It's Saturday, I remember that when I arrived at the Institute for the first time, I preferred to remain invisible to everyone, and that is what I have done this first week of work, I remained invisible to the students, but this time it was not for my own good, it was for theirs…(change) The first time I was received by the president of the student council and her assistant, who although he seems a little more direct and rude than Naser, there is something that equals them... her concern for her older sister... That Sheyla, why is she so similar to Fang? She didn't show up at all for the rest of the week. If she appears in the hallways, I'm going to hide, I don't want to talk to her for anything, I don't want her to know me, even if she told me... Fang, or that phantom hallucination of her that I had, I can't stop thinking about that thing all these days, can I? Why am I having those hallucinations right now?... if they are hallucinations... There is only one place in the school that I did not dare to return to for any reason, and that is... The Rooftop, the place where I saw my love for the last time, I also did not want to look at the upper part where that hole was in the wired, although I wish they had covered it. Spears' decision to resign makes sense, he caused that hole in the fence by accident in a fit of anger when looking for me and Fang, he must feel guilty too, I wonder where he is now. Right now I'm at Reed's house watching television, next to his window... A vase with red camellias, with… some tarot cards on the bench in front of the window? That's not something a person like Reed would have... of course, I remembered, the Mexican and the Otaku? ANON: Reed? Those flowers and those letters, who gave them to you? REED: oh yes, the flowers were given to me by Rosa at her flower stand, and the cards were given to me by Stella who works helping her. I think... you should see them ANON: Well, I better not… I mean… I don't think it's appropriate. REED: (….) Calm down, don't beat yourself up man, it's been a long time since the last time you saw each other. > Rosa is almost the same as always, she has her own flower shop.. >And as for Stella, she was always a very optimistic person, although she is somewhat... different. Maybe your visit will lift his spirits. What Reed says... maybe he's right, I've been having a lot of problems lately, a little support like someone like Rosa and Stella wouldn't hurt me. I just hope I don't screw up... ANON: You know... maybe you're right. I need your support Could I visit them? REED:…yes, of course! Since it's Saturday, you can see them, they're at the flower shop and it's still open, shall I take you? Or do you prefer to go alone? is not far ANON: I think I prefer to go alone, I would like to talk to them alone REED: Well... but first let me let you know. Reed takes his phone out of his pocket to call Rosa, he waits for a response until a few seconds later he gets it. “Reed?” REED: Hello Rosa, I wanted to let you know that you are going to have a visitor, our friend Anon, from high school, is back and wants to see you. “Anon!? REED: Here's what I'll do for you. The pink raptor proceeds to pass the phone into my hand, and I put it to my ear. My insides hurt from nerves, my hands start to sweat But it's too late to regret it... please. ANON: Rosa, are you there? “ANOOON CARIIIÑOOOOOOO!!!” That cry of joy in Spanish causes me to almost drop the phone bouncing out of my hands with fright if it weren't for the fact that I caught it in time. ANON: Yes Rosa! It's me, it's been so long since we spoke, I would like to see you, would you give me the address? Later Rosa proceeds to give me the address and show me the way, right now I am heading down the street, wearing a green sweatshirt that I bought with the money that Reed lent me. (change) When I turn around the corner, I see a flower stand that is very colorful and well-kept. In the distance a couple of recognizable orange and green silhouettes appear. They are there… Rosa and Stella Rosa is looking at me and addressing me with a wistful smile, it seems that like Reed, she doesn't blame me. While Stella no longer wears her bun, her green hair is now long and somewhat disheveled, and she is wearing a black sweatshirt with Japanese symbols. On her face... I no longer see that soft smile that she had most of the time, but rather there is a somewhat confused look? seeing me again after four years Rosa starts running with joy towards me. ROSA: ANOOON! SO LONG! She hugged me so hard that many bones in my torso and shoulders rattled, my respiratory system stuck for a second. I don't understand how she doesn't blame me for what I did, I was the boyfriend of a murderer, even so... I missed her charismatic personality STELLA: hello… Anon… She crosses her feet and raises her hand while she is trembling and her voice sounds timid… it definitely changed. ROSA: So... you came back, I was wondering what happened to you since... that day, but you're finally here, I miss you Anon. ANON: and I love you Rosa, and you also Stella, so now the two of you work together, right? ROSA: Yes, I didn't abandon my passion for gardening, so I created a business related to it, I hired Stella to take care of the plants together, as it used to be before... The Rosa's smile changes to a serious expression as I say that, I turn to the stegosaurus to ask her something. ANON: Stella… are you okay? STELLA: …yes, I'm fine.. mmh… Stella looks in various directions, her downward worried expression evolving into one of fear and shame. ANON: Stella, I know you're scared to see me, but I didn't come to hurt you, I remember that you were a fairly positive person, like that time you played the tarot game with me when I was with Fa... I shouldn't have reminded her of that name... her face frowns and a tear begins to come out of her eyes. Shit. I screwed it up. STELLA: That, about the Tarot... IT WAS STUPID!!! Stella runs and cries into the alley. ANON: Stella wait!... sorry... ROSA: You fucked up... Rosa grabs the bridge of her nose as if she were holding back her urge to yell at me or even hit me on the head. ROSA: I know you didn't know, but she is no longer the same since that day. She was there, she saw…horrible things. And she stopped believing in the gypsy game. She has become very fragile and now she doesn't trust anyone but me. What Rosa said makes me question my old self, Stella is an example of the lives that my decisions ruined. That happy, innocent, and positive stegosaurus girl I met at Volcano High no longer exists. What I have done! And I told her strange, what an idiot I was all the time ANON: so... I did this to her, she is like this now because of me, I hurt them both a lot. ROSA: That's not true Anon, you are a good person with charisma, you are not to blame for the massacre caused by that diabolical Pterosaur. I involuntarily clenched my fists tightly. I know you're mad at her but... Fang wasn't bad, she was damaged and misunderstood! But from what I see, her actions caused a lot of harm to Stella in particular, I think it's better to act. ANON: I'll go talk to her, we'll be back in a second. I go to the alley to talk to Stella. There, she is crying against a wall, hiding in the threshold of a rusty door. ANON: Stella? STELLA: I'm a stupid... useless weirdo who believed in magic... that shit, I got you excited, and look at us now, Fang and the others dead and... Sa... *sniff, it's just that it's hard for me to say that name because I saw Saaagghhh... Saaaggeeehhhhgg... She bursts into terrible tears as she kneels on the ground. Who was Sage? Was it that androgynous purple and beige microraptor that accompanied Stella? I don't remember seeing her body at the shooting. STELLA: Anon, You were right about me, I'm a weirdo, a stupid weirdo... a weirdo. She buries her wet face in her arms again. She feels a painful pang in her chest, seeing him like this... I have to do something to comfort her. ANON:… >Stella, that's not true... you were like that STELLA: What? ANON: it was my fault, I led Fang into that abyss without knowing it, I caused this pain to you and others, during all these years, I was condemning myself and at the same time running away from the most difficult task... remedy it. She raises her head a little, once again revealing her eyes swollen with tears and the makeup smeared on her cheeks. ANON: well, this will sound anticlimactic, but... do you still like anime? STELLA: … yes… I still see it. She wipes her face with the sleeve of her sweatshirt, she seems a little more recovered. ANON: Great! I haven't seen one in a long time. Do you remember the con… Oops! not that! ANON: Do you remember when you found out that I also watched anime, you were wearing a t-shirt that said “oppai” and you suggested that we watch… What was his name? STELLA: Precure. ANON: That one! Sure!... well... How about we see it now?... only if it makes you feel better. She thinks for a moment, staring into space. To then give myself a more enlightened look. STELLA: …yes… I would like that. The expression on Stella's mouth curves into a smile, finally. Later, we waited until nightfall for Stella and Rosa's day to end. In these hours, Rosa tells what her life was like during the last 4 years. When it starts to get dark, Rosa closes her shop and takes us to Stella's apartment in her car. Rosa also joins the marathon. Later we arrived at the lima stegosaurus's house, which is located in the city's Chinatown. When we enter we see that the apartment looks like a large gallery of anime posters, especially those of the romcom genre. That's when we started looking for anime on a Japanese streaming platform to choose from. The anime we chose was a generic magical girl anime, you know fantasy adventures and saving the world from dark forces In fact, even though they aren't my type of anime, watching it... felt good, it had been so long since I had the right to watch Japanese cartoons in front of a screen, after all these years I spent as a homeless man in an abandoned hospital. Rosa also watched it, curiously, some scenes seemed strange to her and even a bit cringey due to the expressions on her face, but in the end she enjoyed it. Also, this is probably the happiest day for Stella since that day, she really feels good about being able to smile back at one of my old Volcaderian friends. -TIME SKIP- God... It's already three in the afternoon, my brain is saturated and my eyelids are swollen from so many hours of screen time. Rosa is the same, except for her long hair now disheveled. But still, it was worth it. I'm really happy today, I was able to smile and spend a nice moment with two old friends, it's special with Stella, she looks fresh as a lettuce and excited to continue the series next week. I proceed to say goodbye to Rosa and Stella with a hug after having agreed to next Saturday night to watch season two. REED: Did it go well, bro? ANON: Actually, yeah, it was a lot of fun. REED: I'm glad to hear that. Shall we go home? ANON: Obviously, it would be good for me to clear my mind of the anime overdose. I'm tired. He chuckles in response. Although there's something about his look and his hesitant body language when he gets into his car. I sit in the passenger seat without stopping watching him. ANON: Reed, did something happen? REED: Nah, nothing. Why the question? ANON: I'm not stupid. Tell me what happened... is it something serious? REED: No, but... I received a call from jail, they say that she has been feeling very alone and overwhelmed these past few months, and that he needs me to talk to her, that is- ANON:…“She” who? Oh no… Jesus Raptor, please. He sighs and scratches his neck somewhat nervously. REED: Trish. Trish? Of course! shit! Any mention of her sours. The last thing she told me was that she won't stop chasing me until she kills me, and she has no doubt about my guilt. REED: Yes... From that day on, everything went downhill for her. Look, her best friend from ten years ago staged a school shooting and committed suicide, she got into a big fight with her family and they kicked her out of the house, she ends up in jail and they don't want anything to do with her anymore! ! >I'm the only person he has left, you understand? And leave out the part where she tried to crack my head open with a bat. But still, part of me pities her. REED: I was thinking this might be a good time to talk in person and make up and - ANON:…WHAT? YOU WANT ME TO VISIT HER IN JAIL?! YOU'RE CRAZY?! Reed becomes more nervous. REED: YES! It's just... well, what I told you before. > I am her only friend and one day she will realize that my house is your refuge. So that's why I thought that tomorrow we have to fix things with her together. I shake my head frantically at every word about talking to Trish. ANON: NO REED > SHE > TRIED > MURDER ME! >SO STOP PRETENDING ME TO MAKE PEACE WITH HER BECAUSE SHE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO ME HOW MUCH SHE HATES ME. REED: I know! I know! But it's not for her, nor for me. > It's because of you! ANON: SERIOUSLY- REED: NOW… let me finish. I cringe at that tone. Restraining her impulse, she replaces it with a curt nod before she continues to question him and inhales deeply through her nose to calm herself. REED: This year she will be released, and when that day arrives she will return to finish the job. But you have a chance to avoid it if you talk to her in the safety of the jail. She won't be able to harm you. ANON: Or to eightfold her thirst for my blood. REED: I'm serious, Anon! Think about it, she may never forgive you, but you can make her hate you, even a little less, and it might change her mind about killing you. ANON: … Images of the angry triceratops appear fleetingly in my memories. My heart is racing and I start to break out in a cold sweat. I DON'T WANT TO SEE HER, I definitely don't, but Reed might have a good point, trying might mean skipping the death I no longer want. "FANG: save her…" ANON:…O-Okay… REED: You'll be fine, bro. I reluctantly accept, Jesus Raptor, please don't let me regret this. -THE NEXT DAY- Volcadera Bulfs mixed prison. It is very rare that there is a mixed prison. When we get out of the car, a guard examines us, making sure we are not carrying something dangerous hidden, and lets us pass. As I limp slightly, I can glimpse the prisoners' recreation yard in the distance, surrounded by fences. We see a great variety of dinosaur prisoners, segregated by sex and of various species, especially carnivores, allosaurids, raptors, abeliosaurids, pterosaurs. There are also some herbivores, such as heterodontosaurids, ankylosaurs and above all... Triceratops... shit... I get goosebumps when I think about the trigga ceratopsid that we came to see, that face full of blazing hatred when it tried to kill me that time. Damn, deja vu alert In a corner, I see a pterosaur figure with a broken wing on the floor, the same one I saw a few days ago in Reed's bathroom... Naser… NASER: Be… careful… Anon… Why the hell are these visions appearing to me just when I'm about to make a difficult decision? Don't show up now, Naser, I hate seeing you like this. This time I decide not to yell at my deceased friend, I close my eyes and shake my head until he disappears from my sight as I pass into the other hallway. Behind that door is the meeting area, we both know that right now Trish is there waiting for Reed. She still doesn't know that I came with him, we arranged that he had to tell Her about me after the notice because otherwise she would refuse to talk to us, or worse. REED: Wait here, bro, I'll go first, and try to make him hate you a little less, okay? ANON: Okay… REED: And just in case, don't look out the window too much, so he won't see you. Phew, I'm safe. My friend stands in front of the double doors along with other dinos eager to see his family and friends imprisoned by him. I stay waiting in a seat. When the guard opens the door to the viewing room, Reed and I give each other a knowing look and in passing I glance at a small portion of the interior, these are face-to-face phone calls, separated by soundproofing glass. and reinforced. Reed talking behind glass, to my former archenemy now in the orange suit… Trish. Poor her, and to think that after her tragedy her family abandoned her. His short hair is now elongated and disheveled, his horns and crest also now look longer, sharper and more dangerous, his skin is scarred with bite and claw marks, I can notice that some feathers have also grown on the top of his tail. as pointed as thorns, his small arms now look more worked, and he has a somber expression that reflects what he lived here during these last 4 years. -THIRD PERSON POV- TRISH: Hello. REED: Hello Sis. how are you? TRISH: I needed to talk to you, these days were shit, I was beating the others in the locker room, in the cell, in the yard. Although… I won most of times. >Practically everyone hates me here, I don't trust anyone. Know? These are my last weeks here, but... I don't know where to go, I need a friend... REED: Well, I'm your friend Trish. TRISH: Exactly, that's why I wanted you to come. You're the only person I have left in this shitty life. REED: Not true! Rosa, Stella, and even An-, are your friends too. He swallows hard as he almost completes the name. Trish's expression changes to a more malicious ironic smile, her eyes wider. TRISH: Oh, really?... How interesting... REED:… TRISH: And... How's that cowardly skinnie doing? Have you ever seen him? REED: Well...He most be...Over there TRISH: Over there? Where!? The pink raptor regretted it with every second that the dark and deranged gaze of his friend devoured his soul. REED: I don't know. Did something happen to you today? -ANON'S POV- Sitting, I move my foot to a constant rhythm of nerves. More like terror. My throat feels dry. A water dispenser, with one last unused disposable glass, is “calling” me to drink its crystalline and soothing water. There are some people around me, before anyone else gets thirsty I get up, grab the glass and put it under the lever. BAM! The entrance door to this room opens furiously. PRISONER OUT OF CONTROL: LET ME GO! GUARD: Catch him! GUARD 2: I told you to hold it tight! A prisoner Pachycephalosaurus with a mustache and a graying coconut hairstyle runs madly to the right of the hallway while two guards chase him with clubs. Shit! I am shocked by the unexpected situation, I look around me without knowing what to do. Other guards appear from the other side of the hallway. THAT???? Other guards stand behind the row of seats to corner him. … THEY ARE CORRALING ME TOO. OH SHIT, OH SHIT. And he heads at full speed in an attack towards me. I HAVE NO WAY OUT, I AM PARALYZED. MOVE MOVE MOVE RUN RUN RUN RUN PRISONER OUT OF CONTROL: GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA- ANON: YGHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA- I am attacked while the two guards crush my back in order to stop the prisoner. The door opens with all the force of the attack, falling me, the crazy old man and the guards in the room. AAARG, his damn cranial dome hit me straight in the stomach, it's hard and painful to breathe. IT HURTS LIKE HELL, I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO DIE. I roll on the floor, coughing and gasping horribly, clutching my hands against the blow in a vain hope to dull the pain. I barely have the lucidity to see the crazy old dino, who manages to get up and escape from the guards' grip. But he slips on the puddle of water my glass left when it fell. Spinning in the air and falling face up on the ground, the blow to the back of the head leaves him unconscious. I get my breath back little by little, I'm coughing less and I manage to kneel. My heart is beating very fast right now but... Not… Shit. YOU HAVE TO HAVE BAD LUCK. He begins to beat faster when I raise my head and see Trish looking at me with demonic and surprised eyes. TRISH: you... ANON: … I'm perplexed, I can't say a word, the situation, the pain, all this shit. REED: Trish... t-calm down... Please. TRISH:…Reed?… He tries to reassure her with the softest voice her fear allows. He raises his trembling hands, but she, incredulous and with an invasive feeling of having been betrayed. She notices the guilt in the only person she trusted, who she thought was her friend. TRISH: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHG! YOU FUCKING SKINNIE! It explodes like a volcano of anger erupting, I've never seen anything like it. His screams are so loud that they can even be heard very loudly from our side of the anti-acoustic glass. REED: TRISH, WAIT! NO! TRISH: WHY ARE YOU WITH HIM!? DID HE MANAGE TO MANIPULATE YOU TOO? ARE YOU BOYFRIENDS OR WHAT? REED: WHAT? NO, LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU- TRISH: HOW COULD YOU REED?! Her voice breaks and tears begin to come out of her eyes. REED: WE JUST WANT TO TALK! HE JUST WANTS TO TALK! ANON, COME HERE! He begs me desperately. TRISH: “WE WANT”! ARE YOU ON HIS SIDE NOW!? REED: JUST... Pick up the phone again Trish! Just take it. Anon, you too, please, please! >Do it for me, Trish! I did a lot for you! remember? The triceratops's face lightens a bit. Trish, considering it, remembering everything Reed did for her. Although very reluctantly, she takes the will to grab the phone in anger. There is literally steam emanating from her ears and nostrils and visible swollen veins on her forehead and neck… I grab the phone too with fear TRISH: What do you want? ANON: Trish, listen, I just want to apologize to you, I know you've suffered a lot these past few years too. >What's more, your attempt to murder me was not in vain, months after that, I left my home and dedicated myself to living as a homeless man on the street. My family also abandoned me, like yours abandoned you too. And yes, it's all my fault, not yours... She still maintains her expression of silent hatred, only she is dripping more tears and her brow is trembling... I want to cry too, she has no idea how much I want to cry. ANON: I know, Trish... you were her best friend, she loved you and you loved Fang too, > but I never wanted to make that mistake, it never crossed my mind that she would make that decision, I swear to God... I'm so sorry, Trish. TRISH:… >… >… >You told Them… SHE!? Shit… Not… No, no, no, nononoNONONONONONO. TRISH: IT'S... >THEY!!! In one movement she cuts the telephone cable and then breaks it into pieces and sparks with the strength of her grip. All in a second. TRISH: I LOVED THEM!!! > LONG BEFORE YOU!!! > AND WHEN I WAS GOING TO CONFESS THEM!!! > YOU, A NOBODY, SUDDENLY CAME INTO THEIR LIFE TO CORRUPT THEM!!! > YOU DIDN'T LEAVE US ALONE!!! > YOU DESTROYED OUR BAND!!! OUR FUTURE!!! >YOU STEAL FANG FROM ME!!! > THIS WAS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!! > YOU KILLED THEM!!! > YOU!!! >YOU KILLED!!! > FANG!!! >AAAAAAAAAA- The enraged ceratopsid begins to headbutt the glass just as the animal from which its genes come would do. The guards who at first did nothing, even crazy old Pachy is still sleeping on the floor, because they stayed watching our unfortunate interaction as if it were a reality show, finally decide to act. It took five of them to stop Trish, they pin her to the ground and handcuff her, while she cries on the ground, expelling insults. TRISH: You ruined…everything. She cries as they take her back to her cell. … What have I done… (…) During the car ride back home. Reed and I didn't say a word to each other. It turns out that Trish was in love with Fang all this time, long before me, and she was never able to confess it to him. Poor Trish, I hurt her so much. I ruined that future that she and her band VVURM DRAMA had planned, now she has nowhere to go. If I had tried to be a better friend to her, instead of mocking or keeping quiet about her attacks, and helped her improvise in her music and relationship with Fang, or simply never intervened between them, maybe I would be on tour today playing music with Reed. and Fang in another timeline, living his dream and not rotting in jail. We are now back at the Department. The first thing Reed does is throw his leather jacket on a chair, he is sweating to the point where the veins in his head are visible. ANON: Reed… are you okay? REED:…Ehh…. I don't know how to say it Anon. ANON: Just… say what you have to say. REED:…it's just…this whole situation… T-this whole… Shit. >I don't blame you for appearing in front of her before my signal, I know it was against your will, but... It all went so wrong! Everything against us! he starts scratching her cheek and forearm. I doubt whether to speak or not, he may need to vent what is weighing on him, but he is scratching very hard and fast. ANON: Hey! Wait, you're going to get hurt. I approach her to separate his sharp claws from his scales. ANON: You're sweating, what's wrong? REED: It's just... I think I miss carfe again... >I miss the carfe bro… >Carfe… Oh no… Shit, what i gonna do!?… An attack of withdrawal I don't know what to do. I know the symptoms, but not how it is treated, I have never met someone with these problems or how to help them at a time like this. 1- Give him cocaine 2- Offer a glass of water ANON: Hey… you told me you had some cocaine hidden, where is it? REED: I already inhaled it... it's too soft for a dinosaur like me. I begin to turn from one direction to another, nervously hesitant. The claretin in his eyes turns red from stress, while he begins to breathe and sweat faster. ANON: Wait for me! REED: My pills!... those over there, pass them to me He points to the surface of a small chest of drawers meters in front of him, I see a tablet. I hurry up and grab the tablet that contains only half the amount of pills. When giving them to him, he checks the underside of the tablet to make sure it is the right medicine. I'm going to the kitchen to grab a glass to fill it with water. Once the glass is full I return to Reed. ANON: Here. Reed proceeds to drink. His face slowly begins to normalize. ANON: Better? REED:…Uuhf…. Only a little. ANON: So what- REED: Don't worry bro, this time it's mild... it's nothing compared to the previous ones I had at the rehab center. ANON: ah, o-okay. >So… REED: It'll pass bro, the pill will help me. Thank you so much. ANON: You're alrigth. I sit next to him on the couch in silence. The raptor takes a napkin and wipes the sweat from his forehead, taking deep breaths to calm himself. ANON: You know Reed? I already imagined that it was a bad…terrible idea for me to visit Trish. >Now the first thing he will do when he leaves is dismember me. >maybe your life is also in danger now, she thinks you betrayed her. > still I understand it. I ruined the future of you two and… Fang, hurting her until she lost her morality. >it's my fault you are here with withdrawal syndrome and working as a cook at our school, >If it weren't for me, you would be traveling playing the drums and shining at concerts. REED:… >… >… >You know... I can't even think about what you're telling me... ANON: But I guess it's what a bad idea it was for you to visit Trish and how angry she is with me. And I'm completely right... I'm sorry. He deflates with the last statement. I simply pat him on the back as a consolation. We both felt horrible and stupid. ANON: Do you want to eat something? I will cook. REED: I don't have any appetite, but thanks. Do something for yourself. ANON: I'm not hungry either. REED: Well, go to sleep... >You better get ready because back to work tomorrow... The next day… Well, again at Volcano High Once I put on the gray “shitty life” uniform, I go out with the cleaning team, I look at the students in the hallway with indifference. However, there I see Stu for some reason running, with a scared expression as if he was being hunted, right towards my direction. My direction? WHAT THE HELL- STU: ANON, ANON! He quickly gets behind me, grabbing the fabric on the back of my uniform like it was a shield. STU: HELPMEHELPMEHELPMEHELP- ANON: Stu! What's going on?! STU: HE WANTS TO HIT ME! ANON: Hit?! Who?! STU: THAT ONE! He pointed. A green Allosaurus appears in the distance at the end of the hallway. Upon detecting Stu behind my back, he approaches without running, but with quick stomps of rage. And the closer he gets, the more I recognize him, he's the bassist in Sheyla's band. And I also feel even more deflated by how monstrous his face is: A noticeable prognathism in his lower jaw exhibits his sharp teeth, which due to the yellow color suggest that he does not brush his teeth every day. His irises are silver like mineral, but his pupils are red like the blood that abounds in the waters of hell. This is the moment, when I, as a responsible adult and authority figure in this high school, must protect the short, weak, virgin, four-eyed nerd from the unbearable bad guy with a metal style and obvious lack of fatherly love, with only a posture and firm tone of voice. BUT IT'S SO UGLY! AND HE SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN HIS PACE! I raise my palm in front of him as a sign for him to stop. I feel weak against this ugly green thing. My survival instincts that endure after neons of evolution scream at me that if I extend my hand any further to this dinosaur, it will rip off my entire arm with its powerful bite. His growl intensifies with every stomp he gets closer to us and so does the stiffness of my muscles. ???: Grrrrrrrrrr STU: IT'S NOT SUITABLE FOR YOU, ALDRIC! I HAVE A SCHOOL AUTHORITY WITH ME! AND I WON'T HESITATE TO USE IT! The aforementioned doesn't even flinch, I think he didn't even look at me like a living being. But as an obstacle in HIS PATH of him- ALDRIC: GRRRRRRRRRRR… Nerd… Autistic! SHITTY. The bully grabs my shoulder and pushes me hard enough to send the fabric of my uniform flying from Stu's trembling hands. I almost fell and crashed into the wall, the push making me stumble straight to the ground. At least for my luck >BECAUSE OF YOUR FAULT THEY FUN OF US AGAIN. >WAITWAIT AAAAGH- She grabs the little boy by the collar of his shirt, lifts him beyond his height to violently smash him against one of the lockers. ALDRIC: I'm fed up! FED UP, of you and your stupid habit of ruining our publicity as a band! STU: WAIT, I DID IT TO GIVE PUBLIC TO MY SISTER AND YOU. NOT BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE THEM BAD PUBLICITY. ALDRIC: AND WHY ARE YOU STILL BOTHERING US? HEY? She slams him against the locker again. ALDRIC: Don't you realize that you are a damn...useless...fool...imbecile and miserable NOBODY? YOU'RE ONLY GOOD FOR FUCKING UP! Those degrading words broke my soul. This scene reminds me of the bullying I suffered in my first high school. This ugly bug reminds me of them, and Stu… reminds me of me. The poor thing has crystalline eyes and lips trembling with fear and denigration. I get up from the ground and gather the courage to face that son of a bitch like an adult towards a schoolboy, although the possibility of being about to become a cosplay of the Headless Horseman makes me shake with adrenaline. ANON: Hey! You! Let him go and leave him alone! He turns his head with menacing slowness towards me, silent and staring at me with those wide open demon eyes. As if he were examining or recognizing. Involuntarily I swallowed. ANON: If you don't obey, I'll tell the principal right now! ALDRIC: … ANON: …. STU: …. He moves the corners of his mouth slightly, he wants to say something, but he just opens it without uttering a word or just a moan. Apparently various answers come to mind but he doubts which one to choose. And since I am the only bald human in this school, it is obvious that he recognizes me for having defended the band. It's possible that, despite this shitty attitude towards his partner's brother, he would have some respect for me and let the boy go even if he didn't like him. ALDRIC: Go mind your own business… Skinnie. … Not… It just can't be… THIS IT JUST CAN'T BE. Stupefied, I stagger backwards, muttering inaudible curses. Both the harasser and the victim look at me strangely and confused, my reaction is not normal. A dark orange head supported by a long neck appears behind the enraged Allosaurus ???: Al, Leave it now! STU: Tanner Brock, get it off me! The allosaurus frowns at the brachiosaurus for a few seconds until it decides to release the raptor from above, and the latter almost trips and runs away. ALDRIC: Hhm! He even runs like a faggot. BROCK: Listen, he did it with good intentions, especially for Sheyla. ALDRIC:… I know, I know… but- but every time he's around everything is ruined. I told him very clearly and a thousand times that he should not interfere anymore. He is a disaster. He stopped listening to his call when they were far enough away. I decide to continue through the hallways until I find Lillian arguing with the gray archeopteryx from the same gang. LILLIAN: Chell, I know you didn't just bring cockroaches and dragonflies in your lunch this time... >but also rats... The gray bird shows no signs of human language CHELL: Skreeeee? Caw caw. LILLIAN: Ugh. I can't figure out what you mean. You should spend more time learning sign language or writing what you want to communicate on your whiteboard. CHELL: Grrr Coo coo caw. The creamy emplimada looks very serene although somewhat annoyed. LILLIAN: Well... see you later... CHEEL: coo LILLIAN:… > I don't even know if what he said was a yes or a no. >oh Anon, I have good news for you. ANON: Oh, what news? LILLIAN: Set up a meeting, >The next class hour is free time due to the teacher's absence, so I called the Chaotic Psyche gang. ANON: The one I defended? LILLIAN: Yes, right now they are going to wait for you in the closed auditorium. ANON: Well, but tell them to wait for me, I have to get to the director's address... LILLIAN: Well, I'll wait for you. Finally he arrived at the office that previously belonged to Spears. MRS. ROBERTS: Anon, I still haven't forgotten what you did your first day. ANON: Look, I was trying to hide from the girl I defended, do you think that's not enough? MRS. ROBERTS: No, but I was reading articles about F-Day, I understand that you were very close to Lucy Aaron before, and that her shooting and suicide affected you so much that you gave up on your future. >she was forming a kind of rock band with Reed and another named Trish. And she was a victim of ridicule and boos from the public. >I guess that's why you defended the punk student who was made fun of, you saw Lucy reflected in her. ANON: yes... That's right, that's why I felt angry against your students, sorry for that. MRS. ROBERTS: I understand. You can go now ANON: Was that it, nothing more? MRS ROBERTS: Yes, nothing more. >wait... >remember…. >if you do something bad...again... >I'm going to call the police... do you understand? ANON:… yes… -A few moments later- I meet the new band in the abandoned auditorium. But... Sheyla is not here today either... my head is filled with the worst thoughts, maybe... she already committed suicide but alone? ANON: Ehhhh. CHELL:………Awk! BROCK: Thank you for standing up for us. ALDRIC: Yes, but he also defended the idiot Stu-pido who made fun of all those losers. BROCK: For God's sake, Al, you know that Solo is trying to do us good. >So you're Anon? ANON: Yes, I studied here before. ALDRIC: We are Chaotic Psyche. >I am Aldric, the Bassist of the group, and Creator of the band, and composer BROCK: I'm Tanner Brock, the Drummer. CHELL: Chell.. coo, Grr Skraa ALDRIC: and this is Chell, the pianist ANON: Huh, why doesn't she say anything besides bird sounds? BROCK: She was born that way. > Until now we have not heard her say any other word other than her name ANON: And who and what happened to her vocalist? ALDRIC: ah, that's Sheyla, we've known her for 10 years, I helped her overcome a dark moment in her life 4 years ago, to find herself and be more free. >she doesn't need anyone in her life who can Hurt her or Deceive her > she only needs us and no one else >she didn't come all last week because of what happened the other day >she preferred to stay home, but she will be back very soon. Dark moment 4 years ago? Those words remind me of my old purple nemesis... Fang spent 1 day without coming after the first humiliation, but Sheyla... a week and Monday? ALDRIC: Now tell us about yourself Skinnie… Shit ANON: I'm Anon and I'm a Human, I arrived last Monday >that's all ALDRIC: We want to know where you are from, because you work here and if you have friends... Why should they know about Stella and Rosa? ANON: Reed is my friend, and I have others out there. He doesn't seem satisfied with my answer. BROCK: I saw you were with Stu. ALDRIC: And also with that… Bitch… Lillian before ANON: Eh eh, they were my welcoming committee, nothing more. Why does he refer to Lillian in that pejorative way? For me she is a kind person, I didn't see anything strange in her unlike Naomi on my first day. ALDRIC: …Well, as for Sheyla… >Be careful. >I care about her because I care, she's been suffering because of those purposeless fucking broken asses, I do what it takes to keep her safe, along with Chell and Brock. Was that what he wanted by hitting Stu? He seemed more like a bearish Pickle tantrum. ANON: Are you trying to say not to bother Sheyla? ALDRIC: Yes, that. Is that why you Tortured her younger brother? Knowin that he only wanted to help? Was he a nuisance? It made me want to provoke him. ANON: I have to go, thanks for that information Aldric, see you later. The lunch bell rings just in time. The silver-red eyes of the carnivore forgotten by pop culture look at me with the intention of asking me something else. (…) I stayed cleaning and working the rest of the day, away from the green monster. Sorry, Chell and Brock, you seem like good people, but with that dictatorial abomination? This guy reminds me a lot of Trish. Although I feel sorry for how my decisions ruined her life, that doesn't take away from her bitchy, manipulative and abusive personality. Surely this monster that looks like it came from a sewer is also afraid that I will “steal” his friend from me, as if she were his property and not a free person. I continued the work until it was time to leave. I'm walking on foot toward Reed's house. However, there is one small source of entertainment that distracts me. A television store. On the TVs in the window, they are broadcasting a black comedy show. With the producer on film set or green screen backgrounds. With a lot of editing with animation and Photoshop, it looks quite colorful and fun. He is making black humor about sexual orientations, except heterosexuality, of course. With an actor playing a Pansexual Meteor Dodger jumping in a grassland full of flowers with the pansexual flag HUMORIST ACTOR: The word “pansexual” has its origins from the Greek “pan” which means “everything” therefore, he is attracted to any type of person regardless of their gender or identity, in short, they would fuck the entire world. . And laughs at the end. Although that is the first thing I thought when I learned about the term, it is not exactly like that, but its etymology is curious, it makes me laugh a little, I try not to laugh in public at a particularly delicate topic at this time. My teenage self would have laughed out loud. But the video remains silent and after a fade to black, two very progressive-looking journalists appear with an indignant expression while the video restarts on a large screen behind them. The digital poster said “Anti-Lgtbq+ YouTuber and his viral discriminatory video” The little surprise doesn't let me suppress my laughter. ANON: Hehehe. Also, ignoring the comments of hate disguised with formal words from the journalists, but I notice their expressions, their eyes wide open, talking about what a terrible, damned, despicable and garbage person the YouTuber is while watching the guy from the video playing a pansexual character smiling and lying in bed with a frying pan. I couldn't and I exploded, even though it was a very burnt joke. ANON: HAHAHA HA, NO, I CAN'T, I CAN'T, HEHEHEH, What a son of a bitch! ???: WHAT?! … … Shit… That voice behind me, Why right here? I see that the sunlight reflects the shadow of the raptor behind me. And I don't think about turning around... SHEYLA: You're... >Laughing... >With that… I want to hide, be swallowed by the earth or have a piano fall on me. SHEYLA: Don't you see? ANON: … SHEYLA: I >AM… >PAN… >SEXUAL… Why did that just have to be her sexuality? Sheyla proceeds to aggressively turn me around and grab me and slam me against the shop window. For a girl a little shorter than Fang, her strength is tremendous and she causes me pain and fear as her claws dig a little deeper under my poor shoulders. SHEYLA: LISTEN TO ME YOU DAMN FAR RIG… >… >… Sheyla's furious expression suddenly changes to one of shock and regret. SHEYLA: is that…. You? She looks at me with disappointment and feeling of having been betrayed, she walks away slowly and then runs towards an alley. ANON: hey, wait, excuse me! There, Sheyla is crouching, covering her face out of regret, until she decides to go towards me. SHEYLA: I'm sorry. Sorry for laughing Sorry, I should have known you were there Sorry for being a jerk SHEYLA: pansexual people should not be attracted to everthing that moves Oh my god, don't socialize with her. ANON: Well, a thousand apologies for that awkward scene, I didn't mean to offend you. ANON: See you later… SHEYLA: Don't go away. >stay “FANG: Save her” I have no escape now, this time I'll have to talk to her. I sit next to him against the wall ANON: … SHEYLA:… ANON:… >they were talking to me about you >so you are Sheyla, Stu's sister. SHEYLA: Yes. ANON: I see that your brother is being attacked by your friend. SHEYLA: Nah, I don't care. >Stu-pid is a nerdy idiot. > and he also lets himself be carried away by that educated bitch Lillian as a virgin. >I just wish you would get away from my business for just 5 minutes. ANON: Notice you were gone for almost a week and Monday, why so long? SHEYLA: I wanted those whores to forget enough not to make fun of me when I got back. ANON: Well… it makes sense. SHEYLA: Stu told me your name was Anon, didn't he? ANON: Yes, Anon Mous, but just call me Anon. >I'm the new janitor, I work with the cook, Reed SHEYLA: I already noticed. There is a brief pause until Sheyla takes a cigarette out of her backpack and lights it with a lighter, then begins to smoke it. ANON: Are you allowed to do that? SHEYLA: No, I take tobacco and alcohol secretly from my family. Don't tell them if you run into them, I'm already 18. ANON: uh, okay. Thought of restrictions ANON: The principal almost fired me for defending you. >for the aggressive way in which I behaved with those who made fun of you. >I'm very sorry for what happened to your band SHEYLA: That should matter. ANON: I just think it's shitty that people go to a show just to laugh at you. Sheyla's expressionless mouth curves into a soft, calm smile. SHEYLA: Nah, I guess you did care about my well-being. Unlike all the uncultured morons at this school. ANON:… The rest of the hour passed between continuous talks with Sheyla She seemed to be in control of the conversation. At the end of the hour, Sheyla and I get up and she pulls out her phone, quickly tapping the screen. SHEYLA: They're my parents, they act like I'm still 6 years old. ANON: Are you going home yet? SHEYLA: Who cares about being late? Would you like to continue talking tomorrow? SHEYLA: …Yes. I think so, I even think I'm sure, I liked talking to you, Anon. ANON: Well, see you soon She gives me a lazy wave and I head home. I felt this feeling before... But, the first time was... Uncomfortable and discomforting… Now it's different... It feels… good. I should have understood you better at the time of our first talk… Isn't it... Fang? [NOTES]