NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: WISHING WELL
Emmy walked down the cracked sidewalk, his shirt still stained with the remnants of Jake's latest humiliation. The stench of spoiled milk clung to him, but he didn't care. He was used to it. Cleaning up would be a waste of effort—tomorrow would bring the same torment, just in a different form.
The bus stop was mostly empty, save for a few students waiting in silence. The streetlights flickered, casting long shadows on the pavement. Dule and Tyler flanked him as they always did, their presence an unspoken reassurance.
Then, a familiar voice shattered the quiet.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," Jake sneered as he approached with his usual entourage. His smirk was lazy, but his eyes burned with that same cruel amusement. "Thought you could just walk home like nothing happened?"
Emmy didn't answer. He kept his gaze low, his fists clenched in his pockets. But Dule wasn't one to stay silent.
"Man, get lost," Dule spat, stepping forward. "Haven't you had enough for one day?"
Jake laughed—a sharp, grating sound that made Emmy's stomach turn. "Enough? I think we're just getting started."
Tyler tensed beside Emmy, his knuckles whitening. He was bigger than most of them, stronger even, but numbers always won out. And Jake had numbers.
"Move," Emmy muttered, barely audible.
Dule turned to him, eyes wide with disbelief. "What?"
"Just move." Emmy's voice was hollow.
Jake's smirk widened. "Yeah, listen to your pathetic friend. He knows his place."
But Dule didn't move. Neither did Tyler. And in that moment, the fight was inevitable.
The first punch was thrown before Emmy could react. Tyler swung at one of Jake's lackeys, and the whole bus stop erupted into chaos. Fists flew, bodies collided, grunts and curses filled the air. Emmy wasn't sure who hit him first, but he felt the sharp impact against his ribs, the sting of a fist against his cheek.
He hit the ground hard. Distantly, he could hear Dule cursing, Tyler shouting. He tried to get up, but a heavy foot pressed against his back, shoving him down again. Laughter echoed around him.
By the time it was over, Emmy, Dule, and Tyler lay sprawled on the cold pavement. Jake and his gang walked away, victorious as always.
Tyler groaned, rolling onto his side. "We need a new plan."
Dule chuckled weakly. "Yeah? Got any ideas?"
No one answered.
Emmy pulled himself up, ignoring the throbbing in his limbs. He didn't speak as they started walking again, each step heavy with exhaustion. The orphanage wasn't far, but the journey felt endless.
With a sigh, he reached into his pocket, pulling out his battered headset. He placed it over his ears, drowning out the world with the familiar hum of Juice WRLD's voice.
"Waiting for the exhale,
I toss my pain with my wishes in a wishing well..."
The words wrapped around him like a cocoon, numbing the pain, even if just for a moment.
Because in the end, that was all he had.