After a challenging day at the academy, Aiden often had to leave school promptly to make it to his part-time job. His family depended on his income since his father was an irresponsible man who often squandered his money on drinking and other vices. To make matters more complicated, Aiden had to provide the money for medical bills of his bipolar mother . Aiden was determined to provide for his younger siblings and give them a chance at a brighter future.
The workload at the academy and his job were taking a toll on Aiden, but he was willing to endure it for the sake of his family, focused on his studies, and didn't let the taunts and jeers of his classmates deter him. Aiden was driven by a deep sense of responsibility, and he knew the academy was his best chance at securing a better future for his family.
As Aiden left the academy and began his journey to work, he had an uneasy feeling. The setting sun cast long shadows, and the alleyway he needed to pass through was shrouded in darkness. Aiden quickened his pace, hoping to reach his workplace without any trouble.
However, as he turned the corner and entered the dimly lit alley, he was confronted by a group of his classmates, led by Sean and Tom. It was clear that they had been waiting for him, and malice gleamed in their eyes.
Sean, the ringleader of the group, sneered. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Aiden the troublemaker. We warned you to stay away from Amelia, but you just don't listen, do you?"
Aiden's heart sank. He knew he was in a vulnerable position, and there was no one around to help him. The narrow alley provided no escape. He stammered, "I told you, we're just studying together. I don't want any trouble."
Tom, a burly boy with a mean streak, stepped forward, cracking his knuckles menacingly. "It's too late for that, Aiden. You should have listened to us."
The other two classmates, Ryan and Jake, closed in, blocking any path Aiden might have considered for escape. Fear welled up inside him, but he refused to show it. He had faced adversity before, and he wouldn't back down now.
The attack began with Sean's clenched fist, aimed at Aiden's stomach. Aiden tried to dodge it, but the blow still landed, causing him to double over in pain. Tom followed up with a punch to Aiden's face, and Aiden stumbled backward, his nose bleeding.
Despite the pain, Aiden's determination to protect his family gave him strength. He managed to land a punch on Ryan's jaw, but it only seemed to anger the bullies further. They closed in, delivering a relentless barrage of punches and kicks.
The world blurred as Aiden struggled to remain conscious. He could hear the taunts and insults from his classmates, their laughter ringing in his ears. The pain was excruciating, but he refused to give in to the darkness that threatened to consume him.
"Beat the life out of him!" Sean yelled, consumed by anger, and his hatred for Aiden was evident. "After today, you'll never defy us again." He spat out the words with fury. The group of four continued their brutal assault on Aiden, delivering kicks and punches relentlessly. Aiden could feel his strength waning, blood trickling down from the corner of his lip. He tried to scream for help, but the cacophony of passing vehicles and other ambient noises drowned out his cries, rendering him entirely helpless.
"Force him to his knees," Sean commanded his friends. They seized the weakened Aiden, forcing him down onto his knees. Aiden was too feeble to resist, his face covered in bruises, and he had sustained several broken bones from the relentless beating. He clutched his broken arm with the other, his gaze fixed on the unyielding concrete floor of the alley.
"Hey, you," Sean sneered as he grabbed Aiden's face. "From now on, you'll obey me like a dog, understand?"
Being compared to a dog by Sean incensed Aiden. He raised his head sharply and headbutted Sean in the face.
Sean's reaction was immediate, "Damn it!" he cried out in agony. Aiden's headbutt had broken Sean's nose, and blood began to flow. Sean clutched his nose to stop the bleeding.
Aiden managed a small, triumphant grin for hurting Sean, but his moment of victory was cut short by a brutal punch from Tom, who was furious at Aiden's actions. The others resumed their assault, this time with even more vicious kicks and punches.
Once the flow of blood from Sean's nose had subsided, he approached Aiden in anger. "Leave him to me, I'll handle this bastard myself." Sean seized Aiden by the throat and slammed him hard against the wall. "I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget, you piece of garbage."
Sean swiftly produced a short knife from his pocket, leaving Tom and the others shocked. The question lingered in their minds: was Sean going to stab Aiden?
Aiden, however, was overwhelmed by fear. His life flashed before his eyes, and he wasn't prepared to die. Who would take care of his siblings if he were gone? He was terrified.
"Why the hell are you all just staring? Hold him down!" Sean barked at his friends, and they complied, pinning Aiden to the ground.
"Hold out his fingers," Sean ordered, and they did as they were told. "After this, you'll never touch me again, and you'll obey my every command." Sean's voice was filled with resentment as he dug the knife's tip under one of Aiden's thumbnails, ruthlessly tearing it off.
Aiden's agonized scream pierced the air. He had never experienced such excruciating pain in his life. Even Tom and the others, who had initially been part of the attack, were taken aback by Sean's cruelty, thinking, "This is an entirely different level of cruelty," but they dared not intervene.
Sean showed no mercy. He seized another finger. "You dog, will you obey me now? Huh?" He demanded as Aiden wailed.
"Please, don't do it, I beg you," Aiden pleaded through his tears.
"Will you be my obedient dog?" Sean's anger was evident.
"I will, I'll obey you," Aiden nodded, the pain too much to bear.
"Good dog," Sean said before cruelly tearing off another nail.
Aiden's cry of agony reverberated again, and Tom and the others couldn't bear to watch any longer. They turned their heads away, feeling pity for the suffering Aiden.
Aiden's eyes were bloodshot, filled with anger towards Sean. If given the chance to retaliate at that moment, he would have killed Sean without hesitation.
"Alright, boys, let's leave him; that's enough for today. He's learned his lesson," Sean declared without a hint of remorse.
The trio left Aiden in the alley, battered and broken, to fend for himself.
Aiden could barely move; he was crawling from weakness. He reached a corner and wept, his determination to seek revenge against the four who had brutalized him burning brighter than ever.