One particularly grim Tuesday, after Mike had “accidentally” spilled a glass of orange juice on Trevor’s brand new laptop, Carol snapped. The argument started in the kitchen, then spilled into the living room, escalating with terrifying speed.

“You do this on purpose, don't you?” Carol shrieked, her face red. “You want to ruin everything!”

“They ruin everything!” Mike yelled back, his voice trembling. “They come in here and try to tell me what to do!”

“They try to bring some stability into this house! Something you clearly can't do yourself!”

Then, Carol said the words that would forever echo in Mike's mind. Words that would change everything.

“Sometimes,” she sobbed, tears streaming down her face, “sometimes I wish I’d never had you. I should have had an abortion.”

The air went still. Mike stared at his mother, his mind reeling. The words hung in the air, heavy and poisonous. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut.

He couldn't speak. He just turned and ran, slamming the door behind him. He ran until his lungs burned, until his legs ached. He didn't know where he was going, he just needed to get away.

Carol’s words replayed in his head, over and over. “I wish I'd never had you. I should have had an abortion.”

He stumbled to a park, collapsing onto a bench under a gloomy sky. The world seemed grey, lifeless. Was he really just a mistake? An unwanted burden?

A dark thought began to creep into his mind, a chilling solution to the unbearable pain. If he wasn't wanted, if he was just a problem, maybe… maybe it would be better if he wasn't here at all. The thought of disappearing, of escaping the constant turmoil, was strangely appealing.

He stared blankly at the murky pond, the water reflecting his own despair. The idea of ending it all, of simply ceasing to exist, became a dangerous, seductive whisper in his ear.

Emily arrived at the park just in time. One look at Mike and she understood everything.

“Hey,” she said, her voice filled with urgency, “You are not alone! You were born to make the world a better place!”

Like Alex, Emily had also found the website dedicated to helping teenagers. She knew she wanted to help others; it was far better than watching loved ones suffer.

“You can help those who need you,” she continued, her voice softening. “Meeting tomorrow at 6 PM in the abandoned house.”

Mike thought she was talking nonsense, but then she took his hand. Her hand was warm, filled with life. In her eyes, he saw the same vitality. Her lips… He tried to push the thought away. He just agreed to meet her at the abandoned house tomorrow.

Chapter 5: The meeting

Alex approached the abandoned building. It was 5:50 PM. His heart pounded in his chest. He tried to calm himself, muttering under his breath, “You can help those who need you.” As he got closer, he saw Mike. They used to play basketball together at their old school.

“Alex! What are you doing here?” Mike asked, surprised.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Alex replied, a little breathless. “I got a message online. It said someone needed my help and told me to come here.”

“Sounds familiar! Some strange website. Thought it was a prank at first, but… well, here I am,” Mike said, looking around nervously.

They began to question each other about how they had ended up there, until together, they started repeating the words written in the message:

“YOU ARE NOT ALONE! YOU WERE BORN TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE!”

Across from them, Emily seemed to be ignored by the others, but she was secretly observing Alex. Tall, slim, and with red hair, he was striking. Handsome, curly hair framed his face. And his eyes – a gaze full of determination to change the world. And his fingers. She involuntarily imagined those fingers touching her face, then trailing down her shoulders.

Just then, Mike introduced her to Alex.

“Alex, this is Emily. Emily, this is Alex.”

Their eyes met briefly.

“Nice to meet you,” Alex said, a slight smile playing on his lips.

“Hi,” Emily replied softly, her cheeks flushing slightly.

But Mike, oblivious to the unspoken connection, interrupted.

“Right, well, it's 6 PM now. This mysterious stranger from the website should be showing up any minute.”

The three of them started calling out, “Anybody here? Hello?”

No answer came. Only silence. The apprehension grew.

“Maybe this is a joke after all,” one of the boys said, trying to lighten the mood with a weak smile.

But then, Emily noticed an envelope. It lay on a stone. Opening it, the teenagers read,

“SHE NEEDS YOUR HELP! OR SHE WILL DIE BECAUSE OF HER DIETING.”

Below the words was a photograph of… Jessica, lying on the floor near her locker at school. Further down the page, there were detailed instructions, outlining what each of them should do and say.

“Okay, this is getting serious,” Alex said, his voice firm. “Let’s read this carefully. We need to figure out what's going on.”

Chapter 6: The game starts

The next morning, Emily arrived at school and found Jessica. Her mission was simple: befriend Jessica.

“How hard can it be?” Emily thought.

But a nagging doubt lingered. The whole situation felt odd. What was this mysterious website? How could she possibly “save” Jessica if Jessica was determined to starve herself? Emily felt she'd be better off saving her own father from his alcoholism and her mother from his abuse. Her priority was to get into university and secure a well-paid job. That was the real challenge.

Just then, Jessica stumbled out of the school building. She was unsteady on her feet, her face pale. Other students almost knocked her over as they hurried past. It looked as though even a slight breeze could have toppled her.

“Hi there,” Emily began, flashing her most genuine smile. “You look perfect!”

Jessica looked up, startled.

“I'm a photographer’s assistant,” Emily continued, smoothly reciting her pre-prepared lines. “We’re shooting a summer clothing collection for this season, and you'd be perfect. Your figure is ideal, and your face… well, all the boys will go crazy for you.”

Emily watched carefully, gauging the effect of her words. It was working. Jessica, who had looked like a ghostly apparition, was now a ghost with a faint blush on her cheeks.

“Boys will go crazy?” Jessica repeated, a glimmer of hope in her voice.

“Absolutely!” Emily affirmed. “But first, we need to grab some food. I'm as hungry as a wolf!”

Jessica hesitated. She was about to lie and say she'd already eaten, even though she hadn't had a proper meal since yesterday – or was it the day before? But Emily was insistent.

“Photoshoots are a long process,” Emily explained. “Not everyone can handle it. So, lunch first, then the shoot. And don't worry,” she added, her tone reassuring, “only healthy things. I wouldn't want to ruin my model's figure, would I?”

Jessica finally conceded. A genuine smile flickered across her lips. It was the first time Emily had seen her smile.

Chapter 7: The cafe

Emily and Jessica sat at a small table in “The Corner Café,” a popular spot known for its strong coffee and even stronger gossip. The aroma of freshly baked scones and frying bacon hung heavy in the air. Emily, with her bright blonde hair and easy smile, was, as usual, attracting attention. A group of teenage boys near the window kept glancing their way, nudging each other and whispering. Every glance was directed at Emily; none even registered Jessica's presence.

A wave of self-loathing washed over Jessica. She felt invisible, undesirable.

“I want to leave,” she muttered to herself, her voice barely a whisper. “I hate myself. I need to lose weight. Why did I even come here? The smell of food is making me feel sick.”

Emily, who missed the exact words, but noticed Jessica's paling complexion, frowned.

“Jess, are you alright? You look a bit green.”

Jessica forced a smile, a pathetic attempt to mask her inner turmoil.

“I’m fine, just… not really hungry.”

According to the script they had, the next character to arrive was Mike. He was already running late. Emily racked her brain, trying to fill the awkward silence and boost Jessica's deflated spirits.

“Listen,” Emily began, leaning forward conspiratorially. “You know that skirt for the photosession… This one with the flowers. With your amazing legs, you would look absolutely stunning. And that red top – the one that really shows off your figure? Pair those together, and honestly, those lads over there would be falling over themselves to ask for your number. You’d have a queue of admirers!” Emily cringed inwardly. She knew it sounded cheesy, but she was desperate.

Before Jessica could respond, the bell above the door jingled, announcing Mike’s arrival.

“Sorry I’m late, girls!” Mike breezed in, his dark hair slightly tousled. He planted a quick kiss on Emily’s cheek, per the script. She almost recoiled instinctively, but reminded herself that it was all part of the plan.

“So, Em, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Mike asked, smoothly turning his attention to Jessica. Without waiting for Emily to say anything, he extended his hand.

“Hi, I’m Mike. You look… incredible. You must have a huge portfolio of photoshoots; you’ve got that “model” vibe.”

Jessica was stunned into silence. She didn’t know what to say. Her cheeks flushed, but for the first time that afternoon, a glimmer of something other than self-disgust flickered in her eyes. She no longer felt the urge to bolt from the café.

“Right, girls,” Mike continued, clapping his hands together. “Let’s eat and then head over to the studio. I’m still a bit of a novice photographer, but I’ve got a couple of shoots lined up today.”

The waitress arrived with their order: a grilled chicken breast and a green salad for Jessica and Emily, and a large plate of chips for Mike. Jessica found herself unable to take her eyes off the food. The previously nauseating smell now seemed incredibly appealing. She cautiously picked up her fork, but as she attempted to stand, a wave of dizziness washed over her. She stumbled, and the next thing she knew, she was falling – directly into the arms of a young man walking past their table.

“Oi!” he exclaimed, steadying her. “If all the beautiful ladies are going to be falling at my feet today, I might just have the best day ever!”

His playful tirade was cut short by a familiar voice.

“Jessica!” Mrs. Davison, their history teacher, stood nearby, a warm smile on her face. “Jessica, dear, you look wonderful! I’m so pleased to see you eating something healthy. It’s doing you good, and it seems you’re acquiring a few admirers too!” she winked knowingly.

Jessica, mortified but secretly pleased, managed a weak smile. She retreated back to her chair and began to eat, her appetite surprisingly robust. Maybe, just maybe, this afternoon wouldn't be a complete disaster after all.