Chapter 2 (part 1)

Whilst the party was in full swing in central London, forty miles away Henry Summers began his initiation ceremony. He hadn't planned on joining the gang, but back home life had seemed impossible. His Dad was hardly home, but when he was he was usually drunk. Unfortunately, he was a violent drunk. His Mum wasn't much better. She was high on weed constantly, and only half aware of his existence in this world. Still, he figured, some people didn't even know who their parents were. Despite these consoling thoughts he still hated being in his house. So he'd taken to the streets. That was where the four lads in hoodies and the hot girl in the short skirt had stepped out of the alleyway to block his path. He'd locked a challenge into each of the lads' eyes before making a show of looking at the girl's cleavage. It had been a brazen act of stupidity, and he was seriously contemplating what awaited on the other side of death's door as the kicks rained in on him when they suddenly stopped. Help had arrived. What he hadn't realised at the time was that help comes at a cost on the streets.