Thread 3 – Dead Gardens. [0.5. Red Thread of Fate]
On November 26, 2024 By Fang Dokja In Arc 0.5. Red Thread of Fate
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Trigger Warning and Content Warning:
This section of the story contains themes and scenes that may be distressing or unsettling for some readers. The following triggers are present:
* Violence: Intense verbal and physical altercations between characters, including destructive actions that escalate tensions.
* Foul Language: Use of strong language and insults, particularly during moments of high emotion and conflict.
* Emotional Intensity: High levels of frustration, humiliation, and tension between characters, which may evoke strong emotional responses.
* Humiliation: Characters experience significant embarrassment, particularly in the presence of authority figures.
* Power Dynamics: Themes of control and manipulation by an authoritative figure, potentially triggering for those sensitive to power imbalances.
* Sarcasm and Mockery: Repeated sarcastic and mocking dialogue that may contribute to a sense of discomfort or irritation.
* Verbal abuse and bullying: There is an ongoing theme of verbal insults, mockery, and humiliation directed at a character, including body shaming, social exclusion, and derogatory comments about appearance and behavior.
* Social exclusion and stigmatization: There are strong elements of social rejection, with characters being labeled as “freaks” and “outcasts” due to their appearance or behavior.
* Manipulation and power dynamics: There are elements of power imbalances between the characters, including the mistreatment and bullying by a group of popular individuals.
* Physical Violence and Threats: Intense scenes of physical aggression, including a character being physically manhandled and threatened with harm. There are also explicit threats of violence towards others, which may be distressing for some readers.
* Emotional and Psychological Abuse: Verbal abuse and manipulative behavior, with one character attempting to exert control and instill fear through humiliation and intimidation.
* Bullying and Harassment: One character is subjected to public humiliation and mockery, leading to further alienation and isolation. The dynamic between the characters is heavily influenced by hostile behavior and bullying.
* Tension and Hostility: The atmosphere is charged with animosity and deep interpersonal conflict, which could evoke feelings of discomfort or unease.
* Disturbing Dialogue: The story includes harsh and degrading language, with one character belittling and dehumanizing the other. This can be emotionally intense and disturbing.
* Isolation: One character faces significant social isolation, including being alienated by peers and treated as an outcast, which could be triggering for readers sensitive to feelings of loneliness or exclusion.
* Bullying and Verbal Abuse: One character is repeatedly subjected to scorn and verbal insults, including being labeled as a “parasite” and a “pest.” The hostility and demeaning remarks from other characters can be uncomfortable to read.
* Emotional Manipulation and Intimidation: There are instances of power dynamics where one character expresses a desire to dominate and control another, adding to the sense of intimidation.
* Threats of Violence: There are multiple instances where one character makes threats of violence, including explicit plans to “get rid of” another character. These threats are presented as an expression of anger and desire for control.
* Dark Themes of Mental Health: Mental health struggles, particularly feelings of emptiness, emotional numbness, and psychological detachment, are explored throughout the narrative.
* Psychological Manipulation & Tension: The story includes elements of psychological manipulation, with certain characters attempting to understand and engage with others in unsettling, invasive ways.
These themes are explored in a dark and intense manner, and readers should be aware of the emotional weight of the interactions and the violence described.
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Status: Draft #1
Last Edited: November 26, 2024
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The air in the principal’s office was as stiff and cold as the heavy-duty chains restraining Reine and Deon. The two children sat in plush, leather chairs—though “sat” was a generous term. Reine glowered from his seat, his posture tense, his arms pinned by Professor Frost’s infamous bindings, while Deon leaned back with an almost ethereal calm, staring into the middle distance like this was just another Tuesday.
Principal Damien Parlor, the epitome of businesslike authority, sat across from them at his massive oak desk, impeccably polished and devoid of unnecessary clutter. His sharp suit matched his sharp tone as he leaned forward, fingers steepled, eyes flicking between the two troublemakers with the same detached curiosity he might reserve for a bizarre zoo exhibit.
“Well,” Damien began, his voice smooth but firm, “I believe we’ve reached a new record for collateral damage in this institution. Congratulations. You’ve officially cost the academy more in one class than our annual chemistry budget. Take pride in that; not everyone can achieve such… monumental incompetence.”
Reine’s glare hardened, his mouth opening to protest, but Damien raised a single hand. The gesture was enough to silence him.
“Before you start defending yourself, Albertine,” Damien continued, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly, “let’s review the list of damages, shall we? Broken beakers, shattered tables, a melted desk—don’t ask me how—destroyed research papers, two fume hoods rendered inoperable, and the complete and utter annihilation of one perfectly functional lab. Did I miss anything?”
Reine bristled, his face reddening. “Principal Damien, I didn’t—”
“Oh, and let’s not forget,” Damien interrupted smoothly, “the chemical spill that burned through the floor, which has now resulted in a partial evacuation of the floor below. But please, go on. Tell me how this wasn’t your fault.”
Reine inhaled sharply, his glare now shifting toward Deon, who remained maddeningly silent.
“She started it,” he snapped, jerking his chin toward Deon. “She dumped a solution on my head, spit on my shoes, insulted me, took a photo for God’s sake—and don’t get me started on how she was deliberately sabotaging the project by doing everything alone. I’m not going to sit there and let some—some—”
“Some two-year-old?” Damien interjected, his tone so dry it could have sparked a fire. “Yes, Reine. I can see how you, a seven-year-old prodigy, were entirely helpless against a toddler. Tell me, did she overpower you with her vast physical strength?”
The sarcasm hit hard, and Reine’s jaw tightened. He bit back a response, glancing down at his chains.
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“Principal Damien, I didn’t—”
Damien raised a single finger, silencing him instantly. “Before you try to argue, Mr. Reine…” He tapped a remote on his desk. The office’s sleek wall-mounted screen flared to life, playing back the security footage of the lab incident in all its chaotic glory.
The video began with Deon dumping a mysterious solution on Reine’s head. The principal paused it on Reine’s outraged expression, zooming in unnecessarily.
Reine’s cheeks flushed with humiliation. “That—she started it! Look at her!” He jabbed a finger toward Deon, who didn’t even flinch.
Damien’s gaze didn’t waver. “And yet,” he said, hitting play, “you responded like this.”
The video resumed, showing Reine lunging at Deon with all the grace and fury of a deranged bull.
“And then,” Damien continued, utterly unfazed as the footage escalated to full-blown war, “there’s this part.”
The screen showed Deon flipping a table, using it as a makeshift barrier before hurling various lab equipment at Reine. Chemicals spilled, papers ignited, and the entire room descended into chaos.
Reine’s jaw tightened. “She—”
Damien raised both hands this time. “It does not matter who started it. Both of you turned that lab into a warzone. You destroyed school property, endangered your classmates, and caused—” he clicked another button, and an itemized list of damages appeared on the screen, “—this.”
Reine’s eyes widened as he read the expenses. “This… this is ridiculous! Most of that damage was her fault!”
Deon, still staring off into space, finally moved. She nodded once, as though accepting the blame, then turned back to zoning out.
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Deon, meanwhile, finally showed a sign of life. She blinked slowly and tilted her head slightly toward Damien, giving him the faintest nod.
Damien’s eyebrows lifted. “Well, it seems someone here at least knows when to accept their punishment without unnecessary dramatics.”
Reine gawked. “She—She still started it! How is she—”
“I don’t care who started it,” Damien cut in sharply. His icy tone silenced Reine immediately. “What I care about is the fact that both of you turned a chemistry lab into a warzone. You used chemicals—expensive ones, might I add—as weapons. You destroyed research equipment. And, perhaps most importantly, you completely disrupted the learning environment for your peers. This is a school, not a gladiatorial arena.”
Deon remained unfazed, her face as neutral as ever. Reine, on the other hand, was practically trembling with suppressed frustration.
Damien leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers together. “Now, onto your punishment.”
Reine straightened, clearly prepared to argue. “With all due respect, sir, I—”
“Oh, there will be no negotiating,” Damien said, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “The damages total a hefty sum. Neither of you will be permitted to ask your parents or guardians for help. You’ll work off every single credit of that debt together. And I mean together. You will coordinate, collaborate, and—dare I say—get along. Because until this debt is paid in full, you are effectively tied to one another.”
“What?!” Reine exploded. “Together? With her?!” He glared at Deon like she was some sort of plague.
Deon, still maddeningly calm, gave another nod of acceptance.
Damien smirked faintly. “Yes. Together. Consider it a lesson in teamwork and accountability.”
“That’s not fair!” Reine protested, his voice teetering on the edge of a tantrum. “I didn’t even cause half this mess! She’s the one who—”
Damien cut him off with a sharp look. “And yet, you participated. You escalated it. If you had kept your cool, perhaps we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“And you, Miss Deon.” He turned his piercing gaze to her. “Your quiet demeanor may fool others, but I see through you. You’re a troublemaker. A smart one, but a troublemaker nonetheless.”
Deon blinked, her expression finally shifting into what could only be described as vague disinterest. She gave a single, nonchalant nod of acknowledgment.
“Do you even care about what he’s saying?” Reine demanded, turning toward Deon with an incredulous glare.
Deon finally looked at him, her gaze flat and unbothered. “No.”
Reine growled audibly, his composure cracking further.
“Enough,” Damien said firmly, though there was a flash of amusement in his eyes. “This isn’t a negotiation, Reine. You will pay for the damages, you will work together, and you will learn to function as a team. Failure to do so will result in further consequences—ones that I promise will make today’s punishment look like a vacation.”
Reine slumped back in his chair, fuming but silent. Deon resumed her thousand-yard stare, as if already bored by the entire ordeal.
Damien sighed. “You’re both lucky no one was hurt. But make no mistake—this is your responsibility now.”
Reine sank back into his chair, glaring at Deon. “This is all your fault.”
Deon tilted her head slightly, her expression as serene as ever. “You threw the first punch.”
“You dumped a solution on my head!”
“And you deserved it.”
Reine looked ready to strangle her again, chains or no chains.
Damien clapped his hands once, drawing their attention back to him. “Enough. Both of you, out. Report to the faculty lounge tomorrow at dawn for your first assignment. And if either of you so much as looks at the other the wrong way, I’ll double the workload. Understood?”
“Yes, Principal Damien,” they mumbled in unison.
“Good.Now, you’re dismissed.”
Damien smiled thinly, folding his hands on his desk. “Report to the faculty lounge tomorrow at dawn for your first assignment. I look forward to hearing about your teamwork in the coming weeks. Frost will remove your chains once you leave my office.”
As the two children were escorted out, Damien leaned back in his chair, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. He picked up his phone and opened the group chat.
Damien: “They’re gonna kill each other or fall in love. Either way, I win.”
Damien: “Update: They’re gonna hate each other even more after this. This is gold. I’m setting up popcorn for the next round.”
Frost responded almost immediately: “Popcorn? I’m bringing nachos.”
Victor, ever the stoic: “Children are dangerous.”
And Damien, with a final smirk, typed: “Dangerous, yes. But they’re also hilarious.”
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The hallway stretched long and empty, devoid of the usual bustling chatter as Reine led Deon back toward their next class. His face was a mask of simmering rage, and his fists clenched tighter with every step. His mind roared with thoughts of the humiliation she’d caused him, her audacity, her infuriating calmness.
He paused suddenly, glancing at the ceiling corners. No cameras. A blind spot. Perfect.
In one swift motion, Reine grabbed Deon’s collar, yanking her off the ground as easily as if she were weightless. Her frail frame dangled limply in his grasp, her feet a few inches from the polished tile floor. The heavy cuffs from Frost’s restraints had been removed, but even without them, Deon showed no signs of resistance.
Reine’s ice-blue eyes burned with hatred as he pulled her close, his other hand clenched into a trembling fist at his side. “Listen here, you little freak,” he growled, his voice low and venomous. “I don’t care how smart you think you are or how much you want to play the aloof genius act. You humiliated me. Me. No one humiliates me and gets away with it.”
Deon blinked lazily, her pale, expressionless face tilted slightly to the side as if she were listening to a mildly interesting podcast.
Reine’s grip tightened, his knuckles white against her collar. “What? Nothing to say now? Too scared? Or maybe you’re so used to being pathetic you can’t even feel fear anymore.” He leaned closer, his breath hot and sharp against her cold, impassive face. “You’re nothing, you hear me? Nothing. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong anywhere. And I’ll make damn sure you realize that.”
Still, she didn’t flinch.
His eyes flickered with a darker, more dangerous intensity. “This school isn’t for garbage like you. I’m going to make your life hell. You think today was bad? That was just the introduction, sweetheart. You haven’t even seen the main event.”
Finally, Deon moved—but not in the way he expected. Her eyes shifted, locking with his for the first time. The icy glare she returned was so devoid of life, so utterly dispassionate, that it almost made him falter. Almost.
And then, in a voice so quiet it barely registered, she muttered, “Are you done?”
Her words hit like a slap—not because they were defiant or angry, but because they were so utterly indifferent.
Reine’s grip faltered for half a second before he snarled and shoved her backward, slamming her into the cold metal lockers with a bang. The hollow sound reverberated down the hallway as Deon’s thin frame crumpled slightly against the impact, her knees buckling before she caught herself and straightened.
“I should stuff you in there,” Reine muttered darkly, motioning toward the locker she was now pressed against. “Maybe then you’ll learn to stay out of my way.”
Deon didn’t respond. She simply stood, brushing imaginary dust from her sleeve, her head tilted ever so slightly as she watched him like a disinterested observer.
That stare—it was driving him insane.
“You think this is over?” Reine asked, his voice lower now, almost dangerous in its quiet intensity. “It’s not. Not until you’re gone. Red Thread of Fate, my ass. If you’re supposed to be my soulmate or whatever bullshit the universe decided, then fate’s got a death wish.”
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a cold whisper. “I’ll kill that stupid thread. And you with it.”
Without waiting for a reply—not that she would give one—he turned sharply on his heel, his shoulders stiff and his fists clenched as he stormed down the hall.
Deon remained where she was, her gaze fixed on his retreating figure. Her lips parted slightly, as if she might say something, but no sound came. She pressed a hand lightly to her collar, where the fabric still held the faint impression of his grip.
For a moment, something flickered across her face—too quick to name—before it vanished, leaving her expression unreadable once more. She adjusted her uniform, straightened her posture, and began walking toward her next class as if nothing had happened.
The two shared their next period together, though they sat at opposite ends of the room, a chasm of tension separating them. Reine’s glare burned into the back of her head, but Deon never turned around, her attention fixed on her work with the same eerie detachment as before.
The class continued, the other students oblivious to the quiet war brewing in the room. But beneath the calm surface, the battle lines were already drawn—and neither side was willing to yield.
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Reine entered the classroom first, his steps measured and deliberate, his composure restored. The pristine uniform he wore betrayed no hint of the chaos from earlier; every strand of his hair was in place, every button secured. His calm, collected demeanor radiated confidence—a stark contrast to the fury that had consumed him only minutes ago.
The murmurs began as soon as he stepped through the door, hushed whispers skittering between clusters of students. Eyes flicked toward him, then darted away, careful not to linger. Everyone had seen the video. Everyone knew.
“Reine! Over here!” Noah called, waving him over to the back row where he and the rest of Reine’s friends sat.
Reine strode toward them, his sharp gaze flicking across the room like a predator surveying its territory. He didn’t acknowledge the whispers or the stares, though he was acutely aware of every single one. Sliding into the seat next to Noah, he allowed himself a faint smirk, as if to say, They should be staring.
“Man, you good?” Noah asked, leaning closer and lowering his voice. “That kid’s got some nerve. Who even is she?”
“She’s nobody,” Reine replied flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. “And she’ll stay that way.”
The group laughed, though it was more out of solidarity than genuine humor. One of the girls leaned forward, her perfectly manicured nails drumming against the desk. “Honestly, Reine, I don’t know how you kept your cool for as long as you did. If it were me? I’d have kicked her out of the school on day one.”
Reine’s smirk widened, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t worry. She won’t last long.”
The door creaked open, and the room fell silent.
Deon entered.
Her appearance hadn’t changed since the fight—her uniform was rumpled, her hair unkempt, and there was a faint smudge of dirt on her cheek. Her expression remained eerily blank, her eyes as lifeless as ever. If she noticed the hostile stares directed her way, she gave no indication.
She walked to the front of the classroom, each step slow and deliberate, as though she were moving through a fog. Students shifted uncomfortably, whispering among themselves, their disdain palpable.
“What a freak,” someone muttered.
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“Did she even try to fix herself up?” another whispered.
Reine leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed as he watched her. A flicker of satisfaction crossed his face when he noticed the others’ disdain. He didn’t even need to lift a finger—she was doing a fine job alienating herself.
Deon reached the front row and sat down in the far corner, as far away from the others as possible. She didn’t look up, didn’t meet anyone’s gaze. Instead, she placed her bag on the desk and began pulling out her materials with the same robotic efficiency she did everything else.
“Alright, that’s enough,” came a firm voice from the front of the room.
Professor Arzen had arrived. He stood by the door, his kind yet sharp eyes scanning the room. The whispers ceased immediately as he walked to the center of the classroom, his hands clasped behind his back.
“I trust everyone has had time to… settle after this morning’s excitement,” Arzen said, his tone neutral but laced with a subtle warning.
A few students squirmed in their seats, glancing at each other nervously.
“Good,” Arzen continued, his gaze briefly flicking between Reine and Deon. “Let’s begin.”
The professor’s presence seemed to diffuse some of the tension in the room. His calm, authoritative demeanor had a way of grounding the students, even if only temporarily.
As he began his lecture, Reine leaned toward Noah, his voice low enough to avoid being overheard. “Look at her,” he sneered. “She doesn’t belong here. It’s embarrassing.”
Noah glanced toward Deon, then back at Reine. “You sure you’re not giving her too much attention? Creepy or not, she’s still just a kid. Might not be worth it.”
Reine’s eyes narrowed. “She made it personal. She doesn’t get to walk away from that.”
At the front of the room, Deon remained motionless, her gaze fixed on the notebook in front of her. But the faintest twitch of her hand, barely noticeable, suggested she was listening.
Professor Arzen’s voice filled the room, his lecture a welcome distraction from the storm brewing between the two students. But beneath the surface, the tension lingered, sharp and unyielding—a thread pulled taut, ready to snap.
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The steady cadence of Professor Arzen’s voice filled the classroom, a soothing backdrop to the quiet scratching of pens on paper. But in the far back row, the whispered murmurs of Reine and Noah provided a sharp contrast to the disciplined focus of their peers.
Noah leaned over slightly, careful not to draw the professor’s attention. “So,” he began, his voice barely above a whisper, “what happened in the principal’s office? I mean, the rest of us only saw the aftermath.”
Reine’s jaw tightened, his pen pausing mid-stroke on his notebook. His voice, though hushed, carried an edge of bitterness. “What happened,” he began, emphasizing the word with a sharp glare, “is that I’ve been saddled with the most ridiculous punishment imaginable.”
Noah’s eyebrows shot up, his curiosity piqued. “Ridiculous how? Don’t tell me Damien went soft.”
Reine let out a low, humorless laugh. “Hardly. That sadistic bastard thought it would be funny to trap me in community service with her.” He spat the last word as though it physically hurt to say it. “Not just for a week as her guide. Oh no, we’re talking long-term projects, grunt work, earning money to pay off damages. All without any outside help.”
Noah let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair. “Damn. He’s really making you two bond over your mutual suffering, huh?”
“Bond?” Reine scoffed, his eyes flashing dangerously. “I’d rather die. That creepy little freak doesn’t belong in this school, let alone anywhere near me. If I had it my way—”
“Careful, man,” Noah interrupted, his tone teasing but not without caution. “You’re starting to sound obsessed.”
Reine shot him a withering glare but didn’t respond, opting instead to turn his attention to the group of girls sitting nearby. Their giggles and glances in his direction were a welcome distraction. With practiced ease, he flashed a charming smile at one of them, eliciting a flustered giggle.
“Poor Reine,” one of the girls cooed, leaning slightly toward him. “Having to spend so much time with her. It’s so unfair!”
Another chimed in, her voice dripping with envy. “I mean, why does she get to be around you so much? She doesn’t even deserve to be here.”
Reine’s smile turned colder, more calculated. “Trust me, I’m the last person who wants to be near her. She’s nothing but a parasite—a stain on this school’s reputation. If anything, I’m doing everyone a favor by keeping an eye on her. Someone has to make sure she doesn’t burn the place down.”
The girls nodded vehemently, their disdain for Deon evident in their expressions.
Noah, meanwhile, watched the exchange with mild amusement, his eyebrow quirking ever so slightly. “Hate’s a strong word, man,” he said, his voice laced with light sarcasm. “Didn’t think you had it in you to dislike someone this much. Usually, you’re Mr. Perfect—always understanding, always patient.”
Reine didn’t take the bait, his glare cutting through Noah’s playful tone. “She’s different,” he said sharply. “You don’t understand. She’s not just annoying—she’s dangerous.”
“Dangerous how?” Noah pressed, though his tone remained casual.
Reine hesitated, his grip tightening on his pen. “She’s calculated. Unpredictable. That fight? She knew exactly what she was doing. And she doesn’t care. No remorse, no shame. She’s… unnatural.”
Noah tilted his head, regarding Reine with a thoughtful expression. “Or maybe,” he said lightly, “she’s just a kid who doesn’t know how to act in a place like this. Not everyone grows up perfect, you know.”
Reine didn’t respond, his jaw clenched tightly as he stared at the front of the classroom where Deon sat. Her back was straight, her movements methodical as she took notes. She didn’t look back, didn’t acknowledge the whispers or the stares.
Noah leaned closer, dropping his voice further. “You sure you’re not letting her get under your skin? Feels like she’s got you on edge more than you want to admit.”
Reine’s head snapped toward Noah, his eyes narrowing. “She hasn’t gotten under my skin,” he said firmly, his voice icy. “She’s a nuisance. Nothing more.”
“Uh-huh,” Noah drawled, leaning back in his chair with a faint smirk. “Whatever you say, man.”
Reine turned his attention back to the professor, determined to ignore the knowing look Noah was giving him. But deep down, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that Noah was right—that Deon had managed to worm her way into a corner of his mind, a corner he couldn’t quite control. And that realization only fueled his hatred further.
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Noah leaned back slightly in his seat, pen tapping idly against the edge of his desk as Professor Arzen’s lecture carried on. His eyes flickered between Reine and Deon, the tension between the two like an unspoken storm hanging over the classroom. Reine, ever the composed golden child, was smiling coldly, occasionally whispering sharp, scornful remarks to the friends around him. Noah couldn’t quite make out the exact words, but the meaning was clear enough.
Disdain.
Across the room, Deon sat stiffly in her chair, pale and gaunt, utterly still except for the slow, deliberate movement of her hand across the paper. She wrote with an almost mechanical precision, her posture unnaturally rigid, as if she didn’t belong in her own body.
The whispers in the class weren’t even subtle now.
“She’s such a freak,” one girl murmured, her voice just loud enough to be heard. “I can’t believe she’s still here after all that.”
“Seriously,” her companion agreed. “It’s disgusting. Someone should just kick her out already.”
Noah didn’t respond outwardly, but his mind cataloged the remarks. He didn’t particularly like the judgmental nature of his classmates—too many of them jumped to conclusions with little thought. But he couldn’t fully disagree with the unease Deon inspired. There was something off about her, something unsettling that wasn’t just her appearance or her quiet, aloof demeanor.
And yet, she fascinated him.
Noah was a man of hard work and deliberate thought. Unlike Reine, whose brilliance seemed almost effortless, Noah had to struggle for his achievements. He studied longer, practiced harder, and worked more diligently than most to maintain his standing in the elite academy. Observation and calculation had always been his strengths, his way of leveling the playing field.
And that’s why Deon unsettled him so much.
He couldn’t read her. Not even a little.
Noah prided himself on understanding people. Reine, for all his charm and confidence, was an open book if you knew where to look. His temper, his insecurities, his ambitions—they were clear to Noah in a way they weren’t to anyone else, not even Reine’s own parents. It was what made their friendship work.
But Deon?
She was a cipher.
No tells. No patterns. Nothing he could latch onto. She wasn’t just quiet; she was absent. Like a shadow cast where a person should be.
His eyes lingered on her pale figure as she continued to write. The class around her might as well not have existed. No flinch at the whispers, no reaction to the stares, no acknowledgment of anything except the task in front of her.
It was… disconcerting.
And thrilling.
Noah’s lips twitched into a faint smile as he tapped his pen against the desk again. He’d always been a thrill-seeker at heart, though he hid it well behind his calm, affable demeanor. Deon was a puzzle he couldn’t solve, a danger he couldn’t quite quantify. And that made her interesting in a way few things were.
Beside him, Reine was still muttering to his friends, his tone growing more cutting with each passing moment.
“She’s pathetic,” Reine sneered under his breath, his striking red eyes narrowing as he glanced toward the front of the room. “Doesn’t even bother to fix herself up. No self-respect at all.”
Noah tilted his head slightly, watching his best friend. There was venom in Reine’s voice that felt… unusual. Reine was rarely this heated about anything. Normally, he’d brush off annoyances with a smirk or a sharp remark and move on.
But Deon had struck a nerve.
Noah didn’t comment, though he filed the observation away for later. Instead, he leaned over and whispered, his tone light and teasing, “Still worked up about her, huh? You sure you’re not secretly in love?”
Reine shot him a glare that could have frozen lava. “Don’t even joke about that.”
“Touchy, touchy,” Noah replied, smirking faintly as he leaned back again. “Just saying, you’re letting her live rent-free in your head.”
“She’s a pest,” Reine hissed, his voice low but sharp. “A parasite. And I’m going to get rid of her.”
“Uh-huh,” Noah said, his tone noncommittal. He let the subject drop, but his mind lingered on Reine’s uncharacteristic hostility.
Deon really had gotten under his skin.
But why?
Noah glanced at her again, noting the stark contrast between her stillness and the vibrant energy of the classroom around her. She didn’t fit here—not just in the social sense, but in a deeper, more fundamental way.
There was danger in her, yes. But it wasn’t the kind Reine saw, the kind born of malice or chaos. No, this was something else entirely.
Noah’s smile widened ever so slightly.
He couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.
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Reine’s sneer was sharp, his gaze cold as he glanced sidelong at Noah, who was staring at Deon across the room, his attention seemingly fixated on the pale, sickly girl. Reine could feel the air shift with the quiet tension that settled between them, the weight of Noah’s curiosity pressing against him.
“Seriously, Noah?” Reine’s voice was low, his tone almost a snarl. “You’ve really sunk that low, huh? Staring at the freak?” He made no attempt to hide the disdain in his voice as his eyes narrowed, lingering on Noah’s distracted expression. It wasn’t the first time he’d noticed his best friend’s peculiar fascination with the girl, but it never failed to rile him up.
Noah didn’t flinch at the jab. Instead, he chuckled, almost amused. “You sure about that? I don’t remember you being this sensitive about your little freak show.” His voice was teasing, but there was an undercurrent of genuine curiosity beneath the sarcasm. He hadn’t been able to shake the unease Deon stirred in him, and though he tried to hide it, he knew Reine could read him like an open book.
“Curiosity, huh?” Reine muttered, staring at Noah. “You’re telling me you’re seriously interested in her? After everything that’s happened? That’s… sad, even for you.” He made a dismissive gesture with his hand, as if brushing away the thought altogether.
Noah’s smile remained, though his eyes held a more thoughtful edge as he finally spoke. “I don’t know, Reine… there’s something about her.” He leaned back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest, his expression serious for the first time in their conversation. “I’m studying psychology, remember? I see patterns, Reine. I look at people differently. Deon is an anomaly.”
Reine snorted, not even trying to mask his scorn. “An anomaly? She’s just a freak, Noah. She’s got that whole thing going on. Pale as a ghost, white hair, thin as a twig—probably malnourished, and looks like she’s been dead inside for years. What else is there to say?” He glared over at Deon’s motionless form, her face devoid of emotion. “She doesn’t fit in anywhere. She doesn’t even try to. It’s like she doesn’t care. She’s a freak show. That’s all she is.”
Noah took a slow breath, narrowing his eyes as he studied his best friend’s face. Reine’s words were laced with disdain, and though there was logic in them, Noah couldn’t shake the feeling that Reine was looking at things too simply. The irritation in Reine’s voice, the way he seemed to want to distance himself from Deon—it wasn’t just about the girl. There was something deeper, something personal.
“She doesn’t fit in because she doesn’t care about fitting in,” Noah said quietly, almost as if speaking to himself. His voice was calm, contemplative, as though he were unraveling a puzzle in his mind. “That’s what’s strange. I don’t think she’s ever tried. She doesn’t respond to people, she doesn’t care what they think about her. It’s like she’s in her own world, detached from everything. But it’s not just apathy. It’s… isolation. A forced isolation. Like she’s locked inside herself.”
Reine scoffed, shaking his head in mock disbelief. “So now you’re psychoanalyzing her, huh? You are a lost cause, Noah. She’s a freak. Period.” His voice was filled with irritation, a touch of anger beneath the surface.
But Noah didn’t let it phase him. His mind was working, turning over the details in his head, analyzing. Deon was unlike anyone he had ever met. She wasn’t just an outsider; she was something else. Something dangerous.
Noah’s gaze shifted to her once more. Her pale skin almost seemed to shimmer in the dim classroom light, her head slightly tilted as she stared down at the paper in front of her. She didn’t look at anyone, not even when Professor Arzen addressed her. She answered when called upon, her voice flat and emotionless, but that was it. She wasn’t part of the world around her. She didn’t engage, didn’t connect. She was apart.
Noah’s fingers drummed against the desk as he continued to observe. “I’ve studied a lot of people, Reine. People like her—who disconnect so completely from their surroundings. She’s like a ticking time bomb. People like her, with that… emptiness, they often develop deep, dark tendencies. I don’t think it’s just about her being ignored or unwanted. I think it’s something deeper.”
Reine raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of skepticism and amusement. “And what’s that, Noah? You think she’s some kind of psycho killer in the making?”
Noah’s lips quirked upward in the slightest of smiles, though his gaze was still locked on Deon. “I don’t know. But that’s what makes her dangerous. You can’t get a read on her. It’s like she’s been wiped clean, like there’s nothing there. That emptiness? It’s… unsettling.” He looked back at Reine, his eyes sharp, analytical. “It’s like she’s waiting for something. And when it comes, she won’t hesitate to act.”
Reine’s eyes narrowed, the smile slipping from his face. “You’re reading too much into this. She’s just some pathetic freak who thinks she can do whatever she wants. And she’ll get what’s coming to her. No one messes with me, Noah. No one.”
Noah’s eyes flickered with the faintest hint of amusement. He could hear the underlying rage in Reine’s voice. Ah. There it is.
“You sure about that?” Noah asked, a teasing edge in his voice. “You seem awfully sensitive about her. Is it the freaky vibe? Or… something else?”
Reine glared at him, but his words didn’t hold the same bite as before. He didn’t answer. Instead, he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, as though trying to push the conversation away.
Noah leaned back in his chair, his eyes still on Deon, lost in thought. “Whatever you say, Reine. I’ll keep my distance… but I’m curious. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like her. And I don’t think you have either.”
Reine scoffed. “Yeah, well, I don’t care what you think. I’ve got better things to do than waste my time with her.”
Noah watched him for a moment longer, then shifted his attention back to Deon, his mind spinning with theories and possibilities.
Reine was right about one thing. There was no doubt Deon didn’t belong here.
But what made her so dangerous wasn’t just her isolation. It was the void inside her, the way she seemed to carry her brokenness so effortlessly. Noah could see it clearly now. She wasn’t just a freak. She was a ticking time bomb of emptiness and suppressed emotion.
And maybe, just maybe, Deon was the key to unlocking something much darker than anyone realized.
Noah smiled to himself, a little thrill running through him. This was going to be interesting.
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The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Students shifted in their seats, gathering their belongings and exchanging idle chatter, the room buzzing with the usual post-class noise. Reine, as expected, was already up and moving, a charming grin plastered on his face as he sauntered toward a group of girls near the door. His magnetic presence and carefree attitude were enough to draw their attention like moths to a flame. He gave Noah a brief glance, an almost smug smile on his lips.
“Good luck with that,” Reine muttered with a roll of his eyes, gesturing toward Deon, who was still sitting in her seat, her back turned to the chaos of the room. “You’re gonna need it.”
Noah shot Reine a flat look, not the least bit deterred by his friend’s words. While Reine was busy making the rounds, collecting the attention of his fan club, Noah had other things on his mind—mainly, Deon. He wasn’t particularly bothered by the disdain that rippled through the room whenever Deon entered, though he could sense the discomfort, the judgment. To the others, she was just a freak. But Noah knew better than to follow the crowd.
He walked toward her slowly, careful to make sure he didn’t come off as too intrusive. Deon was already packing up her things with her usual eerie detachment. Her movements were methodical, almost robotic, as she gathered her papers and books, never sparing a glance at anyone. The rest of the students filtered out of the classroom, chatting and laughing, but Noah stayed behind. There was a coldness in the air, a strange pull toward the girl in front of him. She wasn’t like the others. He could feel it in his bones. Something different about her, something not quite right.
He stood there for a moment, unsure of how to approach. He had never been one to just dive into conversations with people, but with Deon, there was something that made him want to push past her defenses. It was almost like a challenge. No one could read her, no one could get through. Not even Reine, with all his charisma and control. And yet, here Noah was, curious.
“Hey,” Noah said softly, breaking the silence that hung thick between them. His voice was calm, measured, trying to be as non-intrusive as possible. “I’m Noah. I don’t think we’ve really talked before.”
Deon didn’t respond. Her eyes remained fixed on the papers she was organizing, her focus so intense that it felt like nothing existed beyond the edge of the desk. She moved with a quiet precision, as if the world around her didn’t matter in the slightest.
Noah’s brows furrowed slightly, but he didn’t let it show. Maybe it’s just her way, he reasoned. Not everyone’s into small talk.
He leaned against the desk casually, attempting to strike a balance between appearing friendly and not too overbearing. “I get it. You don’t really talk much, huh? That’s okay. I don’t mind either way.” He smiled, trying to show that he was patient, that he could handle her silence. “You know, I’ve seen you around, and I was just wondering… what’s it like, y’know, just being… you?” He paused, realizing how strange that sounded, but it was too late to take it back now.
There was no change in Deon’s expression. No flicker of acknowledgment. She continued to move with eerie detachment, packing away her things without even a hint of emotion. Her posture remained unnervingly still, like a mannequin, untouched by the world around her. Noah’s smile faltered for just a moment, but he quickly recovered.
“Okay then,” he muttered under his breath, watching as she stood up and brushed past him without a single word. Her presence was cold, and it felt almost as though she was walking through him, ignoring him completely. The brush of her shoulder against his was like a wave of nothingness—she had no weight, no substance, as if she was a shadow moving through the room.
Noah stood there for a moment longer, staring after her as she made her way toward the door. His mind buzzed with questions. What was that? It wasn’t just the silence that unsettled him. It was the complete lack of anything—no emotion, no reaction, no acknowledgment. Like a dead zone, empty of anything remotely human.
He shook his head, trying to clear the growing unease. Get a grip, Noah.
He started to move toward the door, but as he glanced over at Reine, he caught a glimpse of his friend’s smug, satisfied face. Reine was already surrounded by a group of girls, laughing and joking, effortlessly charming his way through the social scene. His eyes met Noah’s for a second, and Reine’s lips curled into a grin, as though he knew exactly what was going through Noah’s mind.
“Better luck next time, buddy,” Reine said with a wink, as if the whole situation was just another joke. “I told you, she’s a lost cause. But hey, at least you tried.”
Noah just shrugged it off, giving Reine a half-hearted smile. He wasn’t upset—disappointed, maybe, but not upset. This wasn’t the first time he’d been ignored, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. But it was different with Deon. With her, it wasn’t just indifference. It was something deeper. Something unnerving.
The rest of the class filled the hallway, the noise of their voices becoming louder as they moved to their next class, but Noah remained detached from the chaos around him. His thoughts were still on Deon—her aloofness, her utter lack of regard for the world or anyone in it.
He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but something told him he couldn’t stop now. This is just the beginning.
Reine’s laughter echoed behind him, but Noah ignored it, his mind working through a thousand different theories. Was Deon a psychopath? A sociopath? Or was she simply so broken that she couldn’t feel anymore?
The questions gnawed at him, and he couldn’t help but feel that whatever answer he was seeking was hidden just beneath the surface, in the depths of Deon’s cold, unfeeling eyes.
He would figure it out. He had to. Because Deon was a puzzle, and Noah wasn’t one to walk away from a challenge.
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The hallway was a jungle of whispers, laughter, and flickering eyes. The buzz about Deon’s punishment with Reine had spread like wildfire. Her name was already synonymous with disgust and alienation. People didn’t just dislike her—they hated her. She was the freak, the outcast, the one who had the audacity to disrespect someone as beloved as Reine. How dare she?
Deon walked down the hall, her head bent low, her feet dragging with a lethargy that was almost inhuman. She was a ghost among the living, unnoticed, or so she appeared. Her pale skin, her emaciated frame, the unsettling look of emptiness in her blood-red eyes—these were all qualities that kept others away. No one knew why she was the way she was, but it didn’t matter. The world didn’t care about why.
She was just a burden. A freak.
As she walked, a group of the most popular girls, the elite of the elite, approached her. Their footsteps were light, deliberate, each one in sync with the others like they were part of some strange, twisted choreography. They moved together, blocking her path, creating a wall of mockery that Deon couldn’t escape.
“Look who it is,” one of them sneered, her voice a silky smooth insult, laced with an unmistakable air of superiority. “The legendary Deon. The girl who can’t even bother to clean herself up, let alone know how to act in public.”
The others tittered behind her, eyes cold and calculating. “How do you do it, Deon? Live like this? It’s honestly impressive. You’ve made the art of failing an entire career.”
Another girl leaned in, the scent of expensive perfume invading the air as she took a long, exaggerated sniff. “God, you smell like… like an old, forgotten library.” She gave a dramatic pause. “No one’s ever going to like you. Ever. Don’t you get it?”
Deon didn’t respond. She didn’t flinch. She didn’t even acknowledge them. Her eyes were empty, hollow, as though she was looking right through them. The girls were used to the defiant silence by now; it wasn’t new. But it never stopped them from trying.
“God, you really are pathetic,” another girl said with a laugh. “It’s bad enough that you look like that, but the way you just walk around, treating everyone like they’re beneath you? No one’s going to tolerate that forever, you know? Not in this school.”
Deon just kept walking. The words were like water running over her, unable to pierce the veil of her indifference. But the girls were relentless, and the venom in their words only grew sharper. They were too used to being adored, too accustomed to being the ones on top. To see someone like Deon—who didn’t even have the decency to acknowledge their presence—was an insult in itself.
“You really think you’re too good for all of us, don’t you?” The leader of the group stepped forward, a smug smile on her face. “Well, guess what? No one is going to look the other way anymore. You’ll see just how much people really hate you. And Reine? You actually disrespected Reine? After all he’s done for everyone? How could anyone even stand to be near you?”
Still, no response from Deon. She kept walking, oblivious, like a machine moving on autopilot.
One girl, now seething with anger, stepped in front of her. “Why don’t you listen for once, you freak? Why don’t you look at me when I’m talking to you?”
Without warning, she reached for Deon’s messy white hair, her fingers threading through the strands in an attempt to yank her head back. The rest of the group laughed, waiting for the inevitable reaction.
But Deon didn’t flinch. Didn’t even move.
Her head didn’t jerk back. Her body didn’t tense. She remained dead inside, staring straight ahead, as if the girl’s hand wasn’t even there.
But then—it happened.
The silence shattered.
In one swift, precise motion, Deon spun on her heel, her body moving with a terrifying speed that no one expected from someone so frail. Without warning, her leg shot up, her foot connecting with the girl’s crotch with a sickening crack of bone on bone.
The girl gasped, her breath stolen as she crumpled to the floor, clutching at her abdomen, her face contorted in pain. Her friends scattered, some in shock, others in disbelief. The corridor went completely silent, all eyes fixed on the scene.
Deon stood there for a split second—emotionless, her face the same cold mask as before—before she casually turned away and began walking again. Her pace was unhurried, detached. No sign of remorse, no hint of anything. She was a ghost, a shadow moving through the chaos she had just left behind.
People stared in stunned silence. The girl who had dared to touch Deon was still on the ground, her face pale with pain, but the rest of the group couldn’t even bring themselves to help her up. They were too stunned, too terrified of what had just happened.
“Did you see that?” one of the onlookers whispered, their voice trembling with a mix of fear and awe. “She kicked her. Right in the—”
Another student gasped. “It’s the second time today! First Reine, and now this?” They shook their head. “What the hell is wrong with her? Does she have no boundaries?”
The gossip spread like wildfire. Whispers filled the hall, spreading far and wide. Everyone had seen what Deon was capable of now. She didn’t care who she hurt. She didn’t care who was watching.
And the one thing that everyone hated the most?
She didn’t care about them. She didn’t care about anyone. Not even Reine.
The murmurs that followed her were nothing short of vicious. “Did you hear about her disrespecting Reine? That was a mistake. She’ll regret it. We all know what happens to people who cross him.”
“Yeah, but it’s not just that. She’s a freak. A weirdo. She doesn’t belong here.”
Deon kept walking, her shoulders slumped, her eyes never once shifting from the ground beneath her feet. She wasn’t a part of their world. She was just… there. Just a blip on the radar of their lives.
And yet, in that moment, Deon had done something no one expected. She had taken the power back. And everyone was watching. The enigma that was Deon was no longer something they could ignore.
As she disappeared into the crowd, the whispers followed. They always would. But Deon? She was a puzzle they’d never solve.
And she wasn’t interested in playing by anyone’s rules.
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