The Backpack
She stood there transfixed, wondering whether a mere server was allowed to do what he was doing. The boy yelped; his face contorted as he tried fighting off the employee’s vicelike grip.
She rushed to intervene. But one of the boy’s friends reached for his backpack.
What he pulled out had everyone sprinting out of the restaurant.
Dreams VS Reality
It had been a challenging year for Emily Wright, who was only trying to make ends meet like many twenty-four-year-olds in America. She never pictured herself flipping burgers at a Burger King after college, but here she was.
She needed a way to pay the bills until she could find work as an art historian. It’s what she studied for. But after three months at Burger King, she was starting to doubt if it would ever happen.
She had no clue that the terrible end was already looming above her.
Her Fear
Emily had imagined the worst when she considered working at Burger King. The fast-food restaurants in her slice of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, didn’t have the best reputation, and she feared something terrible would happen to her if she worked there.
She’d heard of robberies gone wrong, shootings, and muggings, all happening in or around these fast-food joints.
She never imagined she’d find herself in a similar situation.
A Careful Girl
Emily had long despised conflict. Whenever she sensed chaos barreling her way, she’d speed in the opposite direction. She’d been safe so far, especially since her city ranks among the most dangerous cities in America.
She always knew when to run and had avoided many near-death experiences because of her intuition.
But this time, she wouldn’t be so lucky.
It Happens
The day the incident happened was like any other. Emily had reported to work early enough, eager to start the day, and was busily churning out burgers to keep the customers happy.
Everything was going great until three boys aged eighteen to nineteen entered the establishment.
They were loud and rowdy, staring down anyone who dared look their way.
Violence
Although Emily was older than them, she knew that such individuals were not to be messed with. They had a reputation for violence, something she never liked tangling with.
The boys sat at a booth and called over one of the servers, a quiet high school senior who had recently joined Emily’s team.
By the look on the waitress’ face, this would end badly.
Meet Trisha
The waitress, Trisha, rarely spoke to anyone in the one week she’d been around. She would check in, do her shift, and leave quietly. But one of the servers who joined alongside her was a different story.
He was chatty and as loud as the teenage boys waiting for Trisha to serve them.
Watching closely, Emily hoped nothing would go wrong.
Taking Their Orders
Trisha walked to their table with her tablet in hand. She started taking each boy’s orders, but halfway through, she walked away, seemingly shaken by something they said.
She returned to the kitchen, where the male server, Jeremy, hurried to receive her.
He talked to her briefly before turning to the boys with a venomous stare.
A Sneaking Suspicion
After taking the tablet from Trisha, Jeremy went to them and returned with their orders. “Three Big Macs, two large fries, and three Coca-Colas,” he said to Emily before going to talk to Trisha.
Emily got the orders ready and handed them to Jeremy, who gave them to Trisha. Emily couldn’t tell what had happened but suspected that Trisha knew the three boys.
What did they say to make her this upset?
They Are Bullying Her
Trisha took the food to the boys, looking away as she placed the orders on their table. They were talking to her, laughing, and pointing around.
Emily was still debating whether she should intervene. She’d seen such things happen before. Someone needs help. You go in to lend a hand and end up in more trouble than you bargained for.
To her, it wasn’t worth it.
I Told Them To Stop
Trisha finished with the boys and practically sprinted back to the kitchen. Her eyes were glossy with stemmed tears, and she seemed to be on the verge of breaking down before Emily and Jeremy.
“Did they bully you again?” Jeremy asked, rushing to her. “I told them to stop.” He turned to Emily, who was just standing there.
She thought none of this had anything to do with her when in truth, she was the one the boys were told to find.
No Stranger To Conflict
Although Emily lived a quiet life away from her city’s conflict, it didn’t mean trouble didn’t find her once in a while. The last entanglement she’d found herself in was because of her big brother, Kim, who got himself involved with some unsavory individuals through a poker game.
From what he told Emily, he owed the men a few thousand dollars, which he had trouble sourcing.
Although he promised not to get her involved, it was only a matter of time before he dragged her in.
She’s Ever Vigilant
That incident alone made Emily ever vigilant. Although she and Kim successfully paid the cash, she was always paranoid, looking over her shoulder and constantly calling her brother to ensure he was alright.
But in the last twenty-four hours, her calls went straight to voicemail. She was confident in her brother’s ability to take care for himself, so she didn’t worry much.
If only she knew what was truly happening.
The Truth About Them
Jeremy consoled Trisha until she was stable enough to explain what was happening. The boys were from her high school and always made her life at school a living hell.
They knew she, among the other kids in her school, feared them and would use that fear to rule the school with an iron fist.
Trisha thought they’d never find her at her place of work.
Irony
Listening to her story, Emily felt like she should step in. She’d faced bullies before and knew how it felt to be picked on day in and day out.
But she feared getting involved in matters that didn’t involve her. What if something terrible happened, and she found herself smack in the middle?
As irony would have it, that’s precisely what would happen.
Trouble Is Here
“I’ll settle this,” Jeremy said, getting up to chat with the boys. But he wasn’t even out of the kitchen when one of the boys yelled Trina’s name.
He took one of the cups filled with Coke and turned it on its head, emptying the brown liquid all over the restaurant’s clean floor.
But it didn’t stop there.
They Continue
One of his friends took the remaining cups and did the same thing. He grabbed a few sticks of fries and threw them on the floor, all this while smirking at Trisha.
The first boy pointed at her, then ran a finger across his face from ear to ear. He grinned and winked.
But he wasn’t done with the gesture before Jeremy sped out of the kitchen.
Sit
The three boys were caught off guard by Jeremy’s retaliation. They scrambled out of their booth, but Jeremy was faster. He grabbed one of them by the collar, pointing at the remaining two and jutting his chin at their booth.
“Sit,” he commanded, his voice deep and intimidating. He walked with the boy to the restaurant’s store without saying a word and emerged with a mop.
Everyone stopped what they were doing.
Clean It Now
Jeremy handed the boy the mop, pointing at the Coke before glaring at him. His hand was tight around the boy’s collar, his knuckles white. “Clean,” he grated, pointing at the spilled Coke.
“What?” the boy asked, chuckling.
But there was a nervousness to his voice, a rigidity to how he stood beside Jeremy. “I won’t repeat myself,” Jeremy said.
Following Instructions
One look at his eyes, and the boy started mopping the floor. Jeremy’s hand was still tight around his collar, preventing him from escaping.
He yanked the mop from the boy’s hands and gestured for one of his friends to come and take it.
His gaze landed squarely on the leader, the boy who had started everything.
The Leader
One look at him, and Emily knew none of this would end well. The boy was almost as tall as Jeremy. He was also well-built – a football player, from the looks of it.
But despite his size, he still approached Jeremy and his friend and took the mop. But he didn’t look pleased at all.
His eyes darted to the booth where he’d left his brown leather backpack.
A Dilemma
Holding the mop with one hand, he looked straight at Jeremy – a tussle of wills. They were the same size and build, with only a few years between them.
Jeremy would be in trouble if they got into an altercation because the boy was younger. These thoughts alone threw Emily into a fix.
But that wasn’t the last of her negative thoughts, she started thinking of the worst and most inevitable things that could happen.
Behind Bars
What if she helped Jeremy and ended up behind bars with him? What if she didn’t and ended up on his and Trisha’s wrong side?
The concern of jail time seriously freaked her out. She didn’t want to end up in prison over a Burger King job. Why did these hooligans want to stir up so much trouble?
She could only guess, but things wouldn’t end the way she expected.
Money, Not Friends
“I came here to make money,” Trisha whispered to herself. “Not friends.” But her eyes were stuck on Jeremy and the boy, her body flowing with adrenaline.
She’d never felt this way, conflicted over staying in a place where the commotion was steadily simmering.
If she knew better, she would have left while she still had the chance.
His Stand
“I’m not mopping,” the boy declared, throwing down the mop. Droplets of Coke splashed as the wooden pole hit the ground, and he smiled, staring Jeremy dead in his eyes.
“I won’t ask you again,” Jeremy said, his molars grinding against each other. He twisted the boy’s collar around his fist and pulled him closer.
“Mop.”
Just Do It
“What if I don’t?” the boy asked, and one of the customers in the restaurant, a sweet old lady, pleaded with him to do it and get it over with. “It’s not worth the trouble,” she said.
But the boy didn’t listen. If anything, her words made him step up to Jeremy.
If Emily ever had a chance to exit the premises, now was the time.
Enough
But she remained transfixed where she stood. Jeremy picked up the mop and stuffed it into the boy’s hands. With his other hand still holding his collar, he forced him to move the mop over the wet floor.
Emily knew she had to try and stop things for good. But how could she make a difference when two males were about to go toe-to-toe and she was just one person?
She definitely didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire.
Escalation
The boy yelped, trying to fight off Jeremy’s grip. Emily ran out of the kitchen. Surely there was a better way of handling this.
But she wasn’t even close to the two when one of the boy’s friends reached for the leather backpack.
No one could be sure what was going to happen next. Emily understood that things could escalate in the blink of an eye, but were they about to?
Everyone Can See It
Emily slid to a halt when she saw it, her blood curdling as bile and adrenaline pumped through her system. The entire restaurant erupted into chaos. Everybody had seen it too.
Jeremy, whose fingers were still tight around the boy’s collar, was the first to react. He let go of the boy and ducked.
Then came the head-splitting sound.
The Target
Living in her neighborhood, Emily was no stranger to gunfire. But she’d never heard one this close before. Ducking for her life, she turned on her heels.
This is why she always ran the other way when she saw trouble brewing.
It never ended well. She thought this was just a mere misunderstanding between a customer and an employee when in reality, she was the target.
Hide
“Everybody get down,” Jeremy yelled. People flew out of the restaurant, their hands over their heads as they raced to safety.
Emily found herself alone in the kitchen. She couldn’t see Trisha, who she’d left behind when she went to stop Jeremy. Her eyes scanned around frantically, searching for a place to hide.
And that’s when she heard it.
I Feel Nothing
The voice was calm and cold in the heated chaos of the restaurant. “Regards to your brother,” the boy said. It was the same one who started everything and refused to mop the floor.
There was a tiny click before a bright light flashed, and a sound as loud as thunder ripped through the kitchen. Emily gasped.
There was no pain.
The Aftermath
A loud bang was heard by bystanders outside the establishment. Everyone would continue going on about their day, not wanting to get involved with something that was none of their business. Unfortunately, that would be to the detriment of poor Emily.
She was screaming for help moments before the fiery light went off in front of her.
Her last thought when it happened was that she was just another victim of circumstance.
Opening Her Eyes
Emily only saw darkness after the bright flash. All she felt was cold around her. She remembered the last thing that had happened to her. The boy that started it all pointed the cruel weapon at her before pulling the trigger.
But she was in an existential dilemma. Where was she? She felt like she was floating in nothingness.
That was until the shock wore off, and she opened her eyes.
On The Floor
Emily slowly opened her eyes, and they slowly adjusted to the world around her. She was on the floor of the restaurant with her back propped against the soda machine – that’s what felt so cold before.
She looked down and felt her torso, but there were no marks.
Then she looked up at the culprit. The boy was still standing above her – with the same twisted grin as before.
Looking More Closely At The Weapon
Emily sat there stunned. She was trying to comprehend what had just happened. That’s when she looked at the weapon in his hand more closely. She was no weapon expert, but she knew it when she saw it. There was deception going on.
Something she hadn’t noticed the first time was there clear as day. There was an orange plastic cap on the end of the barrel.
Even someone like her knew what it meant.
A Fake Gun
She knew part of what was going on. The gun was just a toy, and they must have loaded it was fireworks to give off the loud crack and flash of light, but other things still didn’t add up, like what the boy had said not five minutes ago.
How did he know her brother?
She was about to find out as soon as she heard laughter all around her.
Familiar Faces
Emily looked around. She heard the laughter but didn’t see anybody. Was she dreaming? This was the strangest thing she’d ever gone through. Just a moment ago, fear gripped every fiber of her being. Now she was more confused than anything else.
Then out of nowhere, a familiar face came up from behind her. It was her, none other than her brother.
What was he doing here?
An Explanation
Her Brother, Todd, was there to shed a little light on what had just happened. He explained everything, including the altercation in the store.
He told her that the rude boy was his friend and that the whole thing was staged.
Even Jeremy was in on it. Everyone in the store was acting out a theatrical scene just for Emily, but why would they do that?
A “Gift”
“For your birthday, silly,” Todd said with a smile. “I know you like thrill-seeking. What’s better than a scenario like this one?” Emily went bright red.
Her brother had played a prank on her and called it a “gift.”
She thanked him and feigned excitement. But all the while, she was plotting the perfect revenge to get back at her brother.
A Lame Excuse
What was her brother thinking? How could he use fireworks indoors? Didn’t he think of the fire hazards? Emily had always been known as the more responsible sibling. She had her life together, a successful career, and a group of close friends.
Todd, on the other hand, was more carefree, always looking for a good time and often getting into trouble.
But despite their differences, Emily loved her brother and would never intentionally hurt him.
Cause For Revenge
Todd’s dangerous prank on her 24th birthday changed everything. Todd had planned a prank that went too far and embarrassed her in front of her colleagues. Emily was furious and decided that she needed to get revenge.
For weeks, Emily plotted her revenge. She knew that Todd’s 21st birthday was coming up in a month’s time and that was the perfect opportunity to strike back.
She wanted to plan something that would not only embarrass him but also teach him a lesson.
Payback Picnic
Emily decided to plan a picnic with Todd’s friends and invite her own friends, Jeremy and Trisha.
She invited a few more people who had to be there to witness the glory of the prank.
She carefully set up the picnic arrangement with delicious food and drink, making sure everything was perfect.
D Day
Everyone arrived at the picnic and was having a great time. Todd was laughing and joking around with his friends, completely unaware of what was about to happen.
Suddenly, he started scratching himself and screaming in pain. “Get it off! Arrgh! Help guys!”
He was pulling at his shirt. Something was biting him. All his guests looked at him in shock.
Well-Orchestrated Drama
Emily watched with satisfaction as Todd tried to brush the ants off him, but they just kept crawling up his legs and biting him. He was scratching himself everywhere and jumping up and down like a clown.
Then the grand finale, Jeremy and Trisha started scratching themselves too, and soon they were all covered in red ants.
“Ahhh! They’re in my hair! Ahhh! Get them off me!” Trisha was scratching her head and making a mess of her hairstyle.
Ants In His Pants
Todd was in so much pain that he had to take his pants and clothes off in front of his crush Lisa, who had just rocked up. Emily couldn’t help but smirk as she watched Todd’s embarrassment. He was standing in his boxers trying to brush the ants off.
As the day went on, Emily’s plan worked perfectly. Todd had learned his lesson and Emily felt satisfied that she had gotten her revenge.
But as she watched her brother, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. She made sure to set up Todd’s seat next to a red ant hill and now they were crawling all over him.
Sibling Rivalry
Emily knew that revenge wasn’t the answer and that she needed to apologize to Todd. She waited until everyone had left, and then she approached her brother. “I’m sorry, Todd,” she said, “I know I went too far. I just wanted to teach you a lesson, but I shouldn’t have done it like this.”
Todd looked at his sister with surprise. He had expected her to gloat and revel in her victory.
Instead, she was apologizing. “It’s okay, Em,” he said, “I guess I deserved it. I’ll make it up to you.”
Blood Is Thicker Than Water
Emily smiled at her brother, feeling a sense of relief. She had learned that revenge wasn’t the answer and that sometimes it was better to forgive and move on.
From that day on, Emily and Todd’s relationship improved. They still had their differences, but they had a newfound respect for each other.
Emily had learned to let go of her need for revenge and Todd had learned to be more considerate of his sister’s feelings.
Birthday Retake
As they walked back to their car, Emily couldn’t help but feel grateful for her brother. Despite their differences, they would always have each other’s backs.
The next month, Todd’s birthday arrived. Emily had planned a surprise party for him with all of his friends and family.
Todd was overjoyed and thanked his sister for her thoughtfulness.
Heartfelt Apology
As they sat around the table, eating cake and telling stories, Todd looked at his sister and said, “I know I messed up on your birthday, Em. I’m sorry about bullying you. But I want you to know that I love you and I appreciate everything you do for me.”
Emily smiled at her brother, feeling a sense of warmth. She knew that their relationship wasn’t perfect, but they were siblings and that meant something.
Disclaimer: To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.