1. The Weakest Link

The smell of spoiled milk and wet bread filled the cafeteria. It was lunchtime but for Ethan food had stopped giving comfort a long time ago. His hands shook as he held his tray. His eyes moved around the room. He was looking for a safe place to sit. But he knew there was no safe place. Not here. Not in Blackwood Academy. Only the strong survived in this place.

His stomach hurt as he saw them. The group of boys sat at the long table in the middle of the cafeteria. Their laughter was loud. Their presence made it hard to breathe. Damian sat at the front of the group. His blond hair looked perfect. His school uniform was neat and clean. He looked like a prince. But Ethan knew the truth. Damian was a monster wearing human skin.

Ethan lowered his head. He tried to walk past them. If he moved fast enough maybe they would not see him. Maybe today they would leave him alone.

But life was never kind to the weak.

"Hey freak." A voice shouted. The voice was sharp and full of joy.

Ethan stopped. His heart hit hard against his chest.

Slowly he turned around. He held the tray tighter. He saw Damian smiling at him. His blue eyes looked sharp. They were filled with cruel joy. Next to him his friends also smiled. Logan. Marcus. Eric. They looked like wolves that had found something to eat.

Ethan swallowed hard. "I... I have to go."

"But we are just starting to have fun." Damian said. He stood up. The whole cafeteria became quiet. Everyone was looking. Everyone was waiting.

Ethan stepped back. His whole body told him to run. But run where. The doors were too far. The teachers would not help. They never helped.

"Where do you think you are going." Logan asked. His voice was full of hate. He was the biggest one. His muscles made his blazer tight. He stepped forward. He stood over Ethan like a dark cloud.

"I... I just..."

Before Ethan could finish something hit his back. A strong force pushed him forward. Pain ran through his chest. He fell. His tray slipped from his hands. The plate hit the floor. Food and milk flew everywhere. The sound of shock and laughter filled the room.

Ethan tried to get up. But a heavy foot pressed down on his back. It pushed him into the food. His fingers touched the cold floor. His face felt hot with shame.

"Oops." Marcus said. "You are so clumsy."

Ethan bit his lip. He held back the tears.

"Look at this." Damian said. He crouched beside him. "You are such a pig Ethan. Rolling in food like you live on a farm."

More laughter. More whispers.

Ethan closed his eyes. He wanted to disappear. He wanted the ground to eat him up.

Damian's voice became sweet in a scary way. "Since you love the floor so much why not eat from it."

Ethan's stomach became cold. His breath stopped.

"No..." The word was soft. Weak. Broken.

"No." Damian raised his eyebrow. He looked like he was surprised. "Are you saying no to me."

The weight on Ethan's back went away. But before he could move Damian grabbed his hair. He pulled his head up. Ethan gasped. His scalp hurt.

"Eat it." Damian said. His voice became low and dark.

Ethan looked around the room. People were watching. Some looked away. Some giggled. A few looked sad. But no one moved. No one helped.

No one ever helped.

Ethan's hands shook. He looked at the food on the floor. His throat hurt. He wanted to scream. He wanted to fight. He wanted to run. But he could not. He was weak. He had always been weak.

Damian pushed his head closer to the mess. "Eat it."

A sharp pain hit Ethan's chest. Shame and anger and sadness all hit him at once. It was hard to breathe.

His fingers became fists.

Then something broke inside him.

Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was tiredness. Or maybe he had nothing left to lose.

Slowly he reached out with shaking hands. His fingers touched the cold wet noodles. His eyes filled with tears. He picked up a handful. His lips shook. His stomach felt sick.

He brought it to his mouth.

The moment his lips touched the food loud laughter broke out. Damian and his friends clapped. They laughed like it was the best joke.

"Good boy." Damian said. He hit Ethan's cheek in a mocking way. "See. You do belong on the floor."

Something inside Ethan broke.

He chewed slowly. Every bite was full of shame. Full of hate. Full of pain.

Still no one stopped it.

No one helped.

No one saved him.

The food tasted bad. But the taste of being alone was worse.

His body shook. His nails cut into his skin. The pain reminded him of the truth.

No one cared.

Not the students. Not the teachers. Not the world.

He was really alone.

Damian let go of him. He pushed Ethan back. "You are so pathetic." He said. Then he walked away. His friends followed him. Their laughter filled the room.

Ethan stayed there. His knees hurt. His uniform was dirty. His hands shook.

The crowd left slowly. Some students looked at him. Their faces hard to read. Others walked past him like he was not there.

Like he was nothing.

He dropped his head. His shoulders folded. Silent tears ran down his face. His whole body hurt. But the pain inside him was worse.

It was too much.

He had always known he was weak.

But today for the first time

he wished he was dead.