Flashback
I once again walked inside the store, and this time May already had a bag of chips and a water bottle in her hands, and I walked to the counter, and I spoke in a calm tone, "Uh, why are you holding those?" and May said, "Well, aren't you going to buy these?" And a second later I pull out a $10 bill and put it on the counter and grab the chips and water bottle, and while May starts to get the change, without waiting for her, I start to walk outsidethe store, and May looks up and sees that the young man was about to leave without taking his change!
And May ran up to Leo and said, "Hey, stop! You did not take your change! of 7$" and Leo, on the other hand, was already heading inside an alleyway, which looked shady... and just when May peeked her head inside the alley, May's eyes went wide because May saw the homeless man who Leo had been giving the chips and water all this time. That same homeless man seemed to be yelling at Leo...
The homeless man speaks while he is sitting on a trash can: "You idiot! You don't have money to buy something else? Always these chips and water, nothing else. Your trash! kid!" and the homeless guy almost throws a rock onto Leo, and Leo falls down on the ground in a weak way, and the homeless guy walks closer to Leo with anger in his eyes just as he was going to kick Leo. May runs there and screams, "HEY! YOU! BASTARD, LET GO OF THAT CHILD! I HAVE CALLED THE COPS! THEY'RE ON THE WAY!" And seeing May running, the homeless guy fast grabs the bags of chips and water bottle and then runs out of the alley while Leo is on the ground grunting...
And I let out a weak gasp and mutter, "Help me..." and then I pass out on the ground, and May comes to Leo, and she checks Leo's breathing and is thankful he is breathing, and May pulls Leo up on her shoulder and starts to walk back to the shop, and when inside the shop, May looks at Leo with concern. She did not know what to do. Just 4 days ago, this kid started to pay for that homeless-looking guy's food, and then May thought Leo was doing charity, but it looks like Leo, the young kid, had been obviously exploited...
And while checking up on Leo, May gently pushes Leo's hoodie sleeves up, and May was shocked... because Leo's hands and arms had bruises all around them... and at this point May was not concerned for this boy; no, May was now worried and scared! because it looked like Leo had been beaten up by that homeless man, and for a second anger was inside May's eyes, but then it turned into sadness looking at the still "passed out" boy in front of her.
And a few minutes later I blink my eyes and walk up fast, and I look around and in the shop, and I hear May's warm voice: "Hey, calm down, you're safe now, kid..." and I look at May with scared eyes, and I hug myselfand lean back on the chair, and I mutter, "I don't have any more money, I swear... who are you?"
And May felt like she was seeing a traumatized child. May spoke in a soft tone. "I am May, ok? I don't want money, ok? Uh, why don't you tell me your name? And also, where are your mom and dad?" and I look down and speak in an almost crying tone, "Mom? She passed away, and Dad? He also passed away... My name is Leo..." and May almost felt so sad seeing a young kid like this; it reminded May of Peter... And May spoke, "Well, uh, Leo? That's a good, strong name, you know. Um, Leo, if you feel fine, could you tell me what that homeless man did to you? Why did you pay for his food?"
And with a still scared look on my face, I speak. "Um, homeless guy. Uh, when I first passed by here, he asked me for food, so, uh, I brought him some. Uh, after that, again, the next day, it was the same, but on the 3rd day, I said no, but... he, he hit me... and, uh, took my phone number and said if I don't bring him food every night, he... will kill me... I, I was scared, so I did what he said, uh, but he kept hitting me... until you saved me, M-may. Thank you." With water in my eyes, I say thank you in the weakest, most scared tone.
And May could not hold it any longer; she hugs the seemingly weak, broken, hurt child in front of her... and after that, May pats Leo's head gently and speaks, "Leo, do you have a place to stay or any other family? And also, where did you get the money from?" to pay for that... man's food?" And for a second May was going to say something crazy, but she stopped herselfand spoke in a warm tone.
And I spill everything! fast. "Um, I have a little sister. Uh, she goes to school. Uh, I work part-time here and there, and, uh, I also have made this game, but, uh, I can't make any money from it because I don't have anyone to make an account for me. I am 16 years old. Uh, the banker says I need someone as a guardian to open a bank account, but I don't have anyone else..." And well, hearing my heartfelt story, normally May would have encouraged Leo, but when Leo spoke about the game he made, there was this sense of happiness and hope in his voice, which May noticed, and without thinking, May spoke, "Uh, what do you mean, Leo? I am here, ok? I can be your guardian!" ...
Flashback Ends
'I have to admit the scariest alien I have is not Ghostfreak or anything else; no, it's Gray Matter. This type of plan—when I was Gray Matter, I came up with this scary plan. I pretty much act like a weak, helpless kid, and who would not want to help a weak, helpless kid? And because as Gray Matter I knew about May's mindset, I knew the chances of this plan working were 100%. Not only that, but the more crazy thing is this plan is 100% foolproof. Even the homeless guy was actually manipulated by me. I pretty much acted like a pushover around the homeless guy and, well, ended up manipulating him. And yes, I may have exaggerated a little about the homeless guy beating me and stuff. No, the bruises I have are all from sparring and training with Frank... This all came together to make an almost 100% perfect plan...
Yeah, being smart is scary...