**Author's Note:** This chapter contains sensitive descriptions that may be disturbing or uncomfortable for some readers. Please approach with caution and be mindful of your own emotional responses as you read.
Avoiding Nova was another challenge for her. She didn't want to provoke him or his girlfriend in any way, but despite her efforts, she accidentally spoiled Rihana's clothes and slapped her in front of all the students—perhaps even Nova had witnessed it. She didn't know what he would do the next time they crossed paths, but she was done with them. Her life was already far from easy, and Liora didn't need any more trouble diverting her energy and focus away from her goal. Right now, all she needed to concentrate on was getting Sven to confess.
Liora grabbed her books from her locker and walked away, eventually finding a spot near the usual place where Sven met students. She was angry, far more than angry, she thought. And she needed to divert her focus from Rihana to Sven because she might go back and punch her five times harder on her face if she did not.
It was a tree that seemed to belong to him, as if he owned it, deciding who could approach and who had to keep their distance. Liora settled against another tree nearby. She was sure that he would arrive with another student, and she wanted to hear what they had to say.
She spread her books out, pretending to study under the shade, which provided a perfect cover. After waiting for roughly thirty minutes, she noticed Sven coming closer with a student following him.
Liora immediately straightened her posture. Her guards became vigilant. She averted her gaze, making sure that Sven wouldn't identify her. Her ears were tuned to their discussion while her eyes remained focused on the books she was holding.
"I will help your family. Don't worry about the money, Maria," Sven said in a soothing tone to the female student sitting next to him. The girl was practically cuddled up to him. Her unease was clearly visible in her eyes.
"Why would you help me so much?" the girl inquired, her eyes brimming with scepticism. No one had ever helped her, so why would a stranger want to help?
"I grew up in a poor family. Not too long ago, I was living in poverty. I worked hard to get where I am now, and now I have enough to help others," Sven gazed at Maria with genuine empathy, as if he truly understood her struggles and wished to provide her with support.
The girl Sven was scamming was from Cuba. Maria had earned a scholarship to study in Quantum Future and dreamed of bringing her family to the USA, away from the violent cartels that haunted their town.
Liora hated Sven even more than before for taking advantage of people who really had only hope left. But then again, what else she could expect from this serpent!
"Before I forget, I must take your photo for my company registration," Sven said while bringing out his phone to capture Maria's face.
Maria nodded agreeably and smiled, looking at the camera, and the camera clicked.
The sharp click of the camera made Liora jerk a little, but she maintained her composure.
Sven, the snake, was not done with a single click. He held Maria's shoulder, pulling her closer for a selfie. "Let's keep this moment captured. Smile," he said with saccharine sweetness, and another click followed, freezing Maria's anxious smile in time.
Liora felt compelled to approach him, snatch his phone, and smash it. He aggressively posed for a selfie with Sofia and now Maria. 'Scoundrel! Creep!' Liora thought to herself.
Even with Sven's assurance, in the corner of her heart, Maria kept feeling unsettled. When she walked away, she gave one last glance back at Sven.
Sven remained under the tree. His expression changed from a perverted smile to a serious one as he lit a cigarette. He was thinking deeply, or perhaps something was troubling him.
The smoke lazily spiralled around him, intertwining with the dappled sunlight that gently filtered through the lush green leaves above.
"Why is he not leaving?" Liora thought, hidden behind her book, hoping Sven hadn't noticed her.
But not even two minutes passed before a male student stormed up to Sven, anger radiating from him. Liora glanced at him from the side and recognized him as the same guy she had seen during the lunch break with Sven.
"Did you get what I asked for?" Sven's tone shifted like a chameleon alters its colours based on its environment.
"I already gave up one kidney. Is that not enough for you?" The student spat out in rage, and Liora caught her breath in her throat.
"Lower your voice, Frank. If you keep up that attitude, it will only harm you," Sven rose to his feet with a cigarette between his fingers, took another long puff, and then blew the smoke on Frank's face to remind him who was in control here.
'Was he really Mark's brother?' Liora started to doubt seeing his cunningness. A complete opposite of her father.
The current events unfolded behind a large tree, shielded from the eyes of the world—but not from Liora's.
"Do you have the list of people who need money?" Sven asked sharply, his tone contrasting the earlier façade of kindness he had shown Maria.
"This is my final payment," Frank replied through gritted teeth. He handed Sven a crumpled piece of paper that contained the names of students in need of financial assistance.
Sven's schemes were far darker than Liora had imagined. He wasn't just exploiting students; he was coercing them into dangerous, life-altering situations. Each victim he ensnared led to the recruitment of more, a grim chain of exploitation. Liora's skin crawled in disgust at the thought of having a relationship with such an ill-minded man.
She recorded all the conversations of the day on her phone. She quietly packed her books into her bag, trying to keep her movements calm. The last thing she needed was to draw Sven's attention.
She slipped away from her spot from tree to tree, moving quickly but not hastily, blending into the flow of students on campus. Her mind churned with plans and possibilities.
She had to share this recording with Daran and Rachel. Eager to devise a plan with them, her anger had shifted focus to Sven, and her mind felt more at ease. It suddenly dawned on her that Rachel and Daran were in the hotel basement.
Without wasting another moment, she dialled Daran's number, and he picked up on the first ring.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.
"What will happen to me, Liora? Were you worried about me?" he replied, his tone calm and teasing.
"Of course I was worried! Is Rachel okay, too? Did the police come?"
"Everything has been resolved. Those men will never think of harming anyone again. I made sure of it." Daran spoke confidently as if he were a judge sentencing all the immoral people to prison so they wouldn't disrupt the law-abiding citizens. "We need to talk, Liora," he added in a tone that sent a chill down her spine—one she didn't recognize.
She shook her head and cleared her throat. "I need to tell you something, too."
"I'll come and meet you in two hours. Until then, stay safe" Daran's voice had taken on an exotic quality, almost as if he were high on something. Liora felt an uneasy knot forming in her stomach at the way he spoke.
Daran hung up the phone, blood smudged on his hands. He took a long drag from his cigarette before flicking it onto the cold floor and crushing it underfoot. The frigid room surrounded him, its walls draped in plastic sheeting that hung like a translucent veil, ready to contain the inevitable mess.
On the floor, several men squirmed, tightly bound with duct tape—hands and legs immobilized, mouths gagged. They appeared ashen, trembling in fear. Some soiled themselves, while others screamed silently through their taped mouths, pleading for forgiveness that would never come.
Daran cast an indifferent glance at their terror, and the flicker of empathy he always showed to Liora long extinguished within him.
He donned a plastic coverall designed to protect his clothing from the blood splattering that would follow. With a surgical knife in hand, he approached the table where a lifeless body lay. The man's stomach gaped open, and several organs were already missing as if harvested with chilling precision.
As Daran began to work on the corpse, he moved with unsettling calmness and focus.
Back at the campus, Liora strolled toward the campus gate, taking her time as she admired the gentle flow of the nearby streams and the lively students walking, talking, and laughing. She reached the large parking area filled with various cars and bikes.
The parking lot was a popular place for students to hang out. They liked to sit on the hoods of cars or lounge around their motorcycles, enjoying the camaraderie of campus life.
Her gaze fell upon the bikes, and she was instantly reminded of the racetrack and the thrilling biker race. A rush of excitement washed over her as she recalled that exhilarating night. She walked closer to the motorcycles and stood in awe, admiring their sleek designs.
One bike in particular caught her eye—a stunning Ducati. Glancing around, she noticed that the Trios were nowhere in sight and she stepped closer to get a better look at the motorcycle. She marvelled at how she had never considered learning to ride before and how intensely she now longed to acquire that skill.
Liora wanted to feel that same rush of adrenaline again. Unable to resist the allure of the Ducati, she approached it, her fingers gliding lightly over its polished surface. She revelled in the feel of the cool metal and the smooth curves of the bike.
She made a mental note: after sending Sven to the mental asylum, she would learn how to ride a bike.
She held the handlebars tightly at first and then ran her fingers over the textured grips and buttons. She closed her eyes and pictured the raw power of the engine waiting to be unleashed at her command. The thrill of racing down the open road filled her senses. A smile tugged on her lips, caught up in the moment.
"What are you doing here?" A voice came from back, making Liora freeze.