Orion's Rise: From Zero to Hero in Two Worlds

Chapter 3

“You still alive, Sergio?”

The voice was Jared’s, of course.

It always was.

I kept my head down.

Pretending I hadn’t heard him. 

Hoping that maybe.

Just maybe.

He would eventually get bored again and move on.

I knew better than that.

He stepped closer.

His footsteps created squeaking sounds.. as he walked down the linoleum floor in the hallway.

“Hey, freak."

"I am talking to you.”

I sighed and turned around.

My back against the lockers. 

Jared stood there.

Arms crossed.

A smirk plastered on his face. 

His friends.

A couple of brainless shadows.

Hovered behind him, snickering.

“What do you want?” I asked. My voice was flat.

I’d given up trying to sound tough.

It never worked, anyway.

"Oh, not much," Jared remarked.

He raised his head as though he was genuinely considering it.

“Just checking in."

"You know.. making sure you haven't done something drastic."

"Like jumping off a bridge, after what Emily did to you.”

Her name being brought up.. felt like a blow to the stomach.

I had not spoken to her since that day in the hallway.

Since she had looked me in the eye and lied.

Since she’d chosen Jared over me.

I tried not to flinch.

“I’m fine.”

Jared’s smirk widened.

“Yeah? You sure about that? 'Cause you look like shit.”

The volume of laughter from his friends increased.

I clenched my fist. Keeping them at my sides.

"What do you want, Jared?” I repeated.

This time with a little more edge.

He stepped closer.

His face, was inches.. from mine. 

"You know what I want, Sergio?"

"I want you to know your place."

"You’re nothing. Nobody.."

"And if you ever. EVER. Try to talk to Emily again."

"I’ll make sure everyone in this school knows just how pathetic you are.”

I looked at him.

I really looked at him.

For the first time in days.

His eyes were cold. Calculating.

But there was something else there, too.

A flicker of... fear?

No. That couldn’t be right.

Jared didn’t fear anything.

Or anyone.

Especially not me.

But something about the way he was looking at me.

It wasn’t just about power anymore.

It was personal.

“I am not talking to her.” I said quietly.

“I don’t care anymore.”

Jared lifted one eyebrow. Clearly surprised.

“Really? You don’t care?”

“No." I said, shaking my head.

“Not anymore.”

It was the truth.

Or at least, part of it.

I didn’t care about Emily in the way I used to.

I didn’t care about being her friend.

Or whatever it was we’d been.

But the hurt.

The betrayal... that wasn’t something I could just turn off.

“Good,” Jared said. 

Stepping back and giving me a once-over.

"Because if I catch you even looking at her, Sergio, I swear—”

“I’m not,” I cut him off.

My voice was firmer now.

"You don't have.. to be worried.. about it."

He looked at me.

For a long time.

Like, he was waiting for me to crack.

To show some sign of weakness.

But I didn’t.

I just stood there. Staring back at him.

Feeling... nothing.

Finally, Jared snorted and waved a hand dismissively.

“Whatever, man. You’re not worth the effort.”

He turned to leave.

His friends were following close behind.

Still laughing at whatever joke they thought they were in on.

I watched them go. My chest was thumping with my heart.

My hands shaking slightly.

With my back to the lockers, I inhaled deeply.

Making an effort to quiet the mental storm. 

I wasn’t worth the effort.

That’s.. what he said.

He had said this a hundred times prior.

But today... today it felt different.

Today, I believed him.

---

Lunch was a nightmare.

I sat at my usual table in the corner.

Alone. Like always.

The food in front of me was untouched.

Not that it mattered.

I wasn’t hungry. I hadn’t been hungry in days.

My stomach was too twisted up in knots to handle much more than water.

Across the cafeteria, I saw Emily.

Sitting with Jared.

She wasn’t laughing. She wasn’t even smiling.

She just sat there. Poking at her salad.

Staring at the table.

Like.. it held the answers to all her problems.

I wondered if she actually felt bad about what she’d done.

About throwing me under the bus to save herself.

Or if she was just... pretending. 

Pretending to be sorry.

Pretending like she hadn’t completely destroyed whatever was left of my reputation.

I.. didn't know.

I didn't want to know.

“Hey loser,” A voice said from behind me.

I didn’t bother turning around. I knew who it was.

“What do you want, Ryan?” I asked, keeping my voice as steady as I could.

Ryan.

One of Jared’s.. less intelligent minions.

He sat heavily in the chair opposite me.

Smiling.. like an idiot. 

"Just wanted to see how you were doing, man. You know, after Emily—”

“I’m fine." I said. Cutting him off.

He blinked. Clearly surprised.

“Really? ‘Cause you don’t look fine.”

“I’m fine," I repeated. My tone sharper this time.

Ryan shrugged.

Laning back in his chair. “Whatever you say, dude."

"I just thought that.. you might want to talk about it. You know?"

"Get it off your chest.. or whatever.”

I looked at him. Feeling the anger bubbling up inside me.

“What do you care?”

He laughed.

As if.. I had just told the most hilarious joke ever.

“I don’t." he said. Shaking his head. 

"I just think it is funny." 

"You thought she actually liked you.. didn’t you?”

I tightened my fists beneath the table.

"Go away, Ryan.”

He smirked, leaning in closer. 

"Come on, Sergio. Don’t be like that." 

"We're just enjoying ourselves a little."

I picked up my bag. I slung it over my shoulder, and got to my feet.

"I am NOT.. in the mood.”

He looked up at me, his smirk fading just a little.

"Where you going, man? I was just starting to enjoy our little chat.”

I didn’t answer him. I just walked away.

His eyes followed me.. as I exited the cafeteria.

But I did not look back. 

I had to stop putting up with it.

The whispers. The stares. The laughter. 

Everything was too much.

---

I found myself outside. 

Walking toward the edge of the school grounds.

Where the old oak tree stood. 

It was quiet here.

Away from the noise.

Away from.. people. 

I took a seat by the tree trunk.

Laying my head on the coarse bark.

I shut my eyes.

I allowed myself to breathe for a few minutes.

Simply take a breath.

But it didn’t help.

The weight, of everything..

The bullying.

The betrayal.

The constant feeling of being nothing.

It was crushing me.

I didn't now how much longer I.. could keep going on like this.

Every day felt like a fight I was losing.

And I was tired. So damn tired.

“I can’t do this." I spoke quietly to myself.

I opened my eyes and looked up.. at the branches overhead.

The wind caused the leaves to move gently.

What I was waiting for was a mystery to me.

An answer?

A sign?

Something to tell me that it would all be okay?

That things would get better?

But there was nothing.

Just silence.

---

The remainder of the day flew by quickly.

I barely remember my classes.

The teachers’ voices blended into a meaningless drone.

The stares from my classmates.

The whispers that followed me down every hallway.

It all felt distant now.

I felt as though I was witnessing it happen to another person.

I was numb by the time the last bell rang.

After gathering my belongings, I made my way to the exit.

I'm keeping my head down.

Hoping to make it out of the building without any more confrontations.

But as I reached the front doors, I saw them.

Jared and his friends.

Waiting by the bike racks.

My heart sank. Of all days, why? 

Just, why?

I tried to turn.

To head in the opposite direction.

But it was too late.

Jared spotted me.

His face lit up with that same cruel smile I’d seen a hundred times before.

“Hey, Sergio!” he called.

He stepped away from the group and blocked my path.

“Where you going?”

I didn’t answer.

I just kept walking, hoping he’d let it go.

He didn’t.

He grabbed my shoulder. Spinning me around to face him. 

"I'm talking to you."

My stomach tightened as I looked up at him.

"What do you want, Jared?"

He grinned, looking over his shoulder at his friends.

"What do I want?” he repeated. As if the question itself was ridiculous. 

"I want to remind you of your place.”

Before I could react, he shoved me backward.

And it sent me stumbling into the wall behind me.

His friends circled around. Blocking any chance of escape.

I was staring at them.

My heart pounded in my chest.

My fingers were shaking again.

“I didn’t do anything,” My voice was small.

“You exist,” Jared said. Stepping closer.

“That’s enough.”

Gulp.

My back was pressed against the cold brick wall.

Jared raised his fist, his eyes cold and unrelenting.

And then.. everything went black.