The Price of Shadows

Chapter 1: Why Not?

Liam sat on the school steps, his arms crossed, glaring at the three kids walking across the playground. They weren't just any kids—they were the three kids who seemed to have everything he wanted.

First, there was Evan, the richest kid in school. Everyone knew his parents were loaded. Evan wore the best clothes, had the latest gadgets, and never seemed to worry about anything. Liam couldn't stop thinking about how easy Evan's life seemed—he could buy whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.

Then there was Zane, the star athlete. Zane was tall, fast, and strong. He excelled at every sport, winning trophies and medals like it was no big deal. Liam couldn't even run to the end of the block without getting out of breath, but Zane? Zane made it all look effortless. Every time there was a race or a game, Zane was at the center of it, celebrated and cheered on by everyone.

And finally, there was Sophia, the smartest kid in the class. She got straight A's without even trying. Teachers loved her. She answered every question before anyone else had the chance to think. Liam hated how easily things came to her. She didn't need to study for hours like he did. She just...knew everything.

Liam fumed as he watched the three of them laughing, talking, and being their perfect selves. They weren't friends or anything—Evan, Zane, and Sophia didn't even hang out together. But to Liam, they represented everything that was wrong with his life. Why did they get to have it all? It wasn't fair.

"Hey, Liam!" a voice interrupted his thoughts. It was Ben, his best friend. "You alright? You've been staring at them all day."

Liam shrugged. "Why wouldn't I be alright?"

Ben looked at him curiously. "I don't know. You look kind of...mad?"

Liam didn't answer. Instead, his eyes followed Evan as he pulled out his phone—the newest model, of course. Zane kicked a soccer ball, and Sophia was flipping through a book that was probably ten years too advanced for their grade.

Ben followed his gaze. "You jealous of them?"

Liam's face tightened, but he didn't deny it. "So what if I am?"

"Well," Ben said slowly, "you can't be all three of them. I mean, no one can be the richest, the best athlete, and the smartest at the same time."

Liam shot Ben a look. "Why not?"

Ben blinked, surprised. "Uh, because it's impossible?"

"Nothing's impossible," Liam snapped. "I want to be the richest, the fastest, and the smartest. And I want it now. Why should I have to choose?"

Ben sighed, rubbing his forehead. "My dad says you have to work hard to get anywhere in life. He says shortcuts don't work. Mom says the same thing."

"There you go again," Liam interrupted, rolling his eyes. "Work hard, work hard—everyone says the same thing. Why does it always have to be so hard? Why can't I just have it all, and fast?"

Ben didn't know what to say to that. He shrugged and wandered off, leaving Liam alone with his thoughts.

Liam kicked at a pebble, frustrated. Why couldn't things just come easily for once? Every time he tried to get ahead, it seemed like someone else already had it better. And the worst part was, they didn't even have to try! They were just...born lucky. Evan was rich because of his parents. Zane was born with muscles and speed. Sophia had a brain that worked like a computer. But Liam? He was just stuck, stuck with nothing.

When Liam got home, the smell of spaghetti filled the house. His mom was at the stove, stirring the sauce, while his dad set the table.

"Hey, sport," his dad greeted, smiling. "Rough day?"

Liam shrugged, dumping his backpack by the door. "I guess."

His mom glanced over her shoulder. "Dinner's almost ready. Wash up."

Liam dragged his feet to the bathroom, trying to shake off his sour mood, but the conversation with Ben stuck with him. By the time he sat down at the dinner table, his frustration boiled over.

"Evan's got a new phone," Liam grumbled, stabbing at his spaghetti.

"Oh?" his mom asked, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't that the third one this year?"

"Yeah," Liam said, his fork clanking against the plate. "It's not fair. He gets everything."

His dad exchanged a glance with his mom before turning back to Liam. "You know, Liam, sometimes it seems like people have it all, but you don't always see what's going on beneath the surface."

Liam scoffed. "Yeah, well, all I know is he's got money, Zane's the best at sports, and Sophia's a genius. And I'm just...me."

"You don't need to be all of them," his mom said gently. "You're you, and that's more than enough."

"But why can't I be all three?" Liam asked, his voice rising. "Why does it have to be so hard? Why can't I just get what I want without waiting forever?"

His dad sighed. "There are no shortcuts, son. Everything worth having takes time and effort. We've all got to work for it."

"That's what Ben said his parents told him too," Liam muttered under his breath, frustrated.

The conversation fizzled out after that, and Liam sat in silence while his family finished dinner. Afterward, they gathered around the TV, sharing a tub of ice cream. The cozy scene should've been enough to make Liam feel better, but he couldn't focus. All he could think about was what he didn't have, what he was missing. The riches, the fame, the smarts—it haunted him, even as he sat surrounded by his family.

"Liam, look!" His little sister Ella came bounding into the living room, clutching one of her drawings. "I made this today."

Liam forced a smile, but he barely glanced at it. "That's nice, Ella."

His mom took a closer look at the drawing, smiling warmly. "Look at that, Liam. She drew you in a spaceship."

"Yeah," Ella beamed, "you're the astronaut!"

Liam's parents chuckled, admiring the drawing, but all Liam could feel was a knot tightening in his chest. Why couldn't he feel good about this? Why wasn't it enough?

He mumbled something and excused himself to his room, leaving Ella holding her drawing, her smile faltering.

Later that night, as Liam lay in bed, he stared at the ceiling, his mind still racing. The warmth of the evening, the laughter of his family, even his sister's drawing—it all felt distant, like it wasn't enough to fill the hole inside him.

And that's when he noticed it.

Out of the corner of his eye, through the curtains, a faint glow. He sat up in bed, squinting. The glow was coming from the alley behind his house—soft, strange, and almost...enchanting.

Curiosity tugged at him, and he got up, moving closer to the window. He wanted to go see what it was, but it was too late—his parents would never let him leave the house at this hour.

But the glow was pulling him. He couldn't look away. He tossed and turned, trying to fall asleep, but the strange light seemed to be calling to him.

Finally, he made up his mind.

Carefully, quietly, he slipped out of bed, tiptoeing across the room. His heart pounded as he cracked open the window and climbed out into the cool night air. The glow was stronger now, brighter. It pulled him toward the alley.

Without another thought, Liam sneaked out into the night, the strange glow leading the way.