Kathryn walked out into the hall during passing time to watch as the students moved from class to class. Once such student, Nate, a sixteen year old boy stopped at this locker to swap out some books when a group of five boys circled around him, led by a young man named Frankie.
Kathryn could only watch as the scenerio unfolded in front of her.
"Hey guys, I don't want any trouble," said Nate, eyeing each of the bullies.
"Well, that's too bad because you've got trouble, faggot," replied Frankie. He grabbed Nate by the head and slammed him into the lockers. "You're nothing but a dirty little homo. And you're going down..."
"I wouldn't go down on you if you were the last guy on earth, you piece of shit," replied Nate.
Frankie's eyes went wide, grabbing Nate by the throat. "What did you say?"
"You heard me," choked out Nate.
"You're gonna pay for that," replied Frankie, slamming him into the lockers again, harder this time.
"Hey!" yelled Kathryn, deciding the situation had escalated enough. All five bullies spotted Kathryn and ran off down the hall before she could do anything.
"You're gonna die, faggot," yelled out one of them as they ran away.
Kathryn walked across the hall to the bent over Nate, who was picking his stuff up, feeling utterly humiliated and quietly sobbing. She put an arm around him and led him in to her classroom, closing the door behind her.
"Does stuff like that happen often?" asked Kathryn.
"Everyday since seventh grade. They beat on me, pound on me. The teachers ignore it. My parents just tell me to fight back. I wish I could. They just wind up hitting me harder," said Nate, all his turmoil spilling out.
"Why don't the teachers do anything?" asked Kathryn, confused.
"I don't know...they try, I guess. They tell me to just ignore them. Hard to do that when someone's wailing on you, I say!" exclaimed Nate.
"Those boys called you faggot...and homo. Are you...that way?" asked Kathryn.
Nate let out a deep sigh and looked up at her. "Yeah, I am."
"Well, that's nothing. My brother's gay, but that doesn't make him any different. He's still a plenty good witch himself," replied Kathryn.
"What?" asked Nate, looking up.
"I'm a witch, and my family are witches too," replied Kathryn.
"Oh, cool," replied Nate, the last statement not quite registering.
"We'll make it better, I promise," replied Kathryn.
"I just...I just wish..." said Nate, trailing off.
"Wish what?" asked Kathryn.
"I just wish I could tear them limb from limb! Make them suffer like they made me suffer!" exclaimed Nate, violently pounding his fists on the desk.
"Oh my," said Kathryn taken aback by his sudden, violent outburst.
"Sorry," replied Nate.
That's okay," said Kathryn, moving to the window and looking outside to the cool fall afternoon.
"Normally, I'm not one to condone violence, but in this case..." said Kathryn, turning back to Nate, "How about we let your inner beast out to play?"