LOGINThe final bell of the day usually felt like a victory, but for Ethan, it sounded like a death toll. He walked toward the school exit, his stomach tied in knots. He had no idea how he was going to face Damien, let alone ask the man to tutor him. It felt like crawling back to a lion and asking it to teach you how to hunt. As he stepped out into the parking lot, the familiar black sedan was already idling at the curb. He didn't even look at the driver’s side as he pulled the back door open and slid into the leather seat. He just let out a long, shaky breath and leaned his head back. "Elijah, I need a favor," Ethan said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Sir, Mr. Elijah is busy with some official work at the office," a voice replied, Ethan froze. That wasn't Elijah. It wasn't even Reiner’s low, gravelly tone. It was a voice he didn't recognize at all .Ethan snapped his eyes toward the rearview mirror. He couldn't see the man's full face, only a pair of dark sunglasses.Where's Elijah?" Et
Ethan entered the school premises and headed straight to class. He settled into his seat for Accounting; since he was the only one among his friends taking the course, he sat alone, trying to concentrate. However, he could feel stares coming at him from every angle of the room. It was suffocating.When his pen slipped off his desk and rolled away, he stretched to pick it up, but a female coursemate beat him to it. He looked at her, forcing a small, polite smile. "Thanks for helping me. Can I have my pen back?"The girl gave him a flirtatious smile. "Of course. I’ll hand it over to you," she said, using the pen to twirl a lock of her hair.Ethan felt a surge of irritation. Between the guilt eating at him from his conversation with Elijah and the lingering trauma of the past few days, his patience was non-existent. The girl giggled, clearly enjoying the attention. "If you want it, come and get it," she challenged, dropping the pen onto the empty seat beside her and patting it for him to
Ethan entered the room, his heart pounding against his ribs. He didn't want to be anywhere near Damien for now. Ever since that night, he had started to see the man in a completely different light. He slumped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Fuck, I shouldn't have left," he muttered to the empty room. "He’ll just think I’m scared of him. I should have taken my stance." He let out a long, heavy sigh. "Who am I kidding? That man scares the shit out of me." As he tried to settle down, his phone buzzed. It was a memory clip from Mapchat. He opened it and began scrolling through the slides, but a particular photo made him stop. It was a picture of him and his parents at his high school graduation. They looked so happy. He looked at his mother’s smile, and a single tear escaped, dropping onto the screen. His thumb hovered over the image as he mumbled, "I miss you... I miss you both so much." He gathered enough emotional strength to keep scrolling, and then he saw it—a photo of him
Ethan arrived at the campus early. Since he didn't have class until 11:00 AM, he headed straight for a small restaurant near the college. He was so focused on finally satisfying the hunger he'd ignored at breakfast that he didn't notice Kristen and Anastasia through the transparent glass storefront.The two were walking toward the main gates when they spotted him. They slipped into the restaurant and sat down directly across from him. Ethan didn't even look up until Kristen cleared his throat loudly."Hmm-hmmm!"Ethan jumped slightly, looking up with a burger halfway to his mouth. He blinked in surprise. "Oh... hi, guys. What are you doing here?""We were passing by and saw you through the window," Kristen replied, sliding into the booth. "Decided to drop by.""Oh. Okay," Ethan said simply. He wiped his mouth and went back to his food, his movements mechanical.Anastasia and Kristen exchanged a worried look. Ethan was unusually quiet. Usually, he’d have a witty comeback or at least so
Damien stared at Ethan, who was coughing violently on the floor. Now fully awake, the adrenaline was fading, replaced by a cold realization. He hadn't known it was Ethan; his body had simply reacted out of instinct.He reached out a hand to help Ethan up, but Ethan recoiled, scrambling backward. His eyes were wide, filled with a raw, trembling terror."No... no, I’m sorry! I was just joking!" Ethan stammered, his voice thin and cracking.Damien felt a sudden, sharp surge of anger not at the joke, but at the look in Ethan’s eyes. He had never been "nice" to Ethan, but he had never seen the boy look at him with such sheer, paralyzing fear. It felt like a physical blow to his chest."I know. I'm not annoyed," Damien said, his voice straining to sound calm as he stepped forward. "I just—"He was cut off by Ethan backing away even further. In his panic, Ethan’s shoulder clipped the side table, sending a heavy ceramic vase crashing to the floor. It shattered into a thousand jagged pieces ri
Ethan soon got home, feeling truly exhausted. As he entered, he unintentionally scanned the room for a furry little being named Leo. Anna, hearing the door open from the kitchen, shouted, "Who's there?"She stepped out of the kitchen and smiled when she saw Ethan. "Oh child, you're back home! How was school today?"Ethan smiled back at her. "Anna, school was fine. I'm exhausted, but... I don't see Leo around."Anna replied, "Oh, Leo went out to the amusement park with Damien.""Mr. Blackwood went to an amusement park?" Ethan asked, his expression full of shock.Anna chuckled as she tapped his shoulder gently. "Why are you so shocked that he went to the amusement park?"Ethan smiled awkwardly. "Oh... it’s nothing, Anna."Anna winked at him. "Sure. I'll make sure to tell him you find him too scary to go to an amusement park."Ethan rushed toward her. "Please, Anna! I was joking. I don't find him scary, please don't tell him!"Anna, now wearing a mischievous smile, held up a finger. "Fin
Ethan heard Stephen's voice behind him the very voice he had been trying to avoid.Then he turned back."I knew it!" Stephen exclaimed, his face lighting up with polished warmth. "I knew I’d recognize that golden hair anywhere."The hair again, Ethan thought bitterly. First thing tomorrow, I’m dyin
Damien got into the car, aware that Ethan was behind him. Earlier, he had spoken with Elijah and made it clear that Ethan was to be taken elsewhere after the press conference, Damien had other matters to attend to. When Elijah relayed this to Ethan, Damien caught the flicker of disappointment on hi
The interior of the SUV was a silent vault, but inside, Ethan was a storm. His palms were slick against the fabric of his school trousers, and his heart felt like a trapped bird beating against his ribs. He had been informed that he was going to the press conference."Don’t say anything irrational,
Nathan stepped out of Stanley’s room, the heavy oak door clicking shut behind him. The air in the hallway felt tainted, thick with the smell of cheap cigars and the lingering tension of their plotting. He took a breath to steady himself, but as he turned, he froze.Standing in the shadows of the ga







