Before I could react, a powerful kick sent me crashing against the steel wall, sending waves of agony through my body. Blood trickled down my nose from the impact, and a fist to the back of my head left me reeling. I struggled to regain my balance, but my oversized boots only hindered me further, causing me to collapse to the ground.
As I lay there, dazed and in pain, someone pinned me down, immobilizing my arms behind my back. I screamed in agony as they pushed my arms upward, intensifying the pain coursing through me. The metallic scent of blood and mud filled my senses, as I grappled with the overwhelming pain.
A familiar voice filled the air with taunts and laughter. "Well, well, well... if it isn't Keinan and his little girlfriend Faith. Still lurking in this dump?" Ajax's voice echoed with malice as he restrained me, asserting his dominance.
Laughter, a sound all too familiar, echoed through the corridor, mingling with Faith's angry and defiant voice. "Stop it, Ajax!" she exclaimed, stepping closer. "Leave him alone!" However, as Ajax pinned me down, Blaze swiftly intervened, blocking Faith's path and preventing her from interfering.
I was all too familiar with such situations; they had become a regular occurrence in my life, their pattern painfully predictable by now.
Ajax loomed over me, asserting his dominance with a menacing stare. His expression flickered with jealousy and irritation as he focused on Faith. "What are you doing, huh? Why are you hanging around this silver-haired trash?" he sneered, yanking my hair and grinding my face into the muddy ground.
I grunted in pain, struggling to breathe as blood continued to seep out of me. Faith's voice rang out, filled with disgust and frustration. "You're the real trash here! Remember when we all used to be close friends? Why do you keep tormenting him? When will it end?"
"Shut up, Faith!" Ajax tightened his grip on the back of my head, his eyes flashing with anger. But Faith persisted, her words cutting through the chaos. "It is really sad to see this is who you've become? How can you keep doing this to him?"
As Faith's words hung in the air, a heavy silence descended upon us, filled with the weight of unanswered questions and unspoken regrets.
The anguish in Faith's voice was loud and clear, her concern evident as she look at my with empathic eye at my battered form.
I said "It's alright, Faith," I uttered, my voice hollow and devoid of emotion. "You should go home, we can talk later."
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Amidst the echoing chaos, I couldn't ignore the frantic squeals of the rat in my grasp.
Suddenly, Ajax stood up, snatching the rat from my hands in one swift motion. I tensed, ready to react, but before I could, I was shoved to the ground once more, Ajax's taunts ringing in my ears.
In a menacing whisper, Ajax threatened, "She'll be mine one day, Keinan. Just you wait. And when that day comes, I'll have my way with her."
As he spoke, anger surged within me, but I knew retaliating would only escalate the situation.
Swallowing my pride, I clenched my fists and bared my teeth in silent defiance.
Ajax rose with a final sneer. "Let's get out of here."
"This tear-filled scene is about to make me cry," he mocked, his words dripping with disdain. "And before we grow old like this geezer," he added, gesturing towards me. "Oh, and thanks for the meal," he said callously, eyeing Faith like a predator. "But next time, I'd prefer something juicier." With a final pat on my head, he delivered a resounding smack, the sound reverberating through the corridor.
He then signaled Blaze, his friend, to leave, their cruel laughter echoing in their wake.
Faith rushed to my side, her concern evident. "Are you alright? Can you stand?" she asked softly, her voice laced with sympathy. I could feel her genuine care, but all I could manage was silence, my gaze fixed on the blood pooling beneath me.
Forcing a gloomy smile felt like a betrayal to my inner turmoil. Was I living someone else's life, destined for this fate? My mind wandered, seeking refuge from the bleak reality surrounding me as we walked down the corridor, my thoughts drifting further into the abyss.
Every aspect of my existence felt hollow and devoid of meaning. It seemed as though darkness was slowly eroding away every semblance of hope within me. I grew weary of the perpetual struggle, tired of defending myself and striving to be understood.
Why bother exerting effort to make others comprehend my actions? Despite my best attempts to demonstrate my worth, my efforts fell on deaf ears. The bitter truth emerged: nothing would change, except me. I realized this at a young age.
No amount of reasoning could sway a toxic mindset set against you. Eventually, they would poison the perceptions of others, turning even your closest allies against you. The torment chips away at your mental fortitude.
What was left to say or do? Did I dare hope for a brighter future? Why continue living in a cycle of perpetual misery? It felt like sinking into an endless abyss, all because of a long-forgotten childhood mistake.
I attempted to explain, but they saw only a child devoid of potential, a harbinger of future troubles. The whispers followed me everywhere, branding me as the cursed one.
My words seemed futile, unable to penetrate their ears, minds, or hearts. I had become a mere punchline, a receptacle for their twisted thoughts and words.
At this point, my voice held no sway, no power. In this toxic environment, defeat was inevitable, and weakness prevailed.
The endless cycle of pain and humiliation has worn me down. Perhaps it's time to stop pretending that things will ever change.
Maybe this is just my lot in life, the fate I must accept. As Faith and I navigate the dimly lit corridors of the bunker, her presence is my only anchor, preventing me from crumbling entirely.
She's the only person who still believes in me, who sees something worth salvaging. But even her unwavering support cannot shield me from the cruelty of the world around us.