The Mindbender's Journey

ALEX POV

Life was too cruel. Why did I even bother to live if it's just going to be like this? All I did was live my life to the best of my abilities, but it seems like life doesn't want me.

I'm currently at the back part of the school where not many people pass by. In short, it's secluded and empty. A perfect place to do mischief or, worse, crimes I'm kneeling on the ground, facing three towering individuals. They're around my age and height, but they look like giants in my eyes. I just stared at my knees, now dirtied because of mud. I could hear their laughs as they bathed me with their foul urine, directly on my head.

I could hear the sound created by their foul urine on my head. I had no choice but to stay still and let them do what they wanted to do to me. There's nothing that would change if I fought back. I would only be harmed and defeated. I've reported once, but I ended up being the one at fault.

Tsk! Why is it like this? They say that the good ones win, but it seems like it's the other way around. Those who are powerless are the ones getting hurt.

"Are you crying, Alex?" their leader insulted, followed by a mocking laugh. These three were the bullies of this school and the so-called popular. They're the children of one of the wealthiest individuals in our area. They're also varsity players, so their superiority over other students lower than them, like me, is evident. But I'm different from them. Not because I'm special, but because I'm the sole victim among them. Among the thousands of students in this school, I'm the only one they've noticed and targeted. That's why I hated life.

"Hey, Alex!" he called me. I just kept my head down, with no intention of looking at his face because I might not be able to control myself and end up punching him.

"Look at me, Alex," he ordered in a soft tone, but I still didn't look at him. But I made the wrong choice. A strong kick to the side startled me. A stinging pain spread throughout my body as I felt myself falling onto the ground. I lay on the muddy ground, staring at their muddy feet. "Your head is getting too hard."

"Stop—" I pleaded, surprising myself with what I said. I didn't know why or how I said that. I know they were surprised by my response, but I was even more surprised.

"You're talking back now?" angrily asked the one on the right. I could hear the slight laugh of their leader, which frightened me more.

"I told you, Alex, that you shouldn't talk back to us," their leader reminded me, and without hesitation, I nodded, even though I was lying on the muddy ground.

"It seems like he wants to get beaten up again." I shuddered at the statement from the one on the left, causing me to suddenly remember what they did to me last week.

*I received hundreds of kicks from them. I lay there, eyes closed, contorting in pain from the torment they inflicted on me.

"He can't shut his mouth, that's why this happened." The leader of the three laughed heartily, reveling in joy, while continuously delivering kicks to my body.

"You made the wrong move, Alex."

"This is so satisfying. We should do this every day!" eagerly suggested another.

I couldn't go to school for a week because of the pain in my body. I also had many bruises, so I made excuses to Mama and Papa.*

"You have to face your punishment, Alex. Rules are rules." My entire body stiffened when he uttered those words.

"Face your punishment, Alex..."

For some inexplicable reason, my vision suddenly darkened. The feet of the three immediately disappeared, replaced by darkness. I tried to search for a light, but not even a hint of brightness could be found. Then, my hearing followed suit, hearing nothing but a sharp sound. It was as if I had become deaf from an explosion. Why did this have to happen now? I closed my eyes, thinking it was just a dream. The darkness intensified as I shut my eyes.

"Alex." I suddenly opened my eyes upon hearing a child's voice. I scanned my surroundings, but I saw nothing. The same black void continued to surround me.

"Alex," it called again. I turned around, hoping to see someone, but there was nothing. Just a space of vast darkness.

"Alex," it called for the third time, and I was 100% sure it was close. No echoes, and his voice was vivid. I looked ahead, and there I saw a young boy innocently smiling in front of me. At first, I was confused, but I was surprised when I figured out that the boy standing in front of me was... me.

I remembered the shirt he was wearing because it was Mama's favorite T-shirt that she bought for me. He's also wearing the pants and shoes that Papa bought. As far as I can remember, I was so happy that day, and I think it was the happiest day of my life. I couldn't help but smile as I reminisced about the moment I experienced before. A pair of tears joined my emotion, filling up the gap in the happiness I currently felt. I bowed my head to hide the tears that escaped my eyes.

"Why didn't you fight back?" it asked, its expression turning into a frown. I slowly looked at him and was suddenly horrified to see his face. The smile he wore earlier was now replaced by a serious look. He looked at me as if I had done something wrong. His stares shot daggers as if I didn't want to face him.

"What do you mean?" I asked hesitantly.

"Tsk!" he hissed as he averted his eyes from mine. A grin escaped from his lips, irritating me. "You know what I mean, Alex." A faded image of me and the three bullies appeared and played above the kid's head.

It was the first time they bullied me. The time when I didn't go to school for a week and lied to my parents.

"Do you remember that, Alex?" I looked at him again. I noticed that he was also looking at the image above him. He's slightly smiling but in a mocking kind of way.

"I thought you would fight back," he thought.

"I had no chance against them," I defended.

"None?" he asked angrily, glaring at me.

"You could've just told your parents about it!" he protested.

"I don't want them to be involved in my fight!" I explained irritably.

I noticed his smile again. "You're just a coward, Alex," he said. "I never thought that I would grow weak and cowa—"

"I don't have a choice, okay!" I protested. He really provoked me, and guess what? He did.

"You have a choice, Alex!" he corrected, and he suddenly disappeared in front of me. "You could've killed them that time," he added, but I still couldn't see him. All that remained about him was his voice echoing in the darkness.

What is he talking about? Is he insane? Kill them? I would rather be bullied than be a murderer. Killing is not the only way to end this.

"Soon, Alex, they will know. And after that, your life will start to shatter." What is he saying? "By the way, it's nice meeting my weak and cowardly self. I never thought I would be this disappointed. Bye, Alex, see you soon," he bid farewell, followed by a loud laughter.

Along with that, I fell into the void. It seemed that I was falling into a bottomless pit. The scene returned from dimly lit to vast darkness. I didn't care where I would land because the only thing on my mind now was what that child said to me.

"Weak and coward," I repeated. "Tsk! Who is he to judge me? He's just the old me."

What's that sound? It's like the sound of an electrocardiogram. Wait! Was my suspicion correct? Am I-

I slowly opened my eyes, and the light emanating from a lampshade on my right greeted me. The room was dimly lit, but I could still see its entirety. Based on its structure, I could tell I was in a hospital, particularly in a suite room.

But why am I here? This is too much for my family to pay!

The click of the doorknob caught my attention, so I looked towards the door. A slender woman in her 40s entered, followed by a muscular man. They both wore worried expressions as they approached my position. They're my parents.

Their eyes widened when they saw me, and they rushed towards me like eager parents reuniting with a lost child. A broad smile adorned Mama's face, but concern still dominated her eyes. Papa, on the other hand, wasn't smiling. He wore a stoic expression, seemingly unwilling to show me that he was hurting.

"You're awake. Do you know how many years we've been waiting for you to wake up?" Mama began.

Wait! Did I hear it right? Years? Impossible!

"The child just woke up, and you're confusing him," Papa retorted. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion at what they were saying. The information was too overwhelming for me to process immediately. I tried to speak, but my body was too tired.

"Sorry, I just got excited," Mama defended, trying to force a laugh.

"Look at his face, he's getting confused," Papa pointed out to me.

Mama smiled and then gently touched my head. "You've been in a coma for 10 years. Your condition became critical after you were beaten by bullies."

10 years? Impossible! It feels like only a few minutes passed since my vision darkened! It can't be 10 years! And how did Mama know that I was beaten?

"You don't have to worry about it, dear. We'll tell you everything once you've fully recovered. So for now, just rest." I could only nod. Mama kissed my forehead, and they both left for the kitchen in the room. The suite had its kitchen, so I'm sure this room is expensive.

I just stared at the ceiling, processing the information Mama gave me. I couldn't believe that I was in a coma for 10 years.

Wait. That just means I'm 22 years old? But there's one question that I can't answer. How did Mama find out that I was beaten at that time? Did someone witness it? If so, then who?

"Soon Alex, they will know. And after that, your life will start to shatter," I recalled the words of my younger self. There were times when I thought he was referring to my parents, where it all happened. They found out. But I was chilled by the next sentence he uttered. I could only think of one thing, the destruction of my family or the ruin of my life.

A knock on the door gave us notice, and we all looked towards it. Mama paused in her cooking, while Papa stood up from the sofa to open the door. When Papa gripped the knob, it suddenly catapulted into the room, along with his body, as if a strong force pushed him. I was shocked, wanting to help, but my body couldn't manage it. Thankfully, Mama assisted Papa.

Three armed men, dressed in black tuxedos and black glasses, entered and approached Mama. Following them was a man in a tuxedo, but its color was white. He held a cigar in his right hand and a staff in his left. He came towards me, and based on his demeanor, it was evident he came from an influential and wealthy family.

"Hello, Alex," he greeted. "When I learned that you woke up, I immediately came here." I knew this man. If I'm not mistaken, he's the father of the leader of the bullies who tormented me. Richard Osaka. But why is he here? "How can you still be alive after you killed my son."

What? I killed his son? That's absurd. How could I kill his son when I've been in a coma for 10 years?

"I don't know how you did it, but I'll make sure you'll receive your consequence. Life for a life." My entire body suddenly stiffened. I couldn't move, not even my fingers. Why is it that every time I'm in this situation, my body freezes?

"Please, don't! He's innocent," Mama pleaded.

"Make her shut up," Richard immediately ordered. The man released a powerful slap that Mama received. I was surprised, and my anger intensified. I felt a surge of anger as if I wanted to kill them.

"Kill them, Alex."

"Don't hurt her!" I shouted in frustration. I looked at Mama, unconscious, while Papa held her. My entire body overflowed with anger as if it wanted to break free and explode. I stared at the man while he emotionlessly looked back at me.

"I can feel your hatred, dear. Don't worry because with this..." The man took a metal rectangular box from his pocket. He opened it, revealing a syringe filled with an unknown white substance. He removed it from the container and approached me. "...you'll forget everything and everyone."

I became more anxious about what would happen next. My eyes widened as he approached me. The anger I felt earlier was now replaced by fear. So much fear. Whatever he was holding, I was sure it wouldn't be good for me.

"Don't worry, this won't kill you," he reassured me.

I cried while shaking my head. "No, please." The man placed the syringe near the intravenous line above me and then injected it. He pressed the syringe, and the substance mixed with the intravenous solution, intensifying my fear.

"Dispose of the two, and after you're done with them, follow suit. Make it clean and non-suspicious. I'll take care of the CCTV."

Di-Dispose of the two? They won't kill Mama and Papa, will they?

A gunshot echoed throughout the room. I widened my eyes when I saw Papa looking at me with a hole in the side of his forehead. The surroundings slowed down as he gradually fell until he lay beside Mama. Blood started to flow from his wound and spread across the floor.

I unclenched my fist as something drained the strength from within me. I didn't know if this was a normal reaction or an effect of the substance injected into my intravenous line earlier. I also felt tears streaming down my face.

I just stared at my lifeless father lying on the carpet. But the gun aimed at my unconscious mother grabbed my attention.

"Save them, Alex." The anger I felt earlier suddenly returned. I could sense my anger resonating with everything around me—the energy, the connection, the power. "That's right, Alex."

I didn't care if things were moving on their own, as long as I knew I needed to save Mama. Just Mama.

A feeling of drowsiness enveloped my body. It felt like I wanted to sleep, but I couldn't. I needed to save Mom. I tried not to fall asleep, but the drug's effect was too strong. It seemed like the man injected a sleeping drug.

My eyes are getting heavy!

Suddenly, I felt a strong desire to sleep. My body started to relax as if Mama was comforting me. I missed this feeling—the feeling of having nothing to worry about. I found myself drifting into the vast darkness and nothingness, and then, I heard a loud gunshot out of nowhere.

What was that? Did someone get shot? Who got shot? Wh-Who? Who... am I?