January 1, 3070
"There is nothing I fear."
A smirk grows on those red painted lips, a perfectly made brow arching and making her appearance look sinister. She looks all sorts of evil I read and heard about.
"I love students who live in illusions, Ms. Kratos. It fascinates me", her voice, sharp as ever yet deep and smooth echoes in the small room. I watch her with piqued interest. She has always been a subject of mystery to me. A mystery I will no doubt unveil in the darkness and keep enslaved until the time comes.
"No doubt, Dr. Rajbhar. Fascination is what has driven this institution to stand for decades", her eyes narrow and the smirk disappears in a scowl.
If it would have been any other student, I bet all my money that they would've stopped, out of not respect but fear. Fear the woman behind the enforcement of the institution's most cut-throat laws is what my mentor had advised me. But I always mean what I say. I don't fear anything. Be it the head of this institution or the authorities themselves.
And because I love riling the woman in front of me who is, for sure, not used to people - least of all a student - questioning her word, I continue, "I mean no offense but is it not true? Was it not his fascination with toxins and its effect on human behavior that drove Dr. Veer Rana to buy this peninsular city-"
A loud slam on the table cuts me off and no one dares to break the silence that follows soon after. I refuse to look away from the blue eyes that are supposed to look calm and controlled but instead resembles a hurricane, a storm that knows it has to stay at bay and hates every second of it. "You have said too much and I have heard enough Ms. Kratos", her voice shakes with controlled anger. I know I have crossed the limit but when have I ever cared? All I want to do is push this woman's buttons so far that she has no choice but to loose her sanity. "You must know your limit. This institution that you oh so hate is the very institution that you struggled days and nights to get into. You vowed to be loyal-"
"More like sign a confidentiality agreement."
"Do not interrupt me", she bellows and I stiffen. I hate it when people raise their voice at me. It triggers a part of me that I've fought long to hide. That I fight everyday to oppress. "You will not speak back to me or any staff member as long as you are bound to that agreement. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal", my voice sounds lazy and all of us present in this room pick up on it. I'm done here. Dr. Rajbhar sighs and straightens herself before taking her seat, looking calm and composed yet done. I love her like this. She knows she can't control me and hates it. I know she will hold her ground to protect this institution and hate it. We are tangled in this cycle of hatred and I sometimes wonder whether it is all for good and has a reason or is it simply me tempting death.
"Why did you bring her to me, Mr. Hunter?", she keeps her eyes on me and I don't back down either. I love eye contact with her as much as she hates it. "There better be a reason because I did not expect my morning to go this way."
My professor buffers for a minute there. I sometimes forget that Dr. Shanaya Rajbhar is the most feared person of this institution in the heat of our moments. Before Mr. Hunter can compose himself, I clear any drama to be ensued beforehand. "I broke Gabriel's nose."
I am momentarily exempted from the intense eye contact with Dr. Rajbhar because she decides to close her eyes and take deep breaths. When she opens them, I see nothing but the same shine which I saw on the day of my interview with her. Amusement. I raise a brow. "In my defense, he had it coming."
Her lips tip up, the barest hint of a smirk. She is about to say something, probably dismiss me from her cabin when Mr. Hunter decides to speak. Finally grew a bone of his own there I guess. "Gabriel Hastings, ma'am. He is the son of Dr. Michael Hastings, the supervisor of our Section."
"I will give you thirty seconds to explain yourself and it starts now."
"I just don't like him."
Her eyes narrow at my response. She is clearly trying to skin me alive with her glare but unlike her, who feels like everything is out of control at the slightest touch of rebellion, I welcome it. My whole life has been nothing but a constant battle of survival. Survival of the best. And I know nothing about failure for I have always won. I won then, I will win now and every time. And the win tastes so much sweeter when your competition is someone who is pretentious.
She says I am the one living in illusions but isn't she herself a prey of deception.
"Gabriel touched her inappropriately. What she did was out of defense."
Dr. Khan, my thesis in-charge speaks for the first time since we entered this room. He was the one who stopped me from gauging out Gabriel's eyes and wanted to settle everything without involving the head of the institution. But the man who has made it a mission to make my life close to hell here, Mr. Stephen Hunter, witnessed this chaos as well and obviously did not leave the chance of what he says- humiliating me.
"Bring Gabriel Hastings to me, Mr. Hunter."
"But ma'am he is-"
"I said", she narrows her eyes at him and he blanches for a second. "Bring him to me."
"Su-Sure ma'am", he hurries out of the room and I mentally roll my eyes. Nevermind. It will take time for him to grow a bone to stand for himself. Until then, he is just like any other person here.
"I'll take a leave now", I bow and move towards the door.
"I did not say-"
"I am leaving, Dr. Rajbhar", my voice drops a few octaves and she purses her lips, clearly not entertained. "If you want Gabriel alive, I suggest you don't let him and I be in one room. That way there will be no blood and broken bones."
She glares and I let amusement surface in my voice when I continue, "Or do you want more blood on these walls-"
"Ms. Kratos-"
"Dr. Rajbhar."
I leave the room.
At least I gave her a formal goodbye.
Ignoring all the whispers and not-so-subtle stares, I walk down the white-marbled floor of the hallway. All of this institution is made up of white marble floors, the paint on the wall being a shade of blue and the ceiling covered with art. It's like walking in a scientist's laboratory, at a beach and in a museum all at once. It's stupid yet peaceful.
My steps halt at the huge mahogany door marked with the sign - Section 1.
One of the laws of this institution is not leaving the Section you have been assigned to no matter what. And given the architecture and facilities provided with strict rules and regulations, I understand why everyone followed. My eyes scan the map displayed just beside it. Built on the third floor, Section 1 is the first of the five Sections on this floor. And while the rest of the Sections are also for Virology studies, we are forbidden to meet each other. Only the access to the library during exam seasons allow us to see each other and have a civil conversation. Or any workshop that gets conducted in the NEUN Auditorium.
Despite Virology being on the last floor of this institution, we never once had an excerpt of the rest of the floors. After passing the interview, we were taken by an elevator and were dropped off right in front of this door. We are not allowed to visit the rest of the four Sections being on the same floor; the other floors are completely out of question. For now.
I wanted to sneak around, see what this institution is hiding from us and what exactly this peninsular land has, but the main gate from what I know is equipped with technical security systems. One in which I can definitely hack into if I somehow sneak into the Security Room but then breaking into that room is risking my life altogether. From what my mentor had told me, the Security Room is on the Second floor. And let's just say that the Second floor is the most forbidden ground of this institution.
It's like things happen in this institution in the middle of the night or something; no traces of anything. The teachers here themselves are clueless. All they know is their work and payment. Rightfully so. Only the authorities here have the power. And that includes the head of this institution along with the rest of the board directors whom I have only met once. I had met seventeen of them who looked seemingly impressed with me but I know there are twenty. Three got added just before my award ceremony but did not attend it.
"Glad you didn't die in there."
My shoulders stiffen but I'd be stupid to not recognize that voice. Even in my sleep. Slowly, I turn around and am greeted with the sight of my arch-nemesis. Towering over me just by a few inches, there he stands, with his eyes dark and lips curved in a smirk. He is the one I hate the most, even more than the lovely woman in the office. He knows that. And he never misses a chance to remind me of how it feels to burn in the satire desire of teasing the predator with blood. He reminds me that I am the predator. And he says he would love to be hunted down by me.
But I see right past his act.
He is leaning against the wall with his hands in his pocket. He is dressed in money as usual; well-fitted dark jeans paired with jet black turtleneck. Our institution's official uniform which is only a charcoal black coat falls just below his knees, adding a timeless sophisticated flair to his casual chic ensemble. Vintage shoes, leather wristwatch, a ring on his right hand with a discreet bracelet and he looks like a Devonshire indeed. "Cat got your tongue, baby?"
I purse my lips and his eyes drop there before he meets my glare. I turn and resume walking. He chuckles. His presence so close behind me is annoying. "Don't you have a class to attend?"
"I know my priorities."
I stop and turn around to find him standing less than a foot away from me. His cologne, a captivating blend of smoky cedarwood and rich patchouli, unfolds with a mild, earthy allure that threatens to pull me into the depths of a hidden forest. But what stops me from falling in this spell is the knowledge that beneath this serene exterior lies a dangerous undercurrent — a hint of smoldering embers and the dark intensity of leather.
I glare at him.
He grins at me.
"I love that I rule your list of priorities", I say and his grin falls to a smirk. "But I like a really good competition and love beating your ass academically so go and study."
"Nothing wrong with the occasional ass beating", I choose to ignore the rasp in his voice. "And I don't have to attend classes to score better than you. Remember when due to my sickness-"
I roll my eyes. "That was one time-"
"I couldn't attend six classes-"
"I gave you my notes-"
"Yet scored better than you."
I scoff and my glare hardens, infuriated by his audacity. I literally gave my notes to this ass on Dr. Khan's request. He ended up scoring better than me and was all smug about it so I swore to myself that I would never help him. Or anyone if that's what it takes to be the top student. If anyone thinks that makes me selfish then they clearly don't know how NEUN operates.
Walls here are my best friends and they tell me all the whispers they hear.
I resume walking, ignoring him completely. That's how I was at peace in my first few months here; by ignoring everyone.
Until him.
Obviously.
I take a turn and realize it's the library. We can only use it during the weekends now that it is not the exam season. I turn around but meet eyes with the same dark ones and it's so sudden that I take a step back, my heart beating fast.
That was so close.
He was so close.
If I had moved my head just a little - No. I'd rather kill myself.
"What the hell is wrong with you?", I whisper-shout. Library is just ten feet ahead and if the librarian hears us or worse, spots us together, alone, bunking the lectures, I would be in trouble. And reflecting on the stunt I pulled in the office a few minutes ago, I doubt I will be excused.
Detention from laboratory work will definitely be one of the punishments and I really can't afford it given the assignment that I have to submit tomorrow because if not, my marks will be deducted for late submission causing my grades to drop.
I can risk my life but my title as the top student is off limits.
I am on a mission and that title is my only key to execute it.
The library door creeks open, pulling me from my thoughts. I am pulled by my arm and then pushed against the wall. I don't even have time to register what is happening before a hand slams down on my mouth and Bhavya presses himself against me. His other hand rests on the wall, right besides my head, caging me in.
My heart is going to burst.
He is not looking at me but my eyes traces his every feature despite my reluctance. His jaw sharp is clenched and his parted lips with the way he is breathing slightly heavily is making my imagination run as wild as my heart. A shiver wrecks its way down my spine and his eyes meet mine, sensing it immediately. Or maybe it is because he is pressed against me, like literally. My breathing picks up, my chest rising and falling in rapid successions. I try to ignore his intense stare and his very hard, very built body but my brain only screams one phrase - This is not good.
As I said, I can't cause trouble for myself when I am where I worked hard to be.
I claw at the hand against my mouth and he hisses, pulling away slightly and giving me a chance to process everything. I look around the room, immediately recognizing it. It's where all our answer papers end up. The Storage Room. It is furnished with only huge shelves and a few chairs just around the corner.
"Are you crazy?", I hush. "If we get caught-"
"Oh please. While I don't hate it as much as you, I have a reputation to keep", his voice sounds much deeper than usual and I feel warmth settle at the bottom of my stomach. This can't be real. I don't want to acknowledge whatever this feeling is but one thing is clear; I despise him.
I pull myself together and glare at him. "The only reputation you have is of a man who knows nothing but my name. Am I the goddess you worship, Bhavya? Considering your actions amount to nothing more than incessant following!"
His jaw clenches and he covers the step he previously took, getting in my face. I lift my chin up in defiance, refusing to give in and ignoring how it brings our lips only a breath apart. "Iris", his eyes drops to my lips before coming back to my face. I stop breathing, awaiting the only rational thing he will do; throw another insult my way. "Saprai quando ti adorerò e non sarà niente di santo."
He pulls away and walks out of the room before I can ask him to translate whatever the fuck he said. An audible intake of breath clears the fog in my brain. My fingers trace my lips with a feather light touch before I drop my arm and cautiously walk out of the room. Fortunately I see no one and quickly make my way to my room. I'll write the letter of absence and give my reasons later.
But for now, I lock the door and throw myself on the bed with an aim to forget everything.
Especially my furiously beating heart.