: Solar Burst

When walked out of the entrance and turned the corner, there were five men wearing masks. 'They seem to be waiting for someone. I shouldn't bother them.' I thought to myself as I walked past them.

Slam!

A guy slammed to the wall without a moment's notice.

"Wa-what are you-"

Before I could finish my sentence a clothe went around my mouth and I couldn't make a sound.

One guy raised a bat while the other raised his fist. Punch after punch, and swing after swing, blood trickled down my face, cutting my vision. I didn't know what their motive was and I don't even know what I did to deserve this. All I could focus on was the pain. The pain from everything.

"Hey! What are you guys doing?!"

A voice rescued me from the beating that I had to endure. They all scattered and the person came over and helped me get up.

Creak!

I heard a door open and felt the air conditioning. Before I knew it, I was lying on a bed. I heard shuffles around the room. I felt a mask over my nose and I drifted off to sleep. I was numb from all the pain.

…

I was later in bed with a splitting headache from the blows. I could barely move my whole body and it felt like I was frozen on the bed. 'Breathe slowly. Don't panic. Don't get up. Don't think.' I breathed in and out while looking straight at the ceiling. My vision seemed better than before.

Creak!

"You have a visitor. Would like to see them?" The doctor asked.

"Yes," I replied.

I already knew who the person was, before they came into the room.

"Felix! Are you OK?!"

My concerned little sister came into the room in a hurry. She immediately grabbed a chair and pulled it close to my hospital bed.

"Yes…yes…I am ok."

My voice was a bit low but still audible. I turned my head slowly and saw her blonde hair dangled over me, as she peered down at me.

"Who did this to you? Tell me. Tell me, right now!"

"If I knew then I would have destroyed them already. You know that Luna."

"Ya, but-"

"Listen. All you need to do is do well in middle school. Mom and Dad aren't here to spoil us, so try your hardest."

Our parents had died when I was 10 and when my sister was 7. We grieved over the loss for a whole week before we started to accept it. That is when me and my sister started to distance ourselves, but we still visit each other often. I didn't have time to pray for them cause I required money, and the work as an information broker is paying well. So, I continued my work, until my sister found out.

She didn't like the idea of me getting in danger because of my job. Luckily, I was able to persuade her and kept my job. Even though she is younger than me, she acts like she is older and more mature. She is smart and cute. No one can outmatch her, not even the most popular celebrity.

"How is school? I don't think I ever asked you abo it school." I asked.

"Well, it has been doing alright." She sighed.

"What do you mean, "alright" has anyone been bothering you."

"You're one to talk."

"Huh?"

"Look at you. You are in a hospital bed."

"I guess lots of things have been bothering me."

We talked for hours and hours until she asked a question that I could never answer.

"By the way, who brought you here? I know damn well you could not have the strength to crawl yourself to the hospital."

"I-I don't know. My vision was cut because of the blood, but their voice was a bit recognizable."

"Looks like you owe an unknown person, a favor."

"I don't believe it will work out for me in the end."

I sigh deeply, knowing that whoever helped me wants something big in return, and if they know my job, then I am screwed. 'Do I have to make a contract or do I have to break into a house?' I kept thinking all the ways they could use me.

'Goddamn it! If it weren't for those bitches, then I could be free of worry!' My heart could never refuse to offer something to someone who helped me or my sister majorly. But, I get worried when they know my job and can take advantage of me.

…

After hours of talking with my sister, she left to do her homework and study in the house. The doctor said that it was gonna take 3 days for more to recover from my injuries. That means assignments and homework are gonna pile up which also means more stress.

I lie on the bed, feeling…weird. I never really had a chance to relax because of my job. 'I think I should absorb these 3 days.' I close my eyes and fall into a deep sleep.

…

I walk down a hallway with multiple kids eyeing me down. Each side of the hallway was either staring at me or whispering about me.

"This guy is a living misfortune upon us."

"I heard he creates fake rumors about his friends because they don't follow his expectations."

"I can't wait for the day he gets expelled from this school. What is an unranked and doing in this school anyway?"

"What is his use in this society? The world doesn't have any people who do not have status."

Each sentence hurts harder than the other. I don't want to cry or flare up at these people, but I still think about their words. 'What does it mean to be free? What does it mean to be happy? What does it mean to be famous?' I thought to myself.

'What is the meaning of life when it hurts so much?' I kept walking while questioning the meaning of almost everything. With each step I take, more questions arise, and each hallway I enter, the more people talk and glare.

"Excuse me, are you Felix Taylor?" My voice asked.

I turned and saw her. The one that would ruin my middle school life. The one that will make my heart implode and my head spin as fast as a tornado…

…

I open my eyes to be greeted by the same ceiling. I can still remember the dream I had vividly. I looked out the window next to my bed and found it was pitch black outside. I checked the time on my phone and found that it was 10:00 p.m.

"You're awake."

I turned and saw the person that I hated the most. The one who ruined my middle school life.

"Why are you here?" I questioned with an annoyed, yet serious tone.

"Come on, have a little respect for me. After all, I did save from getting the beating of a lifetime."

"You know damn well I didn't need you to step in."

"But, you did."

I grit my teeth knowing I have to give her something in return for helping me.

"I already signed the goddamn contract. What else do you want from me?"

"But, that contract isn't really to my liking."

"You're just as selfish as ever, Alice."

She walked closer to me with a mischievous grin.

"And, I know you can never refuse to offer something in return, Felix. I even cared to pay the medical bills."

"What do you want from me?"

"It is just a simple favor of course. Nothing different from your current mission."

"Sigh. Don't tell me you want someone's information."

"Well, not only one but three. I want you to tell me to get some info from my former classmates."

"Fine."

"But I haven't even said their names."

"You know me already. Why don't you believe in me?"

"You are right, I do believe you can figure out who I am talking about."

"If you are here just to make that request, then leave already."

"Alright, alright, geez you're such a letdown."

She opens the door and gets ready to leave, but then turns around and stares at me for a bit.

"You better not make me dissatisfied." She said with a wink.

I took a deep breath and lay down in the bed.

"I guess I have even more work when I get out of this bed."

I fall into another deep sleep, thinking about tomorrow, and if it is gonna be like hell…