"Yo, Samuel, you gonna finish that lunch?"
"Take it, man…"
I sat in the corner of the cafeteria, glasses on, hoodie up, acting like I didn't exist. Everyone thought I was weak. Everyone thought I was nothing.
They didn't know about the streets. They didn't know about the nights, the cold, the blood.
"Look at him, can't even look us in the eye."
"Pathetic."
They walked off laughing, dropping my half-eaten lunch on the floor. I just picked it up and tossed it, pretending it didn't bother me. The bell rang, everyone rushing out to freedom, laughing like life was simple. I stayed seated, last to leave, so no one would notice me.
I walked out the school gates, backpack on, glasses sliding down my nose. The city air was thicker out here, the sun dropping slow. The street lights flickered on, like they were ready for something.
"Samuel, you alright, bro?"
I turned, seeing Malik, the janitor, one of the few who actually saw me.
"Yeah, just tired," I said.
"Keep your head up, man."
I nodded, but I didn't. I kept it low, letting the city swallow me as I turned the corner into the alley.
I took off the glasses.
"Blackheart Smoke, you're late," a voice said.
Jayce was leaning on his bike, chewing gum, smirking. His eyes were sharp under the streetlight, Way Up colors on his sleeve.
"Had to keep the act up," I said, cracking my neck.
Jayce tossed the gum wrapper. "Boss, word is Skull Breakers been tagging our turf again."
"How many?" I asked.
"Four or five, hanging by the old corner store. They're loud."
I looked at the fading daylight, feeling the cold bite in the air.
"This city doesn't learn," I said.
Jayce laughed. "That's why they need reminders."
We walked down the cracked sidewalk, Jayce kicking a can. The city was alive with shouting, cars honking, sirens far off. Everything felt like it was waiting for something to explode.
"Boss, you ever think about leaving this?" Jayce asked.
"No."
"Yeah, me neither."
We turned the corner, and there they were, the Skull Breakers, laughing, spray paint cans in hand, skull logos dripping on the wall.
"Yo, check it out, the nerd's out past bedtime," one of them called.
They laughed, high-fiving, acting big.
"You boys lost?" I said.
They turned, sizing me up, not seeing me, only seeing that quiet kid from school.
"You talkin' tough for someone who hides behind books," one said.
Jayce just grinned, cracking his knuckles.
"Go home, kid, before you get hurt," another one said.
I dropped my backpack on the ground. Took off my hoodie. Their laughter died as they saw the black t-shirt, the scars on my arms, the cold in my eyes.
"Blackheart Smoke," one of them whispered.
"That's right," I said.
They shifted, looking at each other, realizing too late.
"You gonna back down, or you gonna get broken?" I asked.
One of them tried to act tough. "Man, you think you're king out here—"
"I don't think," I said. "I know."
The streetlight flickered, the wind cutting through, and for a moment, it was quiet. The city held its breath.
"Jayce," I said.
"Yeah, boss?"
"Let's remind them