Lucien
2004
Lucien Vicas is a fourteen year-old boy who lives with an abusive father and a emotionally fragile mother. The target of older boys at school, Lucien plots a way to do away with his chief tormentor, Orville Payne. In the opening passage of the story, Lucien lies in wait at the top of a riverbank, ready to dislodge a massive rock when the bully passes below. When he senses that Orville is directly below, he dislodges the boulder.
The thick crag slammed into Orville, instantly shattering his jaw in several places and
crushing his ribcage. On impact, the boy was hurled into the cold, turbid water. The careening
slab followed a split-second later, making a thunderous, angry, splash in the murky water.
Lucien Straymore Vicas stood at the edge of the precipice for a few moments, looking
at the water as it resumed its customary character. “That’s the last time you’ll pick on me,” he
said softly before picking up his books and beginning the short walk home. The realization
covered him like a warm blanket:“I loved every second of it.”
The huge mass suddenly tore loose from the few restraining roots and thundered down
the steep bank, demolishing small saplings and bushes at will in its violent plummet to the
water.
The boy jumped to his feet and scrambled to the edge of the crest to witness the spectacle.
“Orville!” he shrieked, wanting to make certain his classmate was looking up at him when the
ponderous slab of granite emerged from the clumps of vegetation. He wanted to savor
everything about the splendid moment.
Orville’s hand went in the air at the first sight of the approaching mass, but he was so
stunned by the horrendous sight he couldn’t move. He looked up at the small figure at the top
of the embankment, unable to comprehend the terrifying moment. The image of the small,
smiling boy was the last thing he saw.