Taboo Sin System

Chapter 14 Five Feet

Carl was captain of the football team. His wide torso filled the locker row in a letterman jacket, arms crossed, blond hair buzzed short.

Carl had it out for Pan since day one and called him "Osborne janitor" after Leo forgot to mention him in his welcome speech.

Derek stood on one side of him, thin and acne-scarred, with his phone already out. Tyler stood on the other side with tattoos on both arms.

Those two had been Carl's horrible friends since orientation, and they laughed whenever he did, egging him on.

Rachel hung on Carl's arm. She was his girlfriend, captain of the cheerleaders, and a loyal member of the wealthy Queen Bees sorority.

Glossy lipstick, a tight ponytail, and a skirt so short her thighs showed when she shifted her weight.

Her eyes stayed narrowed the way they always did when she was about to pile on insults with the rest.

"Well, look who dragged his ass in late," Carl boomed, his voice bouncing off the lockers as if he owned the corridor.

He slammed a locker door shut with one meaty palm, inches from Pan's face, grinning with teeth that looked bleached white.

"Pan Osborne. Still shining Leo's shoes between classes? Or are you here to fetch his lunch?"

"I bet that's why your hands are so callused. Too much polishing silverware back at the manor. No, it's not even silverware probably. Just the floors."

Derek snickered, leaning in with his phone out, probably snapping a pic for the group chat.

"Yeah, man. I heard you still sleep in the servant quarters. What's the thread count on those rags? One?"

"Bet you dream of being half the man Leo is."

"I mean, come on, man. He is the Student President, the boyfriend of supermodel Cindy, and a future CEO. What about you? The best promotion for you would be as a butler."

Pan clenched his jaw and let the insults land. Among all the accomplishments of Leo, Cindy Campbell was the one people celebrated most.

Cindy's parents were both movie actors, and she was supposed to follow them after graduation. The whole campus treated that match like proof that Leo won at everything, including women.

Tyler joined in, flexing. "Nah, he's clown entertainment. Remember that party? Carl made him chug that mystery punch, making him puke rainbows all night. Classic prank."

The group sniggered.

Pan unclenched his jaw, anger rising in his chest, as he remembered all the bullying they put him through. However, he kept his face blank.

The bullies had the same old script.

The bullied had three choices. You let it happen, or laugh it off, or take a swing. All three ended with him in detention or the nurse's office.

Rachel flipped her hair and smirked up at Carl.

"Babe, it is so funny that Pan dreams of Jessica Jones. She's way out of his league and too classy to be slumming it with the college janitor. Creepy and gross."

Jessica. They obviously knew about the crush. These fuckers had stripped him of his self-respect and his feelings. He couldn't breathe in a new manner, or they'd find a way to bully him.

Carl roared with laughter, clapping Tyler on the back hard enough to make him wince.

"Jessica Jones? That artsy chick who is as hot as Cindy? She'd sooner date a paintbrush than this loser."

"Pan here's got zero game. I bet he's still a virgin, jerking to Leo's yearbook pics or some shit."

The hallway slowed and turned. Whispers started and spread. Carl liked an audience when he did his daily bullying. He always had.

Pan's fists balled in his pockets, the nails digging into his palms. He was at the threshold.

How had he tolerated years of this crap, taunts in the halls, accidental shoves in the cafe, Carl shredding his notes for laughs?

If he were to make a list of scores to settle, Carl would be first. But he wasn't the swinging kind of guy. He needed another way to get back at him.

Ding!

Right on cue, the system chimed in his head, and a blue screen opened.

[Challenge: Land your first Kiss on a female target within 5 feet.]

[Time limit: 3 minutes]

[Reward: Unknown] [Penalty: Stubbed toe]

Pan pursed his lips and scanned the text. The system wanted him to kiss someone within five feet.

Obviously, doing that in a college hallway without consent would land him in prison. However, he could use one of the Kiss Darts he earned during Christina's challenge.

There were no other girls within five feet except Rachel.

What would happen if he succeeded in hitting her with the dart? The cheer captain would have to kiss him in front of her boyfriend. He was eager to find out whether it'd work.

Pan's pulse kicked up, and a grin tugged at his mouth. The situation was twisted, but perfect.

He straightened and met Carl's stare. "If I'm so pathetic, Carl," he said, "then why does your girlfriend want to kiss me? Right here in front of everyone."

The laughter died. Carl blinked, then barked a confused laugh. Derek and Tyler followed half a second late, because the line did not make sense yet.

"What the fuck, Pan? Have you finally lost your mind? Did you say Rachel wants to kiss you?"

"In your dreams, mop boy. She'd sooner tongue a locker than come within inches of you. Right, babe?"

Rachel scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Eww, as if I'd ever do that. I'd puke my guts out. You're delusional, Pan. Have you been huffing paint thinner?"

Kids in the hallway pulled out their phones and started filming.

Pan looked at the timer.

[02:41]

He opened the inventory.

[Kiss Dart x3]

A faint tingle ran across his palm, and a solid red dart sat there. It took him a second to figure that nobody else could see it. That was good.

Pan snapped his fingers. The dart left his hand and flew straight at Rachel.

Carl was still grinning. He had no idea what was in the air.

Then the dart vanished into her sweater, and Rachel winced as if a mosquito had bitten her.