I met Daiman again, and as I stared at him, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was no longer the person I once knew. The arrogance that clung to him before was still there, but something about him felt more twisted. Behind him, a few of his lackeys lingered, their smug faces a reflection of Daiman's confident sneer.
"Hey, cousin," he called out, closing the distance between us. "Heard you were back in town. Why didn't you stop by home before coming here?"
I exhaled deeply, already exhausted by his presence.
"You know the rules, Daiman," I responded flatly, eyes narrowing. "Let's just stay out of each other's way."
But Daiman wasn't done. His gaze shifted, landing on Grace, and his lips curled into a sleazy smile. "And who might this beauty be?" he asked, stepping closer to her. "Hi, the name's Daiman. A pleasure to make your acquaintance," he added with a grin that made my skin crawl.
I rolled my eyes. "You know her," I said coldly. "She just looks different now."
Turning to Grace, I spoke softly. "Let's go."
But before we could walk away, Daiman reached out, grabbing Grace's arm lightly. "Wait a second… who could you be?"
Grace didn't flinch. "Grace Bishop. Daughter of Jared Bishop," she answered, her voice calm and unwavering.
Daiman's smirk widened as he rubbed his chin in fake contemplation. "The Bishops, huh?" he muttered. "I remember now—they only had one daughter. But, last I checked, she was…" His eyes narrowed in on Grace, realization dawning. "You're the fat girl, aren't you?"
The words hit like a punch to the gut, and I felt a surge of anger rise inside me. Of course, Daiman had to dig up her past. Back then, Grace had gone through a rough patch, and eating had become her coping mechanism. She gained weight rapidly, becoming an easy target for Daiman and his gang. "Fatso Bishop," they had cruelly dubbed her, tormenting her every chance they got.
Daiman laughed, circling her like a predator. "It's Fatso Bishop!" he jeered, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. "What the hell did you do to get such a makeover?"
His laughter grated against my nerves, and without a word, I grabbed Grace's hand and pulled her away from him. As we turned to leave, I heard one of Daiman's cronies call out to him.
"He's getting discharged soon. The doc says we've got an hour before night classes start."
Daiman's interest piqued immediately. "Perfect," he said. "Let's get him to the restricted building for a little chat. Tell Benny not to miss it."
I heard every word, and even though I knew I should've stayed out of it, something inside me stirred. I couldn't let it go.
By nine o'clock, night classes had officially begun, meaning no one was supposed to be wandering outside. Yet, there I was, sneaking out of the dorms. The girls' section was strict, making it difficult to get to the boys' area—especially to the restricted building. It was an incomplete storage facility on the far side of the training field, isolated and out of sight. I crept through the shadows, surprised not to see any guards patrolling the area.
After searching carefully, I finally found it—the secret passage Vivian had told me about. I'd heard stories about this place, whispers of how some of the girls made secret arrangements with the boys they fancied. With a little bribe to the guards, they could sneak in through this very passage. It was disgusting how casually they treated the rules, but right now, I wasn't thinking about them. I had my own reasons for being here.
As I slipped into the passage, I heard the faint shuffle of movement ahead. My heart pounded in my chest, and I crept forward, every sense on high alert. I didn't know why, but something told me to be ready for anything.
I crouched low, hidden in the shadows, and watched as Daiman and his gang led someone down to the ground floor. The air felt heavy with tension as I quietly followed, observing from a distance. At first, it seemed like a normal confrontation, but then things took a turn I never expected.
It happened so fast, I barely had time to process it. The guy they had cornered exploded into motion, moving with a speed I couldn't believe. He fought with such precision, dismantling Daiman's gang like they were nothing but amateurs. Every move was calculated, lethal. And then, with one swift strike, he took Daiman down, knocking him out cold with a single blow.
I control my breathing, steadying myself as I watch him walk away, maintaining a cautious distance. My eyes narrow, taking in every detail of his frame. I haven't met him officially, but I'd heard the stories—rumors, really—about the boy who had a brutal showdown with Daiman before I even enrolled here. So, *that's* him. Damn, he's better than I expected, far better than anyone let on. They said he was the weakest? If this was their idea of weakness, I didn't want to know what their definition of strength was. He's stronger than me, that much I know, and I'm no amateur. So how could someone supposedly labeled as a novice inflict such damage?
He catches me watching, confusion clouding his eyes as he hesitates, clearly unsure of my intentions. I won't let this opportunity slip away—he's the only person with an interesting expression around here. And, honestly, he's cute. Not that I'm *interested* in him like that, but I'd be lying if I said he wasn't the best option I had at the moment.
"So, what do you say?" I ask, extending my hand toward him, my voice light and casual. "Partners?"
He stares at my hand, his gaze hard and wary, clearly not the trusting type. His expression makes it obvious—he thinks I'm out of line. Still, I stand my ground, flashing what I hope is my most disarming smile.
"I still don't get it. Why me?" he asks, suspicion lacing his voice.
I grin like an idiot, hoping to charm him. There's no way he can resist a beautiful, charming woman, right? "You're my light," I say, the words rolling off my tongue effortlessly. But his expression shifts almost instantly, like I've touched a nerve.
"What did you just say?" His voice is sharper now, his eyes narrowing.
I blink, momentarily confused. "You're my light?"
**Come on, just say yes already!** I can feel the smile stretching wider across my face, and I probably look ridiculous now, like some overly eager stalker. My cheeks burn with embarrassment, but I can't let up now.
"Okay," he finally says, though his tone is reluctant.
I blink again, caught off guard. "Excuse me?"
"I said okay." His response is curt, and he turns away, walking off without even bothering to shake my hand.
"Hey, wait up! We need to register our names." I rush after him, practically jogging to keep up with his long strides. Up close, he's taller than I anticipated. Not just tall—he's bigger, more muscular, and there's something so… overwhelming about him. His presence alone feels tormenting, like a storm barely restrained. With each step, I have to pick up the pace to stay beside him, his legs eating up the distance in a way that makes me feel short and out of breath.
"Okay," he repeats, barely acknowledging my words with more than a single syllable.
I smile, trying to break the ice again, even as I struggle to keep up. "So, let's get acquainted. I'm Jules Falcon," I say, my breath coming out a little faster than I'd like, but I force a bright tone into my voice.
"I know," he replies without looking at me, his eyes fixed ahead as we approach the registration stop.
"Right… and what should I call you?" I ask, still trying to strike up some kind of conversation.
"Alexei," he answers flatly. "Or Lex. Whichever you prefer."
A single name, not much more than the bare minimum. **What a boring guy.** Still, his name suits him—simple, direct, yet somehow fitting for his dashing face and quiet strength.
"Lex sounds better," I decide aloud.
"Sure," he replies with a shrug, his pace never faltering.
Okay, Jules, you've got your partner. Now to the next chapter