Chapter 1 - The First Denial
The neon lights of slices-and-subs hummed with an aggressive electrical drone, casting a harsh fluorescent glow over the sticky laminate table. Marcus chewed slowly, his thick biceps flexing beneath his dark blue t-shirt as he detached a heavy, steaming wedge of supreme pizza. Long threads of mozzarella stretched and snapped reluctantly against the cardboard box, sending up a rich aroma of garlic, oregano, and baked grease.
Standing right beside his knee, completely out of place in this neon-lit grease palace, was little Leo. The toddler was barely tall enough to rest his chin on the edge of the table, clad entirely in a vibrant red, white, and blue American flag onesie. In his tiny, slightly trembling hands, Leo held a miniature white plastic plate like a shield of desperation. He tilted his head back, his big hopeful eyes wide and shimmering with pure, unfiltered yearning.
"Can I have a little pizza?" Leo asked, his voice a soft, tremulous whisper that barely carried over the kitchen exhaust fans.
Marcus stopped chewing. He lowered the heavy slice just an inch, his jaw working methodically before he swallowed. His expression was a wall of cold, unyielding granite.
"No," Marcus said firmly, his voice dropping into a register that brook no argument. "I will not give you pizza."
Leo blinked, the hope in his wide eyes fracturing instantly into a jagged puzzle of bewilderment. He tightened his grip on the small white plate, his knuckles turning pale.
"But why?" Leo whispered, the soft vowels catching in his throat.
Marcus took another deliberate bite, the crust crunching loudly in the quiet booth. He wiped a streak of tomato sauce from his thumb with a paper napkin before locking eyes with the boy.
"Because you don't have enough likes and comments on your video," Marcus stated flatly, as if reading a corporate quarterly report.
A collective gasp echoed from the neighboring booth, where a teenager dropped his smartphone in absolute shock. Leo looked down at his tiny plate, his lower lip trembling violently as hot tears welled up and spilled over his flushed cheeks. He brought his small hands together in a desperate pleading gesture, still refusing to drop his plate.
"Please like and comment my video," Leo sobbed softly, his voice breaking as he stared up at the indifferent giant. "I love pizza very much."
Marcus didn't blink. He reached down, picked up his smartphone, turned it around, and flashed the screen directly into Leo’s tear-streaked face.
May you like
"Zero views, kid," Marcus whispered coldly. "And the timer is almost up."
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