I was overjoyed beyond words after that brief exchange with Emma.
The memory of her radiant smile and melodic voice replayed in my mind like a cherished melody. It wasn't just her stunning beauty that had captured me-it was the warmth in her words, the gentle way she spoke, and the way her presence seemed to light up the world around her. My heart raced as if it was running a marathon, and my thoughts were consumed by her.
I was falling for her, hard and fast, like a helpless fool swept up in a tide I couldn't resist.
For a moment, I allowed myself to bask in the happiness of it all. The simple fact that we had talked, even for a brief moment, filled me with an inexplicable joy. I felt like a high-schooler experiencing love for the first time, completely enthralled and utterly lost in my emotions.
But she didn't know-how could she?
I had hidden my feelings behind a veil of casual conversation, unwilling to reveal just how deeply she'd affected me.
Suddenly, my daydream was shattered as a heavy object struck the back of my head. Startled,
I grabbed the spot where the impact landed, wincing slightly from the sting. A book fell to the ground beside me with a dull thud.
"Who the fuck is that?" I barked, spinning around to face the culprit.
My eyes locked onto the perpetrator, and my frustration boiled over as I recognized him.
It was the same bully who had tried to assist Emma before I had swooped in to help her.
His smug face twisted into a sneer as he stood there with his arms crossed, clearly relishing the discomfort he'd caused me. He was the kind of guy who radiated arrogance,
a born troublemaker with a chip on his shoulder.
I sized him up quickly.
He was taller than me, with a broad chest and arms that bulged slightly under his shirt. His face was a blend of features that, while not hideous, didn't do him any favors.
His crooked nose looked like it had been broken one too many times, and his uneven stubble added a ruggedness that bordered on menacing.
He wasn't just a bully-he was the leader of the pack, the one who thrived on intimidation and thrived in the chaos he created.
"Problem, lover boy?"
he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.
The group of bullies behind him chuckled, feeding off his bravado like vultures circling a carcass.
I felt a spark of anger ignite within me, but I knew better than to escalate things.
This wasn't just about me-if I retaliated, it could spiral into something far worse. Still, the humiliation stung.
"Grow up,"
I muttered, bending down to pick up the book he'd thrown.
My heart pounded as I tried to maintain my composure, but inside, I was fuming.
"Grow up?"
he echoed with a laugh, taking a step closer.
"Is that all you've got to say? Maybe next time you'll learn to stay in your lane."
I met his gaze,
refusing to back down even though my instincts screamed at me to walk away. There was something about him that screamed danger-not just in his build, but in the way he carried himself like he was used to getting what he wanted through fear and force.
But I wasn't going to let him ruin my day. Not after the high I'd been riding from talking to Emma.
"You done?"
I asked coolly, straightening up and holding his gaze.
"Or do you need more attention?"
The remark seemed to catch him off guard for a moment,
and the sneer on his face faltered. But it was only for a second before he regained his composure, leaning in slightly as if to assert his dominance.
"You've got guts,"
he said, his voice low and threatening.
"I'll give you that.
But don't think for a second that you're untouchable"
I think his name is Derek, what a fucking name.
I staggered as the pain from the first punch rippled through my face.
My cheek throbbed, and for a moment, I felt an uncontrollable surge of anger bubbling up inside me.
My fists clenched tightly, ready to retaliate, to teach this bastard a lesson he'd never forget.
But I forced myself to hold back. I wasn't about to stoop to their level-not yet, at least.
I lifted my head, locking eyes with Derek and his gang, trying to show them I wouldn't be broken.
But before I could even utter a word, another punch landed, this time square under my jaw.
It was an uppercut, perfectly placed to knock the air out of my lungs. My mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood, and I felt it trickle down my chin.
The pain was sharp and immediate, making my knees buckle slightly. But I didn't fall.
I wobbled but managed to stay upright, gritting my teeth against the searing ache.
"Now talk, bitch!"
Derek snarled, gripping my collar tightly.
His face was inches from mine, his hot breath reeking of cheap snacks and malice. His eyes burned with rage, but beneath that,
I saw something else-fear. Fear that I might challenge his authority,
that I might expose him for the coward he truly was.
"You fuck,"
he spat, shaking me violently. But I stayed silent, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cower.
Derek's patience snapped. With a furious roar,
he drove his knee into my stomach, sending a jolt of pain shooting through my body.
I doubled over, clutching my abdomen, gasping for air.
But I still didn't go down. Somehow, I managed to stay on my feet, my pride the only thing holding me up.
That seemed to infuriate him even more. His fist came flying again,
this time a devastating blow to the side of my face.
It was a punch that defied reason, fueled by pure rage and gravity.
The impact was like a sledgehammer, and I felt myself being flung to the ground.
I landed hard, the cold floor pressing against my battered body.
My head spun, and for a moment, the world around me blurred into a haze of pain and noise.
Derek's gang erupted into laughter, their voices blending into a mocking chorus that felt like nails on a chalkboard.
Before I could even process what was happening, they descended on me like vultures.
Kicks and punches rained down mercilessly, each one sending a fresh wave of agony through my body.
My ribs ached, my back screamed in protest, and my arms, which I'd instinctively raised to shield my face, felt like they were being battered into uselessness.
I wanted to fight back.
Every fiber of my being screamed at me to rise, to unleash the fury building inside me, to show these cowards what I was capable of.
But I couldn't.
I was outnumbered,
overwhelmed, and weakened by the relentless assault.
The pain was unbearable, but what hurt more was the humiliation.
Here I was, lying helpless on the ground while they laughed and jeered, their cruel faces etched into my memory.
I let out a scream, raw and desperate, but it echoed uselessly in the emptying hallway. Most of the students had already left, and the few who remained seemed to turn a blind eye,
unwilling to involve themselves in what was clearly a dangerous situation.
Just as my vision began to blur from the relentless blows, I noticed someone approaching from afar. A lone figure emerged, walking steadily down the hallway.
His voice rang out, cutting through the bullies' cruel laughter.
"Hey! Stop that!" he shouted, his tone firm and commanding.
The bullies paused for a brief moment, their heads snapping toward the voice. But the leader, Derek, merely scoffed and rolled his eyes, motioning for his lackeys to continue.
"Mind your business, pal," Derek sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
The guy didn't stop.
His steps quickened, and his presence seemed to grow larger as he closed the distance. His expression was one of determination, his gaze locked onto the scene unfolding before him.
The bullies, seeing he was undeterred, intensified their assault, as if to send a message: this wasn't his fight. But the stranger wasn't having it.
"Enough!" he yelled, now only a few feet away.
Derek straightened up, his posture defensive, his smirk replaced with a scowl. "You don't want to get involved in this," he warned, stepping between me and the newcomer.
The guy didn't flinch. Instead, he squared his shoulders and crossed his arms, staring Derek down with an intensity that made even the lackeys hesitate.
"Walk away now," the stranger said, his voice calm but laced with steel.
They ignored the guy's warning and resumed their savage assault. Each blow landed harder than the last, their kicks and punches relentless as if they were trying to break more than just my body-maybe my spirit too.
The pain coursed through me in waves, sharp and unrelenting, each hit making it harder to breathe.
But then, something changed.
One of the bullies, a wiry guy with a cruel grin, aimed a particularly brutal kick at my back.
His boot slammed into the exact spot where the alpha slash symbol was nestled into my skin.
The pain was unlike anything I'd ever felt, a searing heat that radiated outward and seemed to ignite every nerve in my body.
I let out a scream so loud,
so raw, that it seemed to echo through the entire building. It wasn't just a cry of pain; it was primal, guttural, almost inhuman.
And then it happened.
In that instant, as my scream pierced the air, everything around me faded. The bullies' laughter, their taunts, the pain-it all dissolved into nothingness.
My vision darkened, and strange images began to flash before my eyes.