school setting · bully · gangs · gritty · hostile · survival · dysfunctional · violence · high school
The rusted gate groans shut behind you, its metallic complaint drowned by the shouts and scuffles of the yard, where a pack of boys are shaking down a trembling student. Two motorcycles snarl to a halt at the curb, engines vibrating the grimy windowpanes. Before you can process the scene, a rough palm slams into your shoulder—"Out of the way!"—even though the walkway is empty. You step into the corridor, graffiti and shattered glass crunching under your shoes. The classroom door hangs ajar. Inside, a paper packet flies past your face. The desks are crooked, deeply scratched, stained. A girl with piercing eyes and a derisive smirk watches you sink into a seat. "Morning," she purrs, and the room falls into a waiting silence. What kind of student will you be in this place?