The classroom was unusually loud for a free period. Even though no professor was at the front of the room, nobody was relaxed. The air felt heavy with tension. Groups of students were huddled together, whispering and turning their heads toward the door every few seconds.Everyone was thinking about the same person, Marcus.They were all wondering what was happening to him inside Professor Vale’s office.“Do you think they’ll actually kick him out?” someone asked in a low voice.“After the way he talked back to Vale? It’s possible,” another student replied.“Or maybe he’ll just get a final warning,” a third chimed in.“It'll be better if he gets kicked out, at least the stench of poverty goes with him.” Another student replied.Nobody really knew, and the uncertainty was driving them crazy. Across the room, Freya sat quietly, but her eyes were far from calm.She was staring at a spot on the wall, completely lost in her own head. Emmanuel walked over and slid into the seat right next to

Inside the manager’s office, the heavy brass handle turned once and then again, creating a sharp metallic clicking that seemed to echo against the walls. Freya’s heart skipped a beat as she realized someone was right on the other side of that door, likely looking for her. The guards who were holding her arms stiffened up immediately, their grips tightening instinctively, but Baron didn’t flinch at all. He didn't even bother to glance toward the entrance, acting as if the world outside that room simply didn't exist.The handle rattled a third time, followed by a firm, deliberate knock that vibrated through the wood. There was a short pause and the room went so quiet you could hear the air conditioning hum, and then another knock followed, even louder than the first one. Freya held her breath, a tiny flicker of hope lighting up in her chest that maybe, just maybe, Marcus or someone else had realized she was in trouble.Suddenly, the doorbell began to ring— once, twice, and then three t

The long hallway of the academy felt even more oppressive than usual as Marcus walked away from the lecture hall, beside him were Emmanuel and Victoria. The sound of their footsteps echoed off the polished marble, creating a rhythmic, hollow drumming that matched the growing anxiety in their chests. Emmanuel kept glancing sideways at Marcus, trying to read his expression, before he finally spoke up in a hushed, urgent tone.“Where exactly are we supposed to start looking, Marcus? Should we just head straight to the main security office and report that Freya is missing, or do we try to handle this ourselves first?”Marcus didn't slow his pace, his eyes fixed on the far end of the corridor as he shook his head slowly. “Not yet,” he said, his voice coming out like a low, steady hum that left no room for argument.Victoria frowned, her heels clicking rapidly as she struggled to keep up with his long strides. “Why not? If she’s in trouble, every second we waste just walking around is a se

Marcus didn’t flinch as he locked eyes with Baron, holding the stare until the silence in the classroom became heavy enough to feel. Freya sat beside him, her face still pale and her hands resting tremulously on the desk, while the rest of the students watched them with a mix of curiosity and growing unease.Marcus finally broke the silence, his voice cutting through the room with a sharp, clear edge. “It seems that some people in this world just take a sick kind of pleasure in hurting others,” he said, letting the words hang in the air for a moment. “And as it turns out, someone in this very room plotted a trap against the Student Social President.”A few students shifted in their seats, exchanging nervous glances as the weight of the accusation settled over them. “We haven’t exposed the person responsible just yet,” Marcus continued, his tone dangerously calm, “but once we put together the tangible evidence in our hands, that person is going to face the full consequences of what th

“Wait, how about Harbor Nine,” Freya said softly, her voice barely rising above the hum of the car's climate control.Marcus glanced over at her, his hands relaxed on the wheel. “The indoor spot near Riverside? The one with the glass roof?”She nodded, leaning her head back against the leather headrest. “Yeah. I’ve always wanted to try it, but it’s usually impossible to get a table on short notice.”Marcus gave a small, confident nod. “I’ve heard good things about the atmosphere. Might as well see if it lives up to the hype.” He didn't mention that for him, short notice didn't exist anymore. He tapped the glowing glass steering panel twice. “Phantom X. Switch to autonomous.”“Autonomous mode engaged, Marcus,” the car replied. The steering wheel adjusted itself with a faint whir, and the car pulled smoothly into the flow of traffic with a precision no human could match.For a long while, neither of them spoke. The city lights streaked across the windshield in a quiet, rhythmic pulse, t