Imagine you're going to school where your family graduated, and you kinda know what can happen there, and this includes very anti-introvert space, but you think you can work with that.
Your grandparents left you and your Mom before enormous wooden doors and you noticed a very thick fog around grey walls. But you already came here, so you couldn't really escape now, despite your instincts telling you to run from here.
Your Mom was really excited to show you her favourite thing from school time -- The Playground.
She walked there full of confidence and joy, while you were on high alert all the time.
There was a game. It looked like the word "sport" fused with everything it means. Players were in costumes for American football, throwing baseball ball alongside a hockey match going right in the middle and truck runners doing crazy laps (or just running however they wanted, but in repetitive shapes?) and something you weren't sure how to call it.
Coach saw you. He immediately made you join a game you didn't know how to play, but you were "the best player" and you were now obligated to play all the time.
Your Mom was sooo proud of you! You weren't happy about your situation, but you swallowed your annoyance and took your stuff to your dorm made from dark wood, just like most things here.
There wasn't too much to do, so the day of "The Game" came really fast. Too fast. It was basically the next day, and this raised your suspicions. This place was somehow sick, but you couldn't figure out why.
You came to the game. For some reason, sun rays showed up through fog, that was like walls around the court. The Playground looked almost friendly, just like everyone else. This felt like a trap, but social pressure (and gaslighting) were really effective and you started playing.
Everyone started congratulating you, smiling, welcoming you and all the sports team hugged you really tight. People in the stands started applauding. Everything was trying to make you feel special and safe.
You were still anxious and suspicious and didn't believe in the propaganda of teachers, students and safety of this place. It was S I C K . And you started to think it was a hive mind.
The next day your Mom woke you up. When you opened you eyes you saw her grin.
Bullet pierced your right knee and landed in your mouth.
She was standing there with a gun in her hand, looking like a psycho. Looking like everyone in this building. Except you.
- happy winning, [ my child ]!
- That's a tradition here! A win costs a leg! Great school, right kiddo?!
You took the bullet from your mouth. It was cylinder shaped. Your knee hurts, your leg is devastated, but the biggest pain here is in your heart. You knew you should run away. Now you can't run anywhere.
Your Mom left you still laughing. She probably thought it was an amazing tradition. You wonder if it's from jealousy in some way. Or punishment for staying true to yourself.
You teleported to the room where your family was gathering for all celebrations. Most of your family was here - grandparents, parents, cousins, uncles and aunts.
- this school is sick. This tradition hurt me. I'm basically disabled. I'm quitting.
Everyone looked at you like a mad man. Some smirked, grinned or simply ignored you when you opened your mouth.
You came to everyone to properly shake hands as goodbye. You wondered why there was a Michael Jackson family member who looked as confused and unwilling to stay here as you, but eh. You have a big family, so it wasn't that surprising.
You tried to have justice. You tried to change this school for some time. But you were still treated like a joke. You gave up.
You left from there with a broken leg, heart and a lot of scars. And then you woke up.
