Getting.. Handsy

Lina's POV:

I needed a fresh breath.

Hell, I needed a whole new life at this rate!

I know it'd be hard to leave hell. But maybe, just maybe Mer's College would be my safe haven.

I stood in front of the huge building, eyes scanning it until they diverted.

"It's so huge! Oh my gawd!" Only one person could gush like that.

Amid the mixed noises and chatters from the student, Olivia's voice stood out.

"Lina!" Again she squealed. But twirled so much her curly blonde hair slapped my face.

LA was hell alright but at least I'd be enduring its burn with a friend. Then again, was Olivia even feeling the heat of this damned place?

We both transferred here to finish our degrees. Our first day here ended in a fishy way.

For someone that was almost shark food, Olivia was bubbly.

"You've gotta lightened up, bae!" She itched closer.

She nestled one of her culinary textbooks while clinging to me.

"Like, smile. Flirt. Just stop looking so depressing." Olivia poured out, ending her ‘advice’ with an eye roll.

I returned it then gently slid my arm out.

My attention darted to a notice board behind her. Though many flyers were stuck on it, I spotted what I needed.

The Internship Coordinator for Criminology – my Department. I almost smirked at the fact; I was studying that while living with a criminal.

Sure, Riven was more of a devil. But still.

"Are you even listening to me?" Again, I focused on Olivia and she pouted her glossy lips.

"No"

"Rude. But!" This time, we began resuming strolling down the walkway. 

"I heard there's gonna be a welcome party later tonight. We aren't exactly freshmen but–"

"Olivia!" I cut in, my steps coming to a halt.

"You really wanna party after what happened last night?" I snarled, my lips forming a frown.

She blinked at me as if I spoke gibberish.

"I saved our asses. I saved yours from sharks!" I snapped, not giving a fuck bout the few eyes that glanced at me.

Heck, they could stare and burn a hole through my body. Then they'd see how thoroughly, overly fed up I was.

I balled my fists so bad my fingers dung into the strap of my purse. My teeth found my lower lip and I bite it, almost tearing the flesh.

"Lina.." My frustration showed and so did concern on Olivia's face.

She came closer, her hand rubbing my very tensed shoulder.

"I'm..!" I sniffled, getting so overwhelmed.

"That psycho biker will be my step brother soon" I dropped the bomb.

I watched it scattered Olivia's composure, and her eyes widened. Her bright features dulled and her jaw slacked.

"No fucking way!" Then she screamed.

Of course she would. Jeez.

I sharply slapped a palm over her mouth before every pair of eyes turned to use.

"You're lying" Olivia hissed, her loud voice shaking my palm.

"That manic!?" She toned it down, and I lowered my hand. 

I turned to the towering building once more as she continued.

"That's.. that's like inappropriate!"

My lips tugged at that word. Inappropriate.

I wonder how she'd react when I tell her of breakfast. How he indirectly but so unmistakenly wanted me to stick another kind of sausage in my mouth.

"I can't tell Ma about it but I can do something else" I inhaled then exhaled.

"And that is?" We resumed walking for the second time, and Olivia's heels clicked as she tried to keep up.

"Find his darn watch. Once I do that, he's my step brother with no strings attached. No strings" I whispered the last part.

"But–" I spun my head to Olivia.

"There's no but! He just needs his stupid watch and–"

My tongue knotted when I slammed into a body. Trust me, I wanted it to be brick wall so bad.

But as my waist got held by a pair of hands, I looked up.

A smile on a handsome face was delightful. But in this same? Fucking infuriating.

"It seemed luck stumbled into me" The person grinned like he won a lottery.

He was about to lose it as I tried to pull backwards. But he held it - he held my freaking waist.

"Let me go" I didn't ask, I demanded with narrowed eyes.

He was taller with an itch or two so slapping him would be easy. And so fulfilling.

"Make me" That was it.

In the next instant, I flung my purse straight at his face. It landed hard his cheek.

His dirty hands left my waist as he scuffled backwards.

"You did stumble into luck; this purse is made of pure crocodile leather!" I heard Olivia's giggle amid his groans.

I squared my shoulders, sported my purse properly on it.

"Let's go" For the third but last time, Olivia and I walked straight into the building.

★

"Best college in California my ass!" Helplessly, I scoffed as I glared.

In front of me was supposed to be an open door. But it was locked!

I wanted so badly to bury myself in works of an intern. To work myself to the bone so my mind didn't think of him.

But I couldn't.

"I don't wanna return to that mansion" With a swerve, I began walking out of that block.

Mr Tyler seemed like a good man. But he birthed a devil who I was sure he hated.

I understand him. Yet I refused to be bond to Riven Rythrone.

I don't give a damn about being bonded because of a piece of paper. Ma and his Father couldn't bind us.

But Riven's watch did. His damn, never seen watch. I'd find it. Severe this fucking bond and–

"What the!"My attention was rocked to the floor.

The rumbling floor.

My brows curved as screams – like real screams poured into my ear.

Then it came closer. And closer until I looked ahead. A wave was coming, and I helplessly got washed in it.

"Hey!" Even my yell was drowned as bodies surged from the far end of the corridor.

I had no choice but to move or I'd get trampled. So, I kept getting shoved down the stairs. Through he hall. Out into the open air then the courtyard.

It was a complete mess.

The sun was bright alright. But the several, unending blinks of camera flashes was blinding.

My chest heaved, and my ear drums tingled because of noise.

Then a scent cursed my nostrils. The smell of blood.

As I stood in the tight circle of people, I managed to turn around. Then looked up. Then get cursed.

"Fuck..." That word rolled out of my mouth when it opened.

A bead of sweat rolled down my forehead as a recent memory rolled in.

A jerk held my waist earlier. I slapped him with my purse.

So why was I staring at that jerk as he hangs from the flagpole?!

His body swung faintly in the wind with his wrists tighten tog–

Wait!

I paled harder the more my eyes crawled up his body. His hands were gone!

They were cut off and blood flowed endlessly from it.

"Jesus..!" I slammed my hands over my mouth, so fucking thankful for my fingers.

But also terrified.

Who.. who did this to him?

"This has the Black Reapers written all over it" My question was answered by a random stranger.

I glanced at them as they spoke.

"Nah. This is the work of their leader. Look, he even left his signature"

I shot my focus to the body again. Beside his mouth, a symbol was carved deep.

My stomach churned at sight and I felt sick. Genuinely sick.

A gang did this?!

"The Black Reaper is a merciless bike gang alright" Another random voice reaffirmed and I swallowed nothing.

"It's crazy. I heard their leader attends here and he's Riven Rythrone"

...

That name was familiar. I knew the owner of that name.

The world shook so bad I went limp, falling on someone's back.

For a heartbeat, everything from the voices, screams and even sirens faded.

But that name resounded in my head like a struck gong. 

Riven Rythrone.. 

H-He did this? My face grazed the back of rested on as I stared at the handless jerk again. 

The fact this was done with such a short time frightened my fucking soul. My hands knotted the shirt I rested on then so tight. 

Oh, I'm so screwed.