《A Whisper in the Wind》 Shadows of Comfort The story begins with a boy staring at the ceiling, his mind racing. He keeps replaying various scenarios in his head, fearing the possible outcomes to the point of tears. Hours pass, and he''s still awake. It''s already 2 AM, almost dawn, but he continues to think about everything, lying in bed and wishing he were dead, eventually crying himself silent. Red: It''s like the memory of time is stabbing me directly in the heart. I hate it. I hate that I know how to think. I guess it would be better if I went crazy and clueless¡ªat least then I wouldn''t be in pain anymore. But what would others think of me? A burden? A crazy person influenced by the things that entertain me? Would my mom and my family treat me even worse, maybe even kick me out of the house? I don''t think so. Maybe it''s better for me to be dead. I wouldn''t have to think about myself anymore. But what about those who need me? Ahh, they''re just using me for their own sake. I can''t even talk normally. I wonder what''s happening to me. I think I shouldn''t have existed. I''m pretty sleepy, but I can''t calm myself. I''m always thinking about things and¡ª [chicken noises] A shadow appears in the corner of Red''s room, gradually taking the shape of a tall, cloaked figure. It''s Death, Red''s unusual but understanding friend. Death: Red, you''re overthinking again. Red: Oh, it''s you. What are you doing here? Death: I sensed your turmoil and came to offer some comfort. You don''t need to carry all this weight alone. Red: It''s hard. Everything feels so overwhelming. I can''t see a way out. Death: I know it seems endless, but you have more strength than you realize. Remember, even the darkest nights end with dawn. Red: But what if things never change? What if I stay stuck in this loop forever? Death: Change is inevitable, Red. You''re about to start school again, face-to-face. It''s a new opportunity. I''m sure you can socialize and make friends there. Red: You really think so? Death: Absolutely. You''re a good person, Red. You have qualities that people will appreciate. Just give yourself a chance. Red: But what if they judge me like my family does? Death: Not everyone will. Some will see you for who you truly are. And those are the ones worth having in your life. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Red: I hope you''re right. Death: Trust me. You''re stronger than you think, and you deserve to be happy. Now, try to get some rest. Red: I''ll try. Thanks, Death. Death: Anytime, Red. [Death fades away, leaving Red with a sense of comfort and a glimmer of hope.] Red: Another sleepless night, huh? I haven''t gotten any sleep since yesterday. I should get up and start the day with chores. If I don''t, my mom will be mad for sure. [Sighs] Alright, good morning! His name is Red, a very normal teenager, but he''s not been in a good situation for the past few months. He feels like he''s in a loop, where every day the same events keep repeating, at least in his perception. He''s trying to hide his presence from his family due to many circumstances and toxicity. Because of this, he starts the day with chores, and when he''s done, it''s as if he vanishes from the house. He suddenly disappears like a sudden death, but Red doesn''t care because his family doesn''t care either. Red rarely talks to his family because he has problems with them, but he only talks to them when it''s absolutely necessary. Sometimes his family talks to him, but it''s more like scolding, which Red hates. So, he prefers to lock himself in his room whenever he has nothing else to do around the house. As the moment passes, he has to start another loop of his life. He''s planning to end the loop but doesn''t know how. No matter what, he will figure it out because he''s already tired of dealing with it every day. Red: Phew, breakfast is ready, and I''m done with the chores. I''ll eat first before I go to my room. I don''t have the appetite to eat, though. I guess I have to go to my room already to avoid them catching me and forcing me to eat with them. I don''t like it, and even if they do, they''ll just scold me or judge me. It''s their habit, but I can''t accept it. They don''t think about my feelings. They just judge and don''t care about the impact on me. It''s so cruel on both sides. [sighs] I should go to my room before¡ª [door opens] Red: Shit, I''m dead for sure. H-Hey there, mom. G-good morning. What the hell did I just say¡ª Maria: Hmm? Really? You just ruined my beautiful morning by being weird. If only you slept inside a coffin and didn''t wake up, my morning wouldn''t be ruined like this. Tsk! What a useless son I have. Red: You''re right, I should''ve slept in a buried coffin. M-My apologies. Maria: About tomorrow? Red: Shit, did I forget something? What about tomorrow? What is she talking about? Dammit, I know nothing. What the hell. Maria: Tomorrow is your first day of school. Make sure to improve your grades, or I''ll stop funding your education. I want you to be on top, understand? Red: Y-Yes, ma''am¡ªmother. Yes, mother. Maria: Good. I don''t want a useless son. [Red walks to his room with a blue expression] Maria: Aren''t you going to eat breakfast? Red: No thanks, I''m full. Maria: Hmph! [Red closes the door and jumps onto his bed with his full weight] Red: Damn, I forgot about that. It''s my first day of school tomorrow, face to face, huh? I wonder if I could make friends like I''ve watched in anime series. [sighs] I don''t really know if I''m ready to socialize. --END OF THE CHAPTER-- Reading Guide: Italic texts represents as the characters thoughts in their mind. Msg from the author: Sorry for some grammatical errors, hope you''ve enjoyed the chapter. The Rise of the Sta. Josefina University Gang Let''s take a journey back to the past. Red was often bullied in elementary school due to his father''s notorious reputation. Though his dad, Kael, was no longer a criminal, he had been a formidable gang leader, dominating a major fraternity in their area. Fearless and brutal, Kael''s influence was amplified by being the mayor''s son. Many civilians saw him as a demon, claiming he had ruined their lives. Kael''s story began when he was in his prime. He frequently used his father''s position as a ten-year mayor of Sta. Josefina to evade consequences. As the only son of Mayor Reiley, Kael exploited his immunity, forming his own gang in his second year of high school with his cousins. Their fights quickly made them feared at Sta. Josefina University. Kael''s gang, initially seen as a fraternity, was known as the "Sta. Josefina University Gang" or "SUG." Under Kael''s leadership, SUG rapidly gained popularity, attracting numerous members and clashing with rival gangs. Their dominance threatened even the infamous "Raket Fraternity," which had instilled fear for nearly a decade. Raket''s crimes spanned drug dealing, murder, theft, and illegal weapons trading, with its members often abusing civilians. The government, far removed from the crime-ridden Sta. Josefina, struggled to curb the chaos. Despite SUG''s initial image as a force of good, it was Kael''s tool to protect his father''s position and retaliate against his detractors, including the Raket Fraternity. Kael''s ultimate goal was to ensure his father''s re-election by eliminating opposition. Meanwhile, Raket''s leader, Rhon, a former close friend of Kael, prepared to strike first. He called a gathering of his members to announce the plan. At the gathering: Rhon: Listen up, everyone. I refuse to let our fraternity fall or allow anyone to challenge us fearlessly. Have you heard of the Sta. Josefina University Gang? Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. [The crowd murmurs.] Rhon: No one has heard of SUGs? [Some people nod.] Member 1: I''ve heard of them from my younger cousins in that school. Rhon: Well, they''re about to conquer us. Keil: Sir? Rhon: What? Keil: Did someone from SUG declare it? Rhon: Use your common sense. Of course not, but we''re the last obstacle for them to conquer. Member 1: But sir, they''re just students. It''s impossible for them to defeat us¡ª Rhon: Are you dumb? Some of them aren''t students; some are repeaters! Do you know what they are? I''m an example. Member 1: Are they the same age as you? Rhon: Some are, but others are older. Their leader was once a close friend, smarter than me but three years younger. He could have been our leader, but he left. His father had my father imprisoned, and now he''s abusing his dad''s power. That''s unfair as hell! Tomorrow, we ambush them. Each squad''s plan has been distributed to your captains. I''ll make sure he suffers my wrath. This isn''t just a fight between two leaders¡ªit''s a fight between former best friends. [The crowd shouts their approval.] Rhon: Very well. Member 1: Sir? Rhon: You again? What now? Member 1: My friends can''t participate in tomorrow''s plan. Rhon: There''s no valid reason! Member 1: But sir, they were badly beaten by¡ª Rhon: By who!? Member 1: The SUGs, sir. Rhon: Pathetic. [Walks away, thinking] Nice one, Kael, nice one. --END OF THE CHAPTER-- Reading Guide: Italic texts represents as the characters thoughts in their mind. Msg from the author: Sorry for some grammatical errors, hope you''ve enjoyed the chapter. If you liked my story don''t forget to comment and vote my story for more chapters to come! Tip: Add this story to your list so you''ll get notified when another part or chapter is published. The Ambush Unveiled The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the dusty streets of Sta. Josefina town. In a secluded alley, the fraternity Raket was gearing up for their planned ambush. Their hearts pounded with anticipation, but before they could act, a group of boys suddenly surrounded them. The ambushers had become the ambushed. Rhon, the leader of Raket, was surprisingly happy about this unexpected turn of events. His members were shocked to see him grinning amidst the tension. Rhon: I can feel Kael''s presence already. Hmph, it''s all going as planned. Now my job is to destroy Kael myself. It was an authentic idea, Kael! You''ve predicted us, haha! But you know what? I''m born ready. I won''t waste any more time. Show yourself and fight me one on one, fearlessly! Kael emerged from the shadows, his face fierce and determined to defeat Rhon. Kael: Seems your slaves are having trouble fighting my pawns. You''re confident enough to face me, huh? As if you can knock me out? Hahaha, pathetic living creature. Rhon: Pathetic, you say? Well, while all of you are surrounding us, you didn''t expect to be surrounded by an even bigger circle of my pawns- Kael: Do you mean slaves? Pathetic- Rhon: Now! Surround them! Kael: Haha, you''re not so sure about that. You can''t see them being badly beaten by another circle of my pawns. Oh, I forgot, you can''t see them losing against my boys because you''re inside a circle. The fraternity that wanted my dad out of the mayor''s position is falling like snowflakes. Rhon: W-What? A member approached Kael and whispered something in his ear. Kael: I''m surprised none of you brought weapons. You could''ve brought some, and your slaves might have survived my pawns'' bare hands. Oh, and you too, at least you might survive against me. Rhon: You dare to underestimate me? Kael: The other groups of your slaves that were supposed to ambush us have been ambushed by us! Isn''t that great? This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Rhon''s face fell as he realized the dire situation. His eyes reflected disappointment and devastation; he was at a loss for words. Kael: What''s your plan now? Are you going to surrender? I''ll give you a chance to run, Rhon. Run and leave your mates because they''re already in my hands. Suddenly, Rhon''s expression changed. His eyes glared with a murderous intensity, like an injected rabbit ready to kill. Rhon: [smirking] Finally, after ten years, Kael! Eyeball to eyeball, and you think I will run away from you? [launches a punch] Kael: [defending the punch and launching a flicker jab] Take that, it''s from my mother! The surrounding members stood still, scared to intervene. Member 2: What did he say about his mother? Kiel: Psst! Quiet there! Damn it, why can''t I move while my friend is fighting alone? Rhon: I didn''t see that! He''s gotten stronger than me! [trips Kael, knocking him down, and starts punching him repeatedly] You guys! Bring my father back, or else all of you will die! Kael: [kneeing Rhon in the groin, making him stop and groan in pain] Stop acting like you know nothing. [punches Rhon in the face, knocking him back] Hold him, boys. [Raket members tried to intervene, but Kiel''s command stopped them in their tracks] Kiel: Stop, boys, if you still want to live. Member 2: But... Kiel: It''s all clear, we''ve already lost. [SUG''s members held Rhon tightly] Rhon: T-This isn''t fair! K-Kael, what are you doing? [Kael pulled out a gun, his face emotionless] Kael: Isn''t it fair that after all that, I''m only punishing you this way? Let me recall what your dad¡ªour dad¡ªdid to my life! He abused my mom, raped her, and made me! I feel bad for my father that his own brother did that to his wife! And not only that, for the next five years, our dad kept abusing my mom physically. When my mom confessed to my dad, he took action immediately, but you ran to our father and lured him to our house, expecting him to kill my mom. And he did. If it weren''t for the police my dad called, I''d be dead now! It''s all your fault! [Kael unlocked the gun] Rhon: Everything has its own consequences. Thank you for everything, man. [Gunshot] --END OF THE CHAPTER-- Reading Guide: Italic texts represents the characters thoughts in their mind. Msg from the author: Sorry for some grammatical errors, hope you''ve enjoyed the chapter. If you liked my story don''t forget to comment and vote my story for more chapters to come! Tip: Add this story to your list so you''ll get notified when another part or chapter is published.