THE HELLISH SYSTEM

Chapter four

Laughter rippled through the hallway of Frontale University, bouncing off the pristine marble floors and the grand pillars that lined the corridors.

I could hear it all around me—the mocking whispers, the amused smirks, and the quiet murmurs of pity and disdain.

I clenched my fists, my breath ragged as I pushed myself up from the cold floor. My knees stung from the fall, my hands scraped against the unforgiving tiles. My backpack had spilled open, my few battered notebooks lying scattered like fallen leaves.

Paul’s voice was the first to cut through the noise, sharp and laced with cruelty.

"And down goes the pauper prince again!" he mocked, nudging his polished shoe against my shoulder, shoving me back down with ease.

A fresh round of laughter erupted into the thin air. I looked around and I could see their faces, basking in my pain. But I didn't care, all I wanted was to get a shot, a chance to sit for my exam.

Frank, Paul, and the rest of their minions stood over me, basking in my humiliation.

I forced myself to my feet, ignoring the throbbing pain in my ribs. I didn't have time for this. I know was at stake.

I turned away, pretending they didn’t exist, but before I could take another step, an angry voice roared through the hallway.

"You little bastard! You think you can cheat me out of my money?"

I froze. My heart plummeted.

The cab driver.

I spun around, just in time to see the burly man stomping toward me, face flushed with rage. His greasy jacket barely fit over his stomach, and his meaty hands clenched into fists.

I could see the anger in his eyes as he got closer to me and gosh!

The amount of air he released, his breath was all over me.

The laughter died down as students turned to watch the unfolding spectacle. Curious eyes. Whispering lips. Excited smirks.

"You owe me ten dollars, you street rat!" the cab driver bellowed, jabbing a finger at my chest. "You think you can run off without paying?!"

I swallowed hard, my stomach churning with embarrassment. Not here. Not like this.

"I—I’ll pay you back," I stammered. "Just give me some time. I don't have—"

A sharp slap against the back of my head.

"No money? Then why the hell are you at a university like this?" The driver shoved me hard, and I stumbled. More laughter. More whispers.

"Maybe you should beg Frank here," Paul jeered. "He’s feeling generous today."

Frank chuckled, arms crossed over his chest.

"Pay up, Ethan. Be a man." My blood ran cold. My fingers curled into fists.

"I—I’ll pay you after the exam," I said, my voice raw.

"Oh?" The driver smirked, loud enough for the entire hallway to hear. "You think you’re still taking that exam?"

My heart stopped. "What?" I breathed.

"Oh dear, you haven’t heard?" A familiar, venomous voice spoke up behind me.

I turned to look at who it was and it happened to be Selena.

She strutted toward us, her platinum blonde hair bouncing with every step, her designer coat hugging her perfect frame. Once, she had clung to my arm like a lifeline. Now, she looked at me like I was filth.

"Ethan," she said sweetly, placing a mocking hand on my shoulder. "If you don’t sit for this exam, you’re done. Your scholarship? Gone. And once that happens... you’ll be kicked out."

I stiffened.

Selena leaned in, lips brushing against my ear.

"Poor thing," she whispered, voice dripping with cruel amusement. "Back to the slums where you belong."

Something inside me snapped.

I shoved her hand off my shoulder and pushed past her, running toward the exam hall like my life depended on it.

Because it did.

I burst through the exam hall doors, panting.

The lecturer, Mr. Grover, stood at the front of the room, his expression twisting in displeasure as he lowered his glasses.

"Ethan Summerville," he said, voice heavy with authority. "You're thirty minutes late. We are done with the exams."

"Please," I gasped. "Please let me take the exam."

"Rules are rules."

"Please!" I begged, stepping forward. "I—I can’t lose my scholarship. I’ll fail the year, and I—I don’t have anywhere else to go. This is my only chance."

The room was dead silent.

Mr. Grover studied me for a long moment.

Then, he sighed.

"Sit down."

Relief washed over me like a tidal wave. My legs nearly gave out as I stumbled toward an empty seat.

But just as I pulled out my chair—

A hand grabbed my collar and yanked me backward.

Pain exploded in my back as I crashed onto the floor.

The students gasped.

I coughed violently, struggling to get up. My eyes met Frank’s, towering over me like a goddamn king.

"Did you really think I'd let you off easy, Cross?" Frank sneered.

Paul and the others cackled.

"Don’t touch me," I growled, shoving his hand away.

"Or what?" My blood boiled.

For months, I had endured this. The beatings. The humiliation. The whispers.

But not today.

I stood up, chest heaving. "Try that again, and I’ll break your goddamn nose."

A sharp silence.

Frank's smirk vanished. Then—he laughed. A low, menacing chuckle.

"Really?" he said. "Then take this." And before I could react—

A baseball bat swung toward my ribs.

A sharp CRACK. A pain like I’d never known ripped through my body.

I collapsed onto the cold floor, gasping for breath. I could barely move. My fingers twitched against the tile, my vision blurring.

I felt my blood pooling beneath me. And then—

It happened. My wrist burned.

The tattoo—the one I had ignored, dismissed as nothing—

It began to glow. A deep, searing red.

And as my blood touched the floor, something inside me erupted. A voice boomed inside my skull.

[ HELLISH SYSTEM ACTIVATED. ]

I tried to stand up to my feet, I looked around to hear the muffled sound of the students all talking at once.

" Get the medic!" Mr Grover shouted before I fell to the ground and finally passed out.