Shadows of Sun Set High

Under the relentless sun, amidst the urban bustle and swaying palm trees, stood Sunset High School, a sprawling institution in Southern California. Despite its picturesque surroundings, the school bore a dark reputation, infamous for its unruly students and abysmal academic record. Here, dreams seemed to wither under the weight of violence and despair, leaving many destined for lives of mediocrity or worse.

"Fifty dollars is all that you bring today, you fucking prick?!" roared a towering figure, his voice dripping with contempt. His piercing blue eyes blazed with an intense fury as he loomed over a cowering figure, his muscular frame straining against a white collar shirt stretched to its limits. Two lackeys flanked him, their menacing presence amplifying the sense of dread.

The victim, a boy no older than seventeen, lay crumpled on the rooftop, his platinum blonde hair matted with blood and sweat. His slender frame trembled as he tried to shield himself from the onslaught of blows. His once bright eyes now dull with pain and fear, betrayed the agony he endured.

"You think you can just walk away from this? You owe us, punk!" snarled the aggressor, his fists raining down on the defenseless youth. Each blow echoed through the empty rooftop

The black-haired boy's muscles bulged as he effortlessly lifted the trembling victim by the collar of his shirt, the fabric straining against his powerful grip. With a cruel smirk twisting his lips, he held the boy aloft, his form suspended in mid-air like a ragdoll.

"Looks like this little bastard needs a lesson in respect," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain as he tightened his grip on the fabric.

Meanwhile, his cohorts moved with practiced precision, their movements synchronized as if choreographed. One of them, his face twisted in a malicious grin, seized the opportunity to deliver a devastating blow. With lightning speed, he launched his leg forward, the force of his kick sending a shockwave of pain through the victim's body.

The impact was brutal, the sound of flesh meeting parapet echoed across the rooftop. The victim's body arced through the air, his limbs flailing helplessly as he collided with the unforgiving edge.

BANG!

A sickening thud reverberated through the air, mingling with the distant hum of the city below.

The boy's groans filled the air, a haunting melody of agony that echoed off the rooftop walls. Each breath came in ragged gasps, his body wracked with pain as he struggled to remain conscious. His eyes flickered open, a haze of pain clouding his vision as he attempted to focus on his assailant.

The black-haired boy loomed over him once more, his grip like a vice around the victim's neck. With a cruel smirk playing on his lips, he hauled the injured youth to his feet, dragging him towards the edge of the rooftop with a brutal force.

"Urreeehhhh…." the victim croaked, his voice barely audible above the din of the city below. His words were a desperate plea, a silent prayer for mercy that fell on deaf ears.

With a menacing glint in his eyes, the black-haired boy leaned in close, his hot breath tickling the victim's ear. "If you don't bring at least $200 tomorrow, I'm dropping you from this three-story building, do you understand?" His voice dripped with sardonic amusement, each word laced with the promise of further torment.

Satisfied, the black-haired boy released his grip, sending the victim stumbling backward.

As the last rays of sunlight vanished beyond the horizon, casting long shadows across the deserted school grounds, the blonde-haired boy remained sprawled on the rooftop, his body battered and broken. With each shallow breath, pain radiated through his bruised form, a relentless reminder of the violence he endured.

Summoning every ounce of determination, he slowly rose to his feet, his movements labored and unsteady. Blood trickled from a cut on his lip, staining his pale skin crimson, while bruises blossomed like dark blooms across his body. Every step was a Herculean effort, his backpack dragging along the ground like an anchor.

The journey home stretched before him like an endless abyss, the darkness broken only by the feeble glow of distant streetlights. Each step was a battle against exhaustion and pain, his body screaming for rest as he trudged onward.

Finally, he reached the apartment complex, its imposing silhouette looming against the night sky. With trembling hands, he ascended the worn steps to the second floor.

Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a battered house key, its metal cold against his fingertips. With a shaky breath, he unlocked the door to his dimly lit apartment, the familiar scent of stale air and loneliness greeted him.

As the boy stepped into the dimly lit apartment, shadows danced across the walls, enveloping the space in an eerie silence. Not a single light flickered to life, the darkness swallowing the room whole as he navigated the familiar confines of his home. With a sense of resignation, he made his way towards the back of the apartment, towards his bedroom.

Passing through the narrow hallway, he entered the furthest bedroom. The room was shrouded in darkness, save for the faint glow seeping through the curtains, casting eerie shadows across the worn floorboards.

With a heavy sigh, he shrugged off his burdened backpack, letting it fall to the floor with a dull thud. His eyes fell upon the closed door leading to the small bathroom tucked away in the corner of the room. Pushing it open, he was greeted by the stark sight of bloodied cotton balls and q-tips littering the counter, alongside an array of opened pill bottles meant to dull the ache of his battered body.

Methodically, he cleaned his wounds, the sting of antiseptic a cruel reminder of his ordeal. With trembling hands, he swallowed four pills of pain medicine, hoping to escape the pain from his battered body. He emerged from the bathroom, his steps heavy with exhaustion, and collapsed onto his bed, the weight of the day pressing down on him.

As he laid there, staring at the cracked ceiling, a fierce determination igniting him to get up surged through his body at once.