The Mechanic’s Apprentice – Part 21

Content Warning: This section contains depictions of strong violence, which may be triggering for some readers. If this is something you feel uncomfortable with, I recommend skipping this part. At the end of this section, I’ve included further explanation and context for those who wish to read it. Thank you for taking care of yourself.

Everyone in this story is 18+

Breaking Point

The Christmas lights in the school yard blurred past as I kicked my board hard, pushing as fast as I could. The sound of footsteps behind me grew louder, the sharp laughter of the jocks cutting through the cold night air. My breath came in short gasps, clouds forming in front of my face as I raced toward Connor. He had to be warned—he had to know they were coming for him.

The yard opened into a stretch of cracked pavement, sloping downhill faster than I’d anticipated. I pushed hard, trying to gain distance, but my speed overtook my balance. The wheels wobbled beneath me, a warning too late to heed.

“Shit!” I hissed, leaning forward to stabilize, but the board bucked sideways, and gravity won.

The board shot out from under me, clattering ahead, and I hit the ground hard. Pain ripped through my palms as they skidded across the jagged asphalt, the sting immediate and sharp. Dust and grit bit into my skin as I scrambled, my breath ragged, but footsteps pounded closer behind me.

Before I could scramble up, a boot planted itself on my back, shoving me down. “Not so fast, ballerina boy’s boyfriend,” one of them sneered, leaning over me with a twisted grin. “Thought you’d just skate away, huh?”

Another hand grabbed my arm, yanking me to my feet. There were three of them, the same assholes from the bar and the park. Their faces were flushed with beer and anger, their eyes glinting under the streetlights.

“Where’s your little boyfriend?” the tallest one spat. “Not so tough without him around to prance in and save you, huh?”

I gritted my teeth, wrenching my arm free and throwing a punch that caught one of them in the jaw. He stumbled back, but before I could follow up, another slammed his fist into my ribs. Pain shot through me, and I doubled over, gasping.

“Fight all you want,” the tallest said, cracking his knuckles as he loomed over me. “You’re outnumbered, loser.”

I swung again, catching another in the gut, but it didn’t matter. They surrounded me, fists flying from all directions. I managed to block some hits, landing a few punches of my own, but it wasn’t enough. The numbers were against me, and soon the blows came faster than I could defend against.

“RUN, CONN!” I shouted, my voice raw. My vision blurred as I caught sight of him running toward us. No. No, no, no. He had to stay back.

“Get out of here! Don’t come closer!” I yelled again, my voice desperate. But Connor didn’t stop.

“Get your hands off him!” Connor’s voice rang out, louder than I’d ever heard it. He barreled into the guy closest to me, catching him off guard and sending him sprawling to the ground.

“Connor, what the hell are you doing?” I gasped, trying to push him away as another fist collided with my shoulder.

“I’m not leaving you!” Connor snapped, his fists flying as he landed a punch on one of the guys. His form was surprisingly solid—quick, efficient. I recognized the moves I’d taught him, a mix of boxing and raw instinct. He was holding his own, but it wasn’t enough. Not against all of them.

They turned their attention to him, splitting their attacks. Connor blocked one hit, dodged another, but a third caught him in the side, making him stagger.

“Stay down!” one of them snarled, swinging at Connor again.

“NO!” I shouted, throwing myself in the way. The punch meant for Connor slammed into my ribs instead, sending me crashing to the pavement.

“Ryder!” Connor yelled, his voice cracking as he tried to pull me up. But I couldn’t let him. Not when they were still swinging. Not when he was still in danger.

Another hit came, this time to my jaw, snapping my head to the side. I tasted blood, but I stayed on my feet, shoving Connor behind me.

“Stay back!” I rasped, my arms outstretched as a shield. “You’re not touching him!”

The tallest jock laughed, his fist drawn back for a final blow. “Fine. You wanna play hero? Let’s see how tough you really are.”

The knock out punch came fast, aimed directly at Connor’s face. I stepped in the way, raising my arms, but I was too slow to block it completely. The force slammed into my temple, and everything went white.

“RYDER!” I heard Connor’s scream, distant and panicked, as the world tilted and spun. My legs buckled beneath me, and I crumpled to the ground. The last thing I felt was Connor grabbing me, his hands shaking as they pressed against my shoulders, his voice calling my name.

Then everything went black.

Thank you for reading this, and I want to extend my apologies in advance for the strong scenes and the cliffhanger. I also wanted to take a moment to offer some context. This part isn’t meant to shock or “entertain.” It’s deeply personal to me as a victim of anti-LGBTQ+ violence. While this part is not a direct recounting of my experience, writing it has been cathartic—a way to say a resounding "fuck you" to perpetrators of hate crimes around the world. I'm still standing, and others are as well.

This experience has also inspired me to make a donation to Lambda Legal, an organization that provides free legal aid and advocacy for victims of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes and discrimination. If this resonates with you, I’ve included a link to their website. I completely understand that money is tight for many, but if you’re able to spare even a little, I hope you’ll consider donating.

Lastly, I couldn’t leave you all hanging—so I’ve posted the next part as well. Even I wouldn’t be cruel enough to leave you with such a cliffhanger❤️

Thank you for your understanding and support❤️