Lucas's predatory gaze suddenly locked onto another who moved quickly past him like a ghoust.He immediately recognized the person as the one Dimitri was smiling at .He followed the boy with the thick glasses and braces,he didn't know what came over him but as he moved hurriedly down the hall. The boy, unaware of Lucas's presence, fumbled with his books and cast occasional nervous glances over his shoulder. Lucas's dark eyes never left him, the faintest hint of a smirk playing on his lips.
The boy reached an empty classroom and hesitated at the door, glancing around as if sensing something amiss. Lucas, blending into the shadows, watched with interest as the boy finally slipped inside, the door closing behind him.
With a measured, almost casual stride, Lucas approached the door. He waited for a moment, ensuring no one else was around, then pushed it open and stepped into the room, closing it softly behind him. The click of the latch echoed in the empty space as he turned to face the boy.
The classroom was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the high windows, casting long shadows across the floor. Lucas's eyes were drawn to the boy's anxious form.
As Lucas moved closer, he took in the boy's features—his thick glasses, braces that caught the light, and the way his acne-scarred cheeks flushed a deep red. Despite the boy's clear discomfort and the awkwardness of his appearance, Lucas's presence was enough to make the boy's heart race with a mix of fear and inexplicable attraction.
Lucas's gaze was cold and calculating as he stopped in front of the boy. "You seem a bit lost," he said, his voice smooth and dangerous. He took in the boy's reaction with detached interest, his smirk growing as he watched the boy's face flush even deeper.
The boy stammered, his eyes wide and his voice trembling. "W-why are you here?"
Lucas's smirk widened. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of knowing your name." He leaned in slightly, his eyes never leaving the boy's. "What is it?"
The boy, caught off guard by Lucas's intense stare and the unsettling beauty that seemed almost otherworldly, struggled to form coherent words. "E-Ethan," he managed to stutter, his face a mix of awe and terror.
Lucas's eyes gleamed with a dark satisfaction as he absorbed the boy's reaction. "Ethan," he repeated, his voice rolling off his tongue like a caress. He let the name hang in the air, savoring the way it made Ethan's blush deepen.
Lucas's presence seemed to fill the room, his beauty and menace creating a potent combination that left Ethan feeling both captivated and petrified. The room was silent except for the faint, nervous breaths coming from Ethan as he stood frozen, unable to look away from Lucas's piercing gaze.
Lucas's gaze remained fixed on Ethan as he took deliberate steps closer, closing the distance between them. His movements were smooth, almost predatory, as he began to circle Ethan, his eyes never leaving the boy.
"So," Lucas began, his voice low and deliberate, "how do you know Dimitri?"He couldn't help himself needing to know if Ethan would be a threat he needed to take care of now.
Ethan's eyes darted around the room, unable to meet Lucas's intense stare. The air felt thick with tension, his heart pounding in his chest. He was acutely aware of Lucas's reputation—a reputation for cruelty and a fierce, almost feral beauty that was both mesmerizing and terrifying.
"I—I don't know him well," Ethan stuttered, his voice trembling. "I just… I've seen him around. We don't talk much." His words spilled out in a rush, hoping that quick honesty might ease the dread.
Lucas's eyes narrowed slightly as he continued to circle Ethan, his presence growing more imposing with each step. "You're sure you don't know him well? You're not hiding anything?"
Ethan's breath quickened. He knew all too well about Lucas's brutality. The rumors of Lucas's violence, including the recent incident where he had seen the beaten Dimitri in the bathroom, were the stuff of school legend. The thought of Lucas turning his attention to him—one of the most unpopular and vulnerable students—was almost too overwhelming to bear.
"I—I saw him in the bathroom," Ethan blurted out, his voice cracking. "He was with someone else, and I saw you… I mean, You passed me when you were leaving."
Lucas's eyes gleamed with a dark satisfaction at Ethan's confession. The boy's stuttering admission seemed to amuse him further. He stopped his pacing and stood directly in front of Ethan, his gaze fixed on the boy's frightened face.
"So, you're saying you've witnessed some of my… work?" Lucas's tone was almost conversational, but there was an edge to it that made Ethan's blood run cold. "Interesting. And yet, you seem so willing to talk to me after knowing that. Why is that?"
Ethan's mind raced. The ferocity of Lucas's gaze, combined with his gothic beauty, left him feeling disoriented and vulnerable. To Lucas, everyone looked the same—an indistinct blur of faces and bodies. Yet, Ethan's reaction was one of intense fear and admiration, which struck Lucas as curious and slightly amusing.
"I-I just… didn't think you'd—" Ethan began, but the words stumbled out. "You don't usually, uh, talk to people like me. I mean, I didn't expect you to…"
Lucas's expression remained impassive, his focus unyielding. "And what do you expect of me, Ethan?"
Ethan's face flushed as he tried to explain. "I didn't think you'd bother with someone like me. I mean, you seem—"
Lucas cut him off with a dismissive wave. "People are all the same to me.You are just the same as anyone else to me." His eyes remained cold and unreadable...insignificant....but he didn't say that. "It's your reaction that interests me. Why are you so eager to spill your secrets?"
Ethan's face was a mix of fear and awe, his blush deepening as he tried to process the surreal situation. The boy's stuttering and fear only seemed to entertain Lucas, who continued to watch him with detached fascination.
"I—I didn't think you'd care," Ethan finally managed to say, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Not with someone like me."
Lucas's gaze softened slightly, though his expression remained cold. "Well, Ethan, sometimes it's the unexpected encounters that are the most interesting." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And now, you've got my attention."
Ethan's gaze fell to the floor, his embarrassment palpable as he continued his confession. "I've—um, I've actually grown a little fond of Dimitri. He's not as stuck up and bad as everyone thinks, you know? I just—"
His voice trailed off as he suddenly looked up, startled to find Lucas's face mere inches from his own. The intensity of Lucas's gaze was overwhelming, the beauty and danger of his presence almost suffocating as he just watched Ethan ,his eyes wide and unfeeling.
Ethan stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock and fear. "I—I didn't mean to—"
Lucas didn't move away. Instead, he stepped closer, his movements deliberate and unhurried. The space between them closed rapidly until Ethan's back hit the wall, leaving him trapped in the narrow confines of the classroom. Lucas leaned in, his eyes never leaving Ethan's, as if he were savoring the boy's reaction.
"Fond of Dimitri, you say?" Lucas's voice was a low, menacing murmur. "How interesting. And what do you think of me, Ethan?"
Ethan's breath came in shallow, panicked gasps. The wall behind him felt cold and unyielding, and Lucas's proximity was almost too much to bear. He could feel the heat from Lucas's body, the sharp, almost intoxicating scent of his presence. The fear and fascination made it hard to think clearly.
"I—I don't know," Ethan stammered, trying to gather his thoughts as Lucas's face remained dangerously close. "I—I heard the rumors.I just don't want anyone getting hurt. Especially not someone I—"
Lucas's smile grew, a dark satisfaction in his eyes. "Especially not someone you… what? Care about?"
Ethan's face flushed even deeper, his eyes darting away as he struggled to maintain his composure. "I don't want anyone hurt. That's all," he managed to say, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Lucas's gaze remained fixed on Ethan, his expression a blend of curiosity and cold amusement. He leaned in even closer, his breath brushing against Ethan's ear. "And if it came down to protecting Dimitri or yourself, which would you choose?"
The question hung in the air, the tension in the room palpable. Ethan's mind raced as he struggled to find an answer, his heart pounding in his chest.
The intensity of the moment seemed to stretch on forever, and Ethan could do nothing but brace himself against the wall, caught in Lucas's hypnotic gaze. The school's most dangerous and captivating figure had him cornered, and all Ethan could do was wait to see what would happen next.