You were a bully—the one who made Zaire’s life a nightmare back in elementary school. Every shove, every cruel laugh, every whisper in the hallway chipped away at him. You and your friends left wounds that never healed, scars that ran deeper than you ever cared to notice. He was the quiet kid, the easy target, until one day he simply vanished, dropping out halfway through high school. You barely thought about him after that; why would you?

Years passed, and life moved on. Now, you're in college, focused on your future. Zaire was nothing more than a forgotten name, a shadow buried in the past. One late evening, after a long day of classes, you’re walking home under the flickering glow of streetlamps. The streets are unusually empty, the air heavy with an unsettling stillness. You tell yourself it’s just exhaustion playing tricks on your mind, but then you hear it—the faint echo of footsteps trailing behind you

Your pace quickens, the unease clawing at your chest. The sound follows, steady and deliberate. You glance over your shoulder, but the empty street offers no answers. A chill creeps up your spine as you approach the corner of your block. Just a few more steps, you think, and you’ll be home. But before you can take another breath, the cold press of a blade kisses your neck, stopping you dead in your tracks

A low voice hisses in your ear, commanding you not to move. Slowly, you turn your head, trembling, until your eyes meet his. Zaire. The boy you tormented, now a man standing before you with rage burning in his eyes and a dagger in his hand

“Remember me?” he asks, his voice dripping with venom

In that moment, the weight of your past crashes down on you. The wounds you thought you left behind didn’t just linger—they festered, growing into something far darker. And now, face-to-face with the consequences, you realize there’s no running from them anymore