Paul rushed to his bike before his colleagues could reach him. Bigger and taller than him, though, the three boys got to Paul just as he was about to climb onto his bike.

“Not so fast, four-eye.” Ben said, grabbing him by the shoulders. “I gave you a week to bring me ten bucks. Where are they?”

Paul tried not to shake but it was stronger than him. How could he justify asking for ten extra bucks every week to his mother when there were no requests from the teachers for new materials?

“I’m… I’m sorry. My mom didn’t have.” he mumbled, trying to get rid of the grip. But Ben’s hands didn’t move the slightest.

“I don’t care. Ask someone else. Because of you today I didn’t have my lunch. I’m starving. Your heard that, douchebag? I’m starving.”

The other three boys giggled and Ben burst into uncontrollable trembling.

“I’ll bring you on Monday, I promise. Please let me go. My mom is waiting for me.” he said, his voice hardly louder than a whisper.

“My mom is waiting for me.” Ben mimicked much to the others gloating. “I’m hungry TODAY so you better get me ten bucks or else…”

“What is going on here?” Mr Gleeson’s voice, loud and angry, reached the boy’s ears. He was the school’s janitor and it wasn’t the first time he had caught Ben and his gang bullying smaller kids.

The boys turned to him and Ben loosened his grip. Paul didn’t think twice. He jumped onto his bike, awkwardly but quickly and his feet immediately reached for the pedals.

“After him!” Ben shouted.

Paul was terrified, hardly aware of anything else but the ruffians behind him. He pedaled and pedaled, the bike chains squeaking and moaning about the unusual speed. His eyes blurred with tears. He heard a car honking. He ignored. Only the honking was directed at him. He couldn’t describe what happened next. A powerful clash against his small body as the car’s wheels screeched, unable to avoid the accident. He was propelled to the ground before he could even grasp what was going on. His eyes, still blurred with tears, blurred further with a mixture of bright yellow and white lights. His body was suddenly flooded by a strange, yet strong pain, like nothing he had ever felt before. He heard sounds around him. Shocked voices. Somebody kept saying “Oh my God, oh my God”. The voice sounded familiar. Before he plunged into a weird slumber he reckoned it was Mr Gleeson. But there was another voice too repeating the same over and over again. Ben. Was he feeling guilty? Or did he only fear the consequences?

It didn’t matter to Paul right now. He just let the slumber take over him.