Beyond the door, the light shines bright, almost blinding, closing his eyes, waiting for it to dim. After a second, he opens his eyes to be met by the cloudy sky and two apartment buildings on both sides.
"Where… Am I in the real world…?"
Asking questions where it seems it won't get answered, he sits up as he stands. Looking at himself, then back at the tall wall behind him.
"Huh..… where's the door…Was I imagining things… But what of all those things I saw, I experienced, was it all but my imagination running wild?"
He places his hands on the wall, trying to satisfy his curiosity and get an answer to his questions. Puzzled and too immersed in the moment, he didn't notice the people behind him.
"Gordon!"
The boy snaps back into reality, hearing his name. Turning around, met the school principal, the nurse, and two other teachers. The nurse rushes to him, placing her duffel bag on the ground and removing her stethoscope.
"Can you lift your shirt?"
Gordon still confused, his mind still in the clouds, unable to comprehend the simple request given to him by the nurse, just staring back at her. The principal walked up to them, reaching his arm to Gordon's shoulder. Like an electric shock, his mind returns, now aware of his surroundings. Murmurs from the two teachers behind them, not so loud but can still be heard.
"Poor boy too traumatised to even talk."
"Indeed, such a poor sight to behold. Such an innocent child to be a victim of bullying."
Gordon's eyes shifted from them back to the man in front of him.
"Are you okay, Gordon?"
"Oh, sorry, I was just lost in thought. But I'm fine now."
The principal and the nurse look at each other, and the nurse shrugs.
"You aren't feeling any pain of any sort."
"No,"
"If you say so, but we'll still need to check up on you to make sure, alright?" the principal added.
The boy nods, looking at the nurse as the principal takes a few steps back.
"Can you lift your shirt for me now, please?"
Gordon lifts his shirt, and the nurse places the chestpiece on his chest. Afterwards, she concludes the final check-up, nodding at the principal.
"Now let's go back to school, as some people still are waiting for you."
Gordon nods as they leave the alleyway and return to school. Gordon takes one last look before leaving. Arriving at the principal's office, the others take their leave. Gordon and the principal enter his office. Inside, he sees both Edith and Eddie waiting, noticeably worried. Standing, their eyes widened to see Gordon. Edith rushes to him and hugs him as Eddie walks close, relieved that he's fine. Pulling away and looking at him.
"Don't ever do that again. I was worried sick about you!"
"I'm sorry, I won't worry you again, I promise."
"You better keep that promise." Eddie scolded.,
The principal pretends to cough to grab everyone's attention.
"Great, now that I have your attention, I need both Edith and Gordon to sit down; you, young boy, can go back to class."
Eddie nodded as he walked towards the door.
"I'll see you guys later, and Gordon, glad you're good.Bye."
Eddie leaves the office, and the two take their seats. The principal reclined back in his chair. Looking intently at them.
"It's unfortunate that both of you were victims of those boys' bullying. I'm here to just give you your right of justice and say to you that they're detained at Alexandria Correctional Facility, hence there won't be anymore of them until their release. The school will compensate you both by rewarding you with a fee-free year for your troubles."
"But isn't that costly on the school's side?"
Edith questioned.
"Don't get me wrong, we would like that very much; however, won't it be…an excessive compensation?" she added, having a humble tone.
"No need to worry, the board won't disagree with that idea, so just go over to the secretary and take your leave and have a well-rested evening. You may leave, have a nice evening."
The principal gave voice, seeing them off through his door. The two siblings walked out and later out of school. In his office, looking through the window, intensely at both of them, but more at the young boy
"What an interesting one…truly a unique child you are…Gordon Shivani."
Dusk approaches, the orange tanned sky adding an unprecedented beauty to the earth, much less a correctional facility. It's high walls and on top barbed electric wires, tall watch-towers with security guards stationed at the top. The gates, allowing entry to a black S-class Sedan, drove past the gates as it parked. Inside the facility, in one of the cells, a group of delinquents are sitting together, one staring outside, feeling the evening breeze. One was pacing left and right, clearly stressed, but this repetitive movement had annoyed the ruffian just sitting in a corner by himself.
"Can you sit your ass down, so damn annoying."
The boy stops and sits back down, yet still showing more fear as he turns to their leader.
"I-I'm s...s..sorry Balam…I…I've never been to jail, you see."
Balam just clicked his tongue as he waved his hand, and the boy went quiet.
"Stop acting weak, it won't be your last. All these people you see here in this room have either slept in or lived in jails, so just get used to it, stop acting like a fucking coward."
Not long after, the jail door allowing visitors creaked open, allowing entry to both a security officer and a 'guest' that the boys knew all too well.
"You got twenty minutes," The officer relayed to the man in front of him.
"Don't worry, it won't take long."
The man walked back, closing the door behind him. Meanwhile, the guest walked towards the gang's cell. Inside, the lot stared at him, some angered, but a few showing fear. Balam stood, walking towards the cell door, holding the bars. His stocky and large figure shadowed the man just beyond the bars.
"Hey, teach, what's your business doing here? This isn't a place for stuck-up people like you, so just go back to that hellhole of a school, and before I forget…"
Balam grinning, raising his middle finger.
"Go plan that whore's brother his funeral."
The bunch laughed, excluding one who just sat looking horrified by them, questioning his life choices by being associated with them.
However, they stopped upon hearing the principal laugh as if a madman possessed him. As his laugh died down, wiping a tear, he faced them.
"Funeral? For who? The boy is alive and...reborn, if I may add."
Balam turned to look at him, stupefied by his words.
"How… That's impossible!, I made sure that little shit met his end… Explain Alistar!… How can he be alive?"
Alistar looked at them, smiling evilly.
"Simple… he just awakened."
The man immediately pulled out a gun and shot Balam.
"And so will you all…"
Gordon dreamed that he was standing on a field of white lilac flowers that spread infinitely all across the space he was in. Then, above him, shone a bright pillar of light as a woman's silhouette descended upon him, embracing him in a hug.
"Return to me, Shivani… Return…"
Gordon sprang up awake as a golden glow emanated behind him; however, his mind was racing, pondering who that person was.