The sound of heavy rain poured down.
"Haaah…"
"Finally… it's quiet."
The school corridor stretched long and empty. No one was there. The large windows on the left side revealed nothing but an abandoned field. The corridor lights still flickered dimly, their glow reflecting off the cold marble floor. The grand building had become nothing more than a soulless shadow.
In the middle of the corridor stood a boy, motionless. His blank gaze pierced through the glass, staring at the increasingly heavy rain. His face was expressionless… but his eyes were dead—like all hope had been drained away.
"My name is Ken Zash. A 12th grader at Royals High."
The so-called most prestigious school. Its architecture was classic European, with sturdy iron gates and neat gardens. When I first set foot here, I was impressed. Everything looked perfect.
But it was all a mask. Behind the grandeur, the school hid a filth that was hard to imagine.
Its people? Two-faced. The teachers who were supposed to guide us were drowned in corruption. The rich kids used their power to oppress the weak.
There's no justice here.
Violence became a norm. Intimidation, extortion, even murder had occurred… but it was all kept under wraps.
Many of my friends eventually gave up. Dropped out before graduation. Strangely, this school still gets floods of applicants every year.
If only they knew the truth behind all this…
But who cares? People only see the surface.
I walked slowly down the corridor toward the exit. The marble stairs I passed felt cold and slippery with moisture. The front hall was completely empty. Only the sound of rain echoed from afar.
I looked up slightly, a bitter smile on my lips.
"This place they call an educational paradise… is a damn lie."
I kept walking out. The rain poured harder, but I didn't care. My clothes were soaked, my body trembling. I didn't bother to take cover.
The massive iron gate was slightly open, as if giving me permission to leave. The street outside was empty. The cracked sidewalks were soaked. No one was around. Only the rain kept me company.
I reflected. It's not just this school that's rotten. This country… is the same.
Corruption everywhere. The rich steal from the people and walk free, while the law strikes only downward.
My father was one of the victims of this injustice. Accused of embezzling one billion rupiah. But the real culprit? His boss. And who got thrown into prison? My father.
And in the end… he was executed.
His boss? Still alive. Still rich. Still enjoying the stolen wealth.
Justice? Just a game for the powerful.
"Hhh… I'm tired of hoping for a world like this," I muttered softly.
As I walked, I saw an old lady standing across the street. She held an umbrella, seemingly trying to cross. Around us, there was only a small, dimly-lit convenience store and a few closed stalls.
I approached her.
"Ma'am, are you trying to cross?"
"Yes, dear… but the road's so slippery," she said hesitantly.
"Here, let me help you."
I gently held her arm, guiding her across the now-darkening street. The crosswalk was nearly faded, and the road wide. Cars sped by, splashing water everywhere.
"Dear, you don't have an umbrella? You're all soaked…"
"It's fine, Ma'am. I'm used to it."
We walked slowly to the other side.
"Thank you so much, dear. Here… I have an extra umbrella. Please take it."
I was surprised for a moment, then smiled faintly as I accepted it.
"Thank you very much, Ma'am."
Just then, a man came running frantically from a narrow alley nearby. His eyes were wild, his breathing erratic, and he clutched a small bag tightly. Behind him, the street grew darker. The streetlamps flickered like they were about to go out.
Something felt off.
I instinctively stood in front of the old woman, fully alert.
"Ma'am, step back… now."
The man rushed closer. He reached into his pocket—pulled out a pistol.
"Outta my way!" he shouted roughly.
Everything seemed to slow down. I reflexively hugged the old woman, shielding her.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Four shots shattered the night.
"ARGH!!"
A searing pain tore through my body. Bullets had hit my chest and stomach. The agony was unbearable. My body wavered, then crashed onto the cold, hard pavement. Blood poured out, mixing with the relentless rain.
I trembled, struggling to breathe. My vision blurred. Faintly, I saw the old woman crying in fear, calling out my name… I couldn't respond.
"So this is how it ends…" I thought. "I… don't want to die…"
My life flashed before my eyes. And at the end… I saw my mother's face at home. She must still be waiting for me.
"If it really has to end… I hope… it doesn't hurt too much…" I whispered softly.
"Maybe… sleeping forever is better… than living in a world like this…"
Slowly… everything faded to black.