Then, instinct took over. His body moved without thought, driven by a primal need to protect his sister. His fist shot out, propelled by a rage that had been building inside him since Earth, since the day his mother had been taken, since every bully had ever laid a hand on him. The sound of the punch was deafening, a single crack that echoed through the hallway, and the fae's jaw shattered like glass under the force of Si-Woo's blow.

The red-haired fae's eyes went wide with shock and pain, his mouth a silent 'o' as he crumpled to the floor. His body went limp, and the hallway was plunged into silence once again, this time thick with shock and disbelief. The students around them stared, their eyes wide, their mouths agape.

Sol's other friends, however, weren't as easily deterred. They closed in around Si-Woo, their eyes glinting with malice. "You're going to pay for that," one of them snarled, raising a fist. Ha-Yoon pushed herself up onto her knees, her vision swimming. She watched in horror as the group descended upon her brother.

Her heart thundered in her chest as the fists began to fly. Si-Woo's movements grew erratic, a desperate dance of self-preservation as he tried to fend off the onslaught. He tried to dodge punches and kicks with a ferocity she'd never seen, his body moving with a surprising grace. But they were too many, their anger too strong.

One by one, Sol's friends took their shots at him, their fists and feet raining down like a storm. Each blow sent a shockwave through the air, and with every hit, Ha-Yoon felt a piece of her shatter. "No," she whispered, her voice lost in the cacophony of the fight. "No no no," she begs, her voice hoarse and tears streaming down her cheeks.

Si-Woo's training had prepared him for this moment. He blocked and dodged as best he could, but their numbers were overwhelming. The ground grew closer with every strike, until finally, he was there, flat on his back, staring up at the unforgiving tiles of the hallway ceiling. They circled him like vultures, their laughter echoing off the walls. "Filth," one jeered, his eyes glinting with pure disgust.

Sol stepped forward, a sadistic smile playing on his lips. "You're not even worth the serein that flows through you," he spat, raising his foot to deliver the final blow. Ha-Yoon watched, her heart in her throat, as the world around her seemed to blur into a kaleidoscope of colors and pain.

But before Sol's foot could connect with Si-Woo's chest, the bell rang out, shattering the tense silence. The hallways exploded into life as students rushed to their next classes, their footsteps a cacophony that drowned out the sound of Si-Woo's labored breathing. The attackers glanced at each other, their expressions a mix of anger and fear at the sudden interruption. They backed away, leaving Si-Woo lying on the cold floor but dragging their fellow Fae away, his chest heaving with the effort to breathe.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Can you hear me, Si-Woo?" Ha-Yoon's voice was a whisper, a lifeline in the chaos.

He took a shaky breath and nodded, his eyes finding hers through the sea of legs and shoes that surrounded them. Slowly, painfully, he pushed himself up from the floor, his muscles protesting with every movement. Ha-Yoon took his hand, her eyes searching his for reassurance, but his gaze was hard and determined.

"Come on," he said, his voice low and steady, "We need to get out of here."

Ha-Yoon nodded, her eyes wide with fear and admiration. She allowed him to help her up, her legs wobbly beneath her. Together, they pushed through the dispersing crowd, the whispers of their classmates a dull roar in their ears. They moved quickly, their steps synchronized as if they had rehearsed this escape a hundred times.

"Si-Woo, are you okay?" she asked, her voice small and shaky.

He nodded, gritting his teeth against the pain that shot through his body with every step. "I can't let them win," he murmured, his eyes distant. Without another word, he led her away from the chaos of the hallway, his grip on her hand firm. They moved through the school like ghosts, avoiding the eyes of teachers and students alike.

When they reached the nurses' room, Si-Woo paused, his eyes flicking to the open door and the warm, welcoming light spilling out. For a moment, it seemed like he would go in, but then his shoulders squared, and he took a deep breath. "I'll be okay," he assured her. "I need to... I need to be alone for a bit."

The pain etched on his face was not just from the fight; it was from the realization that he had found strength in a place he never knew existed. He gently released Ha-Yoon's hand and continued walking, his eyes fixed on a destination only he knew.

"But Si-Woo," Ha-Yoon called out, her voice laced with concern.

Ignoring her, he pushed through the heavy door that led to the staircase. His legs felt like lead, each step an effort, but he had to get away. He had to think. The stairs felt like a never-ending climb, his lungs burning with every breath he took, but he pushed on. The pain from the fight was a constant reminder of what he had just faced, but it was the pain in his heart that was unbearable.

As he reached the top floor, he thought he heard something—footsteps, fast and light, echoing through the stairwell. Panic flooded him. He quickened his pace, the door to the roof calling to him like a beacon of solitude. But just as he was about to turn the handle, a firm grip on his arm spun him around.

Nurse Lila's face was a mask of concern and determination. She didn't say a word, simply pulling him towards the nurses' room. His protests fell on deaf ears as she practically dragged him through the corridor, his legs struggling to keep up with her urgent pace. The door swung open, and he was pushed inside, the cool, sterile scent of the room washing over him like a wave.