Even the sky had something to scream. Why wouldn't I?
As I looked around, I realized most of the students were staring at me. Rage rose inside me. I wanted to vent the pain on someone or something.
But who?
At that instant, I felt something cold on my skin. I looked up to find the sky in uproar. Even the sky had joined the earth in lashing out.
As the rain poured on me, I felt my heart cracking in my chest. My vision spun. A sharp pain echoed through my head.
I let out a scream—I couldn't handle it anymore. My legs gave out, and I reached out for something to hold on to.
But everything was blurry. Tears began to fall.
It felt like I was being strangled to death. My throat burned like ignited fire.
Then the rain stopped hitting my skin.
I looked up and saw someone holding an umbrella over me. His face was hidden behind a mask.
The eyes behind that mask felt like swords piercing into my soul.
Rage took over me like a beast. With all the strength I had left, I pushed the stranger. He stumbled back into the mud.
His gaze was sharp—like a wild animal ready to attack.
I trembled.
Fear gripped me.
He rushed at me like a madman and lifted me off the ground like a tree being uprooted.
"You really know how to make friends, don't you?"
His fist slammed into my gut. I felt everything inside me shift and go still.
"Do you crave an ending that doesn't leave you forgotten?"
My breath returned in sharp, shallow gasps. I coughed my lungs out.
He stood over me, then knelt beside me and whispered,
"Those eyes of yours will be gouged out before you ever look my way again."
And with that—he was gone.
"Fuck... fuck!" I retorted to myself, then laughed out loud like a madman.
He lifted me off the ground? I thought, stunned.
I clenched my hands in the mud, grabbed a handful, and threw it—at nothing in particular.
Dad would think I'm pathetic.
Before I could move or speak again, a voice called out,
"I'm Patrick. I'm to take you to your en suite."
Before I could even argue, he added,
"Augustus said I should escort you."
As we walked through the halls, I could feel eyes on me from every corner. But the masked guy... he still occupied most of my thoughts.
We reached my destination after walking through endless tunnels.
What is this place? I thought. A chill ran down my spine.
"Do you see this place as a playground, Mr. Domingo?" Patrick said.
I turned abruptly, fists clenched.
"Spade," I snapped.
"Oh, whatever. Do you think that matters here?" he muttered, dialing the code for the en suite.
He turned on me—with a gun in his hand.
My heart skipped a beat. A cold chill washed over me. Sweat broke out across my skin.
With a smirk, he slapped my soaked shirt as if brushing something off, touching me like I was some kind of filth.
I shook with fury to my core. I gathered all my strength to punch him—but he was faster. He pressed the gun to my ribs.
"Don't ever let me be summoned for you again as long as you're in Grace Mountain. Augustus owes me for wasting my time."
"Do I make my handsome self clear, bastard?"
I groaned in anger, my pulse quickening. I stared him down—but I was trapped.
"I want to hear you clearly, dimwit."
"I refuse to answer," I said coldly, then swiftly turned and knocked him off me.
"You're all bark, man," he sneered.
I flexed my hand, ready to strike. I moved with force—
But just as I was about to attack, the door banged open.
"Enough! I said enough, Spade!" Augustus's voice rang out.
He turned to Patrick. "I thought I asked you to help him sign the documents?"
Patrick rolled his eyes, walked toward me, and shouted in my face,
"I'm not a babysitter!"
Then he stormed to the door, turned, and looked me dead in the eyes.
"Close it. And oh—I forgot. One more thing. You're welcome to Grace Mountain University. It slipped my mind to welcome you properly."
He left.
"I want to be alone. Get out," I said without looking at the man standing near me.
"I have things to discuss with you before tomorrow."
"Exhaustion has taken over me. I'm in no state to talk or see anyone."
"Augustus, right?" I asked, my voice low. "I don't want to pull a trigger, but I'm at my wits' end. When I say I want to be left alone—I mean it."
He left without a word.
I stood there, alone in the room, and felt a cold chill wash over me.
I guess this is just the start of things.