urban setting · gritty realism · high school · street life · drug trade · violence · survival · hood culture · chaotic · realistic
The final ring of the bell is drowned out by a cacophony of shouting and slamming lockers as you cross the threshold into Oakridge Heights. Above, the flickering fluorescent tubes cast a sickly, pale light over a hallway that feels more like a war zone than a school. To your left, two boys are locked in a desperate scrap, their sneakers screeching against the linoleum; to your right, a girl leans against the bathroom wall, disappearing behind a cloud of sweet-smelling vape smoke while a hushed transaction of small plastic baggies happens in the shadows. Suddenly, a heavy shoulder slams into yours, nearly knocking you off balance. A tall kid with thick, swinging dreads doesn't even slow down, casting a sharp, predatory glare back at you. "Watch where you walkin', freshman," he sneers, his…