The bell's loud ring sliced through the classroom, signaling the end of the lesson, and their teacher promptly left. Megara, though physically present and offering her opinions during the interactive session, was mentally elsewhere. Her gaze drifted repeatedly to the empty seat behind her, the one usually occupied by the absent Z3 member. Each time the door creaked, her eyes would snap towards it with a hopeful earnestness, only to be met with disappointment.
Having saved her thoughts on her notepad, she now meticulously transferred them to the laptop, her fingers dancing across the keyboard with practiced speed, her focus laser-sharp on the screen.
Unseen by her, a piece of paper was making its rounds. Brianna had scribbled something, passed it to a student who snickered and passed it on, the silent message rippling through the class. It finally landed in Damion's hands, who, instead of writing back, retrieved his basketball. With a swift, deliberate throw, the ball connected squarely with Megara's forehead. A wave of triumphant cheers erupted as Megara recoiled, stumbling backward, a sharp pain throbbing in her head.
Clutching her forehead, she looked up, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Who did this?" she asked, her voice laced with a bewildered curiosity. "Tell me, which one of you?"
Brianna, her high heels clicking with a measured cadence on the tiled floor, approached Megara. She leaned against the desk, her gaze unwavering, before stepping directly in front of her. "I did it, Megara," she stated flatly, tossing her hair over her shoulder with a dismissive flick. "And there's absolutely nothing you can do about it."
Megara's eyes narrowed, a raw animosity blazing within them, a ferocity unseen before. "What?!" Brianna scoffed. "How dare you look at me like that? Do you even know who I am?"
Ignoring the throbbing in her head, Megara retorted, "I don't care who you are or what you are. To me, you're nothing but a spoiled brat and a bully." The words were barely out of her mouth when Brianna's hand lashed out, the sharp sting of the slap echoing in the sudden silence, a metallic tang rising in Megara's mouth. "Did you just hit me?" Megara asked, stunned.
Brianna laughed, a brittle, triumphant sound that was quickly joined by the rest of the class. "How utterly disgusting! I slapped you, and I'll do it again if I have to. I am the Moore heiress, and no lowlife from the countryside will speak to me with such disrespect just because she managed to snag a member of our esteemed Z3," she spat, her voice dripping with mockery and venom.
Megara scoffed, fighting down the urge to lunge at her. "I don't have time for you, Brianna. I'll let this slap slide, but it will be the last time you lay your filthy, plastic hands on me," she declared, her voice low and dangerous, still cradling her aching head. Brianna's face flickered with surprise. "I'd be merciful, but get out of my face before I change my mind."
Brianna whirled around to Damion, who was now perched on a desk, chatting with a group of girls. "Babe, are you just going to let her bully me and get away with it?" she demanded, stomping her foot and pointing an accusing finger at Megara. "She called me plastic, babe, and that I can't forgive."
Damion sauntered towards Megara, a wide, mischievous smile revealing diamond braces. "You're asking for so much trouble, Megara," he said, his voice deceptively light. "What a sharp tongue you've got. It's just a pity that if I mess you up here so badly, no one would say anything. And as for the principal's protection..." He paused, his grip tightening on her necktie. "It's utterly fleeting because Uriel already hates you, and the principal can do nothing."
Reacting instantly, Megara kicked him sharply in the groin. He crumpled to the floor, his face contorted in pain, his teeth gritted. "You bitch! I'll hit you so hard you won't run your mouth anymore!" he cursed, lunging forward and slamming Megara's head against the wall. With a sickening thud, she collapsed, slumping lifelessly to the floor. Brianna gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, her eyes wide with horror as she stared at Damion.
"You killed her, Damion!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling, pointing an accusing finger. A wave of horrified murmurs rippled through the classroom. Damion's eyes widened in shock, his bravado dissolving into stunned silence. "Get away from me!" Brianna shrieked.
Just then, a teacher entered the room, preparing for his next lecture. The unusual commotion drew his attention. He had initially dismissed it as childish squabbling, but the sight of Megara lying motionless on the floor and Brianna pointing frantically at a pale-faced Damion sent a jolt of alarm through him. He rushed to Megara, kneeling beside her, his fingers finding a faint pulse. Relief washing over him, he carefully scooped her up and hurried out of the classroom towards the sickbay.
LUNCH TIME
The lunch bell shrieked, unleashing a torrent of students from classrooms, each scrambling for the coveted cafeteria seats. Others strolled out at a leisurely pace, their chatter a backdrop to the drama unfolding in class H, of which they remained blissfully unaware.
Trailing behind the masses were Hugo, Zack, and Uriel. Chris, his dark hair shadowing his face, followed closely, the bags of his masters clutched in his hand. Heads held high, hands tucked casually into pockets, they entered the bustling cafeteria. An immediate hush fell over the room. Conversations ceased, and a silent path cleared as they made their way to their usual corner.
They settled onto the plush seating. Chris placed the bags on the unoccupied spot before turning to them, an iPad held ready. "Boss, what would you like today?" he inquired, standing respectfully beside Uriel.
Uriel turned, his brow furrowing as he faced his friends. Crossing his legs on the table and sinking deeper into the couch, he rested a hand behind his neck. "Do I look like a walking menu to you?" he hissed, rolling his eyes and popping a bubble gum into his mouth. "Figure it out yourself. Guys, what are you having, or are we just going to sulk?"
Hugo offered a dismissive glance, his attention still partly on his book. "Chris, ignore him. I, for one, am undecided. What do you suggest?" He then directed his gaze to Zack. "Zack, any brilliant ideas?"
Zack clicked his tongue, tugging absently at his hair. "Lost as well, guys. I'm usually the decision-maker. Chris, why don't you surprise us? It's Wednesday, after all – takeout day!" He shrugged. Uriel's eyes rolled again, accompanied by a sharp pop of his gum.
"Are you insane? I don't eat takeout! Do I need to repeat myself?" Uriel snapped, his gaze fixed on the world outside the window.
Zack looked from Chris to Hugo and back to Uriel. "Bro, any contribution, or am I ordering takeout?" He folded his arms expectantly. "Hugo, what about you? Lunch with us, or joining our grumpy friend in his takeout aversion?"
Hugo finally placed his novel on the table, revealing a yellow water bottle he'd retrieved from his backpack earlier. "I'll join you for takeout and enjoy it with this amazing 'coffee'." He nestled his head affectionately against the bottle.
"Ooh, someone's in love! Spring has finally sprung!" Zack exclaimed, his voice playfully mimicking a high-pitched tone. "Anyway, I'm starving. Chris, get us a pizza and a Caesar salad for our model here – you know him – and a Mediterranean cuisine for this grumpy ass. He needs it."
Chris scribbled down the orders with swift efficiency. "Yes, Boss Zack, you're absolutely insightful. I'll get right on it." He turned and quickly exited the cafeteria.
Zack's playful fist bump landed on Hugo's shoulder, but Hugo's reaction was anything but lighthearted. A scowl tightened his features. "Where's your crush?" Zack needled, plucking a bubble gum from Uriel's outstretched hand. "Unusual for her not to be around. Don't be stingy, asshole, these weren't made for your exclusive enjoyment, dimwit."
Hugo's gaze swept across the bustling cafeteria, a sea of chattering students downstairs. He scanned every table, but Megara was nowhere in sight. "I don't know," he mumbled, a defensive edge creeping into his voice. "Maybe she's at the gym, or in class, or just... doing something else." He rolled his eyes for emphasis.
"Hmmm, maybe," Zack echoed skeptically. "But are you daft? Did you see the way she devoured her food last time? Like she was in a competitive eating contest! No way she'd skip lunch for just anything."
Hugo bit his lip, a flicker of unease in his eyes. Just then, his phone vibrated. He snatched it from his pocket, his eyes widening as a video filled the screen. It was Megara... being bullied. His heart hammered against his ribs, a sharp pang of pain shooting through him. "What the hell?!... This..."
He shot to his feet, chair scraping against the floor, and bolted towards the cafeteria exit. Zack, equally startled, rose to face Uriel, who had also stood, a look of surprise on his face. "What the hell is going on, Uriel?!" Zack's voice was laced with curiosity.
"You're asking me? I should be asking you the same!" Uriel retorted, grabbing his own chiming phone from the table. The same disturbing video played on his screen. He thrust the phone towards Zack. "You've got to see this. I'd like to meet whoever's messing with my prey."
Displeasure hardened Uriel's features as he stormed out of the cafeteria. Zack grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair. "I don't know what's brewing in our school, but I'm sure it's going to be epic," he muttered, heading for the stairs. He spotted Chris trudging upwards, a plate of food in his hands. "Chris! We won't be having lunch today, but please help yourself and bring our bags to us. And don't be late!"
Chris offered a terrified nod as Zack brushed past him. "Here goes nothing," Zack muttered, quickening his pace. "Now I have to get busy again."
Outside the cafeteria, Hugo's panic was a tangible thing, a frantic energy that propelled him through the halls. He burst into the sterile quiet of the sickbay, shoving past a startled nurse as if she were a mere obstacle in his path. He tore back the curtains of each ward with a desperate urgency until his eyes landed on her: Megara. She was propped up in bed, a stark white bandage peeking from beneath the covers on her side, tethered to a clear drip.
A sharp, visceral pain clenched Hugo's chest. Without a word, without a second thought, he rushed to her bedside and enveloped her in a crushing hug. A surprised gasp escaped Megara's lips, muffled against his shoulder. "What are you doing, Hugo?" she choked out, struggling for breath. "You're suffocating me! Did something happen?"
He pulled her tighter, a broken sob escaping his own throat. "I'm sorry, Meg. I couldn't protect you from them. I'm sorry I failed to keep my promise. I'm a bad friend," his voice trembled, laced with a raw fear. "I'm so sorry… but there's so much more in store for them."
Megara gently pushed him back, her grey eyes searching his. "No, no, no, Hugo! You can't bully others, alright? I forbid it. I'll fight my own battles the right way. Besides," a flicker of her old spirit returned, "I'm on a scholarship I value, and I won't let anyone ruin it, least of all you." But Hugo's raw anger remained a palpable presence.
The tense silence was shattered by the smooth, almost predatory entrance of Uriel. His emerald eyes, sharp and assessing, fixed on Megara. "Well, well, look who's decided to rejoin the land of the living. I had thought, with your head introduced so intimately to the wall, that you might have, shall we say, forgotten a few things." His taunt hung in the air, thick with malice, earning him twin daggers of glares from Hugo and Megara. "What? Cat got your tongues?"
"What's he doing here?" Megara winced, instinctively reaching for her aching head. "I'm not in the mood for your twisted pleasantries, Uriel. Just get out, or I will."
With a theatrical flourish, Uriel widened the curtains, gesturing towards the exit. "Be my guest, Megara. The door, as always, is open." His smirk never wavered, his gaze unwavering.
Hugo rose to his full height, a protective barrier between Uriel and Megara. "That's enough, Uriel. Get out and leave her alone," he commanded, his finger jabbing towards the door. "Are you here to gloat over your lackeys' handiwork or has a sliver of remorse finally pierced that thick skull of yours?"
"Lackeys, Arnold? Such dramatic flair. Is that the narrative we're crafting now?" Uriel's wicked smile widened, completely unfazed by the arrival of Zack, who leaned against the doorframe, observing the scene with an air of detached amusement. "They're your problem now, Arnold. We all operate within this… kingdom, shall we say. And in this kingdom, you'd be wise to sit your pathetic ass down and listen to reason."
Zack finally pushed himself off the doorframe, stepping between the two simmering figures. "Alright, boys, play nice. Not in here, yeah? You'll scare our little dove and the Florence nightingale." He tilted his head sharply towards a pale Megara and then to the cluster of visibly distressed nurses huddled nearby.
Reluctantly, Hugo and Uriel backed down, maintaining a hostile distance. Uriel, however, couldn't resist a final jab. He pointed a smug finger at Megara. "Such a sharp tongue for someone in such a delicate condition. I did warn you about the consequences of crossing me, didn't I? And while I didn't have the… pleasure of orchestrating your little accident, rest assured, your departure from this esteemed institution is inevitable. And then," his eyes glittered with a cruel promise, "then I'll deal with Damion and his little pet in a manner that will exceed even your wildest nightmares."
A slow, unsettling smile spread across Megara's lips, a spark of fierce defiance in her grey eyes. "I'll be waiting, Uriel. But mark my words, I will never submit to you." She punctuated her statement with a sharp click of her tongue, tilting her head towards the exit. "Now, see yourself out. I need to rest."
Fury contorted Uriel's features for a fleeting moment before he plastered on a chillingly cheerful smile, the sound echoing eerily through the quiet room, sending a shiver down everyone's spines. "Oh, my dear, you'll be singing a different tune soon enough. And by then," his gaze flickered to Hugo, a predatory gleam in his eyes, "I wonder how your valiant protector will manage to save you." With a final, contemptuous look, he turned and stormed out, his exit punctuated by the violent crash of a nearby desk laden with medical instruments.
Zack's gaze swept across the room, landing on the paling nurses. "Right then," his tone shifted, the earlier amusement vanishing, replaced by a cold authority. "Get back to work if you value your jobs. Not a single word of this leaves this room. Understood? Because if I see so much as a whisper of this on any social media platform, you'll find yourselves with a lot of free time to contemplate your indiscretion." His voice was hard, unforgiving.
"Yes, sir. Understood, sir," the nurses chorused, their bodies trembling like leaves in a sudden gust of wind.
Zack turned to Megara, who watched him with a mixture of surprise and a distinct lack of fear. "Megara. Fancy meeting you here. Always a pleasure." Megara's brow furrowed in annoyance. "Look, I'd hate to see you get hurt, but my best advice? Steer clear of Uriel. Keep your head down. And maybe, just maybe, unleash that inner superhero of yours if you want to survive this school. Otherwise…" he trailed off, a knowing look in his eyes, "…you'll regret ever crossing his path."
Hugo shot Zack a venomous glare, his face tight with a barely suppressed fury. "Zack, now is not the time for your fear-mongering tactics. If that's all you came here to say, then I suggest you follow your friend out the door."
Zack merely offered a lazy, mischievous grin. "Relax, Romeo. You're my buddy, and your damsel in distress is a friend of a friend. Just offering some friendly advice. You know how Uriel gets." With a final, insolent wink, he sauntered out.
Hugo immediately turned his attention back to Megara, who had buried her throbbing head in her arms, a low groan escaping her lips.
"Don't be scared. You've got me," he whispered, gently sitting beside her on the edge of the bed. "They won't hurt you anymore, alright?"
Megara finally looked up, her earlier anger replaced by a deep furrow of worry. "I'm not scared of them, Hugo. I'm just… curious. Curious about what else he'll do if I'm associated with you," her voice was low, laced with genuine concern. "I just wanted some peace. That's why I left Demetrious High and came all the way to Royal Von. But it feels like the same nightmare, just a different cast."
Hugo pulled her into a comforting embrace, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Hey, hey. Calm down. I'm your friend. I support you, no matter what anyone says about your family. I'm not going anywhere." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a sleek, unopened phone box. "Here. Cheer up. I got this for you."
She took the box, her eyebrows arching as she examined it. She carefully peeled back the seal, revealing the state-of-the-art smartphone. "Do you even realize what you're giving me? This is a Samsung S25 Ultra! Tobi was practically drooling over this thing, said it was lightyears beyond his budget." She looked up at him, a suspicious glint in her eyes. "Are you trying to bribe me? Sell my organs on the black market? Hugo, I… I don't think I can accept this. I want my old phone back."
Hugo watched her place the expensive device back in his hand and immediately returned it to her. "Megara, I'm not expecting anything from you. I'm just doing what any decent friend would do for another. I saw your phone yesterday. It was practically a relic. One look and anyone could tell it was beyond saving."
"I know, but… this is too much. This phone could probably pay the rent on a three-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn for six years!" she protested, gesturing emphatically with the phone. "I'm sorry, Hugo, I just can't."
"You're hurting my feelings and my intentions, Megara," he insisted, his voice laced with a genuine hurt. "I bought this for you because I want you to have it. I'm not taking it back. You can throw it out the window if you want." He tilted his head sharply towards the glass. "It's yours to do with as you please. Not mine."
Megara looked down at the phone in her hands, slowly unwrapping it from its protective layers. She couldn't deny its beauty, its sleek, modern lines. A small smile finally touched her lips. "It's… beautiful, Hugo. Thank you," she said softly, her eyes meeting his with genuine gratitude. "I'll cherish it."
Hugo's smile widened, and he gently caressed her cheek. "I'm happy you like it." He pulled her into a hug from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. But beneath the surface of his warm embrace, a cold resolve hardened his features. A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes as he murmured to himself, unheard by Megara, "Brianna and Damion will learn the meaning of pain. They will pay for what they did."
The silence in the room, now devoid of the chaotic energy of Uriel and Zack, settled back down, but it was a different silence. It was heavy with unspoken threats, thick with a sense of impending danger, a fragile calm before a gathering storm.