If a person is good looking and talented, aren't they supposed to have things easy? It may be so, but that did not apply to Finn. It just brought him more fakers and haters.
Despite being one of the best in sports, being handsome and having a satisfying academic result, Finn was hated more than liked.
Was it because he was an orphan? Was it because he was always smiling even in front of perils? Was it because he ignored his haters? Was it something he couldn't consider at all?
Finn didn't know. Some even went as far as calling him an embodiment of bad luck because he was the sole survivor of an accident that killed his family when he was 3 years old.
None of this pulled Finn back. He only looked forward, strongly chasing after a soothing life.
– – – – –
At the back of the classroom, a commotion occurred.
The class gang – Back Sitters is what they called themselves – surrounded Finn, the most handsome and popular boy in their class.
"What is it?…" Finn said, glaring at the four people that surrounded him.
With unhidden anger and disgust, the leader of Back Sitters cursed, "You motherfucker. You made my girl stare at you weirdly!"
Confused, Finn blurted, "Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Don't fuck with me!" The Leader lost control himself, launching a punch that connected with Finn's cheek.
Feeling dazed, Finn felt a slight metallic taste in his mouth as he rubbed the point of impact. Before he could retort, a leg hit his chest, pushing him to the walls.
The other three watched as their leader, Dan, humiliated the guy they hated so much. They also had eyes that sent every other member of the class away from interfering.
Not that many people would though, most were satisfied with Finn getting beat up… It wasn't everyday they saw a show like this.
Crouching in front of where Finn was struggling with the pain, Dan rambled.
"Who do you think you are? Acting all cool and fresh after winning a mere basketball game to attract girls attention. You should have thought of the result of your actions well!"
After sitting with his back to the wall, Finn smiled in response, "Heh, I don't remember you having a girl… and even if you did, she clearly knows who is better if she couldn't resist looking at me."
"What?!"
Pushing further, Finn added, "I'll put it in meat head terms. I. Am. Better. Than. You."
If he couldn't hurt Dan physically, he'd hurt him mentally.
The provocation clearly worked as Dan removed the sun glasses he wore and grabbed Finn's collar.
Hidden underneath the glasses were red eyes. Being closer to Dan, Finn could also smell a foul odor.
Realization flickered in Finn's eye. "Bastard! You took drugs."
Being high, Dan currently had a surge of energy and he wanted to use it to push Finn to a corner. But after being provoked, Dan lost it all. He just wanted the bastard to die.
Finn immediately attempted to leave Dan's grip, but he couldn't. Dan pushed him again, making his back hit the wall.
With his other hand, Dan punched Finn in the face over and over. As black and red spots appeared on Finn's face, blood spilled all around him. A scene that was becoming gruesome.
Murmurs surged as the classmates watched with worry… and fear. The madman, Dan, was acting more wild than usual.
The rest of the back sitters also felt unease as they began trying to stop Dan.
"Bro, it's okay. He has had it."
"Y-yeah. A teacher will be here soon…"
Dan didn't bat an eye at them, he continued raining heavy blows on Finn's face.
One of the three had a worrying thought that he shared. "Do you guys think… maybe he is actually high?"
They all gulped at the thought. It was possible. Out of anger and jealousy, Dan consumed way more than other days today. But, he claimed he was alright and they trusted him blindly.
The Backsitters moved closer to Dan, but before they could touch him, Dan said sternly, "Hey! Leave me alone or I'll beat you too."
Although they were scared of Dan, they had to stop him before things went out of hand.
With Dan stopping for a bit, Finn wanted to take opportunity and escape from his grasp. His head was hurting badly, he needed to do something about it first.
Finn used his leg that was directly underneath Dan to push him back. Dan, who was crouching, went falling to his butt.
Finn ignored the pain and stood up, running towards the exit. 'Live to fight another day, they say,' He thought as he ran.
Dan pushed back those who where holding him down and chased after Finn. "You really think you'll humiliate me and just get away with it?" He yelled, revealing a pocket knife that was in his hand.
Finn was feeling too much pain in his head that his body struggled to move, while Dan, pumped with drug energy, covered the distance in large strides and appeared right by Finn.
Before Finn could get a hold of the door handle, he felt a sharp pain at his right side. He subconsciously put his hand where he felt the pain, feeling a warm fluid come out from there.
"I should have followed what 'em gang said since and put you in the hospital." Dan hissed as he looked at Finn fall to the floor.
The rest of the backsitters quickly gathered around Dan, who had a satisfied look.
"Bastard, that might actually kill him!"
"Forget that guy, let's get this sucker to the clinic or something!"
Then the one who checked Finn's state added, "G-guys... He's basically dea-"
"Fuck that, just call an ambulance!"
But that was too late.
Lying on the floor with his hand trying to cover the cut, Finn felt his vitality drop, his life flashing through his eyes.
Different parts of his face had swollen, blood trailing out of his mouth and eyes. Where he laid, a puddle of crimson liquid formed.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!!"
"He's dying."
"Someone, do something!"
The class burst into turmoil at the sight of blood and Finn's unrecognizable face.
The backsitters also had a pale look as they thought of the trouble they were in.
Everyone had subconsciously accepted that Finn could not be saved.
Finn could barely see anymore, his sight was blurry and his eyelids felt like it was a mountain. He could feel blood dripping from his forehead, mouth and eyes flowing down his hurting face.
He wanted to move, but it felt like his body wasn't his anymore.
He didn't want to die.
As he struggled to hold onto the tiny bits of his consciousness, although faint, he heard the screams of his classmates change from one tone to another.
At that moment it felt like their fake worries and cries had turned to shock regarding something else.
In his blurry view, he saw a sort of light descend, filling the whole classroom in its brightness and covering his classmates in an ethereal glow.
-Vroom-
One by one, they began to vanish.
Finn felt his life force plummet and sought a last minute amusement in his head.
'Heh, is this divine judgment? That's good for you suckers.
'God, while you're at it, could you maybe… give me a nice second life. I want to have a good family and friends this time…'
When he felt his mind and soul feeling sucked into who knows where, he added weakly.
"Wishing for a nice, satisfactory life is not too selfish, no?"
And so, he fell into nothingness…
He felt his mind, consciousness, and memories he cherished become one. A suction force pulled him like water flowing through a pipe as if the destination craved gobbling him.
After an amount of time Finn couldn't discern, he felt the suction force gradually reduce… then, he halted.
He couldn't see anything at that moment, he was merely discerning what was going on by the sensation he got around him.
'So… Am I in the underworld or something?' Finn thought. 'I can't see… nor can I hear and smell, but I can feel to a certain extent. Hm, this place doesn't feel gloomy like I expected the underworld to feel…
'Question still stands, where am I?' A sudden realization dawned on Finn, 'I can't remember much of my lifetime. How did it go...?'
Just then, a delicate voice sounded within Finn.
[Your evolution is about to be completed…]
[Your Spirit Body and Astral Body have been strengthened.]
Finn felt a surge of fragments of his memories well up and merged with him once more, making him remember things he could only vaguely discern a few moments ago.
After, he felt his body float a bit, as though a chain that had been binding him was broken.
[Successful. You have evolved.]
[You have become a Great Phantom.]
[You're struggling to inhabit a White Fenrir.]
'Wh-what is this!'