Chapter 8 Turning the Tables

She had intervened simply out of a sense of justice, unwilling to stand by and watch these bullies target someone defenseless. But now, things were escalating far more than she had anticipated. Xavier moved swiftly. He was already making his way towards the far end of the alley, trying to sneak away under the cover of the crowd. If my family hears that I got caught by the police, I’m finished! Dad will kill me for sure! Just as he managed a couple of steps, a small rock suddenly flew through the air and hit him squarely in the knee. With a shout of pain, Xavier lost his balance and fell hard to the ground. The police immediately noticed the commotion. Pointing their batons at him, they shouted, "Stop right there! Don’t move!" Arthur’s expression shifted to one of satisfaction as he nonchalantly brushed off the dust from his hands. Frozen in fear, Xavier didn’t dare take another step. The dark, intimidating batons in the officers’ hands seemed like the grim reaper’s scythe, hovering menacingly over him. One of the officers strode over and quickly cuffed him. "Who made the call?" the lead officer asked in a commanding voice. Arthur raised his right hand high and replied clearly, "It was me!" The crowd turned to look at him in astonishment. Arthur! It was Arthur! They had been wondering how the police arrived so perfectly on time, and now they realized it was Arthur who had called them. He had actually had the guts to report it! Even Ashley was caught off guard, staring at him with surprise. From what she knew, this wasn’t the first time he had been bullied. The last time, after she had driven the bullies away, she noticed the fresh and old bruises covering his body, clear evidence of long-term abuse. At that time, she had told him to call the police, but he had only muttered a few words, avoided her eyes, and hurried away. To be honest, she had looked down on him back then. But now, his unexpected boldness was truly surprising. She had to admit, he was starting to change her opinion of him. Xavier’s gang was swiftly subdued by the police. The lead officer approached Arthur, glancing at his slim figure before asking, "Are you injured?" Arthur replied honestly, "Not this time. This courageous young lady stepped in and stopped them." He pointed towards Ashley as he spoke. Xavier’s face lit up at Arthur’s words. He opened his mouth, ready to shout that Arthur had injured him. Maybe he could shift the blame and make himself look like the victim! However, before Xavier could utter a sound, Arthur quickly raised his arm, showing the scars on his skin. With an innocent and hurried explanation, he said, "Officer, I’ve been bullied for a long time. These injuries are from two days ago when they attacked me. My body is covered in wounds like this. I never dared to report it or defend myself because I was scared they’d retaliate." Arthur kept his head down. His youthful appearance, thin frame, and the shocking bruises on his body contrasted sharply with the intimidating gang around him, creating a poignant and heartbreaking image. He perfectly portrayed a sixteen-year-old boy who had suffered long-term bullying. After all, it was something he had lived through. Even though those days were long past, the memories still stung whenever he thought about them. The officer gave Arthur’s shoulder a reassuring pat and offered words of encouragement. "Kid, if you’re being bullied, don’t hesitate to call us. Don’t be scared. The more you fear them, the bolder they’ll get." Arthur gave a small nod. Even though the officer was a stranger, the feeling of being cared for was incredibly comforting. Everyone involved was taken to the police station, and Ashley insisted on going along as a witness to testify for Arthur. At the police station. Given the number of people involved and the heightened scrutiny on school bullying, the incident drew the attention of the police chief himself. Detective James sat nearby, examining X-rays from the hospital while watching the officer record Arthur’s statement. The images of Arthur’s injuries—crisscrossing scars both fresh and old—were gut-wrenching, leaving the chief deeply disturbed. The photos revealed that almost every inch of Arthur’s body under his clothes bore injuries. He couldn’t begin to imagine what Arthur had gone through or how long this torment had lasted. Some wounds, untreated for too long, had already formed permanent scars. As the chief looked at Arthur’s youthful, innocent face, he felt a mix of rage and heartache. How could this level of abuse go on for so long without being reported? Xavier and his gang had sustained some minor injuries, but they were superficial compared to the shocking state of Arthur’s wounds. Detective James felt a sense of bittersweet relief. After suffering in silence for so long, Arthur had finally found the courage to stand up for himself! When the officer recording Arthur’s statement asked about his parents, Arthur hesitated but eventually told the truth. Detective James stared at Arthur in disbelief. "You’re Arthur, the youngest son of the Gray family?" How could this be possible? The Gray family was a powerful, prestigious family in South City. If Arthur was truly their young master, how could he have been subjected to such severe and prolonged bullying?