Nas and his friends arrived at the classroom just as the mathematics teacher walked in. The class was quiet yet interactive. During the lesson, it was revealed that Nas ranked among the top ten students in their year. This came as no surprise since lacking magical abilities, Nas dedicated himself entirely to education and martial arts training.
After school, Nas invited his friends to the cinema to watch a newly released movie already climbing to the top of the box office. Not having watched it yet was almost embarrassing for Nas and his friends.
The cinema was just a few blocks from school, making it a pleasant walk rather than needing a cab. Upon arriving, they got their tickets; Phoebe bought the popcorn, and Michael handled the drinks.
A little over fifty minutes into the movie, gasps and awes filled the entire room. Amidst the excitement, Kendra called Nas, prompting everyone in the cinema to yell at him to take his call outside. Even his friends were against him this time. He reluctantly went out to take the call but could barely hear anything due to the noise in the reception area and outside the building. He decided to head to a quieter alley and called his mom back.
She was furious, explaining that Victor had called her, saying he couldn't find him. Nas reassured her that there was nothing to worry about, explaining he was fine, with friends, and would be home before 7:00 PM. When she asked where he was, he evaded, knowing she'd come pick him up and cause a scene. She reluctantly agreed after making him promise to be home before dark.
As Nas turned to go back into the cinema, he was cornered by Ademola and his gang.
"Oh, mama looking for her baby. Guess you're not going home today in one piece" Ademola sneered.
"What do you want, Ademola? I don't want any trouble" Nas replied, trying to keep his voice steady.
"You don't? Oh, well, I do. You have to pay for what you've done today, or it won't be fair. You sent Ikenna to the hospital and got me in trouble with the school. Don't you think you've been acting out a bit too much?" Ademola sneered, looking down at Nas with a chilling gaze as his friends formed a menacing circle around him.
"You don't want to do this, Ademola," Nas warned, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Actually, I do," Ademola said, his voice cold and sinister. "I've got to teach you some manners. You've been spoiled way too much."
He slapped Nas hard, the sound echoing in the alley. Nas stood firm, his eyes blazing with defiance. He swung a punch at Ademola's face but stopped just before making contact, images of Victor and his mom warning him flashing through his mind. He knew that if he gave Ademola the beating he deserved, it would cause endless trouble for his mom and Victor. Though Victor would do anything to help him, even leveraging his family's wealth and connections, Nas didn't want to burden him.
"Please, Ademola, I don't want to fight you. I'm already in enough trouble. Sending you to the hospital would not be good for either of us" Nas pleaded.
"Are you saying you could beat me if you wanted to?" Ademola scoffed, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Without a doubt. And you know that" Nas replied, but his confidence was met with a brutal grip as Ademola's goons held his arms back.
"You're so full of yourself," Ademola snarled, his voice low and threatening. "Just because you beat Ikenna, you think you're something special. Let me tell you, being proficient in martial arts means nothing. I could pummel you right here and now, and no one would do a damn thing about it. Even if you went to the police, no one would take up the case. My family would shut it down before it even left the station. That's the power of wealth. I can do anything I want, bullying, rape, even murder, and walk away without a scratch. I could kill you right now, and nothing would happen. Not even a detention cell for me, let alone a prison."
Ademola laughed, the sound cold and cruel, as he continued to hit Nas, kicking and stepping on him. Each blow was a reminder of the power imbalance, the weight of Ademola's words sinking in with every strike.
"What is it you want?" Nas asked, his voice shaking with suppressed rage.
"I want you to understand your place," Ademola hissed, his eyes glinting with malice. "I want you to grasp the fact that no matter how tough you think you are, you're nothing compared to me. You're just a pathetic, magicless worm who needs to be destroyed, an eyesore, a waste of space."
The blows rained down harder, each strike a brutal reminder of Ademola's power and arrogance. Nas gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, knowing that fighting back would only make things worse for those he cared about. The alley echoed with the sound of fists meeting flesh, the sinister laughter of Ademola and his gang filling the air. Nas's vision blurred, but his resolve remained unbroken. He had to survive this, not for himself, but for his mother and Victor.
"Just die already, you're an eyesore," Ademola sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "Coming into my kingdom and thinking you could steal the spotlight, you worthless child of a whore. Know your place, you trash from Igodo. You're not worthy to breathe the same air as me, let alone attend the same school. It's paimful to know you still have three months left in my school, the school my family funds. You're riding on a scholarship funded by them and their peers, walking around with an air of arrogance and authority. You should know your place is at my feet. You're not even worthy to lick the sole of my shoe. I made you. Without my family's sponsorship, you wouldn't be in school. You should worship me and call me God, but instead, you hang around with kids from wealthy homes and act like you're one of us. You're not."
"I've never once claimed to be one of you," Nas retorted, his voice steady despite the pain. "I know my place and I'm fine with it. But what's wrong with wanting a better life than the one I have?"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up. Die. Die, die, die, die, die," Ademola chanted, his rage escalating as he continued to beat Nas. His fists flew wildly, each strike fueled by unbridled fury.
"Spewing trash like that is why you're hated. It just had to be you of all people. Why not someone else? I wouldn't mind if it was someone else. Why you?" Ademola kicked Nas in the face, sending a fresh wave of pain coursing through him.
"Where'd all your spunk go? Where's your anger, where's your fighting spirit? Fight me, punch me, make it fun for me!" Ademola screamed, his voice a twisted mix of anger and sadistic pleasure as he and his friends continued their brutal assault on Nas.
With every kick, Nas grew angrier. His face flushed red, veins bulging over his muscular, well-built body. His fists clenched tightly, a storm of rage brewing within him.
Nas forced himself to focus on his breathing, quelling his anger and resisting their taunting. He remembered his mother's warning and calmed down, allowing Ademola and his friends to do whatever they wanted. They beat him until they were satisfied. When Ademola had his fill, he hissed in boredom before calling his friends to leave.
"Know your place, dud," Ademola sneered, spitting on Nas again. He and his friends left the bleeding Nas in the alley, their laughter echoing cruelly.
Nas rolled onto his back, his arm covering his eyes, teeth grinding against each other, his eyes had turned he Crimson red colour. He was fighting back tears as shame enveloped him. He had lost without even lifting a finger.