5. Drowned But Not Dead

Dragged by several people, it felt like being carried into a grave without a coffin. No matter how hard I fought against Nathaniel and his gang, they pressed harder, leaving me helpless.

I resisted—there was a hard slap across my cheek. I fought again—another slap on the other side.

No one helped. No one even cared. The faces I passed in the corridor only stared blankly, as if I were nothing more than a filthy animal not worth saving.

My whole body ached from struggling until my last bit of strength was gone. Nathaniel and his gang hauled me all the way down to the lowest floor, through endless corridors, and out to the academy’s back garden.

The sky above was already dark, the garden lights glowing faintly, their reflections shimmering on the surface of a decorative pond. I was half-thrown to the side of it.

“Get up, Anastasia.” Nathaniel’s voice teased me.

My hands shook as I tried to push myself up. Fear and dread made me want to give in. I couldn’t even cry.

“Anna? You hear me? What are you, deaf?” Nathaniel chuckled softly.

“What do you want?” I hissed, forcing myself to look at Nathaniel standing arrogantly over me.

“How funny, as if you don’t have sins.”

My fear turned into despair. Even if I defended myself, I knew I wouldn’t make it out alive. They wanted to torture me.

I laughed bitterly. “We’re all sinners, Nathaniel. You talk about sins? Why don’t you try saying that in front of a mirror?”

“You!” he snapped. “Get her up! We’ll drown her!”

What?

My breath caught in my throat. I scrambled to run, but my arms and legs were already seized. They lifted me again, carrying me like a sacrificial lamb. I screamed at the top of my lungs, hoping someone would hear.

But no one came.

My cries only fueled Nathaniel and his gang’s excitement. They laughed as if I were nothing more than a toy.

They dragged me into the indoor pool and threw me roughly to the edge. My body felt shattered, my muscles strained, every nerve screaming.

“Why are you here? Spying on us? So you can tattle to your father?” Nathaniel paced, his footsteps echoing with menace.

“Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t care about you,” I spat. “You or Gabriel.”

“Really? Out of all the academies in the world… why Bastorin?”

How was I supposed to know the twins would be here? If I’d known from the start, I would’ve rather become a nun.

“What are you after here?” Nathaniel pressed.

“Think about it.” My hands trembled as I tried to push myself upright against the cold floor. “You think I came here to find peace?”

I raised my head, staring at Nathaniel’s furrowed brow.

“I came here for revenge! I will win! I’ll destroy you and your mother from the Lancroft family!!” I screamed furiously.

Grab!

Nathaniel’s hand clamped around my throat. “You wretched bitch!”

His grip crushed the air out of me. I clawed at his arm, but my blows were useless.

My body was dragged back and—

I flew for a split second in the air before crashing into the pool.

The icy water stung, my nose burned, and water rushed down my throat. No! Help!

I thrashed, arms and legs kicking, but I sank deeper. My lungs filled with water. Pain! Pain! Someone help me!

My vision blurred—suddenly, an arm wrapped tight around my waist from behind. My body surged upward as someone dragged me toward the surface.

Breaking through the water, I gasped for air, coughing violently, clinging to the pool’s edge with shaking hands, too weak to climb out.

Around me—no one. Just footsteps fading away.

Damn it! Nathaniel really did mean to kill me here!

“Get up,” a deep voice commanded from behind.

With effort, I climbed out, pushed by him. When I turned toward the pool, my eyes widened. Standing before me was the school council president.

Alexei.

His face was so close I could see every detail.

“Attempted suicide?” His eyes were cold.

“I-I…” I stammered.

Alexei placed his hands on the pool’s edge and pulled himself out with ease. His shirt and trousers clung to him, soaked, outlining the sculpted body beneath.

“Can you stand, Anastasia?”

Something inside me froze. I could only stare as Alexei crouched slightly, then scooped me into his arms. My body stiffened, but I couldn’t say a word. Couldn’t even resist.

He carried me out of the pool area, down a dimly lit path, through another door into the academy.

I thought he would take me to the infirmary, but he kept walking steadily, as if I weighed nothing at all.

Finally, we reached his office, the door half-open. He stepped inside and lay me gently on the sofa. Water dripped from my clothes, pooling on the floor.

My gaze followed him as he closed the door, then slipped off his shoes and socks.

“Can you tell me what you were doing out there, Anastasia?”

He walked to the fireplace, throwing in logs. I could only watch his back.

“It was Nathaniel and his friends. They pushed me into the pool,” I said softly.

“And you can’t swim?” He extended an arm, dropping his soaked shirt to the floor, exposing his broad shoulders and strong back.

I shook my head. “No, sir.”

When Alexei turned around, I flinched. His body was perfection, divine. My eyes refused to look away. His chest, his abs—I couldn’t stop staring.

“And who do you think is at fault?” he asked.

I shook my head again. “I’m not sure. Nathaniel?”

Alexei strode toward me, his piercing gaze terrifying.

“It’s your fault. You should’ve been able to swim.”

What? Nathaniel and his friends had bullied me, tried to kill me—and he blamed me because I couldn’t swim?!

But my tongue was tied. I couldn’t argue back.

“You want to be a winner, don’t you? Winners take it all. No weaknesses allowed. Even if you’re bloodied, Anastasia.”

“I understand, sir.”

Alexei cupped my chin, his cold fingers forcing me to look up into his eyes.

“Take off your clothes, Anastasia,” he whispered.

I jolted. What? Why would he say that to me?

“You hear me, don’t you? You want to be a winner?”

I swallowed hard. “Why do I have to take off my clothes?”

“Don’t question my order, Anastasia. Do what I told you. Now—take off your clothes…”