chapter one

The bright light shining into my eyes woke me up. I remembered how my parents died in a ghastly car accident and tears dropped from my eyes. They had beautiful plans for me. Like sending me to one of the best colleges in the country. We were on our way to see a movie when a trailer bus ran into us. They died instantly while I became crippled.

" Wake up Kraus!.." I heard my grandfather shouting downstairs. " Come and have breakfast!" my grandmother added

Both had been taking care of me ever since my parent's death, they were the closest thing to what I was going to call family. I wanted to get out of bed and I fell hard on the floor.

[ SIGHED ]

I looked at my leg and noticed the laceration on it. I had forgotten I was now a cripple. I took my staff on the wall and walked out of my room. I greeted both of them and washed my face. " You should go out more often." my grandmother said dishing my food. I looked at her and smiled. " Oh! you got a mail this morning." Grandfather said carrying a bowl of noodles down to the table. I looked at him " A mail? Ah!." I said gently dragging my leg on the floor to get the brown envelope checked."

" I got in! I got the scholarship. " I shouted with joy as both of them ran towards me. I had planned to be a police officer. I was going to reinvestigate my parent's death. my grandparents hugged me and looked into my face " Congratulations Kraus!."

They both looked at the food on the table and looked at themselves. " what would you like to eat this morning?" Grandpa asked with a smile

they both knew I loved chicken stew a lot. " Chicken stew!" I shouted and both of them laughed out loud

The day went by and I had to move down to the University. Xavier drove down in his worn-out farm car. He looked at me and smiled " I trust you are going to do good and bring honor to this family name. Don't feel pressured, just be yourself." he said gently placing his hands on me.

I gently rested my head on his shoulder and cried my eyes out. I have never been alone since the death of my parents. My grandparents were always there with me wherever I went. I quickly unpacked.

" I will be fine, Dad." my lip parted with the word. I had seen both of them as my Dad and Mum. Calling them that was pleasing rather than calling them Grampa and Grandma.

All eyes were on me as many of the kids wondered which hole or ghetto I crawled out from. I was mesmerized by what I was seeing. The school was showing a sign that it was meant for the rich. The view was breathtaking. I looked around me and I saw many students being dropped in fancy cars and were bowed too.

It was my first day and I had to go about my registration but I had no guide.

I mean, who will guide someone like me? I adjusted my shoelace and strapped my bag pack to her back. I raised my head slightly catching the rays of the sun. I remembered the accident incident again and I fell back to the floor. Tears flooded my eyes as the memory came flooding back. I saw a white snicker walk up to my front and when I looked up, I couldn't see her face very well. The rays of the sun were doing a good job protecting her face. With an outstretched hand, she drew me up. " I am, Flora," she said gently adjusting her shade

" Oh my God!" I exclaimed gently

Flora had been my crush right from my childhood. She was used by many advertising companies for their product. I wonder why she approached me out of many guys on the campus.

she picked up my staff and looked at me " Can you at least say something? You haven't said anything to me since I got here. Do you have a name?"

I stared at her and she laughed. " Well, I am just some regular kid here. Do you know me? You lool is giving you away." she added

" Ah! sorry. My name is Kraus. I am a fresher here." I said with a smile

We both walked hand in hand to get our registrations done. " Here is my contact. call me. " Flora said gently as she walked away from me. Many guys looked at me and wondered how I was able to get the hottest girl on campus to love me. We even exchanged numbers. I felt the butterflies in my belly and let out a shout of accomplishment

" No noise! " A man with a stern look said placing his fingers on his lips

" Sorry. " I said gently walking to my dorm

I opened the door and was amazed. The size of the room was big enough to be the size of my grandparent's home. I jumped and landed with a great thud on my bed. The bathroom door opened and I was met with a cold gaze of a chubby boy staring at me. I looked at him and guessed he must be almost around my age or I would be older than him. He adjusted his spectacles and woke up to me. " I am Jonas. can we be friends?" he asked taking out his things

The word friend was foreign to me. I looked at him and nodded. " Don't you talk? you haven't said anything to me since you got here." Jonas said taking a few glances at me

" You can call me Max" I replied arranging my clothes in the wardrobe. " I know who you are. you have been trending ever since you got into Prospera Academy." Jonas replied

" Trending? What do you mean by that?" I asked shifting my gaze from the well-arranged clothes in my wardrobe to him. " Do you have a phone?" Jonas asked

I shamed my head. " Oh! That explains why you don't know much. Here," he said gently passing me his phone.

I glanced through his phone and I was in shock to see the paparazzi. " We are not even dating! I just met her."

" You have a lot of explanation to do because you are just about to get a big shout-out to the world. Guess you don't know who Flora Kelly is. you should do your homework before you get attached to anyone on this campus. most of them are from affluent homes and Flora is not left out. "

" Do you think being seen with her is a good idea? " I tried pushing my luck. The truth is that I wanted to date someone of high status. That would make life a little easier for me without being picked on. At least those were my thoughts. " If she likes you, I see no reason why you both cannot be seen together." Jonas replied, " Do you have her number?"

I ran my hand through my pockets and I brought out a paper. I smiled seeing her handwriting. She was indeed a model

" Call her!" Jonas said gently giving me his second phone. " This is yours now."

" Really?" I asked with joy

"Yes, so give her a call," he replied

I was about to call when I heard a loud bang on the door. " Are you expecting anyone?" I looked at Jonas and he shook his head

I walked towards the door to have it opened and I was surprised to see Flora. " How did you know this is my dorm?" I asked with a surprise

"Let's just say I have a way of getting what I want." She replied and looked at me. " Will you be my boyfriend?" Her lips parted with the word BOYFRIEND and I looked like I wasn't hearing her properly. we had only just met and here she was asking me for a relationship. I looked back at Jonas and his facial expression said it all.

" Why me? You don't even know me?" I replied

" Oh, I do already. I do my research," she said again

" What research? " I was puzzled

Jonas quickly joined the conversation and they got acquainted. " So what do you say?" she asked again

" I will. I will be your boyfriend." I replied and before I could say a word. Flora planted a kiss on my lips and the whole of Prospera Academy felt like they were going to crumble. I opened my eyes wide as I saw many jealous faces. " Who is he?" I looked at their faces without Beng told what they all were saying. it was as if I could read their inner thoughts. Flora walked away looking at me " And stop carrying my pictures with you everywhere. You have the real me in flesh and blood now." she said with a smile

Jonas looked at me and laughed. I was smitten.

The campus was buzzing with school activities. I tried to balance my love life and educational life but it wasn't easy. I had to do my assignment and also help Flora out. She was always out partying with her friends and didn't have time for me anymore.

I started to ask myself why she asked me out in the first place. it was now two weeks since we started dating and I hadn't seen her face. She would either call me or send me a text message. All she cared about was using me for her assignment which she mailed to my inbox.

I was in my room tired.

" What up with that look?" Jonas asked looking at me

" This is getting frustrating. Do you believe I haven't seen Flora in two weeks now?" I said getting my books out of my back.

"Maybe she is just busy. You know she is not living a normal life. she is nothing like any of the female students on this campus. you should know that by now." Jonas added as he studied

" The why be with me. I am just a regular guy." I replied looking at Jonas for more answers

He shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Jonas picked it up and looked at my face and back at his phone. " Are you seeing this?" he asked in a shaky tone

" Seeing what?" I asked

" Damn! I gave you that phone for a reason Kraus. don't tell me you haven't downloaded the school app?" Jonas said in frustration

I got out of bed and walked towards me. " Here."

He gave his phone to me and I almost didn't believe what I was seeing." Is that Flora? Is that her?" I asked

" There is one way to find out. " Jonas said gently putting on his clothes " Let go!. " he pulled me up from my bed

We followed the crowd as we raced towards the school garden. I managed to push through the crowd. I was dumbstruck to see Flora kissing, God knows who. " Flora!. " I shouted in annoyance as I limped towards her with my staff. Jonas tried to pull me back but I broke free from his grip.

I saw how she looked at me " Stop there cripple!. " she shouted at me and the whole school laughed. " For a second do you think I was going to be with a boy like you? Omg! you are not even my type. Who carries a picture of the woman he loved around? I guess you were an easy prey, to begin with. I love Zaco and I am going to be with him." She said and kissed the guy in a football jersey again

" You heard the lady. Scram!. " I heard a voice behind me

I looked at Flora and back at every eye staring at me. I felt pained and limped toward her. She slapped me hard In the face as I tried to pull her away from Zaco. " Looks like you still don't get it. I don't love you, Max I believe the none talking should have given you a clue but you are just dumb." Flora added salt to my injury

" Then why did you kiss me? " I asked with a teary-eyed

" Do you call that a kiss? Then watch this," she said and carefully pulled Zaco closer and I watched as their tongue fondled each other.

[ GASPED ]

I looked at Zaco and pulled him off her but he gave me a kick to my bowel and looked at me. " You have better leave my girl alone," he said with anger. I tried holding on to his legs but I felt a hand pulled me off and pushed me off the cliff of the garden. The student gasped as I fell with my head downward.

Time froze, " Is it happening? Am I going to finally meet my dead parents?" I asked myself as I landed on the floor with shatters bones. I heard Jonas scream my name as I tried to fight back the tears that were about to fall from my eyes. " What was I born with bad luck? how can I girl I met within the space of two weeks jilt me for another boy? As I felt the life leave my body. A holographic message pops up on my phone.

[ TING! ]

I tried to look at it and saw a message.

[ GRIM REAPER SYSTEM: WE CAN GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. A LIFE OF VENGEANCE. CLICK YES/NO ]

I didn't want to die. My hand slowly moved over the screen as I closed my eyes.