Chapter 1
The morning sky was still gray when a girl named Adis pushed open the school’s front gate, her steps slow and unwilling. Headphones clung to her ears—playing either music or just white noise to block out the world. Her face was expressionless. Her hair half-covered her eyes. The long black sweater was her trademark, rain or shine.
No one dared to greet her. Not because she was mean. Not because she was popular. But because she never spoke. Never needed to. She was like a shadow walking alone, indifferent to the world around her—including the person watching her obsessively from the corner of a tiny food stall near the school fence.
Ciko sat, as always, on a cracked blue plastic chair. Hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on Adis’s every step. He sipped his overly sweet instant coffee—barely any water in it. His breath was uneven.
> “She looks different today... or maybe I’m just going more insane.”
Was it love? Obsession? Admiration? Lust? Whatever it was, Ciko never missed a morning watching Adis. And this morning, like a bad omen, his moment was cut short by a harsh voice behind him.
> “YO, LOSER! Just sitting around this early? Don’t you have class or what?!”
Royal showed up with two of his gang members. Their uniforms were fancy, neat, but their attitude was more like thugs. Royal stepped on Ciko’s foot without warning, forcing him to stand. The plastic chair toppled over.
Fabian, one of Royal’s guys, let out a short laugh. “His name’s Ciko, Roy.”
Royal frowned, then laughed. “CIKO? What is that, short for ‘C**o addict’? Is that why you’re always late?”
Ciko bit his lip, humiliated. A few students walked by—but acted like they didn’t see a thing.
“Search him. Maybe he’s got porn... or some meth to get over his inferiority complex,” Royal said, pointing at Ciko’s bag.
“Don’t—hey, stop—!” Ciko tried to grab it, but the other two had already snatched it.
“This your phone? Unlock it,” one of them demanded.
Ciko lowered his head. “Two four two four…”
Click. The phone unlocked. The gallery opened. What they found wasn’t porn, but a zoomed-in photo of Adis’s face.
Silence.
Royal glanced at Adis, who was just walking past a few meters away. He smirked, then turned to Ciko.
“You been spying on Adis, huh? Damn... didn’t think a loser like you had the guts.”
“No! It’s not like that, I…”
“Save it. Let’s take him to the toilet—maybe he can show us that fantasy on the wall.”
Their laughter echoed. Ciko was dragged away. His blue chair fell. His coffee spilled. No one helped.
Elsewhere, in 12th grade.
The classroom was a mess. Chairs were tossed, desks scribbled with crude words. In the corner, a junior student was being humiliated by the Bizer gang—the toxic upperclassmen. They poured dirty rainwater on him, calling him the “school janitor.”
But not all eyes watched.
In the farthest back seat, Davin entered with his jacket wide open, hair a mess, eyes half-closed. He passed through the chaos without a glance, dropped into his chair, and fell asleep on the desk.
The Bizer gang looked his way briefly—but didn’t dare mess with him.
Davin wasn’t a big shot, but everyone knew: don’t mess with that guy. Even the teachers often skipped his class. The sound of metal music leaked from his headphones, but Davin didn’t care.
> “Tired of dealing with useless people.”
At home, his life was wrecked. A drunk father. A runaway mother. But at school, he was at least respected—maybe even feared.
Back at the toilet behind the school building.
Ciko was forced to squat in the corner, one of Royal’s gang choking him from behind.
“Admit it, you’re stalking Adis, huh? Following her everywhere?”
“I just like her, okay?! Is that so wrong?!” Ciko finally shouted back.
SLAP! A hard one landed. But Ciko struck back. A punch straight into Fabian’s gut—and for a moment, everyone froze.
“YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Royal raged.
Ciko was thrown to the floor. Punches landed again and again. Blood trickled from his nose. But just before another hit came, a cold voice echoed from the doorway.
> “You guys really fighting this early just to beat up some weak kid?”
Davin stood there. Hands in his pockets, head tilted, eyes staring down at the bloody Ciko.
Royal spat. “Well, well. Look who’s here. Mind your own damn business.”
“I am. But you’re fighting in my piss spot. It’s annoying, bro.”
Royal stared hard at Davin. But he knew—picking a fight with Davin could end badly. They locked eyes for several seconds before Royal finally raised a hand, signaling retreat.
“Guess this jerk-off got lucky today,” he scoffed.
They left.
Davin stepped closer, looking down at Ciko. “Why didn’t you fight back from the start?”
Ciko didn’t answer. Blood dripped from his lip.
> “Because I just wanna live for the things that make me happy. That’s all…”
Davin said nothing. He lit a cigarette, took a leak, then walked back to class—Ciko trailing behind him. The microphone suddenly screeched, cutting through the noise of the school.
> “All students, please gather in the yard for morning assembly. No exceptions.”
The principal’s voice echoed through the main speakers. Students who were lounging around, wandering the halls, or even sleeping in class groaned in unison. Some stood up and made their way to the yard, while others cursed silently under their breath.
Davin, still sprawled in class, rubbed his face in frustration.
Davin:
“Fuckin’ hell, another damn assembly. It’s hot, I’m sleepy…”
Not far away, Ciko was still pacing in front of the classroom, peeking at Davin through the doorframe. His fingers were busy picking his nose. His expression was innocent—annoyingly so.
Davin (shooting a glare):
“Oi, what the hell are you doing there? Get lost, I’m about to have a smoke. Before I smash your head into the window, piss off now!”
Ciko (quickly stepping back):
“Okay, okay, I’m going!”
With zero intention of attending the assembly, Davin walked casually toward the back restroom, holding a pack of cheap cigarettes and a nearly-dead lighter. The toilet was empty, smelly, and damp—but to him, it was the most comfortable place. He sat on a broken squat toilet, lit a cigarette, and closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, in the schoolyard, hundreds of students were already standing in formation. Just from the uniforms, it was obvious which students were from the ‘elite’ classes and which were from the ‘bottom’ classes. Faces of boredom, fatigue, and apathy were everywhere. The supervising teacher tried to deliver a stern speech, but not many paid attention to what was being said.
> “Our school is an elite institution. But don’t be mistaken. The government has already warned us—because of the rising reports of violence, bullying, even sabotage between students…”
The students remained silent, some holding back laughter. Gangs stood around with their own swagger, treating it all like a cheap joke. Among the crowd, a mustachioed teacher with sharp eyes paced the rows. His name was Mr. Herman, one of the strictest disciplinarians at the school—and he absolutely hated students like Davin.
His head turned swiftly left and right. Then he realized: Davin wasn’t anywhere in the assembly.
His eyes narrowed. Jaw clenched.
Without hesitation, he stepped up to the microphone, pushing aside the teacher who was still speaking.
Mr. Herman (with a deep, thundering voice):
“Who here is named Davin? I repeat, Davin. Step forward, right now.”
Students looked at each other. No one moved. No one dared to speak.
Mr. Herman grunted, then turned sharply and marched toward the school building. His footsteps stomped heavily against the tiles. He knew full well: rebellious students like Davin didn’t hide in class. They hid in the toilet.
At the back of the assembly, Rey’s gang—rich students with venomous tongues—snickered quietly.
Rey (whispering to his friend):
“Well, that bastard’s done for. Probably gonna get smacked again.”
They chuckled. The assembly continued, but half the crowd was already distracted.
Mr. Herman stormed into the restroom, flinging open each stall door with force. The stench of cigarettes hit him like a wall. And sure enough—in the last stall, Davin was fast asleep, a nearly burnt-out cigarette still between his fingers.
Mr. Herman (yelling):
“DAVIN!”
Davin (waking up startled, cursing instinctively):
“WOAHS! The fuck, man—!”
Mr. Herman:
“Man what? Go on, finish what you were saying!”
Davin was still half-asleep. Smoke still lingered in his lungs. But before he could say another word, a full mop bucket of dirty water was dumped over his head. His clothes soaked, hair dripping, cigarette ruined.
Mr. Herman (furious):
“You think this school’s a goddamn hostel? I’ve had enough of your nonsense. You can’t even follow a simple instruction to attend assembly?!”
Without warning, he yanked Davin by the collar. The boy was dragged through the hallways, past all the classrooms, and into the assembly yard—for the entire school to see.
Mr. Herman’s stride was firm and full of rage, while Davin followed limply, eyes cold, still wearing that don’t-give-a-shit expression.
> Every eye was now on him.
Soaking wet. Crumpled uniform. A broken cigarette sticking out of his pocket. An elite student who once seemed untouchable—now humiliated in front of the entire school.
Mr. Herman (shouting into the mic):
“This is the kind of student who doesn’t respect rules! He’s been given chance after chance, yet he continues to mock this institution. Davin, answer in front of everyone—why didn’t you attend the assembly?”
Davin (smirking):
“Because I don’t give a damn about this bullshit, sir.”
The students fell silent. Even those standing at the back held their breath. A few teachers glanced at each other in disbelief.
Mr. Herman:
“Oh really, you think the assembly’s not important.”
Davin (coldly):
“You just figured that out?”
The tension thickened. The assembly had turned into a public execution.
But no one knew yet: this was only the beginning of the real chaos. Teachers’ Room – After the Assembly
The teachers’ room felt hot—not because of the temperature, but because of the tension in the air. A few teachers were still seated after the morning assembly, while Mr. Herman stood near the whiteboard, his expression restless.
Mr. Herman:
“This is too much. Davin is getting completely out of control. Today he was sleeping in the bathroom, yesterday he was smoking in the lab, and last week—”
Ms. Rika (counselor):
“Mr. Herman, I understand your frustration. But Davin’s not the only troubled student here.”
Mr. Herman (raising his voice):
“But he’s the one who causes the MOST trouble! And he always gets away with it! If we keep letting this slide, the other students will think we’re weak!”
Mr. Yanuar (history teacher, calmly):
“Herman, expelling Davin isn’t the solution. We’ve had students who did worse—some even brought alcohol to class. Does kicking one student out really make this place cleaner?”
The room went silent. His words hung in the air like unsmoked cigarette smoke.
Mr. Herman (staring intensely):
“It’s not about being clean. It’s about taking a stand. We’re teachers, not spectators. If we know a student is troubled and we say nothing... we’re no better than them.”
Ms. Rika (softly):
“If we kick Davin out, what about the others? People will say we’re being selective.”
Mr. Herman (clenching his fists):
“If this school keeps bowing down to problematic students, we might as well change our name to Problematic High. What kind of school is afraid of its own students?!”
The tension escalated. Some teachers lowered their heads. No one dared to speak. Mr. Herman finally sat down, breathing heavily.
Lower Hallway – 10 Minutes Later
Shoes squeaked softly on the dirty school floor. Davin strolled casually through the lower hallways, ears still ringing from the scolding and being dragged away earlier.
From the opposite direction, Clarissa and her gang appeared—immaculate uniforms and a sharp scent of expensive perfume. As usual, Clarissa walked like the hallway was hers. But this time, her eyes locked onto one person: Davin.
Davin (smirking):
“Whoa... look who’s slumming it down in the lower halls. What’s the wind bringing you here? Lost?”
Clarissa (stopping, glaring):
“Don’t act so chill, Vin. If you get expelled, you’ll get what’s coming to you.”
Davin (licking his back teeth, mocking):
“And who’s gonna kick me out? You? Or your little Barbie squad?”
Clarissa (cold and composed):
“Just wait. Not everything that looks calm is actually safe.”
She turned and walked off without waiting for a response.
Davin (shouting):
“Oh come on, say your piece before walking off! Drama queen much?!”
Clarissa didn’t look back. Her gang only smirked as they followed her down the hall.
Corner Bathroom – Lenska’s Gang Finds a Target
A faint moaning sound echoed from one of the bathroom stalls on the third floor—unusual, and definitely uncomfortable to hear.
Rio, along with fellow Lenska gang members Rega and Miko, had just ditched class to smoke in the upstairs bathroom. But as they pushed the door open, they glanced at each other, then moved toward the source of the sound.
Rio (whispering):
“What the hell... a sound like that at this hour? Shit, don’t tell me...”
He quickly kicked the half-open stall door.
And sure enough—
Ciko, crouching alone on the toilet, holding his phone, panic written all over his face.
Rega (laughing in disgust):
“DAAAAMN... CIKO?! What the hell are you doing watching that crap during school? HAHAHA!”
Ciko (startled, stammering):
“I-it’s not what it looks like... I was just—”
Miko (kicking the door fully open):
“Just my ass! Man, watching porn in the school bathroom? That’s nasty, bro!”
Rio (stepping in, grabbing Ciko’s phone):
“Need help turning off your dirty little show? Here, let me do it for you.”
SMASH!
Rio slammed the phone hard onto the floor. The screen shattered instantly.
Ciko (yelling):
“HEY! THAT’S MY PHONE!!”
Rio (grinning, getting close):
“Lesson one: don’t jerk off in someone else’s house. This is a school, not a pigsty.”
THUD!
Rega kicked Ciko’s backpack across the stall and yanked him out by the collar.
Miko:
“Anyone got liquid soap? This dude needs a brain wash.”
Rio sprayed water from a hose onto Ciko’s pants and gave him a light slap on the cheek.
Rio (coldly):
“You tell anyone about this? You’re done. We know where you live, bro.”
The three of them walked out, laughing in satisfaction.
Ciko was left behind, sitting frozen, face red, pants soaked, and his phone wrecked beyond repair. Ciko’s sobs could still be faintly heard from inside the now-empty restroom. His tears fell silently, while the shattered remains of his phone lay helplessly on the damp floor.
Ciko (whispering hoarsely):
“All of you… One day, you’ll know what it feels like to be stepped on. I swear.”
His hand clenched tightly around the broken phone case. His eyes were blank, but behind them, something had started to grow—not just pain… but intent.
Meanwhile, outside in the schoolyard, which had started to empty as the final bell approached, Davin was sprawled out lazily on a bench, arms folded behind his head, staring at the sky as it slowly turned orange.
Suddenly, footsteps approached. Rey’s gang.
Rey (speaking loudly on purpose):
“Hey, look at that bastard sleeping over there. How about we mess with him? Bit of a warm-up, yeah?”
Rey’s Gang:
“Ohh let’s go! Been a while since we stretched!”
Without warning, Rey kicked the bench Davin was lying on, causing him to crash onto the ground.
Davin (angrily):
“Damn it! Who the hell?! What the hell’s your problem messing with my nap?!”
Rey (grinning):
“Get lost! This spot’s for me and my boys. Go sleep in the toilet or something—that’s more your style.”
Davin:
“What’s it got to do with you, huh?!”
They locked eyes, the tension between them like dry fuel just waiting for a spark.
Davin (shoving Rey’s chest):
“The hell’s your problem?!”
Rey (shoving back):
“You acting tough now, huh?!”
Smack!
Without hesitation, Davin landed a hard punch on Rey’s face, sending him staggering backward.
Rey (getting back up, blood dripping from his lip):
“You bastard!”
With a furious yell, Rey lunged forward and punched Davin in the back of the head. The two immediately broke into a brutal brawl—fists connecting with jaws, knees slamming into guts, feet kicking ribs.
Other Students:
“Yo! What the hell is this?!”
“Shit! They’ve totally lost it!”
The fight rolled across the ground, full-blown chaos. Rey’s gang stood back, watching without any intention of breaking it up.
Only after several seconds, hurried footsteps echoed—Mr. Herman burst out from the teacher’s lounge, his face red with fury.
Mr. Herman:
“HEYYYY! STOP!!”
He ran over and roughly yanked them apart, grabbing both Davin and Rey by the collar.
Mr. Herman:
“You’re both coming with me. Now. TO THE COUNSELOR’S OFFICE! This is outrageous!”
Counselor’s Office, a few minutes later…
Rey (sitting casually):
“He started it, sir. I was just defending myself.”
Davin (still panting, a bruise on his temple):
“Bullshit! You kicked my bench first, I just hit back!”
Mr. Herman (glaring at Davin):
“Enough! Both of you, quiet! You’ve caused trouble again, Davin. Now a fight? Really?!”
Davin:
“But he’s from the foundation, right? So you always take his side, huh?!”
Mr. Herman (with a mocking tone):
“I don’t need lectures from a lazy, troublemaking student like you. You’re in the wrong, period. Rey, you can go.”
Rey smirked slyly as he stood up and walked out of the room.
Davin (clenching his fists, in his thoughts):
“You think you’re safe just ’cause you’re one of the foundation’s kids? Just wait… it’s all gonna flip one day.”
After the school bell rang, students began packing up and walking toward the gate.
But suddenly—
KRSSHHHH!
The school microphone crackled to life with a burst of static that startled everyone.
Unfamiliar Voice from the Mic (flat, monotone):
“Good afternoon, students. We kindly ask that all students remain on school grounds. The exit gates will be temporarily closed. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Confused Students:
“What the hell was that?”
“Why can’t we leave?”
“Hey… all the gates are locked. From the outside!”
A student tried pulling the gate open, but it didn’t budge. Even the side and back exits were sealed shut.
The microphone came back on:
Voice from the Mic:
“Welcome… to the beginning of the Atonement Game. Everyone will have their turn. Do not try to escape. Every choice has consequences. Good luck surviving.”
Everyone froze. The mood at school shifted instantly. Panic flickered in their eyes. Heavy breathing filled the air.
Davin (rising slowly from his seat):
“What kind of childish game is this supposed to be…?”
