Tim knelt on the grimy floor of the ground toilet, scrubbing the stained tiles with a worn brush. The stench was overwhelming, but he was used to it by now. His hands moved methodically, his mind drifting to thoughts of a different life.Suddenly, the door burst open, and a gang of young men poured in, their bodies slick with sweat. They were the new recruits of the Vanguard Academy, fresh from their training. Tim paused, watching them with a mixture of envy and admiration. These men were on their way to becoming soldiers, trained to battle the fearsome creatures known as the Virex."Man, that was brutal," one of the recruits said, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. "I thought I'd never make it through that obstacle course.""Yeah, but we're still here," another chimed in, a grin spreading across his face. "Just a few more weeks, and we'll be full-fledged soldiers."Tim listened to their banter, his heart aching with longing. He had always dreamed of joining the Vanguard A

Blobs of thick, dark blood from the Virex coated across the ground as the ambulance whizzed on ahead. Standing a little distance away, Tim surveyed with weight in his heart grieved yet unbelievable at the destruction before his eyes.The scene was chaotic: emergency responders rushed to care for the wounded and clear away the rubble of what once had been. Ambulance crews were on their toes, loading citizens' smacked-up bodies onto stretchers, whisking them away to safety.The whole process done, a team of experts donned in protective gear moved in to deal with the massive body of the Virex. They were careful, methodical, and precise, carrying heavy machinery and specialized equipment to wrestle with their arduous task of disposing of the monstrous remains.His eyes fell once more into the area his mother had been buried under. With all the shouting, he threw himself forward, pushing his way to frantic scraping, trembling hands in a frenzied search. The boulders were weighty, but he di

The cheer of the crowd was just turned to shocked silence as Tim stumbled back, his eyes going wide at the gore that lay before his eyes. The metallic tang of blood and the sight of Sakaar's lifeless form sent a spine-shivering sensation down his body.The voice of the announcer cut clear through all the confusion and named Tim the new champion. But jubilation wasn't his—only a heavy sense of premonition and disbelief.Tim watched in silence as Sakaar's body was carried away, feeling incipient unease in the pit of his stomach. The sight of the lifeless form reminded him of the brutal reality of the fight he had just gone through. As soon as the security team had completely disappeared from view, a nagging feeling persisted that something wasn't quite right about all this.Before he could ponder further, one of the security guards came up to him, saying that Mr. Will wanted to see him upstairs. Tim followed closely behind the guard, his heart racing with anticipation and nervousness.T

As Tim turned, he saw Tess walking with Brandon and her laughter echoing down the corridor. With the vision, his heart hurtled to his stomach as he recalled how big a gap was between the two worlds: one black and white, and the other colored—contrasting."Tess, fancy seeing you here," Tim said, forcing a smile despite the knot in his stomach.Tess smirked, her eyes dancing with mirth. "Oh, Tim, what are you doing here? Can't afford a proper education, so you thought you'd sneak in as a janitor?" she goaded, cutting through the air like daggers.The nearby recruits chuckled nervously for support, unsure how to react to the exchange.Tim held himself in check, but his fists bunched up at his sides. "Just enjoying my time, Tess. How's your new relationship with Brandon going?" he responded, now his voice laced with resentment.Tess's smirk broadened as she turned her eyes to Brandon. The guy just stood there, looking so smug. "Much better than being stuck with a poor loser like you," she