While the director didn't show much interest in the results of the first two squares, he carefully examined the last three squares of the scratch-off card. He paused for a moment and settled into a more comfortable position. It seemed like these three black squares were the most important to him. His old hands trembled as he began to scratch the third square, revealing another 0 on the card.

Tears streamed down the principal's eyes as he pleaded:

—Please! I don't have much time left! Give me something useful!

With trembling hands and tears falling onto the card, the principal scratched the next black square, revealing another 0.

—No!! Please, don't do this to me!! — The principal screamed, rolling on the floor as if he had lost one of his children.

Adam felt quite sorry for the principal. He understood how the card worked, and it seemed that a single filled square wasn't worth all the years of work. But the redhead didn't know how to console him. He was young and had a whole life ahead, so he couldn't comprehend the director's desperation in these moments.

—Adam... You can scratch the last number for me...— César said with a broken voice, seemingly unable to bear this disappointment any longer.

But to Adam's surprise, the principal stood up again and looked resolutely into the student's eyes, saying:

—If it's more than 5, I think I can make it again. I can't give up; I'll never give up! You have to get more than 5, kid!

With trembling hands, the principal handed the button to Adam and said:

—This button will bring you luck; it belonged to my father's white tunic. You have to do it, Adam! I'm old, and I can feel that everything is about to end soon. But today, you gave me the final push I needed to keep on living. Whenever I get more than 5 I will look for some way to keep fighting and I am sure that next time I will not fail.

Adam took the button while his hands shook violently. The spirit of never giving up, even with the worst possible outcome, infected him too. Struggling to keep the button from slipping out of his hands, Adam sat on the floor and began scratching the last black square.

Old Cesar put his hand on Adam's shoulder, trying to pass on his luck. He raised his other hand to the sky, as if trying to gather the energy of the world, and a determined look appeared on his face as he focused on the number about to appear.

Feeling the energy of the moment, Adam scratched the scratch-and-win card that would decide the director's fate. But an oval curve appeared in the middle, causing Adam to stop and making him even more nervous. This curve meant he could only get: a 9, an 8, or a terrible 0.

—Don't hesitate, Adam: You'll get the 9!— César shouted with all his might, putting both hands on Adam's shoulders and closing his eyes —Today is the day, boy! Today, the 9 will come out! I can feel it!!

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

'9,9,9,9,' Adam repeated like a madman in his head, while sweat appeared on his forehead and fell to the floor around the card. The young hero was completely infected by the atmosphere created by the principal.

With courage and covering the result with one hand, Adam scratched the card. After finishing scratching the square, the young hero lifted his hand in one swift motion: revealing the result.

—Give me a NINEEEEEEEEEEE!!— The principal shouted, almost tearing his throat, raising his hands to the sky and staring at the scratch-and-win card desperately.

Both the principal and Adam leaned their heads close to the card, almost kissing it, and looked at the result incredulously. It wasn't a 0, and it wasn't a 9: It was an 8!!

—We did it, principal! We got an 8!— Adam shouted with joy, looking at his stunned director gazing at the card.

César's look turned completely cold at the result. He didn't celebrate and silently took the card. His hands didn't tremble. His face seemed devoid of any emotion, and with a very calm voice, he said:

—There's no 8 on these cards, kid...

After saying those words, the old principal ran toward one of the school's wooden walls. As he approached it, he didn't stop but accelerated and furiously kicked the wall.

The kick caused a wooden plank to detach from the wall and fall to the floor. Then, the plank began bouncing on the floor as if it were made of rubber, transforming into a wooden skateboard. But it had no wheels; instead, it seemed to float in the air, indicating some magical ability.

The principal looked at the skateboard flying, turned around, glanced at the still dazed redhead on the floor, and with excitement, said:

—Good luck in these shitty times, Adam! Believe me, you'll need it...

Immediately, the wooden skateboard spun in the air and transformed into a metal skateboard. César jumped on it, yelling loudly:

—Cover your ears, kid!!

*Booooom*... Without waiting for Adam, the principal shot out of the school's door towards hexagon 4. His red tunic ripped completely, leaving the principal naked, and it seemed that his old skin was tearing due to the speed he had gained.

*Puff*... Adam rolled on the ground and crashed into the wooden wall from the impact of the director's push. Blood was coming from his facial orifices, and all he could hear was a ringing in his ears as he struggled not to pass out.

With what little strength he had left, the young redhead looked up and saw the director accelerating faster and faster down the main aisle of hexagon 4.

People trying to escape the maniac, who was just speeding up, were being completely pulverized as the director advanced. A trail of fire erupted from behind the skateboard the director was riding, setting the main aisle of hexagon 4 ablaze, and all the bookshelves in the area rushed to attack the director.

Attacks rained down on the director, who was moving faster and faster towards hexagon 0, but he effortlessly dodged or let them hit him, causing parts of his body to fly through the aisles. But that didn't seem to bother César, and he only accelerated towards 00008: To infinity and beyond!

Adam fell to the ground, trying to get up and escape the growing fire in hexagon 4. However, it seemed that a lot of bones in his body had been broken from the impact against the wall, so he couldn't stay on his feet for long.

The young man had become deaf, and all he could hear was a loud ringing in his ears. From the ground, Adam stared in disbelief as hexagon 4 burned in flames on all sides and the chaos of librarians engulfed in fire ran through the aisles, desperately trying to save their lives.

Slowly, the young man's strength dwindled, and his eyes closed in bewilderment as he witnessed this insane scene. The young hero had passed out at the school's entrance, unable to comprehend how the situation had become so unreal.