The night air was cool and crisp, perfect for slipping through shadows unnoticed. I crouched behind a hedge lining the south courtyard, a spot that provided cover while keeping me close enough to hear. Killian Maddox and his group had stopped near the fountain, their voices low but not quiet enough to escape me.
This was my first night trailing them, and I'd already learned enough to start piecing together who they were. But tonight, their conversation shifted in a way I hadn't expected.
They were talking about me.
Killian sat on the fountain's edge, his body language relaxed but commanding. Ethan, the stocky brute of the group, leaned against a nearby lamppost, crossing his arms with a scowl. Marcus, thin and jittery, perched on the edge of the stone bench.
"That kid," Killian started, his tone measured but laced with annoyance. "Noah. He's... unexpected."
My name coming from his mouth sent a cold spike down my spine, though I kept perfectly still.
"What do you mean, 'unexpected'?" A boy named Ethan asked, I had known him before ever since the first day I came to school he was the one who made fun of my introduction, his voice thick with skepticism. "You mean the first-year who knocked you flat in front of that girl?"
Killian's jaw tightened, but he didn't rise to the bait. "Watch your tone, Ethan," he said coolly. "You think you could've handled him any better?"
Ethan's scowl deepened, but he didn't respond.
Marcus, as killian addressed him, adjusted his glasses, his curiosity obvious. "So, what's his deal? Is he trying to make a name for himself? Or was it just... random?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Killian said, his voice dropping slightly. "He's strong. Too strong for someone who's just starting here."
"That doesn't make sense," Ethan spoke. "If he's that strong, why haven't we heard about him before now? You don't just show up with that kind of skill."
Killian nodded, his expression darkening. "Exactly. That's what's bothering me. He wasn't even supposed to be there, but he showed up out of nowhere, like he was looking for a fight. And the way he moves—he's not just brawn. He's calculated. But let's not take away the fact that he resumed 3 weeks later than us so it makes sense that we didn't know about him till now."
Marcus frowned. "You think he's dangerous?"
Killian's smirk returned, faint but menacing. "Dangerous, yes. But also useful."
My breath caught for a moment. He wasn't telling them about his offer to me, which meant he was keeping his options open. That was interesting.
Ethan let out a low growl of frustration, pacing a few steps away from the group. "So what do we do? Wait for him to come at us again? Because if he does, I'm not holding back."
"No," Killian said sharply. "We don't do anything yet. We watch him. Let him think we've moved on. But it goes without saying that we will have to teach Noah a lesson."
Marcus leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper I barely caught. "And what about the girl? She saw everything."
Killian waved him off. "Elise won't be a problem. She's too scared to do anything, and even if she wasn't, no one would believe her over us."
Darren tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "And if she talks to Noah?"
Killian's smirk widened. "Then we'll handle it. The same way we've handled everything else."
Ethan chuckled darkly, the sound sending a ripple of unease through the air. "You mean we'll let you handle it."
Killian shrugged, his confidence unshaken. "Exactly."
As the conversation continued, I stayed rooted in place, carefully noting everything.
Killian's leadership was obvious—he controlled the flow of the conversation, kept the others in check, and revealed only what he wanted them to know. Ethan was blunt and aggressive, eager for action but easily pacified, and from the rumors I have heard he is really into girls. Marcus was analytical, always questioning but quick to defer to Killian.
By the time they started to leave, I had more than just their names. I had their dynamics, their roles, and the cracks in their group.
Killian didn't trust anyone enough to share everything. Ethan's impulsiveness made him predictable. Marcus's paranoia was a weakness disguised as caution.
I waited until their footsteps faded into the distance before slipping out of my hiding spot.
Back in my room, I added to my notes, the edges of my plan starting to form.
Killian was smart, but he wasn't infallible. He relied on his group's cohesion to maintain his power. If I could isolate them, turn their strengths into vulnerabilities, Killian would fall.
I tapped my pen against the notebook, considering what I'd overheard.
"Let him think we've moved on," Killian had said.
I smirked to myself.
That would be his first mistake.