Three Idiots II

Dahlia's POV

I didn't know what the system had planned for the fools who'd followed me out of class, but I'd learned to trust it. After everything it had done for me so far, I was certain it wouldn't let me down, and I was curious, even eager, to see what it had in store for them. I kept walking without looking back, careful not to act like someone who knew she was being followed.

Somewhere behind me, Soraya was screaming my name. She was probably looking for me so we could walk back to the dorm together, but I couldn't answer her. I couldn't pull her into my problems when she didn't have a system the way I did, so I kept going and led the guys deeper into the woods, to the same place where I'd met Kyren the night before. My heart was beating hard, though not from fear, and as I walked I asked the system what it had in mind.

[WRESTLING ABILITIES ACTIVATED. SYSTEM ADVISES HOST TO WRESTLE HOSTILES.]

The rush of skill and boldness that followed was almost alarming. I could hardly believe I could speak to the system and have it answer right away. I'd read about hosts whose systems refused to respond even when they needed them most and only appeared when they felt like it, so I considered myself lucky to have a responsive one. All at once I felt ready to tear them guys apart with my bare hands.

[HOST FULLY CHARGED.]

That was the signal that it was time to act.

“Why the hell are you following me, you fools?” I turned to face them, my hands already curled into fists at my sides, ready to send them to their ancestors.

“Did she just speak?” one of them scoffed, and the others burst out laughing.

Good. What could be more satisfying than watching your opponents laugh, certain they could crush you, when they had no idea you'd quietly grown stronger than all of them?

I stood there and watched them enjoy their own foolishness. “Why are you following me, and what do you want?” I snapped, my fingers digging into my palms.

“You don't get to talk to us like that, you oversized fool, you hear? We call the shots here, not you. If you know how to pray at all, I'd start now, because you're about to get the beating of your life,” one of them said.

My anger rose. “We'll see about that.” I swung the bag in my hand at one of their faces, hard enough to make his nose bleed. “Oops, sorry, I forgot I had something sharp in there. Enjoy it anyway.”

While he was still fighting with his nose, another one came at me, but he was too slow with his punch, and I drove my foot hard between his legs. His eyes rolled so far back I thought they might make a full circle before he dropped to the ground, clutching himself and writhing in pain.

“I feel gooood, pararararan…” I sang, swaying as I moved toward the last one, who had already decided in his head that he was going to run. “You think you can run without getting your share? No, boy, not so fast.” I kicked his retreating legs out from under him, and he went down ungracefully. Then I sat on him with my full weight and landed each blow while I recounted every act of bullying I'd suffered at the hands of Northmont High students.

“I didn't do any of those things you're talking about,” he managed, his voice cracking. “Why am I the one being punished for them?”

“I know, dear, but you, my darling, are going to be the scapegoat for everyone who has ever wronged me.”

While I was speaking, his friend with the bloody nose had recovered enough to come up behind me with a log in his hands. I could see his legs from the corner of my eye as he took slow, careful steps, trying not to alert me, but I was faster. I rolled away just as he swung, and the log struck his friend instead.

Before I could react, the third one, the one I'd kicked, managed to stagger to his feet and bolted.

“Lunara is going to kill you for running, you fool!” the one who had just hit his friend shouted after him. He clearly hadn't had enough pain yet, and he obviously hadn't learned what had sent the other one running.

The friend he'd hit had gone limp, because none of his shouting got a response. I crept up behind the one with the log and gave him the same kick I'd given the first guy. He was perfectly positioned for it, so I was fairly sure he'd feel it more than the first one had.

He must have passed out too, because he fell and I didn't hear another word from him. I picked up my bag, slung it over my shoulder, and spat on the ground beside the two of them. “Tell Lunara, or whatever her name is, that she sucks.” Then I left. My knuckles ached and my hair had come loose, but for the first time since I'd arrived at Northmont, I wasn't the one running.

The first person I met when I stepped out of the woods was Kyren. What? Was he following me around now? Why did he keep appearing wherever I went? Well, everyone was free to move around and do as they pleased with their own lives. The moment I came out, he went in hurriedly, as if he'd lost something and meant to find it.

Those fools might be lucky if he found them. I'd already delivered my message, and as far as I cared, he could eat them.

“Where the hell have you been, Lia? I've searched the dorm, the cafeteria, and everywhere else in this school, and you were nowhere!” Soraya's frustrated voice greeted me as I walked into the room.

“I had to take care of something quickly. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier,” I said, too tired to carry on talking, and I dropped into bed. Then it struck me: what had she just called me? Lia? Only Grandma had called me that, back when she was alive. Were we that close already?

“Everyone out! It's time! Out now, or you'll blame yourself for not moving earlier!” A dorm staff shouted from outside. Was it morning already? I had slept off and didn’t even know.

“Get dressed now and head for the Trial By Howl’s Venue!” The staff’s voice again.

“Uuurrrrhhhh,” I growled as I dragged myself out of my room.