Leon and Mila knew for sure that something was bothering their son immensely when they found him home so early in the day. Both tried to cheer the little ghost up, however failed. Fortunately, they were able to have some key information given to them through what they could manage to have their son explain. The news did not make the couple any bit happy with Nox's school one bit. They tried their hardest to have things straightened out.
The principal didn't believe that two children would be able to mercilessly harm one of their own age in front of an entire class without any of them bringing up the event to any of their teachers. Only one of the staff members knew of what had occurred, but had no say in the matter for having a very minor role in the school's daily schedule. Seeing that the topic of bullying was also mentioned on that day, they found it impossible for a student to commit such an act, for those kinds of things would be on high maintenance.
Since Nox broke a very important rule, he was to be suspended. The suspension didn't last too long, however, the child refused to go back to school after the traumatizing event of being beaten down for no apparent reason. This led his parents into taking him into homeschooling until he was ready to go back to regular school. Life had been mostly indoors for at least five years for the child, who had grown up through his father's self-defense lessons, which had been of high importance if Nox were to face any bullies ever again.
Once going through evolution to become a powerful dusclops, his confidence boosted to higher levels. Finally, the oddly colored ghost would be able to go back to school once more and receive the education he required from knowledgeable teachers at Dreadfield. No longer was Nox a kid anymore. He had matured into a fine dusclops, capable of taking on whoever opposed his presence.
...At least, that is what he thought.
Nox wasn't the only one to mature. Enzo had evolved into a haunter, which made him stronger than ever. Kamran didn't have the ability to evolve, nor had the need to. When Nox came back, they were ready for him.
After so many years of security and isolation, Nox couldn't take any more beatings. The nasty duo were as dastardly as ever and made sure that his life would be miserable while in the educational facility. A horribly strong and terrifying feeling started to grow in the dusclops's heart. No one knew the consequences of his rage...
The shadow of the mummy Pokémon cast onto the door of his home. He coughed, his sides aching and his head throbbing from the harsh treatment he was given by Enzo and Kamran. His breaths were coarse and full of hatred to those who have caused him misery over the past years. Slowly, he reached his shaking hand over to the knob, turning it and entering. Immediately, his parents turned to greet him... only to find a nasty sight.
"Oh, Nox! What happened to you?" Mila questioned, quickly floating over to her son's side.
She examined him closely, finding the damage to the bullying far worse than before. His eye was black on the underside and there were slight bruises apparent on his legs. His hands were cut and blotched with dry ectoplasm. "Come here, let us fix you up."
Nox stiffened. "That's all you ever do, mother. Why can't you contact the school and stop this...?"
His mother stared down at him with concern in her eye. "I wish I could, but I've already tried... There's no proof."
"What about my wounds? Shouldn't that be enough?..."
She sighed, pulling him over to his father, who had already brought the first aid kit.
"We've tried that... Now hold still, that needs to be cleaned up."
Nox grunted, letting Mila and Leon fix him to the best of their abilities.
The bruises were tended to with medication and his wounds were wiped clean of any spillage which could infect the open flesh. His father look out a roll of bandages and began to wrap them around his hands.
"Maybe the best thing for you to do is avoid those boys. I would suggest fighting back because of your training over the past years... But seeing what happened last time, it probably isn't a good idea." Leon suggested as he finished bandaging the cuts. His son simply pulled himself away after that statement.
"It doesn't help. They always find me." He narrowed his eye slightly. "You both aren't trying hard enough... Do you know how much that hurts?"
"Son, we've been trying..." Leon edged closer. "Please don't be like this. We care about you, truly."
"Your father is right, dear. We don't like to see you suffer..." Mila added.
Both parents stood close to their only child, staring down and wondering why his behavior has been different compared to the shy, reserved child he was back then. A dark chuckle came from the dusclops, who simply stared at the floor.
"Is that so...?" He continued to laugh uncontrollably, which made his parents stare nervously at him in intimidation. When he finished, he took a breath in order to speak his final words to his parents. "...All you've been telling me were absolute lies."
His laughter echoed into the skies as the screaming of his kin rang throughout the area.
The sink was used one last time to remove the evidence of the murder, in which he left his house casually, being sure to lock the door and close it behind him.
"Time to visit my little 'friends.'..." He smirked, starting to make his way to the school.
"Nox, where do you think you're going?"
Hiding his surprise, Nox turned to find one of his teachers addressing him. A cofagrigus floated there, looking rather puzzled.
"I'm just out for a walk, nothing more." He replied, hands draped at his sides.
"What about your parents...?" Mr. Hapu asked. "Where are they?"
"Ah, inside. They've been overworked today, so they're sleeping in early. Mother had to guide more souls than usual, and Father had been writing constantly without sleep for two days. They need this, so you mustn't disturb them."
"I see... Alright." The sarcophagus sighed, turning and heading back home for a little while until he had another shift at the school to take care of.
Nox continued on his way, laughing quietly to himself about how easy it was to trick such an intelligent teacher.
"Oh, yes, they're sleeping..." He held his hands behind his back as he strolled through the shaded land, grinning and now feeling his anger boiling.
"They're sleeping...like the dead."