Chapter One: Madness
828 Words
It was evening in the men's restroom of the senior year building at Midsea City's Seventh High School.
A frail boy was trembling, curled up in the corner of the restroom, surrounded by four boys of similar age who were beating him with a terrifying ferocity.
In no time, the frail boy's body was covered in bruises, his clothes were full of footprints, and there were traces of bloodstains.
The leader of the four squatted down, grabbed the frail boy's hair, and forcefully dragged him to the urinal, pressing his head against the edge, leaving his nose barely five centimeters from the urine in the basin.
The acrid stench was not only nauseating but also shattered his dignity into pieces.
"Listen up, I don't care whether you rob or steal, if I don't see you bringing me a hundred bucks before the end of evening study, I'll make you lick this urinal clean!"
With that, the bully slammed the frail boy's head against the edge of the basin, ignoring the blood seeping from his forehead, stood up, spat disdainfully, and left with wild laughter as if nothing had happened.
The men's restroom returned to silence, and after a while, the frail boy slowly got up from the floor. He looked around the empty restroom, feeling utterly defeated, and the tears that had been welling up in his eyes finally fell uncontrollably.
"Why... why does everyone have to bully me! Does constant tolerance and retreat only make these people more aggressive?"
The years of pent-up resentment finally erupted from the frail boy's heart at that moment, and he let out a roar!
The boy's name was Donny Thompson, a senior year student, born into an ordinary family. His father was a factory worker, and his mother was a full-time housewife.
His family had no power or wealth, and they were truly impoverished. His parents' meager income barely covered daily expenses and his educational costs.
Perhaps due to his family's financial struggles, Donny had been looked down upon by classmates since he started school, becoming a target of ridicule and bullying.
Despite his low self-esteem, he was sensible from a young age and never caused trouble for his family. He never provoked others or got into conflicts, only ever being bullied. No matter how much humiliation he suffered, he would swallow his pride in silence.
But this also caused his personality to become increasingly timid, and over time, not only did the number of bullies not decrease, but they actually increased...
In Donny's memory, whether in elementary or middle school, it seemed like he was humiliated by classmates every day...
But he never imagined a day would come when someone would press his head into a urinal. This unparalleled humiliation struck his soul hard!
Reflecting on everything, tears streamed uncontrollably down Donny's cheeks, and a profound sense of injustice overwhelmed his heart.
He had had enough of such days, a kind of humiliation where his dignity was utterly shattered.
The smell of urine on his clothes and cheeks lingered at his nose, making him wish he could bash his head against the wall.
Just as trees need their bark to survive, people need their dignity. Without it, life is no different from death. So, what's the difference between living and dying?
"Why are you forcing me, why are you forcing me!" Donny murmured softly, filled with anger. His nails dug into his palms from clenching his fists so tightly, yet he felt nothing.
A fierce flame of fury burned in his heart!
In that moment, countless thoughts flashed through Donny's mind, and he came to many realizations. The tears in his eyes gradually stopped, and his expression slowly became resolute.
Deep down, he made a firm decision.
Getting up from the ground, Donny wiped away the tear stains on his face. His eyes were red, and an unintentional change came over him; his weakness and timidity vanished, replaced by a chilling, frightening aura.
Sometimes, for some people, change only requires a moment of thought. The line between angel and demon is thin, isn't it?
He went to the sink to wash his face and the grime from his body. Looking at himself in the mirror, Donny said coldly, "Donny, remember, a good horse is ridden, and a good person is bullied. From now on, you would rather hold your head high and be beaten to death than bow your head and be trampled to death. No one can continue to trample on your dignity!"
At 9:30 PM, the bell marking the end of evening self-study rang on time, and everyone rushed out of the classroom, heading towards the campus exit.
Only Donny remained at his desk, expressionless, silently gazing at the night sky outside, his eyes reflecting a mix of struggle and hesitation.
He knew very well that Felix and his group would not let him go easily, and he knew what awaited him once he stepped out that door.
- Writer
