Poison Rose of Avalon

*This chapter contains sensitive scenes on bullying.*

The old man knocked on the dean's door before entering a well-appointed office, furnished with fine pieces. The dean was already standing, ready to welcome the new students to their prestigious school.

The old man introduced himself first. He wasn't tall and appeared modest, but his voice was strong, echoing like the grand peaks of a mountain range, which surprised the dean slightly.

"I am Steve Sohn. Their representative." With a nod, he gestured toward the students behind him and extended his hand for a firm handshake.

"I am Roland Kasko. Welcome to Elite School!" greeted the dean.

"Allow me to introduce these three jewels," Steve said, presenting the trio. He handed over the transfer documents from their previous school, and the three signed them before leaving the dean's office.

In the parking lot, each of them lounged on their respective bikes, arms casually folded as they waited for Steve to finish his final instructions before their school tour.

"Your school uniforms have already been placed in each room. Please call me if you need anything else." Steve concluded briskly.

"Sure thing, our representative. If you're done, can we go now?" teased Kai, throwing a playful glance at Steve.

"By all means, Mr. Rothschild," Steve replied with a nod. Just as he was about to get into the car, he remembered something and turned back to the trio.

"What should we do with the luggage in the back of the car?"

Donovan, Logan, and Kai exchanged glances before their eyes shifted to their hand gloves.

"Mr. Sohn, dispatch it in an H.T. container to South America via ship. Let the luggage taste its own medicine," Donovan said without flinching. His dark grey eyes seemed to darken further, as if a demon had awakened from its slumber.

"Of course, Mr. Magnum!" Steve replied, then got into the SUV and drove away, leaving the school premises behind.

"Are you sure about this? Are you really sure about studying here?" Kai asked, his gaze fixed on Donovan with a serious expression.

Donovan's eyes wandered around, but his tone was firm. "Yes."

Logan shot Kai a warning glance. Perched on his bike, facing Donovan's back, Logan silently urged Kai to drop the subject.

But Kai pressed on. "Do not feel sympathy for any girl, do not get involved in their matters, most definitely do not fall for any girl... here in this school."

Kai clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. "I beg you. I don't want to change schools unless you want to go back to our old one."

Donovan let out a sarcastic laugh. "You worry too much, Kai." A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Me, falling in love? The day that happens, the sky itself will weep."

They all glanced up at the clear sky, as though challenging fate itself.

Logan rose from his bike not wanting to spend more time on the bike anymore.

"Now that things are settled, let's take a tour of the school," he said, eager to move past the conversation and explore their new surroundings.

The school cafeteria, usually buzzing with the typical lunchtime chatter of the elite students, felt oppressive today.

The bullies, sitting in their usual spots, were laughing and taking pictures of the female students with thick glasses standing in a line. Each row consisted of 10 girls. Behind them were other rows, with the first-row girls holding sodas in their hands.

Like the host of the show, Silvia stood in front all made an exciting announcement. 

"Attention, ladies!" Silvia called out, her voice echoing with excitement. "Today, we have a fun challenge lined up to entertain the guys. Let's see who can down their soda in one go! No breaks, no pauses. And remember, if you can't finish in time, you'll be facing another round! So, who's ready to show off their skills?"

"Let's set go." The first batch of ten girls hesitated as they clutched their soda bottles. At Silvia's signal, they lifted the bottles to their lips, cheeks puffing out as they began to gulp down the fizzy liquid.

A low gurgling sound came from their throats as the liquid surged from the bottles into their mouths, followed by rapid glug-glug-glug sounds as it was hastily swallowed.

Occasionally, there was a faint, wet glop as someone struggled with the volume, and a muffled choking sound when the soda went down the wrong way.

The fizzing bubbles caused some girls to splutter and cough, their sharp, wet coughs punctuating the steady rhythm of drinking.

Some began to hiccup uncontrollably, each hiccup a jerky, involuntary motion that made the spectators giggle.

Some managed to finish, but others were less fortunate and had to go for another round. A loud chorus of burps echoed through the cafeteria as the girls finished their cans.

Silvia's eyes sparkled with sadistic glee as the boys roared with laughter, clutching their sides as if they were watching a comedy show.

She had designed this game to entertain the boys and humiliate the girls, and it was working brilliantly. The girls left the cafeteria, their eyes wet and red with embarrassment.

After the fourth batch, it was Liora's turn. Silvia's gaze locked onto her. Liora had never wronged Silvia, but the animosity was palpable. Silvia handed Liora a bottle with a smug smile.

"Good luck, Pest," she sneered.

In the corner of the cafeteria, the Trio sat observing the spectacle. Kai's pale face was visibly uncomfortable as he watched the girls struggle.

"Poor females are paying the price for joining this school," he muttered, his eyes flicking to Donovan, wondering if he had chosen this school with a specific purpose in mind.

Donovan's expression remained calm, his face unreadable. Logan, sitting beside them, leaned back in his chair, his eyes keen as he took in the scene.

Liora, meanwhile, looked down at the soda bottle in her hand, then glanced at the other girls standing beside her.

"Ready, set, go," Silvia commanded.

The other girls popped open their cans and began to drink, but Liora held her soda bottle and locked eyes with Silvia. Slowly, she set the bottle down on the table.

"I'm not going to let you humiliate me more."

The girls around her froze, their cans lowering. A heavy silence fell over the room. All eyes in the cafeteria turned to Liora, including the trio's.

The girl sitting next to Silvia stood, poised to strike, but Silvia's voice rang out. "Do not touch her."

The girl hesitated, looking at Silvia in confusion. "Are you serious? This pest is defying the rules."

Silvia's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a cold smile. "Lisa, take care of the others."

Silvia stepped up, standing inches from Liora, her gaze like a knife aimed at her. But Liora didn't flinch. She met Silvia's glare with equal determination, standing her ground. Silvia's nostrils flared in fury. Grinding her teeth, she reached out, grabbing Liora by the neck and dragging her out of the cafeteria, with her loyal followers trailing closely behind.

"This pest needs special treatment," Silvia muttered under her breath.

Kai was impressed by Liora's defiance. Donovan's face remained unreadable, but Logan's sharp eyes reflected something else—curiosity. The three of them, seated behind the girls row, couldn't help but glance at her as she was pulled away, her back turned to them.

Silvia dragged Liora to an expansive field, twice the size of the football ground.

"You didn't want to be humiliated, did you, Pest?" she hissed, her grip tightening around Liora's neck.

Liora gasped, struggling to pry Silvia's hands away. But Silvia's strength was overwhelming. Dark patches blurred her vision as her breaths became shallow and strained.

"Get me your heels, Sofy," Silvia commanded, glancing down at Liora's feet. "I think your shoe size matches hers."

Sofy, who had been trailing Silvia, hurried off to retrieve her heels from her locker. She returned within minutes, handing the shoes to Silvia, who then tossed them in front of Liora. Finally, Silvia released her grip on Liora, pushing her roughly to the ground.

Liora coughed violently, clutching her throat, but she refused to break.

"Put those on and circle the entire field until I tell you to stop," Silvia ordered, her tone cold and mocking.

Liora's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing as the cruelty of the order sank in. The other girls, now fully understanding Silvia's sadistic game, burst into laughter. Silvia flashed Liora a false, sweet smile.

"Best of luck."

Liora's resolve hardened. She was no stranger to running—she had trained hard for it. She could do this, even in heels. If Silvia thought she could break her, she was sorely mistaken. Liora wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

Ignoring the mocking laughter, Liora sat on the grass, pulling off her shoes and high-knee socks, revealing her toned legs, sculpted from years of practice, her skin smooth and flawless in the sunlight. She slipped the heels onto her feet, the sharp, unfamiliar discomfort settling in.

With determination in her eyes, Liora started her run around the field.

At first, her pace was steady, the rhythm of her stride natural. But after several rounds, the pain began to set in. The heels pressed into her feet with every step, the sharp angle of her posture sending jolts of discomfort through her legs. With each stride, it felt as though needles were pricking the soles of her feet. Her calves burned with each heavy step, muscles protesting against the unnatural pressure. The pain was searing, and her balance wavered, but Liora fought to maintain her speed.

She couldn't stop. Not now.

To add to her pain, the blazing sun bore down mercilessly, its heat searing through Liora's skin. Sweat trickled down her forehead, mixing with the discomfort of the heavy blazer she wore over her white shirt.

The fabric clung to her body, adding to the suffocating weight she already felt. Tired, thirsty, and starving, she forced herself to keep running, but the sun's relentless rays seemed to make every step feel heavier.

Suddenly, her ankle gave way with a sharp twist, and she collapsed to the ground with a cry of pain. White-hot agony shot through her leg, and she winced, clutching her ankle as she lay there.

From the distance, she heard the shrill, mocking laughter of Silvia and her friends, their enjoyment of her misery echoing in her ears.

True to her expectations, Silvia and the others didn't even glance back after she fell. The punishment had served its purpose—they had made their point.

Anger and frustration surged within Liora. She gritted her teeth and, with every ounce of strength she had left, yanked off the heels and hurled them across the field, the sharp soles skidding on the grass.

Her ankle throbbed painfully, but she didn't care. Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself upright, her breaths shallow and ragged. She staggered on one foot, her injured ankle burning with each step.

Despite the pain, she took her shoes and socks in hand and limped away, her resolve unbroken as she made her way to her usual hiding spot in the school.

Liora entered the quiet corner of the school where she could escape the eyes of her tormentors. She sank into the chair, a soft groan escaping her lips as she pulled off the blazer, hanging it carefully on the back of the chair.

The coolness of the place didn't bring relief—her shirt was drenched with sweat, sticking uncomfortably to her skin. She unbuttoned the top two buttons, letting the fresh air hit her flushed skin, and then tied her hair into a tight ponytail to keep it out of her face.

Her glasses sat on the floor beside the chair, discarded for the moment. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and stood up.

Moving over to the water tap, she turned it on, the cool water rushing out, inviting her to finally feel some relief. She cupped her hands, splashing the water on her face, the coolness immediately soothing the burn of the sun's harsh rays.

For a moment, she closed her eyes, savoring the sensation of the water as it splashed over her skin, washing away the sweat and exhaustion.

Her skin tingled from the sunburn, the harsh heat still radiating through her body, but the water brought temporary relief. She splashed her face again, her fingers trailing down to her neck, feeling the coolness seep into her sore muscles, as though she were washing away not just the heat, but the frustration that had built up inside her.

With each splash, her body seemed to relax, if only for a moment, before the burning desire to push forward overwhelmed her once again.

Liora moved her legs under the running water, wincing as the cool stream made contact with her swollen, sprained ankle. At first, the water stung, the pain shooting up her leg, but she didn't flinch. Gradually, she allowed her leg to sink deeper into the flow, the coolness seeping into her heated skin, offering a welcome relief from the tightness in her calf muscles and the soreness from running in the heels.

She closed her eyes, leaning back in the chair, and for a moment, she allowed herself to surrender to the peace, letting the world outside fade into the background.

But just as she began to relax, a dry, thunderous crack split the air, jolting her out of her reverie. The sudden noise startled her, and she snapped her eyes open, blinking in confusion. The clear blue sky had been replaced by dark, swirling clouds, their ominous presence creeping in with a rapid, unsettling speed.

As she pondered the sudden change in weather, her thoughts were interrupted by a chilling voice that sounded nearby. "Peekaboo."

Liora froze, her breath catching in her throat. She turned, her heart pounding in her chest, and her eyes fell on four boys standing nearby, their gazes fixed on her with a mixture of amusement and malice. Her pulse quickened, and panic fluttered in her stomach.

She recognized them immediately. The same group of bullies from the incident with Daran—she had caught them on her phone, their cruel actions forever recorded.

Her eyes darted around, searching for the boy with the thick glasses, but he wasn't there. Instead, the boys held cigarettes in their hands, the smoke curling in the air as they surveyed her with an unsettling intensity. The sound of running water had likely led them to this quiet, secluded spot.

"I... I'll leave now," Liora stammered, her voice trembling. She could feel the heat of their gaze on her, and the unease in her chest only grew. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

Her legs felt weak as she reached for the tap, struggling to stand up. The chair wobbled beneath her as she used it to support her trembling body, the ache in her ankle flaring up with the movement. The bullies' presence made her feel vulnerable, and a heavy sense of dread settled over her.

Her gaze flicked to her belongings—her shoes and socks lay scattered to one side, her glasses abandoned on the other side, and her blazer hung forgotten on the chair. For a brief moment, everything felt out of reach, and panic began to claw at her.

Liora tried to steady herself, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. Despite the rule that only same-gender bullying was allowed, she knew she was not safe here.

Her body trembled from exhaustion, pain, and fear, and she knew she was in no condition to face another round of torment.

Standing there half-dressed and vulnerable, she could almost hear the laughter brewing around her, ready to unleash a tide of mockery.

Her eyes flicked nervously to her scattered belongings—her socks, shoes, and blazer all lay just out of reach. No, she couldn't risk it. She couldn't walk through the school like this, bare-legged and exposed.

A fleeting thought crossed her mind—maybe she could just grab her things and run? But the idea felt impossible. The pain in her ankle flared up at the mere thought of moving too quickly. She could barely stand, let alone run back to her safe spot without being seen.

Besides, with them watching, every step would be an open invitation for more humiliation.

I could hide somewhere else, she thought desperately. Find another spot where no one would see her, where she could regroup, calm herself, and then return for her things when the coast was clear. Yes, that's a good plan. Right?