Sharp Reprisal

5 o'clock. Park by my house.

The bully's getting his comeuppance.

Knuckles cracked. Military dad instilled

Karate in my blood since seven.

Gloomy day at the park with mist kissing abandoned slides.

One kid sits on the swing's creaking seat,

The only sound in the drear.

No crowds because who would care?

The new kids against Drake the introverted jerk wouldn't make the news.

Greasy hair. Mocking smile sent

Too many insults hurled my way.

Standing tall. Hands in pockets.

He has no idea who he's pissed off.

No words exchanged, only a glare from my end.

Drake's traditional smirk

Interrupted by a protruding tongue.

He licks his lips and I widen my stance.

We wait, cowboys in a damp western.

First move lunge. Controlled jab.

Drake doesn't move, punch right in the smirk.

Cracking chip. Spat tooth reveals

Missing canine, gap the bully's grin.

If it hurt Drake, he doesn't show it.

Even when I lose my cool and send

Jab after jab into ever-bloodying lips.

He just stares at me

And lets me tire myself out.

Eyes drop. Drake's missing tooth.

Sharper than a human's should have been.

Pointed end. Finger-long it

Predator teeth, like a wolf made man.

Drake wipes his lips,

Licking off the red.

I realized that none of the blood is his.

It's my knuckles that have reddened his mouth.

His eyes turn black and he takes a step toward me.

"You?" I stutter.

Drake nods, dark hair hanging like nooses.

"Vam-" I start.

A finger to my face, Drake shushes.

Drakes voice is lower than in class,

The insults now

A post-realized threat.

"Believe everything you read?"

His fang is back and sinks into my flesh.