Seventeen-year-old Aethon climbed the stairs to the rooftop of his school, the wind whipping his hair into a frenzy as he gazed out at the city skyline. The rooftop was a place where students rarely ventured, and the teachers were even more scarce. It was a spot where Aethon could escape the chaos of the school bullying and find some solace in the solitude.
As he walked towards the edge of the rooftop, the wind buffeted him, making his jacket billow out behind him. Aethon closed his eyes, letting the wind wash over him, and felt a temporary sense of peace. But his moment of solitude was short-lived. A group of boys, led by the notorious bully, Kunal, emerged from the stairwell, their eyes fixed menacingly on Aethon.
Kunal was a tall, athletic boy with piercing eyes that seemed to bore into any student very soul. He was the kingpin of the school's bullying hierarchy, and Aethon was one of his favorite targets. Aethon had tried to avoid him, but somehow, Kunal always seemed to find him.
"Hey, loser!" Kunal sneered, his voice carrying above the wind. "What are you doing up here all alone?" The group closed in, their eyes gleaming with malice. Aethon's heart racing, he scanned the rooftop for an escape route. But the doors behind him were blocked.
Aethon knew he was trapped. Kunal's gang had a reputation for being ruthless, and Aethon was their favorite punching bag. The wind howled around him, it sent shiver down his spine. He knew that if he tried to shout for help, no one would hear him. The rooftop was too far from the classrooms, and the teachers were too caught up in their own worlds to notice.
As the bullies began to taunt him, Aethon's fear turned to panic. He knew he was in grave danger. Kunal took a step closer, his eyes flashing with cruelty. "You think you're better than us, don't you?" he spat. "Well, let's see how you handle a little lesson."
Aethon's instincts screamed at him to defend himself, but he knew it was futile as he was too weak. The odds were against him, and he was no match for Kunal's gang. As the bullies closed in, Aethon's thoughts flashed back to all the times he'd been humiliated, belittled, and beaten. He wondered if anyone would even notice if he didn't show up in class tomorrow.
The wind buffeted him, making him stumble, and Kunal's gang took advantage of the momentary lapse. They pushed Aethon to the ground, their kicks and punches raining down on him. Aethon curled up, protecting his head, but the pain seeped through. He felt like he was going to pass out, but he knew he had to stay awake.
The beating seemed to go on forever, with Aethon unable to defend himself. Just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, Kunal's boot connected with his stomach, leaving Aethon gasping for breath.
As the bullies finally backed off, Rohan lay there, battered and bruised. He slowly got to his feet, his eyes scanning the rooftop for any sign of Kunal's gang. But they were gone, disappeared down the stairwell, leaving Aethon to pick up the pieces.
Aethon leaned against the rooftop wall, trying to catch his breath. He knew he had to get out of there before Kunal's gang came back. With a surge of adrenaline, Aethon made his way to the stairwell, his eyes fixed on the door. He pushed it open and stumbled down the stairs, his heart still racing from the encounter.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Aethon knew he had to get to the nurse's office. He was battered and bruised, and he needed medical attention. But he was also scared. What if Kunal's gang was waiting for him downstairs? What if they decided to finish what they started?
Aethon took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the hallway. He scanned the crowded corridor, his eyes searching for any sign of Kunal's gang. But the hallway was filled with students, and Aethon blended in, trying to make his way to the nurse's office without drawing attention to himself.
As he walked, Aethon couldn't help but wonder what the rest of the day would bring. Would Kunal's gang leave him alone, or would they continue to torment him? And what would happen if he told someone about the bullying? Would anyone believe him?
Aethon's thoughts swirled with questions and fears as he made his way to the nurse's office. He knew he had to be strong.
T B C