CHAPTER 2
APOGEE MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL
THURSDAY 11/3
JAMIE
Today really started out weird, since I'd arrived at school this morning a menacing kid the size of a gorilla in my form had been following me everywhere. And just now when I looked over my shoulder an older scrawny looking kid with long black dreadlocks had joined him.
Both seemed to be in cahoots with one another. And now they were following me to the sports oval where I'd volunteered with Liam Powers, a kid in my class who'd quickly become my best friend, to help erect the stage for the school dance Saturday night.
What was with these guys? The last thing I wanted is some stupid confrontation! I decided to ignore them and listened to the 'Big Boys' band practicing. Their band sounded real cool and I couldn't wait to hear them play off against the others in the national 'All Schools Band' competition at the school dance.
Saturday is going to be great! Its my birthday and not only am I going to my first school dance but also to Liam's thirteenth birthday party that he is sharing with his cousin Katie. I felt bad breaking mum's plans to take me to see that old ship moored at the wharf in the fishing village where the 'Moon Harvest Festival' was taking place but Liam and Katie's Wizard party sounded way better.
Humming in tune with the band I began stringing the lights around the perimeter of the stage thinking how cool it was that Liam and Katie's birthday was on the same day as mine. I hadn't met Katie yet but she sounded switched on just like her friend Jade who Liam talked about constantly. I envied them; they'd grown up together living in the same street as each other, unlike me who'd moved constantly with my parents.
I shrugged my shoulders; I now had that chance too. Mum had promised that our move to Braden was forever and I'd found a great friend in Liam who seemed to know everybody.
Liam was fun to be around and soon I'd forgotten about that scrawny kid, that was, until I saw him menacing the lead singer.
Things were getting real nasty and I decided to intervene.
"Don't mess with Swasie Jamie!" Liam insisted blocking my path. Taken back I looked around at everyone's faces, they were scared stiff.
"Cool it Jamie, old Marty the principal is coming!" I turned to look and saw Swasie across the other side of the oval.
"Far out! How did Swasie get there that fast...a second ago he was on the stage?" No one answered, remaining silent as the Principal climbed the steps.
I looked at my watch. I knew that I should be heading back to class, my math period started in ten minutes. However girls had joined the group on stage and I was bowled over by the cute blond testing the microphone and decided to risk detention.
Pretending to adjust the sound equipment I struck up a conversation and learnt that her name was Chloe and her band was called "The Pink Marshmallows'. Smitten I tried to be cool pretending that I knew all about the band competition she so desperately wanted to win Saturday night.
My head in a cloud I ignored the school bells last warning until Liam dragged me away. I wished Chloe luck for Saturday and reluctantly hauled myself to class where I could think of little else than her.
At lunchtime the buzz was that Swasie had been dobbed into the principal as being leader of the gang terrorizing the school. His band had been banned from competing in the national 'All School's Band' competition at the school dance Saturday and the word was being spread that he was out for revenge. I looked around for Liam wanting to tell him but I couldn't see him anywhere.
Frustrated I decided to look for him at the school canteen when I heard loud shouting at the toilet block. Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to investigate. As I got closer I could see that the huge kid who'd been following me around all morning was bullying a terrified kid while Swasie looked on.
"Hold your horses Jamie where do you think you're going?" Liam shouted anxiously as he ran up behind me. "Don't be an idiot, you can't get involved! There's nothing you can do!"
I looked at his Liam's panic stricken face wondering what on earth he was talking about.
"Jamie, be cool!" Liam implored. "No one approaches the 'Bone Crushers' without an invitation, they're huge... Big time! There not just a school gang, they've got members all over town. They're that gang that my Dad warned us about. Don't go near them Jamie, they're supposed to be planning something big...something to do with 'Moon Harvest'.
Swasie's the leader and he's into black magic big time. They say he can put spells on you. And there's more, he's supposed to be connected to the 'Secret Society of Crines'. There like the Klu Klux Clan or something. Some of the kids reckon they run the town"
"Hold it Liam, did you say Crines?" I was stunned. Dad was right they do exist.
"Forget it Jamie, be cool, Swasie has you in his sights. Whatever you do Jamie don't cross Swasie or that big kid who has been following you. That's Hunk, Swasie's cousin, he's the gangs' second in command and he recruits young kids like us and maybe he's sizing you up. He's not the only Head Hunter, but the school's his territory. That huge gorilla does everything that Swasie tells him. He's the keeper of the gang's calling card 'The Black Box of Death' and uses it to terrorize the kids that Swasie singles out."
"Come on Liam, that's nuts! I'm not joining any gang no matter what they do to me. They're just bullies and they need to be taught a lesson. Are you with me or not?" I insisted amazed that Liam was so afraid of these kids.
"Jamie you've got to listen, this kid Swasie is definitely weird, like, scary weird! His real name is Kevin Poacher and he's in year 12. He's that spoilt rich kid that drives that groovy black MX-5 around town"
Suddenly it dawned on me who he was; he just looked different without the usual garb of black leather. Yeah...I remembered him; he was the lout that sped around town in his black sports car intimidating girls. It made me sick to my stomach how everyone was sucking up to him.
Liam tugged at my school bag pulling me away. "Come on Jamie, drop it! There is no point in picking a fight with the 'Bone Crushers' there's no way we could win."
"Liam that kid looks terrified we just can't walk away!"
"We have to, let's go Jamie." Liam insisted, as he pulled harder on my school bag.
"Come on, I've found that history book about Braden that you wanted in the school library. Let's check it out!"
Unwillingly I followed Liam to the library. Only the lure of discovering some answers to all of that stuff I'd read in dad's diary had made me listen. It had been hard to do; I detested bullies and loathed the fact that I'd walked away.
Hunk
I saw Swasie smirk as Jamie and Liam hurried past him. He'd been watching them from the toilet blocks. Gloating triumphantly he gave me the nod.
"Okay Hunk, get rid of that scowl." Swasie demanded. "I want those two wimps here at the toilet blocks, first thing tomorrow."
Here we go again, I knew what that nod meant. Swasie wanted him to use the 'Black Box of death', the gang's calling card on those kids. Damn it, what's with Swasie and Jamie Peters? He's had it in for him ever since he started school. Swearing under my breath I turned away fed up with Swasie ordering me to follow that kid around.
"Don't you turn your back on me Hunk, I haven't finished!" Swasie demanded threateningly.
Suddenly I felt a presence behind me
"Yeah, Hunk cool it, Swasie's the master!" Infuriated, I heard Cessiro's patronizing voice whispering in my ear as he suddenly appeared from nowhere
"Get lost Cessiro, what do you think you're doing here, the schools out of bounds."
"If you say so gorilla boy, but first you'd better tell Swasie I'm just following his orders." Cessiro replied mockingly.
"Silence!" Swasie demanded shoving himself between us. "Hunk sort out a game plan with Cessiro for the destruction of the bandstand while I follow those two jerks. I'll show that bastard of a principal he can't mess with me. There's no way that dance party is happening!
Now listen up, the gang members who turned thirteen today are to be initiated,
don't look away Hunk that includes you!
The Crines have ordered that all members of the 'Bone Crushers' attend. Hunk have all your recruits meet at midnight at the sacrificial stones at the fork of the old dirt road. Cessiro make sure the older members across town are there. Don't keep me waiting!" Swasie snarled as he walked away.
Disgruntled I watched Swasie's arrogant swagger as he followed Liam and Jamie into the library. Something strange was going on never before had all the gang members been ordered to attend an initiation. And sure today I was turning thirteen but why do I have to be initiated; my father is one of the high priests of the 'Secret Society of Crines'?
However I was more concerned with what Swasie had planned for my recruits tonight than me. Some of them had become my friends; they trusted me and I hated being forced to betray them.
I was fed up with doing Swasie's dirty work and lately I was finding it difficult pretending to the rest of the gang that I enjoyed recruiting kids. Ever since I was little, Swasie had made me do stuff that I hated.
One day I swear, I muttered to myself, the cards will be turned and Swasie will be on the receiving end. And somehow I don't think I'll have long to wait my gut told me that these two kids will be his undoing.
I had never seen Swasie so rattled, why, I couldn't fathom. As far as I could tell Jamie Peters and Liam Powers were just regular kids, the same age as me. Strange, though how they looked like brothers with the same red hair and stuff.
I watched Jamie enter the library thinking what a dark horse he was unlike his friend Liam who made no bones about his opinions. One thing was for sure, if they kept pushing Swasie's buttons he'd make them pay big time! I surprised myself by feeling sorry for them, and wondered if I should warn them about Swasie.
I couldn't understand what was happening to me, I was becoming less afraid of Swasie and I knew that he'd noticed. Hardly a day went by lately that Swasie hadn't told me that I was getting too big for my boots. Last night he'd even threatened to report me to the Crines.
One thing I knew for sure, Cessiro was one I'd never trust. He was older than the rest of the gang and devious just like Swasie. He annoyed the shit out of me, ever since he'd joined the gang Cessiro had been trouble.
The jerk! I thought disdainfully as I looked him over, wearing the gang's black leather jacket with its emblem of twisted snakes in the school grounds. He was asking for it!
Cessiro and that sister of his, Riley, had been a thorn in my side ever since they'd mysteriously appeared in town. Riley was just like her brother...too big for her own boots. And, if she tries to crack onto me just one more time...so help me!
The bell rang ending recess, and I watched Cessiro heading for the school gates. The rat! He did it again, left me carrying the bag. Well this time he's not getting away with it, there's no way I'm going to be responsible if things go wrong. Cessiro like it or not is going to help me destroy the bandstand tonight.
I cursed as I walked back to class. This afternoon I'd planned on following Jade McTavish home from school hoping to get a chance to talk to her. And now instead I'd have to chase all over town searching for Cessiro and making sure my recruits turn up tonight.
I knew that it was forbidden to befriend those not chosen by the Crines, this was an unspoken law and one I knew only too well the consequences of breaking. However ever since I'd bumped into Jade in her street when I was spying on that kid Liam I've been unable to get her out of my mind.
Jade was the girl that was in the dreams that plagued me night after night.