[VOLUME COVER PICTURE]

(This Is a Male MC story)

The city of Tenebrous was a dark and scary place. The sun never shone, and the air was filled with sadness and hopelessness.

The streets were dangerous, with gangs fighting and hurting innocent people. The roads were broken and crumbling, showing how much the city had decayed.

The government, police, and courts were all corrupt. They were supposed to help, but instead, they took bribes and ignored the people's suffering.

Many people lived in fear, struggling to survive. They boarded up their windows to keep the danger out. But despite the hardships, a small spark of hope remained.

For every family that found safety, many more had to navigate the treacherous streets.

Their lives were a constant battle for survival. Gunfire and screams filled the night, a reminder that life was fragile and death lurked around every corner.

..

As the heavy rain poured down, a worried woman hurried through the flooded streets, her small umbrella struggling to keep her dry. Her hair, usually tied back, fell down her back like a river, and her work clothes clung to her shivering body.

She rushed towards the school building, her eyes fixed on the door. She was always on time, but the unexpected storm had caught her off guard.

As she splashed through the puddles, she worried about her son's safety and her own job troubles. She worked hard, but her company was corrupt, and she was underpaid.

She felt trapped, unable to quit due to the lack of jobs in the city. Finding a new job was daunting, and the fear of unemployment kept her in a job that barely covered her family's needs. Despite her struggles, she pushed on for her son's sake.

Finally, she reached the school gates and banged on the metal door, her heart racing with anxiety.

The iron gates creaked under her frantic knocks. BANG! BANG! BANG!!! The thunder boomed in unison, as if mocking her desperation.

She had lost her husband, Carlos, to the city's brutality two years ago.

He had been forced into a life of crime to provide for their family, but it had ultimately led to his death.

The memory of that day still haunted her, the sound of gunfire and screams etched in her mind like a scar.

Her son, a bright 12-year-old in the seventh grade, was her only family, her reason for survival.

The school, though far from ideal, was the only option in that forsaken city.

The streets were a war zone, where gangs and criminals roamed free, preying on the innocent.

As she waited for someone to answer the door, her anxiety grew.

She was plagued by worst-case scenarios, her mind racing with fears of kidnapping, harm, or worse.

The storm raged on, with lightning illuminating the dark sky and thunder booming through the air. She was soaked to the bone, her hair whipping in the wind.

She tried to call the teacher, but there was no answer. Panic set in, her heart racing with fear. She was consumed by grief, her body shaking with sobs.

She thought about her life, about the choices she had made, and the circumstances that had led her there.

She had never wanted this life, this constant struggle, this fear that gripped her heart every time her son was out of sight.

She had wanted a simple life, a happy life, a life where her family could thrive. But fate had taken her husband away, and now she was left to face the dangers of the city alone.

Her mind was filled with memories of what could have been, of what should have been.

She remembered the day Carlos told her he was involved with gangs, the fear that gripped her heart, and the pleas she made to him to leave it all behind.

But he was trapped, caught in a web of violence and deceit, and she was powerless to save him.

And now, she was powerless to save her son. She wanted Carlos back, she wanted her family back, she wanted her hope back.

But the rain kept falling, the thunder kept booming, and the school door remained shut, a constant reminder that some doors could never be reopened.

Before she could knock again, the gate creaked open. Selene didn't hear the woman approach, too caught up in her own distress.

The woman's voice was harsh and unforgiving. "How can we help? It's raining, and it's not safe for us to be outside."

Selene felt her anger building up, but pushed it down. She looked up at the woman, her eyes fixed on her face. "I'm Selene, Malakai Gomez's mother. I'm here to pick up my son."

The woman's expression didn't change, but she nodded. "Follow me." Selene followed her into the school, her heart still racing with fear and anxiety. She felt like something was wrong, like her son was in danger.

As she walked, she took in the dimly lit hallway, the peeling paint and worn floors a sign of the school's neglect.

She quickened her pace, her eyes fixed on the woman's back, her heart pounding in her chest.

Selene looked around the dimly lit hallway, seeing the graffiti on the walls, the worn floors, and the faded posters. But she didn't pay much attention, focusing only on getting her son and herself home safely.

She followed the woman, her eyes fixed on the back of her head, thinking about Malakai's smile and warm hugs.

The hallway seemed long, the silence between them uncomfortable, with only their footsteps echoing off the walls.

Selene's heart still raced with worry, her mind still thinking about worst-case scenarios, but she pushed it aside, focusing only on reuniting with her son.

She walked faster, her eyes fixed on the woman's back, breathing quickly as if she was running.

Finally, they turned a corner, and Selene saw the classroom door. Her heart filled with joy, she fixed her eyes on the door as if it was the most wonderful sight.

The woman opened the door, and Selene's eyes scanned the room until they landed on a familiar face, a bright smile, and warm, loving eyes.