The sound of shattering bone echoed through the air, followed by Vin's blood-curdling scream. His eyes widened in agony as he stumbled backward, clutching his broken wrist. The scream sent a chill down Mary's spine, and she felt a pang of unease.
Van, still grinning, released Vin's wrist, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and satisfaction. He seemed to be basking in the chaos he had created, his chest heaving with exertion.
The atmosphere around them grew tense, the air thick with anticipation. Mary's eyes darted between Van and Vin, her mind racing with the implications of what had just transpired. The sound of Vin's screams still lingered, a haunting reminder of the violence that had just erupted.
In the corner Vasco's eyes widened in shock as he took in the scene before him. Vin, the notorious bully, was clutching his broken wrist, his face contorted in agony. Vasco's gaze shifted to Van, the new student, who stood tall, a crazed grin still plastered on his face.
For a moment, Vasco forgot about his initial intention to teach Van a lesson. Instead, he felt a shiver run down his spine. There was something unsettling about Van, something that made Vasco's instincts scream warning signals. He felt like a dog facing a tiger, and that tiger was Van.
Vasco's mind reeled as he struggled to process what he was seeing. He had always thought of himself as the strong, justice-seeking type, but now he felt like he was staring into the face of something truly formidable. And that realization sent a chill down his spine. Yeah, Vasco was indeed messed up in the brain, but even he knew when to recognize a force beyond his control.
Vasco's eyes narrowed as he watched Van, his hands now casually buried in his pockets. The sudden change in Van's demeanor was unnerving - he seemed to have transformed into a sadistic fighting machine, yet still retained the air of a dense, nervous high schooler.
Vin, still clutching his broken wrist, glared at Van with a mixture of hatred and fear. His glasses slipped slightly down his nose, but he didn't bother to adjust them, his gaze fixed intently on Van. Vin's body shook with anger, his face reddening with rage.
"Why cry like a kid over a broken wrist?" Van asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Vasco's instincts screamed at him to intervene, to stop Van before he caused any more harm. But his feet seemed rooted to the spot, unsure of how to react to the unpredictable situation unfolding before him.
"Van... Please, that's enough," Mary said, suddenly standing in front of Vin to protect him. Although she had enjoyed watching Vin being humiliated, he was her friend, and this was going too far - even if she did have a soft spot for Van as a person. Just then, Eli, a student from the salon department, happened to be passing by and witnessed Mary begging Van. Mistaking Van's actions for bullying, Eli's blood began to boil.
Eli Jang wasn't particularly a fighter, but when pushed to the extreme, he transformed into a feral, untameable beast that even Van would find hard to stop.
"That's enough!" Eli said, walking slowly towards the scene, his fingers stretched as he neared. Van sensed something ominous emanating from this sudden newcomer and could tell he was dangerous, which only made Van's smile widen.
'Since I've been here, it's been one fight after another,' Van thought, 'as if the world is determined to test my resolve.' He turned his attention to Eli, intrigued.
Van stared Eli up and down, his hands buried deep in his pockets, as he spoke in a condescending tone, "Who the hell are you?" The question seemed heavy, implying Eli was a mere nobody, unnecessary to the situation.
Eli's response was a sharp "Tsk," as he clicked his tongue, struggling to contain his anger. Veins bulged on his arms as they shook, and he gritted his teeth, "Leave the girl alone." His eyes reddened, fueled by a protective instinct he couldn't explain.
Despite having no connection to Mary or Vin, Eli felt an overwhelming urge to shield her. His instincts took over, and he acted without fully understanding why.
Van's response was a mocking chuckle, as he turned to the others, including Vasco, who still cowered in fear. "The fuck?! Are you all playing family or what?!" Van sneered. "Get a life! If you want a family so much, get a girl pregnant and get a kid!"
In that moment, something within Eli snapped. Unbeknownst to Van, he had just unleashed a beast.
***
Sorry for this chapter being short, please vote...