Everyone winced as Slive writhed on the floor, his screams piercing through the air. He clutched his hand, staring wide-eyed at the bent, disfigured finger.
"Ahhh! My finger, my finger!" Slive wailed.
Joe, sitting just a few desks away, felt a twinge of sympathy. He knew that pain all too well, it was sharper, deeper than the others could imagine. It was the kind of pain that left a mark, not just on the body but in the mind. And it was something he never wanted to experience again.
Eventually, Slive's shrieking became unbearable, and Max snapped. He lifted his foot, and without hesitation, swung it. His shoe struck Slive clean across the face, sending his head skidding along the floor.
The room went dead silent.
A few students jolted up from their seats, instinctively stepping back, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Did Max just… do that?"
"I think he finally lost it."
"Yeah, I've seen it happen before… Sometimes, they just break under the pressure and lash out."
