A huge cave, completely lit by candles, and heavy iron chains ferociously restraining him, were the first sights Nero saw when he opened them.
He thought it was a disturbing nightmare, or at least, that's what he hoped.
He began frantically and panickedly trying to free himself from his chains. But to no avail.
The more he tried, the more wounds dug into his body, and the chains tightened their grip.
Until he began to sob and scream, overcome by a panic attack.
"Stop, you rabid little dog."
That sentence alone was enough to freeze his blood, turning him into a dry, motionless tree trunk.
He moved his head toward the source of the voice, trembling, a cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
It was the last person he wanted to see, and his memories flashed back to before he arrived at this place...
It was an ordinary day, like any other.
Nero woke up in his small room, which could hardly be considered a room; it was more like a box.
Four walls, a shabby bed, a worn wooden table, an old television that barely worked, and a small closet.
He got dressed and went outside.
As soon as he opened the door, his ears were filled with a barrage of insults and shouting; his parents were arguing again, over mounting debts and running out of money.
He turned around and left the house quietly.
No one noticed him leaving; they were either too busy raging and shouting, or perhaps it didn't matter to them at all.
All they cared about was winning the argument and blaming the other party.
The house was located in a slum on the outskirts of the city.
Nero left without a clear purpose, just to escape those walls that were choking with daily conflict.
He walked early in the morning, his stomach rumbling with hunger.
"Damn... If I'd known I wouldn't have breakfast, I would have eaten well for dinner last night... Oh, right, there wasn't even any food last night."
He sighed and continued walking until he found himself in front of the house of his only friend, Dan, who lived in a slightly better neighborhood.
He rang the bell and waited.
Dan came out, a rather chubby boy with big glasses, bearing the look of the kid everyone bullied at school, which he certainly did.
Despite his relatively well-off family, he was always the target of ridicule and beatings.
The only one who stood by him was Nero, even if they both ended up getting beaten up in the end.
From there, their friendship began, which became very strong.
"Come on, pig, let's go out."
"What is it, Nero? You know it's a holiday today... What time is it? Hell, it's 7:00 AM! What's wrong with you?"
"Dan, don't start. Just come on, please."
"Now? Man, you were about to have breakfast! Can't you wait?"
As soon as Nero heard the word "breakfast," his stomach grumbled, as if in protest.
Knowing his circumstances and not wanting to embarrass him, Dan suggested they have breakfast together at a nearby restaurant. Nero immediately agreed.
They arrived at a modest restaurant, not very befitting of an upscale neighborhood.
They sat down, chose their food, and waited for him to arrive.
"So, what did you do about the idea of running away from home?" Dan asked.
"Come on, don't be an idiot. Where would I go if I got out?"
"Just asking. You were the one who brought it up anyway."
"I was just mad, Dan. You know what happened the other day... My dad humiliated me in front of everyone for no reason."
"Okay, sorry. Let it go."
The food arrived, they ate well, Dan paid the check as usual, and then they headed out toward the nearby park.
"What else happened today?" Dan asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, Nero, you mean you woke up at seven in the morning and came to bother me over nothing? What made you run away again?"
"Always fighting, debt upon debt."
The conversation continued, and in time, they entered deeper into the park, approaching the woods they used to visit.
This place was a silent escape for both of them: Dan from the bullies, and Nero from life itself.
But suddenly, out of nowhere, two figures appeared before them.
They were dressed in strange outfits, a mixture of light armor and dark hoods.
"Look!" Dan exclaimed with admiration. "Amazing disguises!"
But Nero sensed something was off. He was uneasy.
The two men walked slowly toward them.
"Dan, let's go back. It's not comfortable," Nero said.
"Come on, when will you see a costume like this again?"
The two men moved closer. Dan raised his hand in a friendly gesture.
Suddenly, drops of blood splashed across Nero's face.
What had touched his face? He didn't understand until he saw the scene...
Dan's raised hand flew away from his body.
Dan's scream filled the air as he clutched the wound on his arm, blood spurting in every direction, screaming and writhing, collapsing.
Nero's knees failed him and he fell, his throat unresponsive to his attempts to scream.
With an inhuman gesture, the second man approached and ripped off Dan's head like a fruit picker.
"Be quieter, we need to clean up this mess now," one of the men said.
"Shut up, the President has given me the authority to kill whoever I want, except for the fusion element."
Then their eyes turned to Nero.
He saw death in his eyes.
He summoned what little strength he had left and ran as fast as he could.
His heart nearly burst from his chest, and his tears streamed uncontrollably.
He ran like someone racing against death, unable to believe what he saw.
His friend's head was simply cut off in front of him.
But suddenly he stopped...
The two men were standing before him again.
He froze, his limbs unmoving. His mind couldn't comprehend.
"Come on, little Nero, don't tire us out. Let's go."
He couldn't speak, only gasps and gasps.
The second man stepped forward, then looked Nero straight in the eyes.
His eyes began to melt, and two dark holes opened in his skull.
It was the most horrific sight he had ever seen.
"Sleep, Nero," the man said in his heavy, hoarse voice.
And then... darkness fell.