It was already late when mister Badge, let her go to her dorm room. The words of those bullies, not willing to give them another title, were still plaguing her mind. How could they say that, even after everybody knew that her father was set up. She sighed, while walking through the dark hallways. The lights inside those were bad for months, and nobody but her and the concierge used them after hours. So that was the reason why they haven't being fixed. The light of the moon came through some windows, giving it a spooky feeling. Still she needed to keep on walking to get to her room. Where she could let go and do some homework before going to bed.

"Hey 21." That was one of the bullies, and of course he wasn't alone. His group of friends was with him. 

"Oh come on. It has been a long day and I need to finish my history paper." She moaned. The guys didn't show any sign of letting her go, of course they didn't. She was right now such an easy target, another reason why she hated the lack of lights in the hallways. But there was nothing she could do about it now, or was there. She could take a run for it. She was fast, only would she be fast enough. There was only one way to find out. With a little jump she started running, but one of the boys had guessed her attention and grabbed her by the arm. Flinging her against the concrete wall, she was able to catch herself before her head made contact with it. Still it was hurting like hell, the boys started to gang around her. This was going not as planned, and she didn't know what they were planning to do with her. Normally they would insult her, but something told her that this was not the case this time. She turned around to face them, something she regretted directly. One of the guy's fist was on its way to hit her back on the head. But instead it landed directly in her face, her noise started to bleed and briefly she wondered if it was broken. She didn't have the time to check this, because the next fist landed. Forcing her head to smash the wall, she was starting to taste the blood in her mouth. Were they trying to kill her? If that was the case she needed to make sure she was not forced towards the ground, otherwise they were able to kick her. Another fist landed in her stomach, forcing the air out of her lungs. Followed by two others, she needed to find a way out of this. Another fist landed on her temple, dark spots started to appear in her vision. This is not going to end well.

"What in hell's name are you guys doing?" A voice echoed through the hallway. She only couldn't pinpoint from where it came from. The blows to her head and stomach stopped directly. Still she wasn't willing to hope that it was over, the other could join them.

"Kezef, you are back." One of the bullies said. Fear was clearly audible in his voice, and she didn't blame him. Kezef maybe a student he was also a racer. Footsteps were getting closer, she wasn't able to turn her head towards the sound. 

"I am going to school here. So were else would I go?" Kezef replied, he was closer by then before. Of course, he was. Where else would those footsteps come from? The group of boys hadn't moved since he had asked them what they were doing. "But none of you answered my question. What ate you guys doing?" 

"Taking out the trash, she has no business to be in this school." One of them replied. "She is the daughter of a murderer, and that isn't all. She was actively taking notes of the race."

"The fact of her being here at school, that is the job for the dean. And as for her taking notes..." He looked at her and sighed. "She lives in a world where racing can change lives, so I do not find it strange for her to take notes." The others were clearly taken it back by his comments, and so was she. He then turned towards her. "Are you alright?" Again she was surprised by his question, nobody in this school had asked her this before. She wanted to tell him the truth, that he could see it for himself. She was not fine. But instead she started to nod, which was a huge mistake.

"I am... Fine." Dina said with a shaky voice. Great, now the others have heard it as well. She simply should have nod and should have left it there. But no, she needed to speak. Her body started to betray her as well, it was now heavily shaking from the pain and her vision was beginning to blur. She pushed herself harder against the wall, just to be able to stand straight. "There is nothing they can do to me, that I am not able to handle." Now her voice was a bit more steady. Kezef nodded, but he then looked at the boys.

"They are indeed weak, if they needed four of them to attack you. Thinking of it, is four against one not a crime?" Kezef said, the boys looked at each other before running off. Kezef shook his head. "I will report them to the dean in the morning." 

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Don't bother, the dean will do nothing about it." She said.

"He will if the report came from me." He replied. That might be true, but she was not holding her breath. Well currently she was holding her breath, because breathing was too painful.

"Thank you for saving my ass. But now I need to go." She said, pushing herself off the wall. Which again was a great mistake. Her legs gave out, and she started to fall forward. Her vision became completely blank, the last thing she felt was his arms around her. But after that nothing.

********

Kezef sighed, just his luck. He just got back from a crappy race, but that was not this girl's fault. It was from the moment he entered the hallway that she was a victim. Four against one, he was almost sure that it was a crime. Even if it wasn't a crime four men against one woman, it was unthinkable in his mind. But what did he need to do about her now, she was out of it that much was clear. Blood was pouring out of her nose and there were even some streaks of blood leaving her mouth. He could carry her to her room, but he wasn't allowed to step inside. Only what other option did he have. He couldn't take her to his room, she was not allowed to set foot in his room either. And besides that his roommate hated Dina just as much as any other person here at school.

"Mister ...," The concierge came towards him. "You do not need to explain yourself. I saw everything." He did, why didn't he help her? "On camera, from my office." He pointed towards something in the shades. "I came as soon as possible, with a med kit." This was when Kezef saw the white bag. "Let's bring her to her own room. And do not worry about the rules, I think the dean wouldn't mind it this time." Kezef nodded. Glad that he was able to do more then only saving her, now he could take care of her as well. Without worrying about how to explain himself to the dean. He lowered himself slightly so that he was able to pick her up completely. "Follow me." The concierge didn't need to point the way, everybody knew in which dorm room Dina lived. But he wasn't going to point that out to the man. He just walked behind him, while carrying Dina in his arms. They finally reached her door, which was of course locked up. Dina probably had the key to her room on her person, but Kezef was not willing to go source for it. And luckily he didn't have to. The concierge had a key to her room as well. Her room was dark, until the light was switched on. He was surprised, why he couldn't explain, that the walls of her room were covered with 21 posters and signs. He knew that the posters were outlawed and most of them were destroyed. But Dina was the man's daughter, so why shouldn't she have some posters of him in her room. He rushed her towards the empty bed, now that he was able to see her clearly was he able to see her wounds. Her noise was heavily damaged, probably broken. Her lips were bleeding, one of her eyes was staring to swell up. He clearly could see blood slipping on her pillow, so she had a wound there as well. He turned around and opened her closet, which was filled with her clothing and a toolbox. Which to his knowledge was forbidden inside the dorm rooms, but he didn't care. At least for now, he grabbed a towel and rushed back to her side. Lifting her head in source for the wound, and pressing the towel against it. The concierge lifted her shirt, until under her breasts. Her slightly pale skin was turning black and blue. The man was holding a screen in his hand, and slowly went over her bare skin. "She got lucky, no broken ribs." Well that was something, but Kezef didn't want to call her lucky. Not if he needed to take her other wounds into a count. The man moved the screen to her face and sighed. "Nose is broken." Kezef looked at the man, what was wrong. The technology was so advance that they could fix all her wounds with one button on that screen. But then again the school would most likely not have the money to use that button, and from what he understood of her financial status, neither did she.

"How much?" He asked. The concierge shock his head, his face covered in wrinkles and pigment spots. "How much." He repeats his question.

"It is not I am not willing to tell you, but I doubt she would want you to bear the costs." The man said, Kezef sighed. He knew that the man was right, she could have told him that she wasn't fine. But then they were surrounded by those bullies, so maybe that wasn't the right time to come clean. But she still wanted to walk away from him after they had left.

"How much for the bare minimum." He said. This will only heal the open wounds, not her broken noise, swollen eye or her black and blues. 

"1000 credits, give or take." The man replied. "But I think she will not be happy if you cover that either."

"Do it." Kezef said. The man opened his mouth, but Kezef only looked at him with narrowed eyes. He would deal with her when she wakes up, maybe he will not tell her that he had paid for her medical bill. Better yet those bullies can pay him back, they caused this damage. But he highly doubted that he would see one credit from them coming his way. "Do it, and make a report to the dean in the morning." The man sighed, changed some settings on the screen and held it above Dina. Kezef could see that her lips started to heal, which meant that the wound on the back of her head was closed of as well.

"Here are you happy?" The man asked. Kezef wanted to reply, but the door of Dina's room opened and the dean entered.