The last of them

 Dev sat in the cold, dimly lit holding cell, his mind numb. The walls felt like they were closing in on him, suffocating him with the weight of what had happened. His best friend, his only friend was gone. And now, he was being blamed for it.

He replayed the moment over and over again. Cole lying on the ground, blood pooling beneath his head. Jack's gang running, their faces filled with panic, but not for Cole. Only for themselves. Then the sirens. The flashing lights. The officers grabbing him, shoving him into the back of a patrol car.

It had all happened too fast.

He didn't even get a chance to say goodbye.

The heavy metal door creaked open, pulling Dev from his thoughts. Two officers stepped in, followed by his father.

Dev's stomach twisted.

His father stood rigid, his face unreadable. No signs of worry. No desperation to prove his son's innocence. Just disappointment.

The officer with the notepad, the same one who had questioned Jack and his gang, cleared his throat. "Your father's here to see you before we transfer you to juvenile detention," he said flatly.

Dev looked up at his father, hoping for something, anything that resembled concern.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" his father finally spoke, his voice low and sharp.

Dev swallowed hard. "Dad, I swear I didn't do…"

"Don't," his father cut him off. "Don't lie to me, Devan. You think I don't know what kind of boy you are? You stole from me Devan, money for your Mom's hospital bills, you took it Devan!? His father yelled.

"Always in trouble, always fighting."

Dev's hands clenched into fists. "I wasn't fighting Cole. Jack and his friends started it."

His father sighed heavily, rubbing his temple. "Jack's father is a prosecutor. Do you understand what that means? They've already given their statements. All of them saw you push Cole."

Dev felt his chest tighten. "They're lying!"

His father stared at him, long and hard. "Then where's your proof?"

Dev opened his mouth, but no words came.

There was no proof. No security cameras. No one else at the park.

Only Jack and his gang.

And Chou.

A flicker of hope sparked in Dev's chest. Chou. He had been there. He knew the truth. He knew Chou felt bad about what happened. Maybe, just maybe…

The officer cleared his throat again. "Your son will be transferred to juvenile detention while awaiting trial. Given the evidence and witness statements, things aren't looking good for him."

His father exhaled sharply, as if hearing the confirmation for the first time. Then he turned back to Dev, his expression colder than before.

"You disgust me," he muttered.

The words cut deeper than any punch Dev had ever taken.

His father turned and walked out without another glance back.

The cell door slammed shut.

Dev sat there, his heart pounding in his ears, the weight of betrayal sinking into his bones.

For the first time, he realized he was truly alone.

A Week Later – The Court Hearing

The courtroom was smaller than Dev had imagined. It wasn't like the ones in movies, grand and intimidating. But it was still terrifying.

He sat at the defendant's table, his wrists cuffed, his clothes now the standard juvenile detention uniform. Across from him, Jack sat with his father, the esteemed prosecutor. His face was composed, almost innocent. His gang sat behind him, their eyes avoiding Dev's.

Especially Chou's.

The judge, a middle-aged woman with tired eyes, flipped through the case file. She looked at Dev for a long moment before speaking.

"Mr. Devan Calloway, you are being charged with manslaughter in the death of Cole Bennett. Witnesses claim that you pushed the victim during a physical altercation, resulting in a fatal head injury."

Dev's chest tightened. "I didn't push him," he said, his voice steady but desperate. "Jack did. His friends are covering for him."

Jack's father stood. "Your Honor, we have multiple consistent witness testimonies that state otherwise. These boys were not only present but actively tried to stop the accused from harming the victim."

Lies.

Dev's fingernails dug into his palms. He looked past Jack, straight at Chou.

"Tell the truth," Dev said, his voice breaking slightly.

Chou flinched but didn't lift his head.

"Chou, please," Dev pressed. "You know what really happened. You know I didn't…"

"Mr. Calloway," the judge interrupted, her voice firm. "You will not address witnesses directly."

Dev's breathing was shallow. He felt the walls closing in again, just like in that cold cell.

Chou stayed silent.

The judge turned to Jack's father. "Do you have any additional evidence to present?"

Jack's father smiled slightly, a picture of controlled authority. "The testimonies are more than enough to move forward with the charges. However, considering the accused's history of aggression, and the fact that he attempted to flee before being arrested, we believe the recommended sentence should reflect the severity of the crime."

Dev's stomach dropped.

He hadn't been running away because he was guilty. He and Cole had planned to leave together, to escape their lives.

But no one here cared about that.

The judge looked at Dev one last time, then sighed. "Devan Carter, due to your age, you will be held in juvenile detention until you are eighteen. At that point, you will stand trial in adult court, where a final sentence will be determined."

The sound of the gavel striking the desk echoed through the silent room.

Dev barely felt himself being pulled to his feet, the cold metal of the cuffs biting into his wrists.

His eyes never left Chou.

The boy still didn't look up.

Later That Night at Juvenile Detention,

Dev lay on the stiff mattress in his cell, staring at the ceiling. The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly above him.

It was over.

Cole was dead. His Best friend was dead.

Jack and his gang were free.

And he was locked away for something he didn't do.

A deep, simmering rage built in his chest.

Jack. Dan. Eli. Ian.

Even Chou.

They had taken everything from him.

But this wasn't the end.

One day, he would get out.

And when he did…

He would make them pay.