Chapter 4

As the sun began to set, casting a strange glow over the scene, I knew it was time to set our plan into motion. With a sense of urgency, I leaned towards Bea and spoke in barely a whisper, making sure she could hear me. "You should run now,” I instructed, my voice filled with a mixture of fear and determination.

Bea raised an eyebrow, her forehead furrowing as she processed my words. She remained silent for a moment, considering her next move. I repeated myself, my eyes widening in an attempt to communicate the urgency of the situation. Finally, she made her decision and darted off in the opposite direction of Adrian, who stood nearby.

My dismay was evident as Bea's strides faltered just inches away from safety. Adrian managed to catch up to her and triumphantly proclaimed, "Got you!" It was then that Kyle, who seemed to appear out of thin air, appeared to capture her. I let out a frustrated sigh, slapping my forehead in disbelief at Bea's lack of foresight and caution. How could she be so foolish?

As night descended upon us, darkness began to envelop the atmosphere, serving as a fearful tension sign of the events to come. According to the plan, we had brought Bea to the school gym, where our fellow members had diligently prepared everything. The room was strangely quiet, save for Bea's desperate pleas for help.

Blindfolded and bound to a chair, Bea's screams echoed through the gym, as if somehow believing that someone would come to her aid. "HELP ME! THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO KILL ME! GUARDS!! SOMEONE, PLEASE! JOHN PAUL!!" Her cries hit a nerve, my throat tightening at the mention of my name. Did she truly expect me to save her from this risky situation?

The confusion in the eyes of my fellow members mirrored my own, their gazes filled with curiosity as to why Bea's petitions were directed toward me. I shrugged nonchalantly, feigning ignorance as if I had no idea why she would involve me. After all, I was just an innocent bystander caught up in this twisted game.

With her voice strained and desperation seeping through her words, Bea called out for me again. "Paul? Are you still there? John Paul!" I sighed inwardly, frustrated with her inability to comprehend the danger she was putting us both in. My cover was slowly wearing thin.

The members shot me exasperated glances, clearly annoyed by Bea's persistence. "What?" I played the part of innocence, as though I had no control or influence over the situation. I walked over to Bea, lowering myself to her ear, my voice dropping to a threatening whisper as I uttered, "Shut your mouth, if you still want to live, and stop calling for me, Ms. Mendoza." I made sure my face reflected a dangerous intent, ensuring the other members saw me as nothing more than a witness caught in the middle.

Bea nodded silently, a hint of fear in her eyes as she complied with my demand. Inwardly, I cursed her for being so reckless and endangering us both. She had unwittingly made this situation even more ignitable.

The tension in the air was noticeable as Adrian began to speak up. "Hey, Beatrice," he started, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and frustration. But before he could continue, Bea erupted in a fit of rage. "YOU UGLY RAT!" Her veins protruded from her clenched fists, and her stomping feet added to the display. The other members could not help but be amused, though they concealed their laughter in fear of invoking Adrian's wrath. Clenching my teeth, I scolded her under my breath, "Hey, I said shut up, stupid." Thankfully, she cleared her throat and remained silent.

Adrian, visibly annoyed, could not contain his anger at Bea's insult. "Can you see what you did to my precious face? YOU MADE MY NOSE SWELL!" His voice boomed, the redness of his face visible from across the room.

Bea, ever quick-witted and unafraid, retorted, "I obviously can't see because my eyes are covered with this stinky cloth." A wave of chuckles rippled through the room, though I could not help but admire her stubborn courage. Did she have no fear?

Adrian's frustration only grew as the situation escalated. "Are you kidding me?" His voice dripped with anger, and his fast breathing and gritted teeth betrayed his barely hidden rage. With a firm resolve, he yanked off the blindfold, causing Bea to let out a tiny cry of pain. "Ouch! Do you not know how to be gentle?" she quipped, squinting her eyes as they adjusted to the sudden brightness.

Determined to assert his dominance, Adrian grabbed her chin and squeezed her cheeks, forcing her to face him. "Listen here," he began, his voice laced with an icy intensity. "It seems like you don't know who I am."

Bea, clearly unfazed, replied with blunt honesty. "Of course I do. You are Adrian Marquez, a repeater a couple of years older than me, and you're in my class—" I was taken aback by her knowledge of him. How did she know all of that?

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH UP!" Adrian roared, yanking her hair even harder. The room fell silent as his anger radiated through the air. Ignoring her protests, he hissed.

“I said shut up! You talk too much!" I gritted my teeth in frustration, knowing that there was little I could do to protect Bea from his wrath.

Tears welled up in Bea's eyes, her legs trembling like jelly. She was scared, genuinely terrified in the face of such a threat. "I just... I don't want this to go any further than this," she pleaded, her voice trembling with fear. "I just... my life is indeed on the line, in a way that you will never understand."

Her vulnerability struck a chord within me. I realized how dire this situation had become, and how little control I actually had over the outcome. Adrian finally released his grip, exhaling deeply as if to calm himself. "There. Good girl," he muttered, slight traces of satisfaction in his voice. "I will just make it simple for you. Serve me for a hundred days."

Bea's disbelief was evident as she processed his words. "Excuse me? Are you making me your slave?" she exclaimed, shock and defiance in her eyes.

Adrian, towering over her with an air of arrogance, straightened his posture. "That is right, I guess. A slave. You will serve me, follow my orders, and you can't refuse."

Bea scoffed, struggling to contain her amusement and disbelief. "Slave? Tsk, in your dreams. You really are so lame," she whispered, though her voice echoed through the room loud enough for everyone to hear.

Adrian seized her chin once more, his anger mounting. "What did you just say?" Bea skillfully dodged his grasp, a sly grin playing on her lips as she shook her head and fidgeted with her fingers. "I did not say anything," she retorted, avoiding his gaze.

Adrian, boiling with rage, decided to conclude the conversation. "Alright, that's good. Then let us settle this and make it quick. You will begin serving me tomorrow," he declared coldly, returning her phone with an air of triumph.