"What exactly is pain?"
Such a strange question is rarely asked. Many have felt pain. However, fewer people choose to show it.
I'm one of those people.
I'm the one they call Expressionless, Emotionless, Thoughtless.
Sure, I might be a bit cold.
But instead, you can call me Hugo.

I opened my eyes and shot off my pillow, gasping for air.

"Another bad dream.." I huffed in displeasure. For a while now, I've been having a streak of nightmares each night, up to the point where I procrastinated sleeping altogether.
I glanced at the window.
"Still dark outside. Go figure." I gave a deep sigh and got out of bed. There was no way I was going to stay in bed and go back to sleep.
Not after what I had just witnessed.

I flipped the light switch and the bathroom light turned on, blinding me for a moment. I looked into the mirror and noticed how terrible I looked. My eyes were red with small bags underneath and my hair was all messed up from the tossing and turning I must've been doing in my sleep. I rubbed my eyes and pulled my phone out to check the time. It would be time to go to school shortly. Sure enough, it was merely 5am. I'm supposed to wake up at about six, so this was only an extra hour to get ready. I headed over to my desk and pulled out my Splattershot. This was a type of gun we used in turf wars, where we would shoot colored ink at each other. It really sounded stupid at first, that is, until I joined the team at school. That's right. I'm no human. I'm part of the species they call "Inklings." Ever since the humans were wiped out thousands of years ago, we have evolved due to radiation that had come in contact with the Earth.

"That's how we gained our title as Master Race," I thought out loud. "Maybe I have been paying attention in History after all." I smirked. Suddenly, my phone began to ring. "Who's calling at this time in the morning?" I thought. I decided to answer anyway.
"Hello?" I said.

"..Just who do you think you are?" A raspy voice echoed from the phone.
My heart skipped a beat.
"Wh.. Who is this?" I shuddered.

"Answer the damned question- Just who do you think you are!?" The voice screeched. I choked back a tear, wondering what was happening to me.
"I-I'm a Highschool student.. Sir..." I managed to spit out. For a moment, there was no reply.

"... Do you take me as a fool?" The voice growled in rage.
"N-no sir, I don't know who you are!"
I screeched. "What am I saying?!" My panicked thoughts grew abundant.

"I know who you are.. I know WHAT you are.." The voice began clipping- as if the phone was losing signal.
"I-I'm innocent? ...Sir I don't-"

"It's MA'AM." The voice suddenly became more high-pitched and feminine.
"You're a girl?" I asked, taken by surprised.

"The signal down here is horrible, I-... Oh right. You're here.." The voice snarled. "Like you'd care about what I have to say," The voice lowered.
"That's not true!" I began to say. I then decided not to add anything more.

"Yes it is.. Ever since that war I've been stuck down here lonely, away from the surface, and away from the light. You wanna know how I know your number, kid?" The voice snarled.
"Wha- Yes! Yes I do!" I shivered. How did she get my number anyway?
"Tsk, too bad. You'll never find out." The voice rasped.
"Huh? That's not fair! It's my number, I should know how and why you-"

"Look, loser. Think about how I feel. We Octolings were here first, and somehow we lost the great turf war. How dare you have so much pride and confidence that we won't get our turf back! We are stronger than you think!"
"... I'm hanging up now, I have to get going. Bye." I said, and hung up the phone. A few seconds later, she called again. But there was no way I was going to pick up. I threw the phone into my backpack and ran into the bathroom to fix my hair. I brushed my teeth and splashed a little water on my face to wake me up.
Afterwards, I went back into my room and changed into my normal gear, ready for whatever school throws at me. I checked my phone once more, and it was spammed with missed calls and such, so I cut it off until lunch, when I usually get to use it at school.

"As a freshman, my work is small in big amounts as of now, but I know it'll get worse later this year.
I know it will."