Leo grew up in foster homes, followed by a trail of "accidents." A foster sister tripped on a misplaced marble; a kitchen fire started from a stove dial turned by a sticky, sugar-coated body. By eighteen, Leo was called "The Grim Reaper."
At twenty-four, Leo found a job at a tech firm. He felt a sliver of hope. The Gumball, hiding in Leo's bag, felt only rage. It spent its nights scouting the office, watching Leo type his passwords and observing news reports on digital predators. It didn't understand the words, but it understood the patterns of destruction.
One Friday night, the Gumball rolled onto Leo's keyboard. Jumping from key to key with its heavy, spiteful weight, it accessed the company mainframe. It planted evidence of the most unforgivable crimes imaginable. It wasn't just killing Leo's body anymore; it was executing his soul.