The metallic taste of blood lingers in my mouth as I stagger down the alley. Rain pours relentlessly, soaking through my tattered hoodie and chilling me to the bone. My ribs ache with every shallow breath, and my right hand trembles as I clutch the envelope—the last remnants of my pride.
"You really thought you could play in our league?" a voice echoes from behind me, mocking and cruel. I don't need to turn around to know who it is. The face of betrayal is seared into my mind.
Lucas. My best friend—or so I thought.
A dry laugh escapes my lips, bitterness cutting through the pain. Lucas, the golden boy. Always the leader, always the one people flocked to, even if it meant stomping over others to get there. And me? I was his shadow, the guy he could toss aside when he didn't need me anymore.
The darkness around me feels endless, the walls of the alley closing in. My body finally gives out, collapsing onto the wet asphalt. My vision blurs as exhaustion and despair wrap their hands around my throat. This is it, isn't it? My grand finale.
But just as the cold claims me, the world shifts.
I wake up gasping, my chest heaving like I've been drowning. Sunlight floods my room, far too bright for my aching head. My heart pounds as I scan the space.
Wait... this room?
The posters of video game characters and rock bands on the walls, the worn-out desk cluttered with schoolbooks... This can't be real.
I scramble out of bed, my hands running over the cheap wooden furniture, the faded carpet, the barely functional fan in the corner. My chest tightens. This room belonged to a version of me long gone.
The mirror above my dresser catches my eye. I stumble toward it, my reflection stopping me cold. Gone are the scars, the hollow cheeks, the weathered eyes of a man beaten down by life. Staring back at me is a face I haven't seen in over a decade.
Fifteen. I'm fifteen again.
For a moment, my mind struggles to process it, but then the memories hit me like a tidal wave. The pain, the betrayals, the mistakes I made... and the fire that consumed everything I loved.
I clutch the edge of the dresser, my knuckles turning white. This isn't just some fever dream. Somehow, I've been thrown back into the past, given a chance to relive the years that ruined me.
My heart races, anger surging through my veins as the faces of those who wronged me flash before my eyes. Lucas, the first to stab me in the back. Amanda, who used my loyalty against me. Even my own family, who turned a blind eye when I needed them most.
But not this time.
I take a deep breath, the old despair giving way to something sharper, more dangerous.
I have the knowledge of the future. Their tricks, their lies—I know them all. And this time, I'm going to beat them at their own game.
I pull on a fresh set of clothes, feeling the strange weight of nostalgia. The school uniform is just as uncomfortable as I remember, the tie always slightly too tight. But now, it's more than a nuisance. It's a reminder of the battlefield I'm walking into.
Downstairs, the sound of my mother humming in the kitchen sends a pang through my chest. It's been years since I heard that melody, a memory buried under the rubble of everything that went wrong.
"Morning, Mom," I say as casually as I can, though my voice cracks.
She turns, her smile warm and unguarded. "You're up early for a change. Did you sleep well?"
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Yeah... I did."
Her back is turned as she flips pancakes on the stove, and for a moment, I allow myself to just stand there, absorbing the scene. This is the woman who once sacrificed everything for me, only to be left broken and alone when I couldn't protect her. I won't let that happen again.
As I head out the door, the familiar sights of my neighborhood come into view. The streets are quieter than I remember, the air filled with the faint scent of dew. Nostalgia tugs at me, but I shake it off.
There's no time to get sentimental.
At school, it's as if nothing has changed. The halls buzz with the chatter of teenagers, their lives so small and insignificant compared to what I know lies ahead. My classmates barely glance my way, just as they didn't the first time around.
But I'm not here to blend in.
The moment I step into homeroom, my gaze locks onto Lucas. He sits at the back, surrounded by his usual entourage, the picture of confidence. His laughter grates on my nerves, every detail of his smirk etched into my memory.
This time, I'll be the one laughing last.
As the teacher drones on about assignments, my mind races, calculating my next moves. Lucas's downfall is inevitable, but I can't rush it. I need to play my cards right, build my influence, and set the stage for his collapse.
The bell rings, and as I gather my things, a girl's voice pulls me from my thoughts.
"Hey, you're... Ethan, right?"
I glance up to see Amanda standing in front of me, her eyes wide with curiosity. She's younger, softer than the manipulative woman I remember, but her smile is already laced with that same cunning edge.
For a split second, my resolve wavers. But then I remember the scars she left on my soul.
"Yeah," I reply, my tone measured. "That's me."
Her smile widens. "You're in my history class, right? Want to study together sometime?"
The old me would've jumped at the chance. The new me sees it for what it is—a trap.
I smile back, keeping my true emotions buried. "Sure. Why not?"
As she walks away, I feel the weight of my past lifting, replaced by a steely determination.
This is my second chance. My enemies won't see me coming. And when the time is right, I'll make them pay for everything they've done.
I glance out the window, the sun dipping below the horizon. A storm is coming, and this time, I'll be the one to unleash it.