Raena felt a tight knot twist in her stomach, an uncomfortable churn that refused to subside. The weight of her classmates' stares pressed down on her like a heavy blanket, each looking varying in intensity. Some of them met her gaze with eyes full of sympathy, their expressions reflecting an understanding of the precarious situation she found herself in.
Others, however, wore a mask of cold, calculating indifference, as though her struggles were merely entertainment to them. Among this harsh crowd, three faces stood out, their smirks carved into their features like cruel little sculptures. Lucius, Ivana, and Zorina reveled in the moment, their expressions simmering with a malicious glee that made Raena's skin crawl.
