The Doubts of Max’s First Friend

"Should I intervene?" Devon was feeling dizzy. She deeply believed her deskmate was a good guy, and no one deserved to be beaten up by Brucks, the bully. Subtly, without him noticing, Devon tilted her head and glanced at Max with sympathy.

Max, keeping his eyes closed, thought, "Is it just my imagination, or is Devon getting more worried as the classes go on? I hope she doesn't get involved. That would make things way too boring."

The only reason he was so interested in Devon was her personality. She was the only person, apart from him, who seemed so similar in many ways.

While Max was contemplating his 1,592nd strategy for hitting someone without breaking too many bones, the fresh air in the classroom gave Brucks a little more patience.

"No, I shouldn't do it here. I could beat him up in the emergency hallway instead. His screams might draw attention. And if, by some chance, he escapes, he could cause trouble for me if he involves a teacher. It would be obvious they'd blame me for hitting him. After all, I'll make sure to knock his teeth out, and that'll cause a lot of blood."

While Devon was distracted, the class ended.

"Hey, you know what's coming, right?" Brucks stood up from his desk and walked toward Max, draping his left arm over him. They might have looked like friends to those watching from afar, but Devon knew what was really happening.

"Get your hand off me." Max sighed again. His patience was wearing thin, and that wasn't a good thing if he stayed in this place any longer.

Devon genuinely started to feel sorry for him. Despite being a large guy, Brucks would have to suffer if he wanted to hurt Max.

"Did you just threaten me? Damn it, you're really annoying. I know the perfect spot where I can shut you up and make you scream like the dog you always are." Brucks' eyes turned red with anger.

Devon was about to alert a teacher when Max turned to her and said, "Will you wait for me?"

"Yes, of course," Devon nodded slightly.

While she was wondering what to do, she saw Max leaving the classroom, playing with his cellphone. She stood up and tried to follow discreetly. Her bag was light and compact, so it didn't slow her down.

"Hey, Devon, where are you going?"

Devon ultimately didn't dare report anything to a teacher. If she messed this up somehow, it could cause problems for Max.

…

"Damn it, my battery's dying." Max muttered while taking down a level 300 monster in his game.

As for Brucks, it took him less than five minutes to find the perfect spot. It was a dark alleyway. Despite the sky still having some color, it was clear and empty.

What Brucks didn't consider was this question: Why would Max, a one-eyed guy, willingly follow him for half an hour to a secluded alleyway to get beaten up? Something didn't add up in this whole revenge plan, but Brucks didn't think about it. Maybe he believed his target was an idiot.

Max, the victim of this bullying, remained calm, his eyes fixed on his phone screen as he moved unusually, checking numerous stats in his game.

"No one comes here. How do I know? Well, my brother's actually part of this gang, and this is their territory. At night, he and the others gather here, usually to make plans and deals," Brucks said, sitting on a low wall at the end of the alley.

It was a somewhat spacious area, with an abandoned building beyond the short wall. The wall's sole purpose was to keep animals from crawling from the nearby woods into the residential streets.

Devon, who had followed them, leaned against the wall of an abandoned warehouse. Just behind her were Max and Brucks. Her heart was racing. She didn't even know how she'd ended up here—it wasn't her problem to begin with.

"Why can't I hear what Max is saying? I don't know what he'll do. Should I call the police? If this bully is telling the truth, this is gang territory."

"That's why Brucks is so confident. His brother's a gangster!"

"Now, what should I make you do? Hmm? How about you kneel first?"

Devon couldn't see what was happening.

If she peeked, Brucks would definitely spot her.

"I'll take this slowly." Devon stared at her phone screen, unsure who to call.

"I want to hear an apology, Max. You know what you did this morning and at lunch."

"You're not kneeling? Then maybe you should try some of my punches first!"

Then came the sound of footsteps. There was a pause before a scream echoed from the alleyway.

"Ahhhh!"

"Oh no, it's started!" Devon panicked. "I should call someone. The police! Yes! Wait, no… Should the police get involved? What about the teachers? But I don't have any numbers!"

"Don't hit me, please."

Crack!

"Ahhhhhh!!!"

The screams and sounds of blows kept coming from the dark alley.

With no other choice, Devon pulled her phone from her bag, ready to call the police.

"A knife?! Are you crazy?!"

"Brucks brought a knife! This is serious!" Devon was sweating, her hands slippery.

"Stop it! Are you serious?!"

"Aaaahhhh!"

"Forgive me! I won't do it again!"

Shaking, Devon fiddled with her phone. As soon as she tried to unlock it, it slipped from her hands.

"Oh no!" She immediately picked it up.

"Wait, Brucks will see me." She turned toward the alley, and at that moment, she saw Max playing with a knife in front of a collapsed Brucks.

"Devon?" Max was surprised, he hadn't thought she would actually follow him.