The Coward's Test

"Coward! You're just a little coward!" "No... I'm not! Tommy wasn't lying... let me go get the Sheriff!" "Don't let him run! Grab him!" *The sound of heavy kicks and muffled groans echoes in the dark.* "Stop! You're hurting him!" a girl's voice pleaded. *SLAP.* "Who told you to speak?" the leader snarled. He walked over, grinning down at the bleeding boy in the dirt, and issued a final demand. ... "Huh. Guess he really... wasn't a coward after all." ———— "Such helpful kids out there. Saved us a lot of trouble." "Yeah. Still... it's a damn shame, isn't it?"