Void. Emptiness. Alone.

  "Hnggh..."

  g. Desperation. Hope.

  "Safe... O Lord, protect him..." Soft sobs echoed through the darkness.

  Anhtmare?

  The sunlight peeks over the mountain. A new m begins.

  Creak... The door slowly opens, and a dim dlelight flickers into the room, casting shadows on the walls.

  "Wake up, Ren. Yoing to be te for school," his mother's voice calls gently.

  He groans and buries himself deeper uhe b, pretending the nefarious world of school does-just like any other sane person would.

  School has six letters, so does prison.

  "ce? Hell Nah", He thinks.

  His mother, already knowing his tricks, sighs. Without hesitation, she grabs a cup of cool water... and then, like a true menace, she adds ice.

  SPLASH!

  "HA! BLWEH! BLWEH!" He fils, gasping for air.

  "Good M Sweetheart..." Says the Mother while seemingly holding her ughter.

  "With half-lidded, utterly betrayed eyes, he stares at his mother, sighs in surrender, and momentarily reevaluates his mediocore life"

  Five mier.

  After finally colleg the shattered pieces of his soul, He trudges to the bathroom.

  The cold air pricks his skin as he stands before the water pipe, staring at the icy liquid flowing from it.

  "No... this is dangerous. It will electrocute me." His mind races with excuses.

  But he steels himself.

  "I must. I'm strong. I'm the stro."

  He grips the dipper with trembling hands.

  "WITH THE POWER OF HEAVEN AH-!"

  SPLASH!

  "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The freezing water sms against his skin.

  From the kit, his mhs, shaking her head at his dramatics.

  MC dries himself, shivering. Just as he exhales in relief-

  KREEEEK.

  He stops. His eyes slowly drift toward the er.

  There it is. A COCKROACH. Staring. Scheming.

  He freezes. The cockroach freezes. A silent showdown.

  Therying to dry himself faster-

  The cockroach MOVES.

  His hands move EVEN FASTER.

  The cockroach spreads its wings.

  "NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE!" As his hands reach lightning speed

  It takes flight.

  "MOTHERRRRRRRRR!"

  BANG! The bathroom door colpses to the floor as He bursts through it, barely esg death.

  His mother blinks at the destru before her.

  "NOOOOO! MY DOOR!"

  A few mier.

  "Mom, I'm sorry," He mutters, avoiding her gaze.

  His mhs, shaking her head with a tired smile. "You o stop panig over a flying cockroach."

  She checks the time. "Enough of that, yoing to be te!"

  "Aight, bye Mom!" He kisses her hand and dashes out the door.

  Outside.

  "I'M LATE. I'M VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY LATE!"

  Ren sprints down the road, legs burning. But just ahead-

  A girl riding a bicycle with shared panic face like Ren.

  "Huh?" He notices her. She also uionally notices him.

  Their eyes meet.

  She looks away and starts pedaling faster.

  "OI! MISS! WAIT! WE GO TO THE SAME SCHOHT?!"

  Slightly fbbergasted, She ignores him. She pedals even faster.

  "Oi, don't act like you don't see me!"

  She grits her teeth. "Damn it... he reized me. I Shouldn't have uses this two-seat bike!" She says internally.

  He keep on chasing after her. She speeds up. He keeps up.

  "MISS, MAY YOU LET ME RIDE WITH YOU?!"

  "EH WHA- WHAT?! WHY WOULD I?!" she shouts back, gng over her shoulder.

  "Why is this guy so fast?!"

  Ren starts to slow down, gasping for air. The girl breathes a sigh of relief-

  Until he colpses. Surprise, The girl stops her bike.

  For a moment, she hesitate oher to che him or just ght to school sihere's still time for it.

  Driven by pity, she then decided to turn back

  "H-Hey! Are you okay?!" She asked.

  He, barely breathing, gives a weak thumbs-up. "I-I'm o-okay..."

  "You are definitely NOT okay!" she huffs.

  With an exasperated sigh, she helps him up.

  "Alright, hop on."

  His face lights up. "Really?! Thanks!"

  She sighs again, already regretting this decision.

  Halfway to school..

  "We're NOT making it in time," she mutters.

  "Wait! I know a shortcut!" He excims.

  Her eyes widen. "Really?! Thank god! Show me!"

  A few moments ter.

  The girl gres at him.

  "YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THE SHORTCUT WAS THROUGH A JUNGLE?!"

  He reply "Well, you didn't ask. Plus, it's the shortest route!"

  She groans. "I thought you meant, like, an alley or something! NOT THIS!"

  "Rex, I've taken this path a huimes. There's nothing to worry ab-"

  Pshhhh. Pshhhh.

  A rustling in the bushes.

  He tehe girl's grip tightens on the handlebars.

  "Probably just a cat or a squirrel or-"

  WOOF. WOOF.

  Their souls leave their bodies.

  A gang of wild dogs emerges.

  The Dawg of the Jungle.

  "AHHHHHHHHHH!"

  "PEDAL! PEDAL! PEDAL!" He yells.

  "GOD! BE PATIENT I'M TRYING, AND WHY AM I THE ONE PEDALING?! I'M A GIRL AND YOU'RE A BOY!"

  "I 'T RIDE A BICYCLE!"

  "WHAT?!"

  The dogs charge.

  "DO SOMETHING!" the girl shouts.

  Ren scrambles through his bag. "I'LL THROW SOMETHING!"

  "THROW WHATEVER! JUST DO IT!"

  He tosses random items. Useless. Then-

  He throws something precious.

  The dogs stop.

  He freezes.

  "Wait..."

  His eyes widen in horror.

  "MY LUNOOOOOOOOOOOOO! MY SPICY CHI FRIED RICE WITH EGG OMELET!"

  The girl gnces back. "Well... at least it worked."

  Ren sobs. "MY FOOD..."

  They finally arrive at school.

  Sweaty. Out of breath. Still processing trauma.

  The girl stretches. "Weird m. Kinda fun, though."

  He sulks. "My lunch..."

  She sighs. "I'll buy you a new one."

  His eyes sparkle. "FOR REAL?! THANK YOU!"

  "BUT STOP CALLING ME 'Miss.' We're the same age!"

  She slightly looks away.

  Then-

  A shadow looms over them. The air grows heavy. A cold shiver creeps up their spines

  A deep voice rumbles from behind them.

  "Well, well... looks like we have some teers."

  They slowly turn their heads.

  The Principal stands before them.

  Ren and the girl freeze....

  "Oh God..." They say simultaneously.

  "OH YEAH. GOD... better hope fod's help nht?..." The principal smirks.