"Imaginary friends were created from the minds of children. They were filled with love and care but always ended up at the bottom of the barrel—unloved and unwanted. But what happens when they’re abandoned?"

The screen flashed to another title card: "THE NEXT DAY."

Magjic woke up inside the small cardboard box he had found.

"I-it still hurts," he mumbled, rubbing his bruises. "Why didn’t anyone help me? Why do they all fear me? I don’t know… but there’s still hope. I have to believe. He’ll come back. He’s just busy, that’s all. He hasn’t forgotten me."

He wrapped his tiny arms around himself. "I wish I had something warm."

Determined, Magjic crept out of the alleyway in search of something to cover himself with. That’s when he spotted it—a lone towel lying on the street.

"I-I just have to be careful not to be seen," he whispered to himself.

He moved cautiously, but his presence didn’t go unnoticed.

A woman’s scream shattered the silence.

Others gathered, staring at Magjic with expressions of shock and fear.

A man shouted, "What the fuck is that?!"

Panic surged through Magjic’s tiny body. He grabbed the towel and fled, desperate to hide.

The police arrived minutes later.

"I swear, I saw something!" the woman insisted, frantically explaining what she had witnessed.

Magjic, trembling, scurried back into the alley, burying himself in the box under the blanket.

Flashlights flickered against the walls as the cops searched the alleyway.

"He’s huddled in the box, shaking," I realized as I watched the tape. "He’s terrified."

One officer sighed. "There’s nothing here but garbage and a cardboard box."

They didn’t even check inside.

The woman looked frustrated. "I know what I saw!"

Another officer muttered, "You don’t think that thing was an imaginary friend?"

"If it was, we would’ve shot it on sight," the first officer responded coldly. "Those things nearly destroyed us. I killed a couple of them myself, but somehow, they keep coming back. Damn things are like wild animals. I once saw one rip a person in half."

"Christ," the other cop muttered.

The conversation faded out as the screen returned to Magjic, curled up in his hiding place.

"That was close," Magjic whispered. "If they found me, they would have arrested me… and then my friend might think I’m a criminal. He wouldn’t want to be my friend anymore. I don’t want that. I don’t ever want that."

Time passed from afternoon to nightfall.

But as darkness fell, so did the bullies.

The leader smirked as he stepped forward. "Still in that same spot, huh? I guess you missed us. But don’t worry—you won’t be around much longer."

Magjic didn’t move. He simply cowered against the wall.

"I-I know my friend still cares," he whispered. "He’ll come back. I know he will."

The leader scoffed. "You really believe that?"

A cruel smile spread across his face.

"Frank," he called.

The muscular teen stepped forward.

"Break him.”

A time card on the screen says, "MONTAGE OVER THE NEXT YEAR."

This section was a montage of what happened to Magjic over the years. It was unsettling and somewhat graphic. It mainly showed Magjic being assaulted countless times and treated like a worthless speck. People would hurl cruel phrases at him, saying, "You don’t have a reason to live. You should just kill yourself. I would if I looked like you. It doesn’t matter how hard you try; you’ll never get any redemption. All of you are monsters."

At times, random people threw trash at him, sprayed water and other chemicals in his face, and continued to torment him. It seemed imaginary friends were far more hated than I had imagined.

The montage continued until it froze on another title card: "A SLIGHT PIECE OF HOPE."

It then transitioned to a different scene, showing another encounter with the bullies.

"Hey John, this guy isn’t as fun to mess around with anymore."

(John was the leader of the group.)

"Yeah, this little shithead isn’t as entertaining as he used to be. Carl, have you gotten that phone call yet?"

(Carl was the ordinary-looking teen in the group.)

"Oh shit, I forgot to tell you! We got a contract for a band!"

"For real?"

"Yep! We’re gonna be so famous, dude. We’re gonna skyrocket. My mom is gonna be so proud of me."

"Damn, guess our hard work is finally paying off. Crazy how far we’ve come. Frank, how do you feel about this?"

"Same as you guys," Frank replied.

"I’m gonna pick up like twenty girls," Carl bragged.

"No fucking way you will," John scoffed. "I’m gonna get as many as I can."

While they talked about their bright future, Magjic sat silently, staring at the ground, looking utterly defeated.

The life that had once filled him was now withering away as he listened to their talk of hope and success.

"Let’s not waste any more time on this piece of crap," John finally said. "We have a long road ahead of us. I think we should celebrate."

With that, they all walked away, leaving Magjic alone in his somber state.

He placed his hands over his face and began to cry softly, his sniffles muffled by his hands.

"No one… sniff …cares or loves me," he whispered between sobs. "He really did leave me here to die, didn’t he? I… I just want someone to help me."

Suddenly, a sound broke through his sorrow.

"Bark! Bark!"

Magjic lifted his head, startled. The barking came from a small puppy standing beside him.

"Oh… hello. What are you doing here?"

The puppy wagged its tail, looking happy to see him.

"Are you lost? Did someone abandon you too? You don’t have a collar, so maybe you don’t have a home either."

Magjic tilted his head in thought.

"I don’t know if you’re a boy or a girl, but I think I have the perfect name for you. What if I call you Pip? Do you like that name?"

The puppy barked again, wagging its tail even faster, seemingly in agreement.

Magjic smiled for the first time in what felt like forever.

"Glad you like it. Would you like to be my friend? I don’t really have anyone to talk to… or anyone to play with."

Pip jumped up excitedly, licking Magjic’s face, making him laugh profusely.

"I’m glad we’re friends, Pip. This will be a good start to our friendship.”

The scene ended with another title card saying, "A BEGINNING TO AN END."

A short montage followed, showing Magjic spending time with his new friend. Some days, they simply relaxed, and Magjic eagerly shared the many ideas that filled his mind. On colder nights, he shared his blanket with Pip to keep them both from suffering frostbite. Other times, they would sneak through the streets, searching for food. If Magjic found anything, he always gave it to Pip first.

The bullies still appeared from time to time. Whenever they did, Magjic did everything he could to hide Pip, not wanting him to get caught in their cruel games.

The montage continued until it arrived at that fateful day—the day that ended a friendship and shattered Magjic’s sanity.

The bullies had returned after a long absence. They were older now, taller, and carried themselves with an air of dominance. But something was different this time. John, their leader, was holding a firearm.

“Long time no see, you little shit,” John sneered. “I’ve had fun beating around the bush, but I’m not gonna half-ass things this time. Your very existence is a stain on my eyes. I can’t just stand around while you’re still here.”

“Get away! You will get your karma! There will be punishment for you!” Magjic shouted, his voice trembling.

John laughed mockingly. “Yeah, yeah, keep spilling out your bullshit, faggot. Come on now, do you really think karma exists? Oh, oh, do you think jinxes and miracles exist too?” He shook his head slightly before continuing. “I’ve given you plenty of chances to leave, haven’t I? I don’t even understand what the hell you think you’re gonna accomplish by standing here. You know everyone hates your kind, right? So, for once, just stay put and stop trying to piss me off.”

“John, I think he hasn’t quite learned his lesson yet.”

“I’d be surprised if they could learn anything, given how fucking retarded they are,” another bully added with a smirk.

John fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a knife.

Magjic’s body tensed as he backed up against the wall, his breath quickening.

“S-St… stop.” His entire body trembled with fear.

John took a step forward, his eyes burning with malice. Then, without warning, he lunged.

The knife slashed across Magjic’s eye.

A sharp, agonized scream echoed through the alley as he collapsed, clutching his face. Blood poured from his wound, seeping through his fingers as his cries turned into frantic, gasping wails of pain.

John towered over him, his expression filled with disgust.

“You pieces of shit have roamed this earth far longer than you have any right to. You’ve killed so many of us. You murdered my fucking dad. I’m so tired of this innocent act you keep pulling. You’re nothing but a demon. That’s all imaginary friends are—useless piles of horseshit that deserve no love or care.”

Then, just like that, they were gone.

The bullies fled, leaving Magjic behind in the alley, writhing in anguish and severe distress. His mind faded into nothingness as the pain consumed him.

The scene faded to black.

"One last scene for our show."

At this point, my mind was utterly numb. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t react. I could only listen and stare blankly at the ground.