It was time to get going. Grabbing a sausage and egg sandwich, he started his walk. The neighborhood was awake. Old men were outside washing their cars. The Vipers were out as usual. They nodded to Tobi as he walked past.
A special handshake with Tyler, and the young man was finally out of the hood. He took his time knowing that another boring day of school awaited. It didn't take long to reach the school gates.
As a master introvert, he was skilled at blending into the crowd. So he did. He went unseen by Chris and his gang who were loitering the area. Of course, it didn't matter. They knew his classroom schedule.
'I can't get any more marks on my face.' He thought.
Looks like he would need to do his best to avoid conflict. At least for today. That seemed impossible though. What kind of highschooler walked around campus with a thousand dollars in their pocket?
DING DONG DONG
The school bell rang. The first period was underway. He was late…per usual. Barbara wasn't in this class. She wasn't until last period.
Boring topic after boring topic. What was there to talk about? Well…fine. There was something to talk about. This one guy a few seats away? His name is Dick Grayson. He thinks he's sneaky and slick, but he's always watching Tobi whenever Chris is involved. It reminded him of Barbara. Had her name written all over it.
"Why does Barbara like this guy? He's just another delinquent." Dick muttered under his breath.
".........."
Tobi's expression twitched. That wasn't something he was supposed to hear. Normally, he wouldn't. Now? He could tell who was coming up the stairs and who was walking near the classroom. He could see it in his mind. What else could he do?
Had he become some type of psychic? An esper? He didn't feel any stronger. More like…he felt free. As he reveled in this newfound feeling, a crumpled paperball hit him in the face. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at who threw it.
Tatsu Yamashiro. That asian chick who seemed more nonchalant than him. She was quite the beauty though. Tobi approved. Big fat stamp of approval. Certified baddie.
'Let's jam again during lunch. Same place.' The note said.
Tobi glanced at her and nodded. Tatsu turned back to the front as if nothing happened. The day went on like a turtle race. Slow as hell. After what felt like forever, it was time for lunch.
He casually grabbed his bag and left the room. As he made his way toward the cafeteria, he sensed Chris and his gang nearby. They would run into each other if he kept going the same way. Looks like he would have to skip lunch today.
Welp. Time to meet Tatsu. Tobi made his way to the music room in record time. It was empty, if one ignored the hot Japanese girl sitting on the counter while scrolling her phone.
"Oi." She immediately got up and grabbed his collar.
"Eh?"
"Set it up."
She dragged him over to where he normally sits. Tobi rolled his eyes. It was always her way or the highway. If you didn't play along with her tune, then you weren't allowed to be in her presence. Whatever. Everyone had their quirks.
"No 'Hey, how was your day?' Geez." He hummed while plugging his phone into the portable speaker.
"I don't do small talk." Tatsu commented before setting up her guitar.
As she bent over to plug into the amp, he watched as her skirt rose up. Soft and perfectly tanned thighs…what a view. He casually set up the school keyboard and plugged it into the wall. His gaze barely left her.
"Are you leering at me?" Tatsu spoke up without looking.
"No. Don't you hear me setting up?"
"Perv. Stop looking." She wasn't fooled.
"I can't appreciate beauty?" He quipped.
"...Just start the beat." She hummed.
The guitar was sitting in her lap. Her fingers thrumming the strings. Tuning it. Tobi pulled up a lofi drum track playlist on his phone and pressed play. A smooth beat filled the room.
His fingers wandered over the keys while making a key signature. Pretty soon, a melody started to form. No words needed to be said. Tatsu began to play her own melody. Tobi followed along. Before they knew it, the two were jamming. Creating art.
Smooth, chill, and vibey music. Something you could read a book to. Something you could do homework to. Something you could smoke to. That's the type of art they were creating.
It was at this moment that Tobi became immersed. He became one with music. His mind reached out to Tatsu's and they connected. Incredible solos followed after. They took turns letting it rip.
Due to his immersion, he failed to notice Barbara and Dick standing outside of the room. They were leaning against the wall. Listening while casually checking the surroundings. A happy smile tugged at her lips.
DING DONG DONG
All good things eventually come to an end. The bell rang. Siiiigh. Time to go. Tobi was in the process of packing up the school equipment. That was when he sensed that Tatsu wasn't moving. He looked up to see her staring at him. The look in her eyes had changed.
"Tobi, that was amazing."
"I'm awesome. I know. Praise me more." He joked.
"I'm being serious. Our jam sessions have never been like that before."
"In that case…" Tobi walked over to her and snatched her phone. Only after putting his number in did he give it back. "Text me." He flicked her forehead.
Tatsu looked at her phone then back at him. She popped a strip of gum in her mouth. Then she spoke.
"No more paper notes?"
"No more paper notes." He confirmed.
He walked out of the room with a slight grin. Was life finally getting better? Was he allowed to feel this? Was this what progress in life felt like?
Time went by quickly after lunch. Barbara walked him to the gate again but she didn't seem as casual and happy as before. Almost like she was irritated. Either way, he didn't have to worry about Chris today. They also seemed extremely angry. Their eyes were bloodshot as they watched him exit the campus.
After saying goodbye to the annoyed girl, he made his way back home. The neighborhood was quiet this time. There weren't any gang members standing around…and that was extremely weird. Borderline wrong. The sound of the community playing in the streets, the kids skateboarding or shooting hoops…nothing. It was like a ghost town.
The lights weren't even on in the houses. The traphouse seemed to still be active, since the lights were on and noises could be heard. Maybe he was just overthinking it. Tobi reached his home…but the door was already cracked open.
'What?' He immediately knew something was wrong.
His mom hated when the door was open. It let flies in and it invited the outside weather. She always demanded the front door stay closed. Tobi's senses went beyond the door. What he saw made his heart drop.
Bursting into the house, he glanced at the kitchen table. It was broken. A mix of wood and glass had shattered on the ground. His father lay beside the broken table. There was a bullet hole in his forehead. He was gone.
"Dad? Dad…Dad…DAD!" His voice was shaky. His hands were trembling.
As he scrambled to pull out his phone, he noticed a stream of blood flowing down the stairs. It was an ominous sign. Running over to it…he fell to his knees.
Denny…his mother. She was lying on the stairs. Cradling her daughter…protecting Gummy. They were gone. Covered in blood. His mother, his father, his little sister. Gone.
"No…No…nonono…NO!"
Tobi cried. Tears fell to the bloodsoaked floor. As he held his mother and sister, he cried. Blood seeped into his clothes. It was silent in the house.
Calling the police? There was no point. They didn't visit this neighborhood. It was a no go zone for them. Cops didn't help slum rats.
With tears running down his face, he took Gummy into his arms. Sitting on the stair beside his mother…he stared at the wall. The only happiness in his life had just disappeared. His thoughts spiraled.
…
Gone.
…
He was alone.
…
He had nothing now.
…
Deep inside of his mind…something broke. The small beacon of light was swallowed by darkness. Why was he so unlucky? He wasn't the type of person who took things for granted. Every single moment with his sister. Every moment with his mother and father. They were cherished.
He didn't have anything except his family, his only motivation in life…and now they were dead. The light in his eyes dimmed. He could feel it. His happiness was fading away.
Tobi stood up and slowly walked into the kitchen. Gummy was still in his arms. He grabbed a knife…then sat down next to his father. He closed Derrick's eyes which were still wide open.
"I failed to protect you all in this life. I failed. Maybe I can do better in the next life." He spoke quietly.
He pulled back the sleeve of his left arm…and brought the blade to his wrist. Then he cut deeply. Blood gushed from his artery. Tobi didn't want to live without them. Instead…he'd join them on the other side.
As he bled out, he remembered his entire life. It played like a movie reel, one scene after the other. He took out his phone and sent one last message. It was for Tyler.
'My family is gone. Please bury them for me. I won't be able to. I'm sorry.' It read.
Time moved slowly as he grew weaker and weaker. His dark eyes were empty. They soon glazed over. He was dead.
…
…
…
The abyss. An endless darkness. Tobi floated in the void. He didn't deserve to have light. He knew this was where he'd probably remain for eternity. A disgusting afterlife. One created just for him.
'Child. You've been chosen by sorrow.' A gentle voice washed over his mind.
Just like that, he was snatched out of the darkness. His eyes fluttered open. He was still beside his father. Still holding Gummy.
As he laid there in absolute disappointment, endless sorrow flooded into his body. It wasn't just his. It was everyone's. The concept of sorrow itself. It became one with him. Completely and absolutely, happiness no longer existed for him. He couldn't help but give a sad chuckle.
"Even death rejected me."
His eyes lit up with a soft red glow. From a tiny ember in the middle of his pupil to covering his entire iris, the light grew deeper. Once it was fully set in place…it disappeared.
Tobi's dark pupils returned…but it was different. They were unfathomably deep. He looked as if he'd aged mentally by thousands of years. His senses had expanded to cover the entire city. If he wanted to…he could appear anywhere. Just like this morning. Teleportation.
Even though he'd been denied by death, he'd still lost a lot of blood. His consciousness went dark. The stench of corpses filled the run-down home.