Damion and Brianna stumbled out of the principal's office, their hands quivering like leaves in a gale. The air seemed to prickle their skin, and every stray sound sent a jolt of fear through them as the principal's words replayed in their minds.
Brianna's fist clenched at her side, her teeth sinking into her lower lip in frustration. "How dare he suspend us because of that lowlife!" she exclaimed, turning sharply to Damion, who looked equally stunned.
He furrowed his brow, scrubbing his nose with the back of his hand. "I dunno, so why ask me? This is the first time I'm getting suspended, and surprisingly, I'm the first to get one," he complained, punching the wall, which snapped Brianna's attention back to him.
Brianna tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Don't even think about destroying that wall, because I'm warning you, your family couldn't afford it in three lifetimes," she mocked, turning to leave. But a furious Damion grabbed her arm. "Let go of me, creep! What do you want?"
Damion offered a wicked smile, pulling her close until his lower body pressed hard against her thigh. "I'm in this mess because of you, and because I wanted to get your attention," he said, his hand snaking over her body until it reached her face. "It's been two weeks since we last had sex, Brianna, and I'm starting to suspect you're seeing someone else. I'm willing to take my share before that stupid guy gets his."
Brianna tugged fiercely, trying to free her hand from his tightening grip. "You're a psychopath! I think you need to see a doctor," she screamed, kicking him in the groin and making a run for it. But he quickly caught up, slamming her back against the wall. "Damion, don't do this! This is a school!"
Damion leaned in, inhaling deeply at her neck before pulling back. "I'm so disappointed in you," he whispered. "You want to save face, but you've already made me lose face with so many people that now my family won't sit easy if it affects our business."
"That's your problem, not mine, and I'm no longer your girlfriend. I quit," she spat, aiming a glob of saliva at his face. A vein throbbed in his jaw.
That was the final straw. Damion's anger surged, making him look like a roaring lion seeking prey. He raised his hand to strike her, but just then, a group of school bullies, led by Pedro, Uriel's most trusted enforcer and the son of the notorious Barbados Mafia family, the Oscars, approached. The Oscars were known as one of the most ruthless families, second only to the elusive Oswald family leader, Silver Oswald, and his equally ruthless and mythical right-hand man, Azure Oswald, whose identity remained a mystery.
Pedro sauntered closer to Damion, his steps deliberately slow. Once he closed the distance, he stared at Damion for a moment, noticing his trembling state. "Tsk, shouldn't you two get a room for the trash you're about to engage in?" he asked, a smug smile playing on his lips. Damion's hand involuntarily dropped from Brianna's lower body. "No, you should continue, but rest assured, I've got something interesting for dessert."
Damion's face hardened with unreadable terror. "Ahhh, no, Pedro, we're just coming from the principal's office, and you know... umm... a little get-together."
Pedro clicked his tongue, utterly disgusted. "Ohhh, I see. Suspension is a way to enjoy your girlfriend," he replied, and Damion nodded affirmatively, while Brianna stared at him, biting her lower lip suspiciously.
"Why are you here? What brings you here?" Damion asked, his voice trembling. "It's not like there's anyone defying Uriel's order except Megara."
Pedro delivered a deafening punch to Damion's face. "You should show respect when you mention my boss's name," he snarled, signaling the rest of the boys to seize both Damion and Brianna. "The boss needs you where he wants you, and now you'll feel the wrath of annoying him."
Their screams and pleas were ignored as they were dragged down the hallway, Pedro following behind with his hands in his pockets.
INSIDE THE Z3 PRIVATE FRAT HOUSE, IN THE SCHOOL'S FORMER LIBRARY.
Uriel lounged on his couch, his legs propped up on the glass table, annoyance and anger etched on his face as he continued to throw darts at the board, each one hitting the bullseye. Zack, on the other hand, played his guitar game, intently focused on the pitch as he scored, leveling up.
The heavy thud of footsteps on the wooden staircase and the cries of Damion and Brianna snapped Uriel's attention away from the dartboard. Pedro entered first, followed by the group of bullies roughly handling the struggling pair.
Pedro leaned down to Uriel's ear. "Sir, they're here. Do you have any requests for me to carry out?" he whispered, but Uriel's gaze remained indifferent as he stood and walked toward the kneeling offenders.
Uriel grabbed Damion's chin, his grip tight and bruising. "Ah, Damion, we meet again, but each time your offense gets worse than the last," he smirked, lightly slapping his chin.
Damion, freeing himself from their grip, fell to his knees, his face pressed against Uriel's shoes. "I'm sorry, sir, but everything I did, I did it for you because Megara was publicly humiliating you, and none of us could stand by and watch," he pleaded, but Uriel's hand found his hair, gripping it tightly.
"Ohhhh, a loyal dog waiting for recognition? I did watch her insult me, but I don't remember granting you permission to do so, did I?" he retorted, still yanking on Damion's hair before turning his gaze to Brianna, who was equally terrified. "And you, young lady, I don't know you, but if my memory serves me correctly, I think your acting skills earlier were extraordinary. However, I don't employ actors."
She trembled, clasping her hands together. "I'm sorry, sir, I won't do it again. It was just that vixen who made me angry, and I had to retaliate," she defended, pointing an accusing finger at Damion. "He did it to her! He was the one who slammed her against the wall!"
Zack laughed, tossing the guitar aside as he sauntered toward them. "Calm down, Brianna, no need to single out the black sheep from the goats. Haven't you heard? A man who blames others has a lot of hurdles to overcome," he sneered, throwing a glass against the wall, eliciting a scream of terror from her.
Uriel signaled Pedro, who brought over an iPad with a video playing. He shoved the device into Brianna's trembling hand. "Wasn't this your doing? So how do you intend on lying your way out of this?" Uriel asked, kicking Damion in the chest.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me," she begged, reaching for his leg, but he kicked her aside. "Please forgive me, I'm so sorry."
Uriel's anger only intensified at the sound of her voice. He immediately grabbed a baseball bat and began beating Damion with it. "You ass hat! Next time, keep away from what's mine, or else you'll get hurt even more than this!" he roared. Damion's grunts echoed through the room. When he was done, Uriel tossed the bat aside. "Pedro, get rid of this trash and make sure to pay the Moore family and the Wills family a visit. I want fifty percent of their shares bought, and these two hooligans sweeping the streets for three weeks, not a single day missed."
"Yes, I'll make sure to deliver your message, but as of now, what do we do with them?" Pedro asked, anticipation lacing his voice.
"Hmmm, pass my decrees. I want them on the school's planks of shame, and let everyone do whatever they wish with them," Uriel replied, exiting the room.
Zack came face to face with Pedro. "I want this job carried out strictly, and no word about today must leak to the outside world, nor must anyone know about it," he ordered, following Uriel out of the room.
The air hung thick with Pedro's malice as he leered at the trembling couple kneeling before him. "Hmmm," he mused, a cruel glint in his eyes, his cronies already chuckling in anticipation. "Never had a liking for you two, not from the start. But today," his laughter boomed, "today I get to savor my wrath. Trust me, it'll be an experience." Damion and Brianna writhed in their captors' grasp, their terror a palpable thing.
Across town, back at school, Uriel and Zack watched Hugo tenderly assist a cheerful Megara down the corridor. Lost in their conversation, they hadn't noticed Uriel until they collided head-on.
Megara's brow furrowed into tight ridges, her fists clenching until her knuckles shone white.
Uriel's smile was a viper's strike. "Well, well, still slumming it here? I figured you'd have slithered home to die. Wouldn't want to waste good money on a pauper's burial, might as well chuck you in the Thames." His mocking laughter echoed through the hallway.
"Staying here is called getting an education, Uriel," Megara shot back, her eyes rolling. "The only problem I see is you. You're such an eyesore, no wonder no one wants to be associated with you."
A tic jumped in Uriel's cheek. His grip tightened on his JB headset, snapping it with a sharp crack. "Tsk, such a tragedy for a decent piece of tech to perish for a maggot like you." His eyes narrowed. Before he could unleash another barb, the school anthem blared from the speakers, freezing everyone in place, awaiting the inevitable announcement. A predatory smile stretched Uriel's lips, revealing a flash of white teeth. "Megara, your days here are dwindling. Bid farewell to your knight in shining armor, because you won't be seeing him again."
Hugo lunged, seizing Uriel's shoulder. "What have you done, Uriel? Answer me!" His fingers dug into Uriel's flesh. Zack intervened, shoving them apart, instantly becoming the center of attention. "Zack, are you his lapdog now? Didn't you just hear what he said?" Hugo's voice was laced with fury.
"I'm no one's dog," Zack retorted, gesturing to the growing crowd. Fearful and curious gazes swiveled towards them. "Look around! A brawl will only make us lose face. Trust me, it won't enhance our control."
They both recoiled, Hugo's eyes blazing with animosity, Uriel's lips playing with a smug smile. The anthem faded, replaced by the droning recitation of the school's code of conduct. Megara felt a wave of disbelief wash over her. It was a farcical display, considering the blatant disregard for these rules since her arrival, fueled by the teachers' fear of the Z3, especially Uriel.
Finally, the principal's voice, stern and cold, filled the hallway. "Good day, students, and to our esteemed Z3. I know Vice Principal Brown usually delivers these announcements, but due to her absence and the gravity of this matter, I have the honor." A dry cough punctuated his words. "Today, two of our students have been suspended, in accordance with code one, act three of the school regulations: any evidence of bullying within the classroom will result in immediate punishment."
A low murmur rippled through the student body, heads swiveling like startled birds. Deep within Megara, a cold premonition settled. Hugo squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, Meggie. It's just for the real culprits. Uriel's just trying to rattle you."
"Brianna Moore and Damion Wills are hereby suspended for three weeks and are barred from school grounds until that period concludes. This institution is for learning, not for hooliganism." He paused, the silence amplifying the weight of his words. "As for the victim, Megara Smith, while her academic performance has been exemplary, she has violated code two, act one, which strictly prohibits the destruction of school property and causing harm to another student. Consequently, her scholarship is revoked, and she is no longer permitted on these premises."
The pronouncement struck Megara like a physical blow, stealing the air from her lungs. A collective gasp swept through the hallway. She looked up at Hugo, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, but she fought to maintain her composure, denying Uriel the satisfaction of seeing her break. Hugo's grip tightened on her shoulder, a silent anchor.
A voice sliced through the stunned silence. A girl from the crowd pointed a mocking finger at Megara's suddenly impassive face. "Heyyyy, looks like someone's taken a tumble from their high horse!" She jeered, turning to the other students, who erupted in cruel laughter. Hugo, his jaw tight, started to retort, but Megara stopped him with a subtle shake of her head. "Cat got your tongue, huh? Wasn't it you playing the aloof hero just days ago? Now, be your own savior."
"There's a saying: don't try to topple an ancient monument, lest when it falls, it crushes you," a boy sneered, his voice dripping with hostility. "But instead, you went around playing your heroic games and even dared to offend our mighty Z3 and insult its leader, the king of our school."
Uriel moved with deliberate slowness, his signature smirk firmly in place. "Megara, I'm both thrilled and regretful to be the bearer of this news... The scholarship? It was mine to give." He whispered the last words into her ear, and her eyes widened in stunned disbelief. "Now, darling, I have no quarrel with my friend here wanting to play savior, but you serve a higher purpose. You're the example for anyone who dares to cross me on my turf. They will all suffer the same fate."
A searing pain ripped through Megara's chest. She fixed Uriel with a gaze that could have melted steel, her face burning with humiliation and rage. "Let me tell you something, Uriel. You think you're the apex predator just because you're rich? Or that wealth equates to power? Let me enlighten you: I've encountered packs of bullies, and you, my dear Uriel, are pathetically small in comparison." She spat the words, her fists clenching so tightly her nails bit into her palms. The raw defiance only fueled Uriel's amusement.
Hugo, his face etched with anguish, could bear it no longer. He shoved Uriel back with surprising force. "Get away from her! Why would you sink to such depths, Uriel?" His voice cracked, raw with emotion. "Just step aside, or I swear I'll do something you won't expect."
Uriel feigned retreat, then unleashed a torrent of maniacal laughter. "I'm the boss, Hugo! I call the shots. I do what I want, when I want, and I don't need your permission." He grinned, grabbing Hugo by the collar, his voice a low, venomous whisper. "Don't push me, or I'll just tell her about our little arrangement. Imagine the look on her face then."
Hugo tore at his hair in frustrated fury before turning to Megara. "Let's get out of here, Meggie. They're going to make you sick." He urged, pulling her towards the exit, but she remained rooted to the spot. "Come on, Meggie. I'll sort this out."
She stared at the school walls, the familiar designs, the milling students. The dream of making her father proud, of graduating into a bright future, felt like a phantom limb, agonizingly out of reach. As she finally turned to leave, the school principal and Mr. Brown, a board member and the almost mythical Mr. Jefferson's loyal right-hand man, emerged from the elevator. The principal's secretary trailed behind, carrying a tray draped in rich purple velvet.
Uriel was ashen-faced, mirroring the stunned disbelief of everyone present. No one could decipher their sudden appearance. "What in the world is he doing here?" Uriel muttered, his fists clenching involuntarily.
Mr. Brown stopped directly in front of Megara, who was too stunned to speak. Her mind reeled from the day's relentless drama: the accident, her expulsion, and now the principal and the powerful emissary of the world's wealthiest man standing before her. "Hello, Megara. My name is Mr. Brown Powell, and I serve as the right-hand man to the chairman of this esteemed institution. Please accept my sincerest apologies for the reprehensible behavior of these students." He extended a hand in a gesture of unexpected warmth. "I am here to bestow upon you an award for your courageous act of saving a fellow student, in accordance with code two, act three, which mandates recognition for such selfless deeds."
The secretary stepped forward, presenting the velvet-draped tray. She bowed as Mr. Brown lifted the cover, revealing a gleaming golden emblem and a pristine white scroll. "You are an exceptional student with an unblemished record. It is a grave injustice that you have been treated so unfairly. This is my humble gift to you." He offered the emblem and scroll to Megara. "This emblem grants you superior authority over all students and bestows upon you exclusive rights equal to those of the Z3."
A wave of gasps and murmurs washed through the hallway. Even the Z3 were visibly shaken. Megara stared at the emblem and scroll in her hands before returning them to the waiting secretary. "I cannot accept this, Mr. Brown. This feels wrong, and this school has been nothing but cruel to me." Mr. Brown, however, remained impassive.
"You will accept this. I am merely carrying out the chairman's direct instructions. Please do not complicate my task." His plea, tinged with an unusual urgency, sent another ripple of shock through the crowd. "Consider the immense possibilities this presents, the pride you could bring to your devoted father."
Megara's mind raced. The image of Uriel's smug face flashed before her, followed by the taunting laughter of the other students. A spark of fierce determination ignited within her. Revenge, power, a chance to rewrite her narrative. "Yes, sir. I am Megara Smith, and I would be honored to receive this extraordinary gift." She forced a smile, shaking his hand before turning to Uriel, whose face was a mask of thunderous fury. "I will cherish this and dedicate myself to my studies."
Mr. Brown smiled, patting her shoulder. "I have faith in you, Megara. And so does Mr. Jefferson." He remarked before turning to leave, Mr. Armani and the secretary trailing behind him.
Mr. Armani paused, shaking Megara's hand with a genuine smile. "Congratulations, Miss Smith. This is a moment you will undoubtedly remember." He then joined Mr. Brown.
Uriel's brow furrowed, his carefully constructed smirk dissolving into a scowl. Megara walked towards him, a mischievous glint in her eyes mirroring the one Pedro had worn earlier. "Where's that charming smirk of yours now, Uriel?" she purred, eliciting a fresh wave of gasps from the onlookers. "I hope you'll treat me with respect now. Or perhaps you'd prefer to bring your A-game? I'll be waiting."
Megara turned away, walking towards the exit with a bewildered Hugo stumbling after her. The hallway buzzed with excited whispers, phones clicking as students furiously typed and shared the unbelievable turn of events.
"What are you all gawking at?" Uriel roared, his voice cracking with fury. "Scatter! Or do I need to make you?" Before the last word echoed away, the hallway emptied, leaving behind only a raging Uriel and a thoroughly confused Zack.