Since the beginning of Onyx and Maximus's friendship, they had become the center of attention in class. They were always seen sitting together on the school grounds, and Onyx would even wait for Maximus at the school gate. They copied each other's assignments, and whenever they failed, they both went down together with a score of zero.
"I'm worried about Maximus. Why is he even hanging out with that woman?" whispered a group of female students.
"It's such a waste. Someone as handsome as Maximus, befriending that idiot," another added.
"Fine, let's confront Maximus after school and tell him the truth."
"Oh, I want in too! I'm going to confess my feelings to him directly. Let me do the talking."
The clique of girls planned to meet Maximus after school to profess their love and warn him.
"Ringggg!!!"
The school bell rang. Students filed out of the classroom to head home. From the corner of the room, Alpha Trion's head peeked out, spying on Maximus and Onyx from the window of the adjacent classroom.
"Tch... I will destroy your friendship. Nexus's grudge must be avenged! This time, I won't just stand by and watch!!" Alpha Trion hissed.
He jumped out of the window and pulled a rifle from his backpack. This time he was dead serious; he was going to finish off Maximus and Onyx.
"Heh... you'll regret this, Maximus!" Alpha Trion chuckled to himself.
...
"Bye, Max. See you tomorrow morning!" Onyx waved as she left. Once she was out of sight, the group of girls waited in the bushes, ready to ambush Maximus.
SWOOSH!!
Alpha Trion dashed toward Maximus.
"HIYAHHH!!!" Alpha Trion aimed his weapon and pulled the trigger, firing at Maximus until a thick cloud of smoke engulfed him.
"Maximus!!" a female voice called out, muffled by the distance.
Hearing the commotion, Onyx hid behind a fence, listening intently.
...
"What?" Alpha Trion muttered.
Maximus stood tall, coughing through the thick smoke surrounding him.
He tried to wave the smoke away with his hands. "What is this? Cough, cough!" Maximus asked.
Alpha Trion froze. His attack had no effect. "Why... why isn't my attack working?" "RAAAGHHH!!!" Alpha Trion fired at Maximus again.
But the bullets hitting Maximus simply bounced off, doing absolutely nothing.
"Hahahaha!!" Maximus burst into laughter. As it turned out, the gun Alpha Trion was using was actually a toy.
"Your weapon is fake, you moron. It won't work on m—"
SPLASH!!
A sudden torrent of water blasted into Maximus's face.
Gurgle, gurgle!
Maximus choked on the water from Alpha Trion's water gun. The stream was so powerful it forced its way into his mouth. Maximus collapsed to the ground, unconscious, with X's for eyes.
"Hahaha!... Just a trick, kid!" Alpha Trion laughed, satisfied with his achievement.
"Hey!! Toys are forbidden at the academy! Give that to me!" shouted a security guard approaching them.
Alpha Trion immediately bolted, with the guard in hot pursuit. "Hey, Trion! Get back here!"
"Maximus, are you okay?" Onyx asked, rushing to his side.
Maximus gave a thumbs up.
"Whew...! Thank goodness!" Onyx sighed. She reached out to help him up.
"Ugh... my nose hurts!" Maximus complained, pinching his bridge.
...
In the bushes, the girls were furious that their plan had been ruined. "Why did that bastard Trion have to show up!! RGHHHH!!! I'm going to beat up Onyx!" one of them snarled. She tried to jump out, but the others held her back.
"Shoot, I have to get home fast!" Onyx said, checking the time on her gadget. "I really need to head back, hehe. See you again, Max!"
"Yeah!" Maximus replied. Onyx ran off, leaving Maximus at the gate. She took the left path while Maximus headed right.
As Maximus walked away, a voice whispered from the shadows, "This is my chance!"
WUSH!!
A girl from their class emerged from the bushes while her friends watched from afar. "Hi, Max!" she said.
"Oh!!" Maximus jumped.
"Ranny? Why did you pop out like that?" The girl was Ranny.
She looked at him and said, "Sorry to bother you, Max. Listen, I have something I need to tell you."
Ranny grabbed Maximus's arm. "...It's about Onyx Vatum. Are you sure you want to be her friend? Don't you know the truth about her?"
Maximus remained silent, looking at Ranny with a mix of confusion and hesitation.
Ranny continued, "Onyx isn't a good person. Her father is a corruptor, and you know what else? She used to smoke in class, even before her parents were arrested."
"And you know what's more?" Ranny added.
"She's five years older than a normal student. She failed her grade for five years straight."
"You're in danger,"
"Slowly but surely, she'll start depending on you and using you."
Ranny reached for Maximus's hand. "Come with me. Leave her behind. I promise I won't be a burden to you." Maximus pulled his hand away from Ranny's grip.
Ranny froze. Her friends and even the students watching from afar were stunned. "Wh-what?!!!"
Maximus glared at Ranny. "You all keep judging Onyx like that. If you hate her, don't drag others into it. You hate being bullied, yet you are the ones bullying her. It's not fair!"
Maximus walked away quickly, leaving Ranny behind without a second glance. Ranny shouted after him, "She's brainwashed you, Maximus! You've been deceived!"
"It's not too late, Maximus! Stay away from her, or you'll only find disappointment!"
"Maximus!!"
"Come back!"
"MAXIMUS!!"
But Maximus kept walking, ignoring everything Ranny screamed behind him.
***
THUD!!!
Onyx fell to the ground. "How many men are you planning to poison?" a woman spat at her. Onyx was at a bar, wearing a maid uniform. She had been shoved to the floor.
"How many times do I have to say it?"
"St-ay a-way from Maximus!!" The woman stepped on Onyx's back.
"I'm sorry, Ranny... please!" Onyx whimpered in pain.
It was Ranny, the same girl who had just confronted Maximus. Her gaze was sharp and cold, as if she wanted to kill her.
"You must be so happy, aren't you, Onyx?"
WHACK!
"Take this, you bitch!" one of Ranny's friends yelled, swinging her backpack at Onyx. They kicked Onyx until she was thrown across the floor. The assault was brutal, leaving her struggling to even get up.
Ranny grabbed Onyx's bag, doused it in alcohol, and struck a lighter.
"No!!" Onyx cried. Ranny dropped the lighter, letting the bag burn, and snapped a few photos.
Ranny and her friends prepared to leave after venting their rage.
"My followers are going to love this content!" Ranny smirked. "Daughter of a corruptor!"
"Murderer!"
Once they were gone, Onyx slowly pushed herself up. She watched her backpack being consumed by flames. She looked around at the people in the bar, but it was as if she didn't exist. No one cared.
Onyx crawled toward her bag and reached for it, trying to stand while holding the scorched remains.
"Onyx! Hurry up and brew the drinks for table 26!" a waiter barked.
"Yes, sir!" she replied.
"Move it! If the customers complain, I'm cutting your pay!"
...
Onyx delivered the order to table 26. "Here... your drinks, sir."
"Hey-hey... aren't you Onyx Vatum?" the man at the table asked.
"I saw what happened over there. I feel sorry for how they treated you."
"..."
"Listen, I can give you an extra big tip. But on one condition." The man winked. He began to grope Onyx's hand.
Onyx closed her eyes. "No," she whispered.
"Useless brat!" a thundering voice echoed in her mind—a memory of someone else's voice.
...
"So, what do you say? My offer is limited!" the man pressed.
Onyx set the glass on the table.
"...Let's talk in the guest room," she said quietly.
"Oho!" The man reached into his pocket and handed Onyx a large stack of cash. "My style is to pay the customer upfront!"
Onyx took the money and walked away, the man following close behind. Her eyes were empty and hollow. In the distance, another employee watched and smirked.
...
The chirping of crickets signaled the late hour as the bar finally closed. Onyx's part-time shift was over.
"Onyx!!" Kraken was there, waiting for her.
"I knew I'd find you here! Wait—what happened? You're covered in scratches!"
"...Sorry, Kraken, I'm in a hurry to get home," Onyx said, turning her back to him.
Kraken grabbed her hand. "Wait, you're hurt. Look at your arm—it's bruised and bleeding. The blood has already dried; has this been like this for a while?"
"It's nothing. I'm fine, Kraken. I'll treat it at home," Onyx insisted.
"No... we're going to the hospital," Kraken said firmly. He pulled her along, insisting she get help.
They arrived at the hospital. Onyx was treated immediately, her arm now wrapped in bandages. It happened that the one treating her was Dr. Drugger.
"...Were you a victim of violence?" Dr. Drugger asked. Onyx remained silent, refusing to answer or even look the doctor in the eye. "Hey, child. It's okay. You can tell me."
"You already know the answer, don't you?" Onyx asked. "Why do you keep asking? Are you pretending to care about me?" Tears began to stream down her face. She broke down, sobbing in front of the doctor.
Dr. Drugger stayed silent, continuing to wrap the bandage.
"Nobody cares!... Everyone hates me. It's like I was never meant to exist in this world!" Onyx cried. Dr. Drugger paused. His own eyes welled with tears as he witnessed her pain.
He pulled Onyx into a tight embrace. "There now, child... don't cry anymore. I'm sorry I can't do more to help you," he whispered. Onyx hugged him back tightly—a warmth she had never felt before.
To be continued....