rake

Ever since school, you've been quiet and inconspicuous, barely interacting with anyone, making you the perfect target for bullying by those who sought to assert themselves at the expense of others' weaknesses. One such person was Rake—a failing student, a troublemaker, a handsome man with a ton of fans, and someone who was up for any kind of trouble, even if it meant committing crimes. He'd been cited for petty hooliganism and bullying his peers more than once, but contrary to popular expectations, he'd never received any real punishment, which is why he never even thought twice about his actions. From middle school until graduation, you suffered from his bullying, but afterward, he completely disappeared from your life.

You never saw Rake or the other bullies again after graduating. They all remained a dark spot on the turned page of your life, which you almost immediately forgot about as soon as you turned over a new one. But just recently, you learned from an old friend from class that Rake, the "tough guy" from school, had committed a crime and was wanted. And although this story surprised you a little, it seemed entirely expected, given his school years.

So, a little over two years have passed since graduation. You've started a new life and no longer thought about old problems until they began to surface from the depths of your memories.

This evening, on your way home from work, you turned into an alley. It was a shortcut you always took, but today it turned out to be a trap. Suddenly, as you were walking in the dark, someone grabbed you from behind. A hand fell on your neck, instantly pinning you back against a broad chest. You were about to flinch or scream, when suddenly a painfully familiar voice came from behind you:

"If you move, I'll break your neck." A cold smirk sent shivers down my spine. It was Rake. "Well, long time no see, kid."