobcats. I hope he is safe and not taking any unnecessary
chances.

A message was sent to me from Matt sent a message to me. He is inside the Central campus, and it sounds as if he is doing fine. His letter read,

Madie,

Just checking in to see how everyone’s holding up, especially Jonas. Please let him know I feel bad about his eye—I lost my balance during that last scuffle. And my chin should be back to normal in a day or two.

I’ve managed to explore most of Central campus, but some areas are seriously guarded. On the bright side, tell Tony I’ve spotted the Runt; saw him earlier today. It’s rough, though—he’s enslaved. Haven’t had a chance to chat with him yet. They keep those guys under lock and key, only letting them out for work.

Pretty sure the other lost boys are around too. Wrestling’s a huge deal here; people are constantly throwing down challenges. I’ve been flying under the radar so far ’cause I’m not gunning for rank. The higher-ups get all the perks—better food, more privileges. Not my scene.

Hopefully, I’ll be back home soon.

Catch you later, Matt

So that was his letter.

Madie