The day after

As he wakes up in the morning. With some discomfort from sleeping less than usual and few bruises on his body from yesterday thrashing, he got from his "Friends" Everything went as usual. Preparing books for today, and bringing extra t-shirt, as he opens the door. he sees his neighbor that also just comes outside.

"Hey Elliot what's wrong last night, that you screaming so loud waking me up?"

"Morning Uncle Robert, its nothing I'm just having a nightmare."

"Alright then, let's go we need to get going." Being urged by him they walk to the train station together and split up since the destination is different.

During the duration of his journey to the school, he got to think about what happened in the grassland last night. and start to get worried about if he going back there again later. With how it's are there is no way he could do it again considering what happened the last night he goes to that place.

But then again what if? What if he does get back over there again will he be alright? Of course not. With his scrawny body, there is no way he could survive in grassland filled with wild animals that can shred him apart.

With that question, he keeps thinking about what should he do, that he didn't realize that it's already school lunchtime when the bell for the class ringing. Without realizing it that he doesn't even listen to the class lesson the whole morning, and now the time for his "Friend" calling him to the back of the class.

"Yo bread shuttle!! Come here already!" with a smug face, the class so-called "Martial artist follower" who has been bootlicking this class students that have enough talent and resources to practice it.

scuttling into their place, Elliot timidly facing down the floor to try not to see their faces, making them laugh at him. Get us the usual alright hurry up you know what will happen when you don't get the food that we want alright.

Hearing what they said makes Elliot furrow his eyebrows. After thinking a while he said with difficulties

"I don't have any money left to buy anything, besides I haven't eat since yesterday"

Hearing Elliot talks back one of them stops chatting with their friends and walks to Elliot and slaps him in the back of the head. "Do you think we care? Go! get it, I don't care if you have to steal or beg!"

Kicking him out of the class, Elliot getting troubled. While usually, he got enough money to at least eat 2x a day now since last week they keep asking him to buy them stuff outside the usual, making him lack money 2day into the next stimulus from the government. And seems telling them he doesn't have money doesn't solve the problem he had.

While walking to the school cafeteria he keeps having second thoughts about what to do. Without any money, all he could do are, as they say, steal it or borrow some money. Without question, he couldn't borrow money from anyone because he doesn't have any friends in this school.

After a while, he arrived at the cafeteria, and while the bell for the break just ringing he could see few people clustering about in a few sections of food items trying to take them as fast as possible. Thinking that maybe he could get away without paying in between this cluster of people fighting for foods, he braces himself and gets between them. While hesitating at first he tried to get a few items from behind other people. While he tried to take it when the auntie that manning the items getting the money to return to the other students he manage to get few items without her realizing it.

Going for the last item that he needs and he can go back to the class and be done with it, he starts to reach seeing that there is one more left. but before he could take it out, another hand reach out at the same time for it.

Surprised by that he looks up and sees another student while he also sees him too, they immediately realize they are the same kind, thinking that if he going to argue with him to get this item the other people will take notice of them he let go of the last item.

Thinking that Elliot giving the item away without arguing with him, he just says thanks and pays for it before running back to his class.

Realizing that he didn't get all the items that they want he decides to put all the items back and go back to the class, thinking that since he didn't manage to get all of them and going to get beat up anyway why bother stealing at all? Prepared to get beaten up he walks to the class and immediately got noticed by one of the lackeys that waiting for food from him.

"Well, well, well would you look at that. He doesn't bring anything at all. Do you think I'm a joke to you?" he speaks while circling Elliot. Seeing there is no response from Elliot, he kicks Elliot to the wall.

Being kicked suddenly he fell to the floor, holding his hip from the pain being kicked. Having not eaten anything make him weak and almost lose consciousness from all the kicking that Elliot couldn't hear what they talk while he kicks Elliot on the floor.

After a while he realizes there are no more kicks coming his way, and realize that they were already gone from the class, Thinking that he felt hungry and tired from all the beat-up he goes to his chair slowly while being watched by the rest of students that only watch on the sides while chatting by themselves.

Having not eaten for almost 2 days make him having waves of hunger from his stomach, he tried to take asleep on his desk. Without any luck he keeps awake by the pain and hunger, he decides to go to the hallway where there is a water fountain.

Drinking to fill his empty stomach he felt bloated but filled nonetheless. Having his fill he goes to the bathroom to wash his face and any of the shoes mark on his body trying to remove anything obvious from the teachers so that he doesn't have to deal with fake concerned adults and busybody from making his day worse.

With all that said and done, he goes back to class and does everything as usual until the end of the class. Preparing to go back to his apartment, he got called by the people at the back of the class.

"Yo Elliot, don't forget to give us your money later when you got the check later next Monday alright!" Said one of them.

"Okay." Seeing that he can't escape from giving them money any way he just says what he usually says and be on his way. Maybe because they already beat him up today in class and can't get anything anymore from him they let him go for today

Without much to do all he needs to do is wait for another day which getting it every 2 weeks. While he got money from the government because his parents have died on duty while doing missions. Which most casualties are the most, He could keep living in this way.

Not much but better than nothing at all, at least till he is finished with the government studies programs to help fallen soldier children to at least have a job later either in the military or in the public sector.

Back at the apartment, while he tried to suppress the hunger and fatigue, he got reminded by the white room as soon he comes back to the room. Thinking back last the thing that happens last night, and the terror that he had. He starts to try to think of a way to help himself.

But after thinking it over and over he couldn't really do much without anything to help him. Going outside the room he could see the broom outside that being use by the building manager to clean the corridor.

Thinking that that broom could be of somewhat help for him he goes and grab it and took it to the public kitchen. At first, he was thinking to sharpen those brooms but realize he couldn't take it and modify it as he pleases because he couldn't replace it later.

Alternately he starts to look around the kitchen and come think of an idea of making a makeshift spear. Attaching a knife into broom with some rope might have worked if he could bring them to that white room.

Without knowing if it will work or not, but without doing anything he doomed to feel that pain being mauled to death again if he meets those animals again.

Looking around for something to bind the knife to the broom, without any luck he couldn't find any tape or anything that could work in the kitchen. he starts to roam into the bathroom area.

After looking around he finds used clothes that no one use but are there on the side used to clean some stuff by everyone he decided to take it with him to the room. As soon he comes to the room he starts to remove the broom from the handle and cut the clothes he found into strips and bind the knives to the end of the stick.

Without anything to do anymore, he starts to rest on the mattress while hugging the makeshift spear. Hoping he could bring it to the white space. After a while, he starts dozing off.