chapter 4

Finn’s Pov

It seemed like I had accepted my fate way too soon. I should have fought it, and asked for a change.

But in this world, scholarship students say nothing. They don’t make demands, they just follow.

My suitcase weighed my arms as I dragged it down the polished hallway. The aid? Gone, the second he had noticed who I was, he had turned the other way with a scoff and left.

I had to do the one thing I hated most about this school, walking through the unending corridors, trying to find the right path. And I did.

I stared at the door, 1A, top floor, legacy building. This was the athlete's building.

No.

My stomach twisted, but before I could make that decision to run, the door opened. Revealing the face, I hoped I didn’t have to see.

There he stood, tall proud, and eyes glowing with menace.

Knox Cole.

The master who pulled strings.

How did he do it?

“Right on time,” he muttered, his voice rumbling through my body. I stiffened, but not from fear, from something I didn’t want to admit.

I was weird, my brain wasn’t processing things straight. I should sum it up to exhaustion.

He leaned against the doorframe, his eyes raking my form, studying me, probably looking for more things to break me with. I wanted to ask him why. Why did he take the humiliation to my family? That job was the only thing that she had going and now, she was lost.

But I knew that was what he wanted. If I asked, he has won.

“This is a stupid idea,” I hissed.

He smirked, stepping aside as he gestured for me to get inside, “Get in roommate,”

The word hit harder than a slap. It felt like a boulder had been slammed into my chest. Roommate, that was it, I would spend the whole of my existence in this school rooming with the boy that has ruined my life.

He was going to kill me!

I looked around the empty hallway, maybe if I squinted hard enough, I would wake up from this dream. Nightmare.

“I am not staying here,”

He hummed, “Would you prefer to risk your scholarship? That doesn’t sound like a bad idea, don’t you think so?”

Silence.

His eyes were on my face, as he watched me, enjoying every second it took as my resolve broke.

I had no choice.

He knew that.

Of course, he did.

The smile was back, this time, brighter, he had won.

I hated that smile.

I took a deep breath, counting slowly in my head and when I opened my eyes, I took that one step, the one that I knew was about to change my whole freaking life. I stepped into the trap, the one that had no incentives in front. Nothing to make me waver.

The door clicked shut.

Loud.

Final.

“You look nervous,” Knox muttered, as he circled me, as if he was scrutinising his prey, a purchase.

“I am not, just revolted at the sight of you,” I hissed.

My eyes widened, shit! I never learn, do I? I should just close my mouth and stop poking the bear.

“Good.” He stopped in front of me. He was close again, too close. Making it hard to think.

“I would hate to think that I have frightened you,”

“You don’t,” I said with a scoff.

A lie.

My pulse throbbed, I could feel the nerves in my stomach burning, something that happens when he is this close. It was fear. Just fear.

His eyes flickered to my lips, fast, intense. Something flashed through his eyes, cruelty? Hate?

Or? Something that shouldn’t be.

Intrigue?

He stepped back, the cold look returning in his eyes as if he was angry about something. But the distance was good, it made it easy for me to breathe. “Your bed is on the other side of the room, make yourself comfortable, grant,” he said.

My lips curled in a sneer, “The name is Finn, not Grant.”

I should have a lock around my lips.

He chuckled, “I know, but Grant boy sounds fitting, don’t you think so?” His tone was condescending, his way of reminding me that I didn’t belong.

‘Say nothing, don’t push it.’ I repeated the words in my mind.

I turned, walking over to where my bed was, if I survived tonight, I was going to have to find a place to stay.

A FEW HOURS LATER

Darkness engulfed the room, my mind had become a battlefield, my eyes darting around, looking for where the enemy would jump from.

Knox hadn’t returned, not like I was worried for him, but I would sleep better if I knew that he was here asleep, without any chance of him waking up in the night to hurt me. I wouldn’t put it past him not to try to suffocate me in the night.

The door opened with a soft click, but loud enough to have my heart racing. I scrambled from the bed, landing on my feet just as the lights came on. I shuffled to the corner; my blanket wrapped around me as a shield.

He stared at me for a second, something flashed through his eyes, “relax.” He muttered.

Right, because that is what the lion said to the antelopes, just before he pounced.

He moved closer, invading my space as usual. Didn’t they teach him that crowding is bad?

My eyes found his face, under this light he looked… he looked less menacing, his black eyes drowned me. I shook my head, fighting off the thought. A thousand and one things and scenarios and all that I am worried about is how black his eyes shone.

“Did you have my mother fired?” I asked.

He said nothing, his eyes on my face… lips, watching me.

He raised his hand, the action caused me to flinch, eyes shut as I waited for the impact.

Nothing.

I slowly opened my eyes.

“If I wanted to hurt you….”

His fingers brushed against my wrist, right on my pulse point.

Barley felt. But heavy.

My body went still, an electric jolt waving through me with just a touch. He was messing with my head.

“You would already be bleeding.”