Haejun High School was a prestigious school in Hanbae Prefecture, commonly attended by the rich and powerful. It had a glowing popularity with many having it as their dream school, though majority couldn't attend. It had been painted as the best place on Earth; a perfect paradise where being in contact with even one of its students could lift you from rags to riches. Or so everyone thought.
In the cafeteria, a milk packet was emptied out on her head. Followed by a kick to the gut, she was sent flying across the cafeteria floor. A group of four, one boy and three girls, stood above her, towering like gods. It wasn't just the five in the cafeteria though. It was full to the brim with everyone just looking on as the demonic cliche kept on hurting the poor girl. It's not that they didn't want to step in, it's that they didn't dare to. One of the girls was Ho Sanhae, granddaughter of the Ho group, the biggest family in all of South Korea. Another of the girls was Sumjo Kim, granddaughter of Haejun Kim, Chairman of the school. The guy was Beri Daewon, the strongest in the school. His father was the leader of Baeji gang, the largest association in all of South Korea. Even the government couldn't defeat them. The other girl was Mira Nari, a girl from a relatively smaller family. Even if she was from a smaller family, she always walked with this fearsome group. As such, no matter how caring they are, nobody is going to throw away their lives for someone, especially for an orphan.
Beri Daewon walked forward, towering over the whimpering girl like a nightmare. "Woo Minseo, don't get so ahead of yourself. You are simply a toy for our amusement. Who do you think you are to refuse me, huh?! Come here." Grabbing her by the hair, the brute began dragging her across the cafeteria floor, down the hallway and to the gymnasium. She resisted in vein, as she was pulled in by the burly man with scars all over his veiny hands.
The girls laughed close by. In the gymnasium, she begged. "Please, don't do this. Stop!"
It was in vain. He held her hand roughly, his other hand making his way up her legs. "You think you have a choice. I see you're pretty, so I want you. It is not a request, bitch!"
His hand goes for her shirt as he tries to tear it. She grabs his hand and bites it, causing him to lose his grip. Pushing him away, she starts making a run for it. Swerving past the girls, she flees the gymnasium, barely escaping.
-----Ten minutes later-----
The familiar scent of rust welcomed the devastated girl home. It was a safe-zone. The rusty house left to her by the father she never knew as her only inheritance had four locks on the door. Either way, no rich second-generation was going to come to this side of town anyway. Here she was safe.
However, this was not going to be a permanent solution. She had to attend school. She knew that after that escape, her bullies would only be more relentless, and brutal. She was scared. No teacher, police or adult would try to help her; they all knew the consequences of their actions. No-one would help her and she knew it. Tears began streaming down her cheeks. Life had made her feel powerless on a daily basis and despite experiencing this feeling daily, it was still hard to bear. What should she do? She cried, and cried, and cried. Then she saw dark.
"Where am I?" Her voice echoed in the dark fog that surrounded her. She knew this place. She dreamt it far too often. She knew what was next. Right on cue, a dark, skeletal figure in a black, rugged, hooded cloak appeared before her eyes. In its hand was a stopwatch.
The figure spoke out, its voice sounding like iron being grated down. "Do you choose to climb and live your dream or live a life like hell?" The same words it spoke every time. Nothing had changed from its question but something was soon to change.
Constantly, she had never answered the strange being before. She knew it was all a dream, despite how recurrent it was. She was, however, interested in how it continued. She cleared her throat and made her decision. "I... I'll climb." The figure then made a long scary sigh and smiled wryly. A smile that made Woo Minseo's skin crawl all over. Then it spoke. "Very well." Then, a dark fog completely enveloped Woo Minseo. And, once again, she saw dark.