26. Vicious Knight

"Why didn't you send his picture? Do you want me to beg you for it?" Faina said on the phone.

"Remember that time when you started dating Arthur? You make me beg to see his pictures," Innessa mused, earning a groan from the other side.

"Are you taking revenge, Nessa? I thought my sister was an adorable, naive little creature, but I was wrong," Faina complained, making Innessa chuckle.

"I still couldn't believe you've got a boyfriend. The girl who never paid attention to boys and stayed glued to her books finally found a guy. I'm happy for you, Nessa," Faina said excitedly, making the girl smile.

"Thank you," she said.

"How's dad coping with the news?" She asked hesitantly. Denis was a lovely father, but he was very protective of his daughters. When Faina introduced Arthur to the family, her father gave him a tough time before finally accepting him as a member of the family.

When Innessa revealed the news to her family, Faina and her mom were on cloud nine, but Denis sounded as if he was about to lose his younger daughter as well.

"He'll come around it. You know he cares for us a lot," Faina said.

"I know," Innessa whispered. The sisters talked for a little while as Innessa dropped the call.

It has been a couple of days since their quarrel and makeup. Things have been going smoothly and sweetly for them.

Issac was the most caring and loving person she had ever met. He loved her and took care of her to the point he reminded her to drink water every hour, bringing her favorite iced latte to her before dropping her off to the cafe for work.

They often Facetime at night; Innessa was turning into a cute, adorable kid she didn't even know existed in her. Whenever he was beside her or when she talked to him. She behaved like a kid, and it came out naturally. They'd hold hands and have ice cream when he'd drop her back to the dormitory after her shift. She told him he didn't have to pick and drop her, but he insisted. Issac was so lovely that all of it felt like a dream.

Ever since that day, Archie had been avoiding her. She called him, but he didn't answer her calls, so she dropped a text apologizing for what happened. He ignored her messages as well. She didn't want to lose a friend, so she tried to talk to him in the department, but he simply told her, 'She had a weird taste in men for that personality of hers.' She couldn't understand it, so she asked what he meant, but he simply walked away from there, ignoring her. After that, she saw him in the department often but never approached him.

It wasn't Innessa's fault. Nor did she want to lose her friend. She tried to talk to him, but if he didn't want to be her friend, then she wouldn't force him. Though she didn't want to lose a friend.

Innessa got free early from her shift at the cafe. Isaac didn't come to pick her up today. He texted her saying he got stuck with some important work. So, she assured him she'd get home safely by herself.

The cafe wasn't so far from the dormitory so she decided to walk there. She was staring down at the pictures of her with Isaac, which they had taken in the past few days. All of them were so adorable and beautiful. She was smiling like an idiot while staring at her phone. Whoever would see her right now would think of her as stupid. But she didn't mind.

Because... She was in love, and it felt incredible to be in love.

Innessa was so engrossed in her phone that she didn't notice when someone blocked her way. She abruptly stopped. Her eyes met with the familiar ones, and she stiffened.

It was Henry.

She stumbled a step back. Her eyes darted around to scream for help when his words cut her off.

"I promise. I won't hurt you," he said, garnering her attention.

"If I wanted to hurt you, I would never approach you in a street full of people. I... I just want to tell you something," he said.

Innessa noticed the plasters on his hands; his face was full of healing bruises. He looked like a mess to the point he couldn't even speak properly because it looked like it hurt him to open his mouth properly.

She gulped. Her eyes darted around; so many people on the street. He wouldn't pull off something in front of this many people. And he was hurt, which meant he wouldn't risk harming her. But still, she was skeptical.

"You should be in the hospital," she said cautiously.

"I know, but I need to tell you something," he said, glancing around them as if making sure no one was watching them.

"This is my only chance." He said, making her brows furrow.

She held her phone tightly. "You've hurt me, Henry. Put my scholarship at risk. Threatened me multiple times. Why should I listen to you? I want to go, please, step aside," she said calmly, causing him to shake his head.

"Look, I'm sorry. I just want to help you right now," he said, looking so earnest that it felt like he was being sincere.

"Help me with what? Someone has hurt you just because you bully the weak. You should stop bullying now, please," she said, trying to walk past him, but he blocked her way again.

"Isaac did this to me," he said, making her pause as her body stiffened up and her shoulders tensed.

She stared at him, not believing what he said. For a second, she thought he was wrong, but then those memories -of her telling Isaac who caused the scar on her neck and the next day Henry was in the hospital- began to roam her head.

"What?" Her voice was low and doubtful.

Henry peeked around them once again. He looked so scared and pale.

"Isaac did this to me because I've left a scar on your neck. He broke each of my fingers, saying like a mantra that I shouldn't have touched you," he said.

A chill ran down her spine just at the thought of this. "Y... You're lying," She whispered, but it all made sense. She even doubted Isaac on this, but then she thought she was reading too much into the lines and dismissed those feelings.

"I'm not lying. Not only this. He even told me to corner you once. He even instructed me not to touch you, just threaten you. I didn't want to be anywhere near you, but he threatened me with my life. I had no other choice," he said.

Her eyes lowered down as she lost the feeling in her legs for a couple of seconds, stumbling back as the passerby grabbed her arm, helped her to her feet, and walked away, giving her weird looks while she felt her legs turning ice cold.

Innessa recalled how she told Issac that they didn't have to pretend anymore, and he just walked out of there in rage. And that same night, Henry attacked her, not only this; Issac came on time and even rescued her, but that time he asked for something in return.

He wanted the earlier arrangement back and made it feel like she was helping him. Was that blonde a part of his plan?

She felt as if insects were crawling on her skin. "Y... You're lying," She whispered. Her voice was wavering as if she didn't even believe the words she was saying.

Issac wouldn't do all that to her. He wouldn't trick her like that. She didn't even want to imagine it.

"I don't know how you ended up tangling with him. But I swear to God, Issac is such a menace. He even had links with the mafia. Everyone on the campus is scared of him. No one ever dared to be near him because there were rumors around that he had illegally beaten a couple of men to the brink of death because his mafia friend wanted it. Not only this..." Henry glimpsed around once again before facing her.

"He's a ruthless boxer in an underground illegal ring run by the mafia. He's the hero there. The deadly fighter, known as 'Vicious Knight.' Almost everyone on the campus knows this. He mercilessly beats his opponents to the brink of death and makes them tap out on their own." He spoke.

Her heart shivered in her chest as she felt tears brimming in her eyes. He was lying. She kept telling herself that.

"If you don't believe me, go to the pub named 'Underworld.' Buy a red ticket from them, and they'll escort you to the underground mafia ring. Issac has an important match tonight. You can see it by yourself," He said as she blinked at him like a frozen statue.

"I saw his post on I* and realized you both got together for real. I'm just telling you this because I wanted to expose that bastard for beating me. J... Just don't tell him I told you this. I wanted to approach you for the past few days, but Issac was always with you. He even waits outside the cafe for hours. But today he has an important match, and I got my chance. I just wanted to help you, just don't take my name. You can ask anyone about him, and they'll tell you because he's well known. A person to never mess with..." He spoke.

With one last glance at her and the people around, he quickly hurried out of there.

She didn't know how long she stood there as the people kept walking past her. Everything kept reeling her head on a loop. Every moment spent with him. All the memories. His love? His emotions?

It couldn't be a lie. No, this can't be. He wouldn't hurt her like this. He'd never crush her soul like this.

She wanted to forget everything that Henry told her, but her mind didn't agree with her heart, and for the first time since her connection with Issac. She listened to her brain and went to the pub that Henry told her about.

Innessa retrieved her phone and texted Issac.

'Hey, are you done with your work? Can we talk on a call?' The message was delivered, but he didn't see it.

Innessa stepped into the pub. Her eyes darted around the number of people, as many eyed her, making her uncomfortable. She went to the bartender, and when he asked for her drink, she politely requested him for a red ticket. His eyes widened as he looked her up and down in surprise. Nodding, he took a huge payment from her and handed her a small red ticket.

He then escorted her to an elevator. "You look new here," he said, making her even more nervous.

"I'm... I'm a regular," she said, trying to be confident as he scowled at her.

"No, sweetheart, you look so out of place. And I could bet millions that you're not a regular here. I'll give you back your money and take that ticket back; you still have time to leave because this place isn't for you," he said politely, causing her heart to drop, but she didn't back off as they headed down in the elevator.

"No, thank you," She mumbled.

The man nodded with a light shrug of his shoulders as the elevator came to a pause. Her heartbeat quickened as the door opened, and instantly, she was swarmed by wild hooting, screaming, and yelling.

'KNIGHT!'

'KNIGHT!'

'KNIGHT!'

Everyone was chanting that name. Her stomach twisted up in knots as she felt fear enveloping her soul. She prayed to God from the bottom of her heart for it all to be a lie. She wouldn't be able to bear such a cruel betrayal.

"Shall I escort you to your seat number?" The bartender, who was now her escort asked, and she mindlessly nodded her head. He guided her through the swarm of people, making way for her.

The place was huge with hundreds of people. All the lights were on the ring. Her eyes darted to the huge window wall on the top floor, where a man stood; only his shadow was visible.

All of a sudden, the crowd burst into wild screaming and a chorus as they began to jump and punch in the air while chanting 'Knight' as if it were a prayer chanted on a spiral.

She glanced at the huge screens atop the ring. Her eyes widened seeing a man brutally hitting another man on the floor again and again. He looked like a feral beast set free.

The bartender almost escorted her to the second row as he showed her seat to her, but Innessa's heart dropped and crumbled into tiny pieces when that man turned around, and it was none other than Issac.

He had a busted eyebrow as blood dripped down while a devilish smirk donned his lips. His cognac eyes looked empty and cold.

The tears she was trying to hide so badly brimmed her eyes as if the dam broke and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Her heart quivered in her chest when she lowered her gaze from the screen and stared inside the ring.

The other guy lay there bleeding while Issac roamed the ring like a cruel king.

'VICIOUS KNIGHT!'

'VICIOUS KNIGHT!'

'VICIOUS KNIGHT!'

Everyone was chanting. Issac came to her side of the ring only to halt when his eyes met hers, and they narrowed, seeing her in the crowd.

It was as if everything disappeared when their eyes locked. But this time she didn't feel love. She felt like a lamb spotted by a hungry lion in those moments.

His jaw ticked, the vein in his neck bulging as he glared at her.

'Go.' He mouthed her darkly, but she refused to budge from there.

She may be present there physically, but her soul was falling into the bottomless pit of sorrow and devastation, and she rubbed her hand on her chest to ease the invisible pain. Her vision kept blurring again and again, she had to blink, and the tears dripped down as she stared at him, shattered.

How could he?

Innessa flinched when someone bumped into her. It was a man, and a blonde was kissing him, eating his mouth. It wasn't just any blonde. It was the same girl Issac was running away from. Was... Was all of that a lie, too?

When she didn't leave, Issac faced his opponent, who was up on his feet. Instead of dodging his attack, Issac let him hit.

She winced a whimper, tearing through her lips, and the crowd went gloomy when Issac got hit again and again.

A few of the people were cheering for the other opponent.

She wanted to scream at that guy to stop hitting Issac, but when she stared at that maniac look in Issac's eyes while he was being hit, she felt cold shivers of raw fear scraping the back of her neck.

'I love you,' He mouthed, causing the very nerves in her body to tremble in fear of what she was witnessing.

It was obvious he had the upper hand earlier, but as soon as he saw Innessa he let that guy beat him.

Why?

'No,' she whispered, shaking her head.

"No!" She screamed, and his eyes darkened. In one swift move, he kicked that guy away with such brutal force that he tumbled out of the ring.

Her heart lurched in her mouth when she saw Issac getting out of the ring and taking predatory steps in her direction.

Her body reacted on its own as she swiveled around and dashed out of that place, running through the people while crying.

"STOP!" His voice boomed behind her, but she was already in the elevator. Her heart rattled wildly against her ribcage when she saw him running like a vicious beast in her direction with those manic eyes as the door was closing.

She let out a sob, plastering her back against the wall. Her legs shook seeing him getting closer as he tried to stop the door from closing and crashed into it. Innessa's legs gave out as she slumped in the closed elevator as it moved up.

Her breathing was coming out in short pants as she slammed her fists on her chest to stop the panic attack.

The door opened as someone came to her aid. The person helped her breathe a little, but she couldn't stay there.

Innessa dashed out of that pub and ran blindly to God knows where.

The only thing she felt was a soul-crushing heartbreak that she couldn't even breathe. She slumped on the floor as a group of girls who were passing by helped her up and took her to the nearest bakery, thinking that her BP had dropped.

They helped her calm down and breathe a little, but Innessa was unable to stop her tears as she kept rubbing her chest to stop the excruciating pain.