Chapter 6 – When the Dimensions Bend
Chapter 6 – When the Dimensions Bend
The brutal assault continued for what felt like an eternity—ten whole minutes of merciless violence. Zane endured every second of it in silence, his body used as a punching bag, a target, a vessel for the twisted amusement of Emilio and his gang. Stomps crushed his ribs, fists rained down on his back and stomach, kicks slammed into every inch of exposed flesh. He was left battered and broken, his skin blotched with deep bruises that painted him in shades of black and blue. Long, ragged cuts bled freely down his arms, soaking his clothes and pooling around him.
When the final kick landed, the noise finally died. Zane's body didn't move—he couldn't. His breathing was shallow and erratic, each inhale sharp with pain. His gaze, unfocused and dull, stared up at nothing as the group of boys stood around him, panting, dripping with sweat from their frenzied aggression.
"Hah... hah..." Emilio was the first to stop. His chest heaved with effort, sweat clinging to his brow. But behind the mask of rage was something else—something colder. Fear. The chill that had gripped him earlier hadn't gone away. He glanced at Zane's bloodied face and felt that same unease crawling up his spine.
"Enough..." he muttered, spitting near Zane's head. "He's had more than enough. Next time, keep your mouth shut, you worthless piece of shit. Stay rotting in this hellhole or just drop dead—either one works."
He turned, waving his hand dismissively. "Let's go."
One of the boys hesitated. "Hey, Emilio, should we—"
"I said let's go."
The rest fell in line, trailing behind Emilio with one last glance at Zane. No one stayed behind to see what became of him. No one cared.
Silence returned to the hidden alley. The same quiet that Zane had once found peaceful now pressed against him like a weight, heavier than the bruises decorating his skin. He lay there in a pool of his own blood, unmoving, his chest barely rising and falling. His eyes, though open, seemed to look past the world entirely.
For a moment, he was empty. Hollow.