The bright, gentle morning sunlight bathed Maddenport, a well-developed city in the far east, where towering buildings kissed the sky. Beautifully constructed roads and roundabouts bustled with the usual cacophony of honking vehicles as civilians hurried through their 9 to 5 routines. Children sprinted to their school bus stops, contributing to the lively atmosphere. In Midtown, nestled among various infrastructures, stood a high school where students in white shirts and brown trousers or skirts moved towards their morning classes.
The crowded hallways teemed with high schoolers navigating their way to class.
"You little broke bitch!"
A loud thud echoed from the girls' bathroom, where three older girls surrounded a smaller girl of the same age group, who now lay on the floor, clutching her stomach.
"Do you think we're equals? My dad owns this school. One bad word from me, and you'll say goodbye to all your friends here."
"Oh wait, she doesn't have any, remember?" another older girl added, eliciting giggles from the group.
"Go on, say something!" The ringleader yanked the smaller girl up by her hair.
"You had so much confidence before I struck you. I believe you called me a b**ch. Say it, you little sh!t."
"I don't know what came over me... My name is Maria Gomez. I'm sixteen years old, and what you're witnessing is my daily reality. While others focus on achieving their goals, these girls have made it their mission to ruin my life." Maria, the bullied girl, reflected inwardly.
"Spit it out, you stupid-"
"Stop it!" Maria screamed, scratching the older girl's face as she attempted to swat her hand away. The bully stepped back, touching the fresh cut on her cheek.
Maria stammered in fear, trembling terribly as they all awaited her bully's reaction
"I'm...I'm...I'm sorry... I didn't mean-"
The older girl, face contorted with rage, stormed over and punched Maria, plunging her world into darkness.
"I don't have a perfect life. In fact, I don't have a life at all. My parents argue more often than I eat, yet I convince myself that everything will be okay, despite us being dead broke. I've always been the weird nerd who gets bullied. Yes, I'm the character no one would ever choose to be, hence I have no friends."
Maria narrated as she walked through the fairly crowded streets of Maddenport.
She reached her apartment building, climbed the stairs, and entered. The apartment was unkept, with a rough couch, a tiny old television set, and a family portrait of Maria and her parents. Her father sat on the couch, engrossed in a football match.
Maria's mother walked in, smiling cheerfully as she sights her beloved daughter.
"Good evening." Maria greeted her.
"I got a call from Miss Kimberly about you missing some—what happened to your eye?!" she exclaimed, rushing over to inspect Maria's injury.
"I'm fine, Ma... Ma... Ma!" Maria stammered.
"Who did this to you, Maria?!" her mother demanded, eager to rain down punishment on those responsible for her assault.
"Ma, I said I'm fine. I ran into a pole."
"Don't lie to me, Maria." her mother insisted.
"I'm not lying!" Maria shot back.
"Aren't you going to say anything?! Can't you see your daughter's face?!" Maria's mother roared at her father, who casually ignored the scene, gazing into his television screen.
"John!" she screamed.
"Leave me be, woman." he replied.
"Your daughter is being bullied, and you don't even care. How shameless can you be!" she yelled at him.
"Leave me be." he repeated.
She stared at him, her face a mask of disgust. He had truly failed her as a husband. Every instinct screamed for her to grab a kitchen knife and end her miserable marriage right there.
"Where's Gran Gran?" Maria asked.
"She has a fever... she's resting. And you, you better get ready because I'm filing a child endangerment complaint with the school tomorrow." her mother said, heading to the kitchen.
Maria followed her, protesting, "Child endangerment?! Are you deliberately trying to destroy my social life?!"
"I'm trying to save you before you get yourself killed. Bullying can have—"
"I'm not being bullied! Why can't you ever listen to me? I don't want your help!"
"Maria, go to your room."
"Ma, please—"
"Maria... go to your room."
Maria hesitated, then stormed out. She marched to her room, fell onto her bed, and screamed into her pillow. Her social life, or what little remained of it, was about to be shattered, all thanks to her well-meaning Latina mother. She lay there, a depressed look on her face, waiting for the inevitable end of her social life.
***
The next day, Maria dressed for another dismal day of school. Walking past her grandmother's room, she saw her lying lifelessly in bed but didn't stop. At school, she sat at her desk, the ticking clock growing louder in her mind.
"9:32 a.m. The school day ends at 3 p.m. That means I have about six hours. Mom will probably show up by 12 p.m., giving me three hours to preserve my dignity. Why is my life this way? Why am I... a loser?"
The clock ticked on, and eventually, it struck 3 p.m. The bell rang, and students filed out, laughing and chatting. Maria stood, staring blankly at the departing crowd.
"Huh?" she murmured to herself.
She walked down the streets of Maddenport, lost in thought.
"Mom didn't come to school... she seemed so serious about it. Well, I probably shouldn't worry about it before I jinx it. Right now, I should probably..." she paused, shielding her eyes from the harsh noon sun.
"It's so hot today."
She continued down the crowded streets until she reached her apartment building. She approached her door and knocked, but it creaked open.
"Ma? Pa?... who left the door—"
As she stepped inside, she froze in horror. The apartment had been ransacked and covered in blood. Her parents' mutilated bodies lay on the floor—her father's hand ripped off, his face clawed beyond recognition, and her mother torn in half. The kitchen window, leading to the fire escape, was shattered.
Maria fell to her knees and screamed as loud as she could, and right then, everything went black to her as she lost consciousness.
***
As the hot sun shone down on Maddenport, a young man named Eddy sat on a bus stop bench. His hair was as black as the night sky, and he had a handsome yet intimidating face. Though slim and of average height, his well-built muscles and scarred knuckles spoke of a tough life. With a sword strapped to his back and dressed in all black, he sat quietly, sipping sweetened coffee and staring into the bustling street of Maddenport.