"Guess who I am?"

As Zohan was in his own deep thought, he was caught off-guard.

"Xina, quit that shit. That voice ain't your style."

"Xina? who's that? And why are you talking to me like that?"

A pony-tailed girl with deep blue eyes came out from behind Zohan and approached him. It was the same girl who was smiling at him when he was asking the question. She stared at him for some seconds before saying,

"You really are slow sometimes."

"But who are you?" Zohan asked with a puzzled look.

"Nicole Sedmy, uhm... I mean Nikki, yes! you used to call me that in junior school, we used to play together. Now do you remember me?"

"Are you sure... you got the right person?"

"Yes, the same hair color, the same mole at your neck. You are the absolutely the one I am searching for..."

She was talking, when Zohan's eyes fell on George who was standing at a corner of the end of assembly hall, instructing him to come outside.

"...We also made a promise, do you remember? Listen, if you are joking around, its still not late to apologize-"

"I have some important work to do ma'am. We can talk later." Zohan quickly excused himself before following George.

"Ma'am? What do you mean by that? Wait! Zohan!"

After they were out, Zohan looked back for a bit to take a good glance at Nikki and saw her standing with crossed arms watching him leave with a pouty face.

"Idiot, how can you forget me." Nicole said to herself while rolling her eyes.

"What's good, you need some help with anything?"

Xina tried to ask her from behind while keeping her hands on Nicole's soldier.

"Who are you?"

"The one whom you just heard about from Zohan." Xina smiled as she pointed at herself.

This instantly made a change on Nicole's facial expression, and she asked Xina with an inquisitive stare,

"So, how are you related to him?"

"Well, well.

Seems like we both share the same business."

Xina replied with a smirk.

6th August,

11:25 am,

Secondary terrace,

Zohan and George were standing at the balcony, at a spot where the sunlight is being blocked off by the raised roof of the building.

"So the satellite phones have also been blocked within the academy grounds?" Zohan asked with a curious look on his face as he gazed at the sun shining brightly through the cloud.

George nodded in affirmation while looking ahead.

"But the reports are that every communication is possible if we enter the city's roadways."

Zohan after listening to George's report asked another question,

"Okay, besides that, have you found how many students have entered through juvie recommendations and how many related to us are roaming in this academy."

"Sir, a confirmed 32 students,

and the gang affiliated ones ranges 22-25, of whom we have rivalry with.

If we consider the chance, some of them would also have found about us."

Zohan pondered the figures for a short while before speaking.

"Hmm, how many are we having?

"Including me, we also have Taehoon in 1/A and Yeshwin in our 1/B, and one of your friend Cain from 1/C can also be included in that."

Zohan puts another chewing gum in his mouth, and starts leaving the place,

"Call all of them at them at evening for discussion in my room. You can go and have your lunch."

"Sir, if I may." George tries to stop him.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Hmm?" Zohan turns back to hear his question.

"You should stop smoking."

Zohan's expression instantly changed, and he replied,

"Its none of your concern, and don't ever advise me again."

George simply nodded in response to which he sees Zohan getting down until he disappeared around the corner.

6th August,

11:32 am,

School canteen,

A notice board was hanged in front of the catering center written,

"Normal lunch meal will cost 1 Mokab, until 1 month. You can order your own meal with own points, if you have enough to order. The cost of all meal is given in your device in 'DIET' menu."

Every student was discussing about the notice as soon as they were collecting their meals in cafeteria,

"That means we can have our meal just 2 times a day, what?"

"They are just telling us to work our ass out from day 1 of announcement. F**k!!!"

"Now what? Is anyone planning to go out for search of work today at evening."

"Hey! check the phone, at job section they are recruiting for work assistants, helpers and several positions. It seems pretty much every job will be filled with more or less the same age." Someone explained.

The rest discussed amongst themselves the job options available, some wanting to find a better way to make money, others not thinking they are good enough.

Orson and Orden were having their lunch, when Orden suddenly shouted out loud.

"What? Then why didn't you tell Zohan when he was sitting with us?"

"I was afraid, didn't you hear me? She fu**ing picked me with her single hand by my neck.

What do you expect from me. Huh?

You expect me to throw my life, by telling him on his face, when she was just f**king standing right behind me?" Orson shouted in return.

Everyone's attention turned towards them who were also having lunch.

"Okay calm down... See, lets dispose this matter." Orden said to Orson.

"What? If we don't tell him, he might be in danger someday. "

"If we tell him, can you guarantee our safety?"

"F**k man... Aren't there any other way?"

"Listen to me, okay? her mental stability is not at all good from what you just told me.

So, the best we can do is alert him from Xina and nothing much than that.

If anything we say to Zohan, goes her ear, she's coming at us."

"But-"

"Just stay out of the matter. Its final."

Both sighed in unison and continued eating their lunch.

6th August,

11:35 am,

Way to the Infirmary,

The infirmary was located in a different building, so Cain had to walk there alone after the announcement in the assembly hall. The pain from the wound was spreading, so he had to walk carefully to prevent any further infection.

"Shit! That Zohan... if he was knowing what's gonna happen... he could have told me earlier.

Fuck... these injuries, used to be like scratches... why the hell are these burning so much."

Cain was muttering as he was on his way.

"Yesterday~

All my troubles seemed so far away,

Now it looks as though they're here to stay,

Oh, I believe in yesterday~."

The girl in charge of infirmary was humming, as she was cleaning the table.

"Oh~

welcome, how can I help you?"

She asked as Cain entered the room.

"10 medium sized bandages, just some minor injuries. I f**king got... Am sorry, sorry... You can say, it was-"

"Its ok.

Ahhh, Let me guess.

So, you felt down from stairs. Am I right?" She asks curiously.

"...Yeah, yeah... Absolutely, I slipped down while walking downwards."

"Isn't it?

See, I am smart, right?

I don't know why my friends call me dumb for this work." She says as she picks the bandage from the nearby shelves.

"My name's Kyla Duys from 1/C, I am in charge today of the infirmary.

Uhm... I think I have seen you."

"I am Cain Marcus, in the same section as you. Nice... to meet you." Cain says as he presses the wound in his waist, which had begun to release blood.

"That's why! Nice to meet you too." She says in a cheerful manner.

"Alright, let's start with some first aid first. Please sit right there," she said pointing to a chair across the table from him.

"No, no. Its alright, just hand me over my bandages.

I can apply it on my own." Cain asked in a hurry, as the pain was shooting more as the time passes.

"You should care for yourself, you know." She says in a worried manner.

As Kyla was handing over the package, she noticed his blood dripping on the floor.

"Wait, what is that? Are you really alright?"

"Yeah, ha-ha. You don't have to worry about that. That place got a li'l bit much wounded. Don't worry, if I feel anything serious, I will come right back here. Okay?"

Cain walked outside in a hurry while saying this.

Kyla also ran up to the door and shouted to him,

"Please do remember to come if anything happens. I will be right here."

Cain waved her back, as he took a turn around the corner.

Blood flowed down his sleeve, leaving a trail behind him as he staggered through the halls of the academy. He knew he needed to find a quiet place to tend to his wound before it got any worse. The corridors were deserted as the students were having their lunch in canteen.

As he stumbled towards the courtyard, he caught sight of a small gazebo tucked away in a corner. It was shaded and peaceful, and Cain knew it was the perfect place to apply his bandages.

He pushed open the creaky door and collapsed onto a bench, his vision blurring as he fought to stay conscious. With shaking hands, he fumbled with his bag and retrieved his first aid kit. His fingers were slick with blood as he clumsily applied pressure to the wound.

The pain was unbearable, and Cain couldn't help but let out a whimper as he worked on his arm. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, trying to block out the pain and stay conscious.

After what felt like an eternity, Cain finally managed to stop the bleeding and wrap his wound tightly. He slumped back against the bench, panting and sweating from the effort.

Cain stoop up and tried to move his body by walking some distance, to see if it was affecting his wound.

It was alright.

After which he leaned against the bench and keeping his head on the wall, he lighted up a smoke and closed his eyes and let out a small faint voice,

" When would this endless pain come to an end?"

Next chapter 'Cain's past.'