It was a typical day where Daniel and his gang were chasing Charles around sector 14 of district 1. But if you asked Charles about that day, the first thing that he would tell you is that they were especially vicious to him. It started in its usual fashion - forcing him to his knees and telling him to apologize to them but not specifying for what, slapping his head around as if he were a bobble head, spitting on him when he gave an answer they didn’t like or staying silent. 

	Eventually, Daniel told Charles about how he and his gang had gotten in trouble. The principal had informed them that they were expelled for filming and editing footage of another student into a deepfake of them masturbating and spreading it among the student body. Of course, there was nothing Daniel or his croons could do. So, they assumed Charles was the snitch who told staff members, since he was a witness to the filming. And after all, why wouldn’t it be Charles? They had picked on him throughout all of their upper division education and thought it was his chance at revenge for their bullying.  

	After his refusal to admit to his crime, Charles ran off campus and into the streets of Memorial. He felt like a buffalo being chased by a pack of lions, weaving past people in the crowds who would give him way. Daniel and his gang’s laughter seemed to be amplified louder than the loud conversations, footsteps, car engines, and leafleters in the streets. Charles looked for a place to run to where someone might help him or somewhere he might be able to hide until his pursuers got tired. But all he passed were department stores and convenience stores. Department stores were too open with hiding spots that were too obvious. And Charles wasn’t allowed in convenience stores since he was under the drinking age. Besides, they were too small and he was usually dragged out of them anyway. The only other establishments he could see were bars and taverns and pubs. And they were good about making sure kids never got in, wanting to maintain the peace and order of their establishment more than anything. 

	It wasn’t a great option, but Charles had gotten away once when he had run down an alley and pushed over garbage and disposed of furniture behind him, retreating into the crowds on the other side of the alley. So, he turned into one and violently swung down at black sacks of trash. He heard his assailants follow shortly after, now screaming fake pleads for them to just talk as well as the bullies’ laughter growing.

	Charles pulled down at a discarded couch, which slowed them down. But, within a few seconds, he was grabbed before he could make his way back to the crowd and try to hide. They shoved him to the ground and the back of his head slammed against the concrete. He curled up and held onto his head both to try and ease the pain and to brace for the coming blows from his attackers. They kicked and stomped him all over his body. He tried crawling away, but someone grabbed his legs and dragged him back across the concrete. He tried to get up, but was immediately pinned down by someone heavy. They held his head and he watched as other members were pulling out bottles and wood boards from the garbage piles. He braced himself as best he could and the improvised weapons on him until he felt one of the boards crack. 

        First, there was laughter. Then, all of it stopped. He heard Daniel’s voice, then felt himself hoisted and held up by two people on either side of him. He focused his blurred vision and saw the gang leader standing in front of him with his arms crossed.

	“Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. What are you doing, snitching on us and then running away? You’ve got to take responsibility for when you make someone’s life harder, you know,” Daniel said while clicking his tongue and shaking his head. Charles didn’t know what to say and instead turned his head to the end of the alley where people continued their evening undisturbed. Daniel walked up to him and grabbed his cheeks.

	“Hey, look at me when I’m speaking to you. It’s disrespectful not to make eye contact with a person that you’ve inconvenienced,” Daniel continued. Charles couldn’t think of anything else except how he could get out of this. But he felt weak and didn’t have the strength to stand, let alone break out of the two peoples’ grips or run out to the street. His thoughts were interrupted by a hard slap.

	“This bastard isn’t even listening. Hey, I’m trying to teach you a valuable lesson, so take me seriously,” Daniel said. But Charles hung his head, holding on to his only hope: that they would simply get tired and leave him alone sooner than later. Sure enough, Daniel clicked his tongue one last time and Charles felt himself pushed to the ground again followed by laughter and blows all over his body. When the beating was over, he groaned and opened his eyes to see Daniel standing over him.

	“I’m feeling nice today, so don’t fuck with us again. Alright, Charlie? Or else we’ll visit your precious little apartment and we’ll get a little more intimate with our lessons,” Daniel said, gently putting a hand on Charles’ shoulder. Charles wanted to spit at him, punch him in the face, yell, anything. But he didn’t have the energy for it. Every muscle ached and cried out for relief. So, he just focused on the dark sky above the skyscrapers surrounding him. Daniel clicked his tongue again and shouted at everyone to run out of the alley. The sound of their footsteps and laughter was loud, then faded until it blended with the distant murmurs of the crowds.

	Charles laid there, exhausted, and his body on fire. He groaned as he sat up and limped to the wall. He felt tears escape as he leaned against the wall and walked to the street. A few people gave him looks as they walked by. Most continued on their way, not acknowledging his presence. No one stopped to help until he staggered onto another person and disrupted the flow of traffic. 

	“Hey, are you alright? What happened?” The young man he bumped into asked.

	“Bullies chased me down and beat me,” Charles said with a tired, shaky voice. The man nodded and hummed in understanding. He put Charles’ arm around his shoulder.

	“Well, let’s get you to a hospital. This looks really bad. Must be some vicious people, huh?” The man asked. Charles could only grunt in agreement as he hobbled forward. People only regarded the two when the man shouted to move or he gently pushed them to the side. There was little concern on their faces though - gangs and street fights weren’t anything new to them. And if they didn’t interfere with them, then they wouldn’t get in any trouble.

	Within a few minutes, the two of them were sitting in an ER and filling out paperwork. After filling out as much information as they could, the man looked at Charles with a sympathetic look.

	“You look like you’re getting to be an adult. You should know better than to mess with bullies, especially if you aren’t strong enough to deal with the consequences, ” the man said in a scolding tone. Charles felt a wave of shame and anger replace the pain for a second. Then, he felt helpless and humiliated. Then, he thought about the man’s words.

	If you aren’t strong enough to.