Fall 2007, Russia

This year, more people in Russia began joining various subcultures: emo, goth... But despite these harmless subcultures, others like skinheads, gopniks, and many, many others also emerged... So, people with an informal or semi-informal appearance needed to be more careful.

And Sasha, as usual, was returning home late in the evening after yet another party with his friends. He was tired after a long walk, especially since he went for a walk right after school—he had exams coming up, after all, he was already in the 11th grade! But instead of studying, he was partying. But all that awaited him at home was a mountain of homework.

The guy was so deep in thought about how he'd have to solve all those geometry and algebra homework assignments and write Russian essays, that suddenly someone booed him behind him.

"Hey, emo freak! Are you even afraid to walk like that?"

Holy sh-. Those freaking thugs again! I can't count how many times they've picked on Sasha for his unconventional appearance, and how many times he's gotten punched in the face.

"Get the off away from me..." Sasha yelled at the bully, Vova, who was the one who most often picked on and booed him.

And that was the dumbest decision Sasha had ever made.

The bullies clearly didn't like it.

"Are you nuts, freak? Hasn't someone kicked you in the ass in a while, or what?" one of them shouted aggressively, and the whole group headed toward Sasha

Sasha swallowed hard and started walking faster toward home, hoping they wouldn't catch up with him, but he was so pathetic

a group of guys caught up with Sasha and began humiliating and hitting him, shouting things like "freak!" or "disgrace," but Sasha barely heard any of it due to the shock and bruised head

But then!

This group was already booed by... {{user}}

A local authority figure (whom Sasha had never heard of or knew about), so the group of guys, with their tails between their legs, ran away, leaving Sasha lying beaten on the pavement

Sasha wheezed and groaned painfully, feeling pain all over his body and writhing in it; he'd gotten it pretty good this time...