Poison Rose of Avalon

Flashback:

The infirmary staff arrived with a stretcher, carefully lifting Liora before carrying her away.

Donovan, Kai and Logan stood out of sight, silent and unmoving, waiting until she was safe before finally heading back.

Logan placed a firm hand on Donovan's shoulder. "You did the right thing. We don't need to get more involved than this."

Donovan remained silent as thoughts consumed him. Guilt weighed heavily on him, stealing his peace of mind. He regretted pushing her away like he had, yet he also felt reluctant to get any more involved than he already was.

He could have taken her to the infirmary like any decent person would have, but doing so would only give her false hope. If she ever reencountered bullying, she might turn to him for support, and who knows how many others would seek his help, too. And this school is a big fucking Kiosk.

Besides, what kind of girl was she really? No, he wasn't willing to repeat his mistakes of France. He wouldn't let anyone take advantage of him like that again.

The other part of him couldn't shake the image of Liora's fear as she clung to him desperately, relying on him as if he were the only one for her, her anchor. He couldn't see her face well, nor did he make an effort to, but her trembling form spoke volumes about the terror she was experiencing. And somehow, that made his heart ache.

At the infirmary, the nurse handed Liora a set of dry clothes and carefully treated her swollen ankle, applying soothing balm before wrapping it securely.

The teacher and the nurse exchanged worried glances as they took in the sight of Liora's torn shirt and injury; it was undeniable what kind of terrifying ordeal she had endured.

They felt too anxious to express their concerns openly and hesitated to contact the police, fearing they might end up on the missing teachers' list.

Without missing a beat, the homeroom teacher, clearly distressed, called Officer Park to arrange for Liora to be taken to the hospital since her mother was out of town.

While waiting for Officer Park to arrive, Liora grabbed her phone, her chest tightening with relief when she saw it still worked despite being soaked in the rain.

"My days feel like a puzzle with a missing piece." she typed and sent to Caspian.

She couldn't quite understand why she had shared that with him; perhaps she wanted to gauge his reaction, to see if he felt the same emptiness, or maybe she hoped he could decipher the unspoken longing in her words.

"And I am sure my heart is that missing piece." His response came instantly.

She bit her lower lips before they curved into a faint smile.

"You are the brightest star in my night sky," she replied before putting her phone away.

Officer Park arrived shortly after. He masked his cold fury. He didn't say a word as he lifted Liora into his arms and carried her to the car without uttering a word. Though the tension in his jaw and the storm in his eyes said enough.

At the hospital, the doctor confirmed her ankle was severely sprained but not severe. She'd need rest and medication, but she'd recover.

They were both travelling in silence until Liora suddenly asked Dane to pull over. As the car stopped, she turned toward him, her hands gripping the phone tightly.

"I have videos and pictures of the bullying at school," she blurted out, her voice trembling.

Dane's eyes sharpened. "Did someone do this to you?" he demanded, his voice low and tight.

"Yes."

"WHO?" He barely contained his anger.

Liora paused to gather her thoughts as she navigated the complexities of her recent experiences. She could not bring herself to narrate her nightmare, not now. She was unprepared to relive that moment; instead, her focus shifted to a burning desire for justice, yearning to see them pay for their actions.

She respectfully passed her phone to Dane, indicating her readiness to discuss the matter when appropriate.

The videos she'd secretly taken played out on the screen—the first showing the boys harassing Daran, the second capturing Silvia's cruel actions at the cafeteria.

"I don't want my name to be involved," she said quickly. And...and I don't want Mama to know. She already feels guilty about leaving me alone. This will break her heart."

She paused, her voice quieter now. "Can you arrest them with just this?"

Dane exhaled deeply, running a hand down his face. After a long pause, he nodded. "I am unsure if hiding from your mom is a good idea."

"Please, Officer Park, I can't do it. I can't bear the thought of making Mama sad. Just promise you won't tell her, or I swear I'll never speak to you again," Liora begged and threatened, her voice shaking with fear and determination.

Her wide eyes revealed the heavy burden a child shouldn't have to carry. Dane clenched his fist, his jaw tensing as he gazed away anywhere but Liora.

Liora had expertly manoeuvred Dane into a problematic position, leaving him with no easy way out. Among all the worries, one thing was crystal clear: Liora wouldn't share anything with him again if he confided in Amara. It was likely that if any issues arose in the future, they would be left in the dark since Liora kept her troubles to herself.

After much deliberation, Dane finally made up his mind.

"If you want this, I won't tell your mom. But if things get worse, you'll need to tell her everything. Understand?"

He hated himself for agreeing to Liora's nonsensical terms, feeling both compassion and frustration.

"Thanks," Liora whispered.

Dane wasted no time. He downloaded the videos to his phone and made a quick call. "Upload the videos I sent you and make them go viral," he instructed before disconnecting the call.

"This will bring attention," Dane informed Liora to prepare her for what's coming. "The school will have no choice but to act. I can't promise they'll face the consequences they deserve, but they'll have a sleepless night for days. That's a promise."

******

Present Day

Despite public apologies and new rules, the school had allowed Kevin, Haneul, Andreas, Ronnie and Silvia to return, though under strict warnings. Both bullies and victims were required to attend mandatory counselling sessions except Liora.

However, this does not imply that all was serene and harmonious. Beneath the surface of calmness, something was silently developing.

Whenever Liora crossed paths with Hanuel, Andreas, Ronnie, and Kevin, their eyes followed her unrelentingly. Haneul, in particular, seemed to revel in her discomfort. He would casually toss a football in her direction, missing her by inches, making her flinch, only to smirk and offer a half-hearted, "Oops, my bad."

One afternoon, Liora found herself searching for a chemistry book in the school library. The library was Head high, with towering shelves nearly reaching the ceiling and sunlight streaming through the windows.

While Liora wandered through the aisles, she noticed a sight – three guys sitting in a corner facing the windows, with other students watching them instead of their books.

"The bikers," she murmured, nonchalantly rolling her eyes. Unlike others, she didn't care to see what they looked like, especially after one of them had left her in the rain.

She climbed the "bed the rolle" ladder and scanned the upper shelves. Finding the book she needed, she opened it, engrossed in the pages. Suddenly, a prickle of unease crept up her spine, and when she glanced down, horror filled her heart.

Ronnie stood directly beneath her, his gaze fixed on her. She instinctively looked to the left, then the right, spotting his friends spaced out like dark shadows lurking in the dense forest, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

'Why did the school take them back?" she cursed, nervously biting her lip.

Without resorting to anything extreme, they still found a way to make her feel like a target, the whispers and sidelong glances suffocating her like a poisonous fog.

Closing the book with a muted thud, she gripped the ladder tightly with shaking hands, fear settling in her stomach like a lead weight. Gingerly placing one foot on the next rung below, she caught sight of Ronnie's lips curling into a subtle smile.

Liora's eyes widened in alarm, her grip on the ladder tightening, her knuckles turning bone white from the strain. Abandoning her plan to descend, she clung to the ladder, frozen in fear as her pulse quickened, overwhelmed by the sensation that danger loomed just a step away.

Biting her lip, she started to edge the ladder to the left, hoping to put distance between herself and them. She pushed too hard and too quick; the ladder jerked, and before she knew it, she was falling.

She braced herself for the impact, covering her face. Instead, strong arms caught her mid-air.

Donovan steadied her but didn't linger. Setting her down, he walked away with his cousins without a word or to see who she was.

Shaken and mortified, Liora bolted out of the library, not daring to look back.

"Why do girls keep falling into your arms, Don?" Kai teased, laughing. "First on the ground, now from a ladder. What's next?"

"A baseball team needs such a pro at catching, Don. You should try it there." Logan joined Kai in teasing him.

Donovan chuckled, choosing not to reply.

After a few weeks, school management organised the weekend camping for students. Grades 5 to 8 embarked on their journey the first weekend, while grades 9 to 12 ventured out the following weekend.

On the day of departure, the sun shone brightly over the school grounds. The 9th and 11th graders were assigned to one bus, while the 10th and 12th graders shared another.

For Liora, it was more than just an outing; it was her first real trip away from home. Judging by the broad smiles and excited chatter, she wasn't the only one feeling that way. Students with similar humble backgrounds appeared equally thrilled.

Liora dressed in a vibrant red high-neck top tucked into loose-fitting blue jeans for the occasion. Despite their relaxed fit, the jeans highlighted her natural curves. Her hair was tied in a high bun, adding a touch of elegance, and a red backpack completed her look, practical yet effortlessly stylish.

Her mother, Amara, and Dane had come to see her off, their smiles warm as they watched her bounce on her toes excitedly.

"Have the best time, Ora!" Amara said, wrapping her daughter in a tight hug.

"Stay safe, and if anything happens, call me immediately," Dane added, resting a protective hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, Uncle Dane, I will," Liora replied, flashing him a bright smile.

Dane's brows lifted in surprise. "Uncle Dane?" he repeated, looking to Amara with barely concealed pride.

Amara chuckled. "Sounds like someone got a promotion," she teased.

"Finally," Dane murmured, still watching Liora as she joined the line to board the bus. "It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"Sure, Uncle Dane." Amara teased.

Liora stepped onto the bus, eager to find a seat. She quickly made her way to the back, where she claimed a spot and carefully stowed her backpack in the overhead compartment. She sat down, hoping to save Daran's seat next to her.

But the bus filled up fast. As more students piled toward the back, the space grew cramped. Liora had to scoot over to make room. A girl with a broad build wedged into the row, taking two seats.

Liora's eyes darted around the bus, searching for Daran. She spotted him briefly before Silvia entered the bus. The sight of Silvia made Liora jump to her left and instinctively shrink into her seat, but it was useless. Silvia sat right beside her, cutting off any chance of Daran sitting close.

Meanwhile, Daran found a spot near the front, scanning the crowd for Liora but failing to locate her. He sighed and took his seat just behind the driver.

The homeroom teacher stood in front of the students inside the bus. "Everyone settled? Great! I worried we might need another bus, which could've taken hours. But it looks like we're good to go. Please fasten your seatbelts, and let's get started!"

The engine roared to life, and the bus rolled out, trailing behind the second bus toward its destination.

Students began to fasten their seat belts. And Liora couldn't shake the feeling that something was... off. Her seat seemed higher than Silvia's, though the rows were uniform.

To complicate matters further, Silvia's eyes were locked on Liora, her expression brimming with a grudge that seemed out of place with the excitement of the journey's beginning.

As if the situation was not strange enough, Liora noticed the guy on her left next to her next to the window. He was visibly struggling to maintain his composure, with his hand positioned against his mouth in an effort to suppress laughter.

Confused by these odd dynamics, Liora turned slightly to reach for her seat belt, and her eyes met another pair — a guy sitting directly behind her, looking equally surprised by the situation.

Liora immediately looked ahead. It was then, with a start, that she realised she wasn't sitting on a leather cold seat but rather was perched on someone's lap.

"Oh my god, I...I'm so sorry!" she stammered, her face flushing red as she tried to stand. Had she really been so distracted by Silvia's presence that she hadn't noticed she was using someone's lap as a cushion?

Amid Liora's shock and attempts to rectify her seating mishap, Donovan steadied her by the waist. His grip was firm but not unkind.

"Where do you think you're going?" The voice was low and smooth, laced with amusement but underpinned by authority.

"If you move now, you'll hold up the entire bus for hours," he added. His words were meant to be rhetorical.

It was also a practical reminder that she must acclimate to sitting like this until they arrive at their destination.

Liora, Silvia and the other females sitting around became momentarily still, possibly holding their hearts to keep them from leaping out.

Donovan's voice was like a soothing, aged whiskey and the warmth of a dusky summer evening. This auditory charisma didn't just communicate; it seemed to seduce, ensnaring one's attention.

Driven by curiosity, Liora deftly angled her body, keen to steal a glimpse of the captivating speaker. His dark, deep grey eyes held her attention like a stormy sky, which had no end with layers of mystery and a hint of sadness.

Her cheeks burned as Donovan's grip eased slightly, though his hand lingered just enough to steady her.

Donovan, too, found himself caught off guard. The sight of Liora blinded him, almost as if someone had shone a bright light right against his eyes. He was utterly drawn to her, unable to tear his gaze away from her.

They dared glance into each other eyes, and the moment their eyes met, time seemed to pause, where amusement danced in their eyes.

Silvia, however, who had been witnessing a stabbing incident right in front of her, could not conceal her outrageous state. She'd spent months trying to get close to Donovan and his cousins, only to watch Liora, of all people, fall quite literally into Donovan's lap.

She shot a venomous glare at Liora, which Liora missed. ′Is one not enough for you′ she seethed inwardly, her jealousy bubbling over.

The bus lurched and clattered along the road, but for Silvia, the journey had already taken a devastating detour.