The Beating

"Huh?" I stutter, taken aback by their sudden hostility.

"You think just because your father is rich, you can talk to us any way you like?" one of them sneers, her smile vanished, and her face stern.

The others nod in agreement, their expressions equally cold. I take a step back, feeling uneasy.

"B-but I didn't insult any of you, r-right?" I stutter, trying to defend myself.

They exchange unsettling glances, their eyes seeming to communicate some unspoken message. Then, they begin closing in on me, their steps slow and menacing.

I eye them warily, taking cautious steps back while darting glances at my phone, which is just out of reach.

The atmosphere has suddenly turned ominous, and I can feel my heart racing with anxiety. I'm not sure what they're planning, but I know I need to get out of here fast.

I could just grab my phone and make a run for it, but where could I go?

Just as I'm thinking this, they halt in front of me, and one of them picks up my phone from the ground.

My heart sinks as I see the screen is badly damaged. How am I supposed to get it fixed? Then, she slams my phone on the ground again!

"Hey! Stop it already!" I yell, trying to intervene.

But the other three join in, brutally stomping on my phone.

I watch in horror as they destroy my only means of communication. The screen shatters, and the device lies there, useless.

"Stop! Please!" I beg, feeling helpless.

But they continue their vicious attack, their faces twisted in cruelty. I realize I'm in grave danger and need to think fast to escape this situation.

But my phone!

I stand there, frozen in shock, my eyes wide with disbelief. My dad bought me that phone with his hard-earned money, and they're destroying it! I can't help but think, "What did I do wrong? I didn't insult them, did I?"

My fists clench in anger as I watch my phone being repeatedly smashed. The sound of shattering glass and crushing plastic is unbearable.

Anger surges through me, and before I know it, I'm pointing a finger at them and yelling, "That's enough! Why are you damaging my phone for no reason? What did I do?"

But I quickly realize my mistake and drop my hand, feeling a sense of regret. "Uhm—" I start to apologize, but it's too late.

"Ogun wan kill your papa?!" one of them shouts, her eyes blazing with fury which sends a chill down my spine.

I stumble backward, feeling helpless and overwhelmed. This is not how I envisioned my first day of class.

One of them picks up my phone and surprisingly throws it at my chest, along with a handful of dirt that stings my eyes.

The phone hits my chest with a thud, and I grasp it reflexively, but I don't have time to examine it as the dirt and gravel from the ground sting my eyes.

I rub them vigorously, trying to clear my vision, but the sudden attack leaves me reeling. The abrasive particles feel like a thousand needles piercing my eyes, and I blink rapidly, trying to flush them out.

As I struggle to see, I hear the girls' menacing laughter and taunts, their voices echoing in my ears. "You think you're so special with your fancy phone?" one of them jeers. "Well, now it's broken, just like you!"

I continue blinking and rubbing my eyes, trying to flush out the dirt, but it only makes things worse.

Tears well up in my eyes, and the stinging sensation refuses to subside.

Just as I'm trying to compose myself, one of them pushes me again, and I fall hard on the floor.

The impact sends shockwaves through my body, and I struggle to keep my eyelids stable. The girls' laughter and taunts echo in my ears, making me feel helpless and humiliated.

"See this fool, you don't know who we are? You don't know we run this place?!" one of them yells.

I begin crawling backwards, desperate to escape the situation.

My eyes stream with tears, and my vision blurs, but I know I need to keep moving. I'm trapped, and I don't know how to defend myself.

"You think your dad's money will save you?" another one sneers, and I shake my head, still crawling away in desperation.

But then, I cry out in pain, "Ahh!" as someone pulls my braids hard, threatening to rip them from my scalp.

A surge of agony courses through my body, and I feel a searing pain in my scalp.

They pull harder and harder, forcing my face upwards towards the sun, and a blinding burst of sunlight shoots into my eyes.

I instinctively close them, feeling extreme discomfort and disorientation.

"Stop, stop it!" I plead, my voice shaking with fear and pain, but she doesn't let go.

The pulling intensifies, and I feel like my hair is being ripped from my scalp.

Then, I feel a menacing breath on my ear as she whispers, "We'll teach you a lesson, so next time, you'll think twice before speaking." Her words send a chill down my spine.

"W-what do you mean?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, but before I can get a response, I'm met with a stinging slap in the face. The force of the blow sends my head spinning.

And as if that's not enough, someone kicks me hard against my backpack.

The pain shoots straight to my spinal cord and chest, causing me to shout out in agony. "Ahhhh!!!"

The kick sends me sprawling to the ground, and I feel like I've been winded. My vision blurs, and I struggle to catch my breath. The pain is excruciating, and I feel like I'm going to pass out.

Before I can react, someone clamps their hand over my mouth from behind, silencing me.

Then, I'm met with a barrage of kicks and blows all over my body.

I curl up in a ball, my eyes squeezed shut in agony, and clutch my phone tightly in my hands, desperately hoping it can still be salvaged.

Just as suddenly, one of them grabs me by the collar and forces me to open my eyes.

She hauls me to my feet, her anger still blazing in her eyes.

As I stand, I notice the stinging sensation in my eyes has subsided, but they feel hot and wet, probably from tears.

In an instant, I receive a stinging slap on my face and am roughly pushed away, sending me crashing to the ground.

My elbows scrape against the floor, and I cry out in pain. "Argh!"

The sound of their mocking laughter fills the air as they clutch their bellies and point fingers at me, their eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Foolish girl thinks she can mess with us," one of them guffaws, still chuckling.

Despite the searing pain coursing through my body, I slowly pull myself backward, my movements labored and agonizing.

I struggle to stand, my knees wobbly and my body throbbing in protest, but I refuse to give in.

Finally, I manage to stand upright, my eyes fixed on the group with a mix of fear and defiance.

Without hesitation, I spin around and start sprinting. I pump my legs as fast as I can, my feet pounding the ground in a frantic rhythm despite the agony coursing through my body.

It feels like I'm carrying a heavy burden, but I ignore their angry shouts and keep running.

I can hear their footsteps closing in on me, but I don't dare look back. I'm desperate to escape, but I have no idea where I'm headed.

The road stretches out before me, eerily deserted. I wonder where everyone is. No students, no people, no vehicles in sight. It's as if the world has abandoned me, leaving me to face my tormentors alone.

I sneak nervous glances over my shoulder, and my heart sinks as I see them gaining on me. I know I'd be faster if I hadn't been beaten up.

My knees buckle, and I crumple to the ground, utterly spent and unable to take another step.

Just as I think things can't get any worse, a car screeches to a halt in front of me, sending my heart racing.

My eyes fly open in fear, thinking I could have been hit again, just like last time. And who knows, I might have died.

The memories of my previous traumatic experience come flooding back, and I feel paralyzed with fear.

Just then, I hear the sound of the car door shutting three times, and my heart leaps with joy, thinking someone has finally arrived to help me.

I somehow summon the strength to stand up, my exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the surge of hope.

But my relief is short-lived, and my smile quickly fades as I see Kendrick, Kelly, and some strange guy standing next to the car, their stern frowns a unified front of disapproval.

"Uhm," I mutter, feeling a mix of relief and nerves flood through me at their sudden presence.

"Mandy?" Kelly asks, her voice filled with disbelief.