CHAPTER 1: BROKEN RULES
April 8, 2019
Ashford City Border
Rayan Balthorne's lungs were on fire. He stood on the pedals of his shitty bicycle, muscles screaming, sweat pouring down his face like he'd jumped in a river. His cheap school shirt was plastered to his skin, a cold, wet prison.
He jerked his wrist up. The cracked digital watch , a gift from his younger brother Darian screamed: 9:12 AM.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
The Ashford High pre-final exam. Started at nine sharp. He was twelve minutes buried. Every second was a nail in the coffin of his future.
7:40 AM — Balthorne Kitchen
The kitchen smelled of burnt toast and despair. His father, John Balthorne, was already in his worn company uniform, face tight. A small-time logistics employee, always one misstep from a warning.
"Rayan," John's voice was gravel. "Lyra's school bus… it's down. I'm already late for the depot. If I'm not clocked in by 8:15, it's a full day's pay gone." He rubbed a hand over his face, the weight of the world on his shoulders. "As the older brother… you have to take her."
No request. Just the hard, fucking law of their lives. In the Balthorne house, duty was the tax you paid for the roof. Excuses were for people with money.
Rayan's gut twisted. The exam. The one they'd all bled for.
His mother, Sophie Taylor , hurried in, still in her stained apron from the early shift at The Greasy Spoon. Her eyes, tired but sharp, darted between her husband and son. She knew the score. Society's rules were a game, and the poor always lost.
"John, his exam—" she started, voice thin.
"I know, Soph," John cut in, heavy with a defeat that crushed Rayan. "I know. But Lyra…"
"It's fine," Rayan heard himself say. The lie tasted bitter, but he forced a smile. "I'll take her."
Sophie's eyes glistened. She squeezed his arm. "You're a good boy, Rayan."
Lyra, eight years old with jam on her cheek and chaos in her braids, bounced in. "Rayan's taking me! We can race the stupid red car again!"
Rayan looked down at his little sister. The knot in his chest loosened, just a bit. He tapped her nose, smearing the jam. "Only if you promise not to scream like a murdered cat down Hill Street."
"I do NOT scream!" Lyra puffed her cheeks. "You're the one who sounds like a dying cow when you pedal!"
"A dying cow, huh?" Rayan scooped her up, ignoring the clock screaming in his head.
"And who's the rascal who steals my toast?"
"A sharing rascal!" she giggled. "Sharing is caring!"
"That's not sharing, that's thievery! You're a tiny, breakfast-stealing criminal."
John managed a weak smile. Sophie's worry softened. This was them. Broke, but bound.
Rayan set her down. "Alright, criminal. Helmet on. Let's move." He winked, playing the good big brother while panic screamed inside his skull.
He got Lyra to Briston Elementary with minutes to spare. "You're the best, Rayan!" she yelled, hugging him so tight he almost believed it.
The warmth faded fast. 8:30 AM. A fourty-minute detour on a day where minutes were gold. He turned his bike and rode like hell was chasing him.
Then he saw the kid.
A little boy, maybe four, sitting on the pavement, his whole world ended. A blue balloon sailed away. The kid's wail was pure heartbreak.
Rayan's legs slowed. GO! MOVE!
But the tears… they were Lyra's tears. He couldn't.
He braked hard. Kneeled. "Hey. Captain. We have a balloon crisis. No crying on the job. We're professionals."
The kid hiccupped, big wet eyes staring.
Rayan dug into his pocket. His last coins—his lunch money—felt heavy. He bought the biggest blue balloon from the old vendor.
He handed it over. The kid's smile was sunrise.
"Tank oo, mister!"
The words punched him in the heart. "You're welcome, captain. Where's your mom?"
He found the frantic mother a minute later. She bowed, thanking him. He just nodded, "No problem," already swinging onto his bike.
He checked his watch.
8:38 AM.
The kindness felt like a luxury he couldn't afford. He kicked off, pedaling with a savage, desperate fury.
Ashford High Main Gate — 9:18 AM
The gates were iron and arrogance. Rayan skidded to a halt, gravel spraying. He was a disaster.
The security guard, Hodges, stepped out. A thick man with a cruel gaze. He looked Rayan up and down—the sweat, the bike, the desperation. His lip curled.
"Gate's closed."
"Please. The exam—"
"Started at nine. No latecomers. Policy."
"My sister's bus didn't come, I had to—"
"Do I look like I give a single, solitary fuck?" Hodges interrupted, stepping close. His breath was stale coffee. "Everyone's got a sob story. Yours is boring." His eyes went to the bicycle. "You rode from Briston on that piece of shit? Should've left yesterday."
This wasn't about rules. It was about power. Rayan was everything these gates hated.
Cold fury cut through Rayan's panic. This bastard was about to trash his father's overtime, his mother's raw hands. "Call the exam hall. My name is Rayan Balthorne."
"I'm not calling anyone," Hodges sneered.
"You show up looking like gutter trash and think you can waltz in here? Piss off. Go back to your shithole town."
Your town. Spat like a curse. Rayan's vision tinted red.
"Open. The. Gate."
Hodges smiled, wide and ugly. "Or what, Briston trash? You gonna cry? Gonna fetch your pauper daddy from his junk truck?" He leaned in, whispering poison. "I know your type. Poor, desperate. This school eats boys like you and shits them out. Now fuck off."
Rayan saw it. His mother's tired smile. His father's sigh. Lyra's hug. All about to mean nothing. His fists clenched. He was going to swing.
"Let him in."
The voice was calm. Absolute.
Both men flinched.
Aria Reed stood there. Mid-twenties, elegant. Her intelligent eyes took in the scene and understood.
Hodges's posture snapped to attention. "Miss Reed! Protocol!"
"I see a student who pushed past his limit," Aria said, tone leaving no room. Her gaze held Rayan's—she recognized the balloon boy. "I take responsibility. Open it."
"But the rules—"
"Are not a weapon. Open it. Now."
Hodges's face purpled. He fumbled with his keys, muttering curses. The gate creaked open.
"Lucky bastard," he spat.
Rayan turned to Aria. "Thank you mam."
A faint nod that tells him to Go.
He ran.
End of Chapter 01