Chapter 6: Assault

Arden and Kyle stepped out of the library, the late-night air hitting their faces with a cool, almost bitter touch. Kyle’s shoulders slumped as his tired expression betrayed how drained he felt. Arden, on the other hand, tried to keep his own exhaustion hidden behind a calm, amused smile.

“Night reading is the worst,” Kyle muttered, dragging the words out.

Arden chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s not the worst. You’re just lazy. That’s all.”

Kyle scoffed, pushing his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, sure. I can’t be as brilliant as you, so obviously it’s my fault.” He let out a long sigh, and Arden could see the fatigue etched across his features.

They walked the rest of the way to the parking lot in silence, the sound of their footsteps echoing slightly in the empty space. Kyle pressed the key fob in his hand, and the car’s lights blinked, signaling it was unlocked. Arden’s gaze instinctively went to the vehicle, and he froze for a moment.

“You changed your car?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kyle shrugged, a small, almost shy smile on his lips. “It was a birthday gift from my dad.”

Arden nodded, quietly mouthing an “ohh,” and stepped closer as they approached the vehicle. He tried not to look too impressed, but the sleek design and the subtle glow of the dashboard lights were hard to ignore.

Kyle opened the driver’s door and slid in, settling behind the wheel. Arden took the passenger seat, the familiar scent of leather and faint cologne filling the small space between them. They didn’t speak much as Kyle started the car and drove off, the quiet hum of the engine filling the comfortable silence that had settled between them.

As usual, Kyle didn’t take the main road. He stopped at the far end of the street, careful not to invite trouble for his bestfriend. When they finally said their goodbyes, Arden stepped out of the car and headed toward his house.

By the time he reached his home, Arden’s stomach twisted in unease. There, parked outside, was a familiar car. His heart sank instantly, a cold lump forming in his chest. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to calm down.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the front door and stepped inside. His eyes fell on the couch immediately. Right there, sitting beside his uncle, was Mr. Xavier. Arden’s stomach dropped further, and he could feel the tension tighten in his chest.

All eyes turned toward him as he entered. His uncle’s gaze lingered on him with a tight, controlled smile, while Xavier’s eyes glinted with something Arden couldn’t quite name, but instinctively feared.

“Arden,” his uncle said smoothly, his voice almost casual, “don’t you see Mr. Xavier is here?”

Arden froze, his steps halting as the words sank in. He swallowed hard, trying to find his voice, and finally forced out a small greeting. “Good evening, Mr. Xavier.”

Before he could move any further, Xavier’s hand shot out, grabbing his wrist and yanking him forward. Arden stumbled slightly, caught off guard, and found himself being forced to sit on Xavier’s lap. The man’s hand immediately moved, he then dipped his hand into Arden's buttock and squeezed while touching his chest in a way that sent shock and revulsion coursing through Arden’s body. Arden immediately moved, as he shoved Xavier away, standing up with as much strength as he could muster. His hand shot out, as he slapped him across the face.

Everything happened so fast that Arden barely had time to process. Fear, anger, and shame collided inside him as he bolted for his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

His breathing was ragged, his chest tight with panic and disbelief. Arden knew, deep down, that trouble was far from over.

Outside his room, he could hear the muffled voices of his uncle and Xavier. His uncle’s voice was pleading, sharp with tension. Xavier’s was cold and clipped, cutting through the air like ice. Eventually, the footsteps and voices faded as Xavier stormed out, leaving a tense silence in the house.

A moment later, Arden heard the familiar sound of approaching footsteps. His uncle appeared at his door. He rapped sharply on the door lock, as he forced the door open with a loud bang. Arden braced himself, moving to the far end of the room, ready for anything.

“You! You dare make Mr. Xavier angry?” his uncle’s voice roared, furious and sharp as lightning. He lunged forward, hands reaching to choke Arden.

Adrenaline surged through Arden’s body as he struggled, pushing, hitting, and trying to fight back. But his uncle was stronger, and it quickly became clear that Arden was outmatched.

Then, suddenly, Derek appeared as he moved quickly between Arden and his father, his hands pushing hard against his father’s chest. “That’s enough, Dad.” Derek said quietly, but firmly, his voice unwavering.

The room fell into a tense silence. Arden’s chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. His uncle’s glare was sharp, but he finally stepped back, muttering under his breath about Arden being “useful” or he would have been killed for real. With that, he left the room, the door shutting with a resounding thud.

Arden stood stiffly, his body shaking as tears threatened to fall, but none came. He stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to make sense of what had just happened, to process the fear and humiliation that coursed through him.

Derek stepped closer, his eyes studying Arden carefully. “You’re okay now, right?” he asked, Arden nodded silently, still too stunned to speak.

For a long moment, Derek simply stared, his gaze intense. Arden swallowed hard and finally asked the question that had been gnawing at him since the confrontation. “Why did you help?”

Derek raised his hand slowly, stroking Arden’s face. Arden flinched slightly, unsure of what to make of the touch.

“It would be useless if you were dead,” Derek said quietly, his voice firm but strange as his hand moved down to Arden’s neck. Arden’s stomach twisted uncomfortably at the intimate gesture, his unease growing.

Just as Arden opened his mouth to protest, Derek withdrew, lowering his hand. A small smirk touched his lips as he turned and walked toward the door. “Stay safe,” he said lightly, leaving Arden alone in the room.

Arden sat in the quiet of his room, his mind a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and a strange, unsettling curiosity about Derek’s sudden intervention and action. He replayed the events over and over, trying to make sense of it but, couldn't.