"Oh and don't turn around." Caelan said, annoyed that the lil brat never answered any of his questions. "I wouldn't want to hit you in your face." He couldn't help but laugh a little at that, especially since the kid almost hit him in the face the other night.

James still cried. And now he started screaming "HEEEEEEELP!" hoping that someone in the street would hear him and come to his aid.

Caelan couldn't hold his temper. He was already angry that the lil brat didn't answer any of his questions. And now he was screaming, so he bumped him in his side. "Shut up, kid!" He said. "I really don't wanna hurt you. But you're making it really really easy." He naturally didn't realize how hard the kid could believe that since he was seemingly going to hit him with the sling shot. But he walked down the alley to the end of it looking for a place to hide the sling shot. He really wanted to keep it but decided to give the lil blighter another chance to get it back if he was smart and observant enough to find it. If. But Caelan knew most people weren't very observant, especially children.

James continued to cry, though silently, for her was afraid. He turned his head when the older boy walked away and he observed what Caelan was doing. He didn't say anything though, afraid that he would still be attacked.

Caelan looked back at the kid. He didn't trust him. And he was right not to for he saw that the boy turned around. So while he was originally gonna put the sling shot somewhere on the ground, he decided to keep it. The boy didn't answer his questions. Well, okay, he did but Caelan was sure he was lying to him. And he didn't like liars. Maybe his brother would give him truthful answers if he didn't just elect to getting back the sling shot. Caelan thought the brother might be stronger than he was. While he didn't want to have a knife fight with him, he was surprised that he decided to run instead of fight. Maybe he would do the same thing when they met again. Maybe they could have a conversation and become friends. Maybe. But he would want to get his lil brother's sling shot back for him. Anybody would. After all, he needed to protect himself from the likes of those three lil menaces.

So he decided to leave with the sling shot. It would mean they had to meet again. And Caelan expected to be hurt when they did. But he also expected to hurt the kid if he needed to also. Everybody needed to protect themselves, whether they were nine, or fifteen or however old the other kid was. And so Caelan walked out of the alley.

James waited for the older boy to leave, waited a little longer, to make sure he was gone, and then stepped out onto the road, crying to himself for his misfortunes.