2025-10-26 23:26:46The next morning, Adrian stood in front of the cracked bathroom mirror, his stomach twisting into knots. His pale face stared back at him, framed by dark circles under his eyes.
“Ten seconds,” he whispered, clutching the sink. “I just have to look him in the eye for ten seconds.”
The words sounded simple. Ten seconds. Anyone could do that. But Jason Reed wasn’t just anyone, he was a predator, and Adrian had always been the prey.
[System Reminder: Task pending. Failure penalty: -5 Reputation]
The glowing words flashed in his mind, vanishing as quickly as they appeared.
Adrian pulled on his worn-out hoodie, adjusted his crooked glasses, and forced himself out the door. Every step toward school felt heavier than the last.
The classroom was already alive when he arrived. Laughter, chatter, the sound of desks scraping against the floor. Jason stood near the back, surrounded by his usual pack. Chloe sat elegantly at her desk, her eyes scanning Adrian like he was something stuck to her shoe.
Adrian froze in the doorway. His palms were already sweating. “I can’t do this. I can’t.”
But then the system whispered in his mind: [Cowards are forgotten. Face your enemy]
Adrian swallowed hard. His legs moved on their own, carrying him to his seat. He kept his head down, eyes glued to his desk.
Jason’s voice cut through the air. “Well, look who decided to crawl in today.”
Laughter followed. Adrian’s heart hammered in his chest. His throat tightened. But then he remembered the task. “Ten seconds. Just ten seconds.”
Slowly, painfully, Adrian lifted his head. His gaze found Jason’s, and locked.
Jason smirked, confused for a heartbeat. “What are you staring at, Worm?”
Adrian didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His mouth was dry, his heart thundered so hard it felt like it would break his ribs, but he didn’t look away. “Yo, Jason, he’s eyeballing you,” Ryan laughed.
“Careful, Worm,” Jason sneered, stepping closer. “Keep staring like that, and I’ll rearrange your face.”
Adrian’s knees shook under the desk. Every instinct screamed at him to look away, to shrink, to vanish, but the system’s timer burned in his head.
[6 seconds… 7 seconds… 8 seconds…]
Jason leaned down, their faces inches apart. “Say something. Or are you mute now too?”
Adrian’s lips trembled, but his eyes, just barely, stayed locked.
[9 seconds… 10 seconds. Task Complete]
A rush of warmth flooded Adrian’s chest.
[Reward: +1 Confidence. New Reputation Gained: 5]
Jason blinked, confused by the sudden steel in Adrian’s gaze. For the first time, Adrian didn’t look like he was about to break.
Jason’s smirk faltered for half a second. Then he chuckled, masking it. “You got a problem, Worm?”
Adrian’s voice cracked, but the words came out anyway. “No problem. Just looking at trash.”
The class gasped. Jason’s grin dropped. “What did you say?”
Adrian’s stomach twisted. “Did I really just say that?”
Jason slammed his hand against Adrian’s desk, making it rattle. “You wanna repeat that, Worm?”
The room fell silent. Every eye was on Adrian. Adrian wanted to shrink, to beg forgiveness, but the system’s warmth still pulsed in his chest.
For once, he didn’t crumble. He met Jason’s eyes again. “You heard me.”
Jason’s fist clenched. Chloe’s lips parted in surprise. Even Emma looked up from her notebook, eyes wide.
Jason leaned down, whispering so only Adrian could hear. “You’re dead, Worm. After class, you’re done.”
He pulled back, smirking again, as though nothing had happened. But his eyes burned with promised violence. The class erupted in whispers.
Adrian sat frozen, his heart still racing, sweat soaking through his shirt. He’d done it. Somehow, he’d done it. But at what cost?
The rest of the lesson passed in a haze. Adrian’s mind replayed the moment again and again. Jason’s shock.
The class’s gasp. His own words, sharp, defiant. It didn’t feel real, but the system’s voice returned.
[New Task Assigned: Survive Jason Reed’s punishment after class.**]
[Reward: +2 Strength. Penalty: -10 Reputation]Adrian’s blood ran cold. “Survive?”
The bell rang. Jason’s smirk was waiting. “Come on, Worm. Let’s take a walk.”
His goons flanked him, grinning with anticipation. Chloe watched with a cruel smile, while Emma bit her lip, looking torn.
Adrian’s legs trembled as he stood. The system’s words echoed in his head. “Survive.”
They dragged him to the back of the gym, away from teachers’ eyes. Jason shoved him against the wall. “You think you’re funny now, huh? You think you can talk back to me?”
Adrian’s voice shook. “I… I didn’t.”
Jason’s fist slammed into the wall beside his head, inches from his face. Adrian flinched. “You’re lucky I don’t break your nose right now,” Jason snarled. “But maybe I’ll make this more fun.”
He grabbed Adrian’s bookbag and dumped it on the ground. Books and notes scattered across the dirt.
Ryan stomped on one, leaving a muddy footprint. Mark kicked another into a puddle. “Stop,” Adrian whispered.
Jason laughed. “Or what? You gonna read me to death?”
Adrian’s fists clenched. For the first time, anger burned hot in his chest. His books, his last safe place, were trampled like garbage.
Jason leaned close, smirking. “Say something again. I dare you.”
Adrian’s lips trembled. His heart raced. But the system whispered in his ear.
[Face-slapping opportunity detected. Respond with courage]
Adrian’s voice cracked, but it cut through the laughter. “I don’t need to say anything. Everyone already knows you’re a coward.”
The laughter stopped. Jason’s grin faltered. “What did you just call me?”
Adrian’s chest heaved. “A coward. Picking on someone weaker than you doesn’t make you strong. It makes you pathetic.”
For the first time, Jason didn’t laugh. His jaw tightened. “Hold him,” Jason snapped.
Ryan and Mark grabbed Adrian’s arms, pinning him. Jason pulled his fist back, but before it landed, a teacher’s voice echoed from the hallway. “What’s going on back there?”
The bullies froze. Jason cursed under his breath, then shoved Adrian against the wall. “You’re lucky. Next time, Worm. Next time.”
They scattered, leaving Adrian shaking, bruised, and alone. The system’s voice chimed.
[Task Complete. Reward: +2 Strength. Current Reputation: 15]
Warmth surged through Adrian’s arms. His muscles ached, tingling with new energy. For the first time, he felt… different. Stronger.
Adrian sank to his knees, gathering his books with trembling hands. His body hurt, his pride was torn, but deep inside, a fire sparked.
He had survived. He had pushed back, and it was only the beginning.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter Nine: Target on the Heart
The bruises from the street fight hadn’t healed yet. Adrian sat at his desk the next morning, jaw stiff, ribs aching. But what weighed on him more wasn’t pain, it was the silence. Jason hadn’t shown up. The system pulsed faintly.[Threat Level: Elevated. Enemy plotting indirect retaliation]Emma slid into the seat beside him, her voice low. “You’re pushing too far, Adrian. He’s going to do something worse.”Adrian forced a smirk. “He already has. Lies. Fists. What’s left?”Emma’s eyes flickered with unease. “People like him… they always find something.”It happened during lunch. Adrian was halfway through his sandwich when a scream echoed from the courtyard. Students surged toward the windows. Emma. She was surrounded by Jason and two of his lackeys. One yanked her backpack away, spilling her books across the pavement. Jason leaned close, smirking cruelly, one hand gripping her arm. The crowd cheered and jeered, phones already out to record.Adrian’s chair screeched back as he stoo
Chapter Eight: The Expulsion Trap
The whispers didn’t stop after the cafeteria incident. If anything, they grew sharper, carrying venom in Jason’s absence. He hadn’t been seen all morning. Adrian sat in class with Emma two rows behind him, unease coiling in his gut. The system’s warning echoed in his mind:[Quest Alert: Jason Reed is preparing a major retaliation. Anticipate sabotage]When the lunch bell rang, Adrian felt the weight of eyes on him. Students parted as he walked into the hallway.That’s when Principal Hargrove appeared, face stern. “Adrian Cole,” the principal’s voice was like a gavel. “My office. Now.”Gasps followed him. Emma’s worried glance burned into his back. The principal’s office was silent except for the ticking clock. Jason was already there, standing tall with mock innocence plastered on his face.Principal Hargrove’s jaw tightened. “Adrian, do you deny placing this in my mailbox this morning?”He slammed a clear evidence bag onto the desk. Inside was a small plastic pouch filled with whit
Chapter Seven: The Public Trial
Morning sunlight streamed into the classroom, but the atmosphere was heavy. Adrian could feel it the moment he walked in, every pair of eyes was on him. Whispers bounced off the walls like bullets. “Jason’s got something planned today.” “He’s gonna bury the worm for good.”“I heard Adrian jumped him last night.”Adrian clenched his jaw. The system hummed quietly in the back of his mind.[Quest Active: Survive Jason’s retaliation. Stage Two begins]Jason arrived late, swaggering into the classroom with a bandage across his nose. He ignored the teacher’s scolding and walked straight past Adrian’s desk, slamming a folded piece of paper onto it.Adrian unfolded it slowly. “Auditorium. Lunch. Don’t chicken out.”Jason’s smirk said it all: it was a setup.By lunchtime, the auditorium was packed. Students filled the seats, buzzing with anticipation. Rumors had spread like wildfire: Jason was going to expose Adrian.Adrian stepped onto the stage cautiously, every step heavy. Jason stood at
Chapter Six: The Trap
The morning sunlight spilled through the classroom windows, but Adrian’s stomach twisted with unease. Every glance, every whisper felt heavier than usual. Jason hadn’t made a move yet, but Adrian could feel it, like thunder building behind the clouds. The system hummed in his mind.[Quest Active: Survive Jason’s revenge. Progress: 0%]Adrian tapped his pencil against his desk, eyes drifting toward the back of the room where Jason sat, staring at him. Not mocking. Not smirking. Just staring. That was worse.When the bell rang for lunch, Adrian braced himself. He carried his tray into the cafeteria, scanning the room. Jason wasn’t at his usual table. Neither were his lackeys.Emma waved him over from across the room, but Adrian hesitated. His instincts screamed. Something wasn’t right. He set his tray down anyway.Emma leaned closer, her brow furrowed. “You feel it too, don’t you?”Adrian nodded. “He’s planning something.”Emma’s lips pressed thin. “Then don’t eat that.”Adrian blinked
Chapter Five: Whispers of Revenge
The lunch bell rang, and the cafeteria erupted in its usual chaos. Students poured in, laughing, shouting, carrying trays of food that reeked of grease and salt. Adrian sat in the far corner, clutching his tray. His ribs still ached, his knuckles were raw, but beneath the pain was something new, a spark he hadn’t felt before. Victory.For once, he wasn’t invisible. Whispers rippled across the cafeteria as eyes turned toward him. He heard fragments of their murmurs. “Did you see him? He actually made Jason bleed.”“No way. Adrian? The worm?”“Lucky punch, maybe.”“Still… Jason’s nose was busted.”Adrian kept his eyes on his food, pretending not to hear, but inside his chest swelled. The humiliation of yesterday was still fresh, yet now people talked about him. Not as trash. Not as nothing. But as someone who fought back. The system hummed in his mind.[Update: Reputation increased to 50. New threshold unlocked: You are no longer entirely ignored. Peers will begin noticing you]Adria
Chapter Four: First Blood
The crowd tightened around the back of the gym, a circle of eager faces hungry for blood. Phones were already out, recording. Whispers and laughter filled the air, but Adrian barely heard them. His heart thudded in his ears like war drums.Jason cracked his knuckles, his grin sharp and cruel. “I’ve been waiting for this, Worm. Time to show you what happens when trash forgets its place.”Adrian clenched his fists, heat burning through his arms. The system’s voice hummed in his head.[Major Task Active: Defeat Jason Reed in combat. Reward: +3 Strength, +2 Confidence][Penalty for failure: -20 Reputation, public humiliation]His mouth was dry. His knees shook. “I can’t beat him… but I can’t run, either.”Jason stepped forward, towering over him. “Any last words?”Adrian swallowed. His voice trembled, but the words came. “Yeah… try not to cry when this ends.”Gasps erupted from the crowd. Jason’s grin faltered. “You’ve got guts, Worm. Too bad guts won’t save you.”He lunged. The first pu
You may also like
