Megara halted before the school's grand entrance, her heart hammering against her ribs, a stark contrast to the lingering unease from yesterday's unsettling encounter with the Z3.
Despite her friendship with Hugo, a seed of doubt had taken root. Was his change of heart genuine, or merely another cruel prank orchestrated by Uriel? She banished the queasy thought, stepping into the hushed hallway. The opulent surroundings, dominated by rows of sleek, purple lockers, served as a constant reminder: she was about to spend another day immersed in the world of the privileged, a realm she associated with arrogance and a reliance on bullying for validation. Students in the distinctive uniform of Royal Von High – tailored purple suits adorned with various colored emblems above the right breast pocket, paired with white and black checkered skirts for the girls and black trousers for the boys, completed by long black socks and purple berets – moved around her.
A low murmur filled the expansive space, its volume steadily escalating with the arrival of more studentsMegara navigated the gossiping throng with an effortless confidence, her steps precise and her gaze a calculated scan for Uriel and his gang. Tucking a loose strand of golden hair behind her ear, she ascended the flight of stairs.
The class hallway upstairs was more congested than usual. A knot of students had formed, their phones held high, capturing a scene of blatant bullying. A shriek pierced the air, followed by the sickening thud of a head hitting the wall.
"You ugly looking goose! Who could you possibly seduce my boyfriend with?" a voice laced with malice and hostility shrieked across the crowded hallway, its shrillness grating on Megara's already frayed nerves. "What makes you think you've got what it takes?"
A sob followed. "I didn't speak to your boyfriend, I didn't go to bed with him. He forced himself on me, and when I refused, he threatened to tell everyone I was trying to seduce him," a female voice cried out, choked with fear.
The sickening thud echoed again, drawing gasps from the onlookers. "You slut! Then who is this? How do you explain this?" the angry voice continued its assault, the victim seemingly at her mercy. "If Uriel humiliated you in public and rejected you, aren't you better off as my boyfriend's plaything?!"
Megara tried to peer through the obstructing bodies, but she was met only with sneers and hostile glares. Decisiveness hardening her features, she folded her fist. Her gaze fell upon a small aquarium beside her. In a swift motion, she lifted it, emptying its contents over the heads of the crowd. A collective yelp of surprise and disgust erupted, and the throng fearfully scattered, muttering about their drenched clothes.
The sudden commotion drew the attention of the bully, Brianna, who had been yanking Jane's hair like a rag doll. Megara stepped forward, her eyes locking onto Brianna, who visibly trembled.
"Release her now!" Megara's voice cut through the lingering murmurs, carrying an undeniable authority. "You have the audacity to bully another female student like this? Aren't you ashamed?"
Brianna involuntarily released Jane, who clutched her bleeding forehead. "Ohhh, I'm so scared! It's Wonder Woman trying to save the day," she mocked, a menacing laugh escaping her lips. "A pauper like you deserves to be friends with a slut like her because you all belong under my feet."
Megara laughed, a swift, humorless sound. Closing the distance in a few quick strides, she flicked her finger, hitting Brianna squarely on the forehead. "Is this face of yours natural?" she mocked, watching Brianna wince in pain as gasps rippled through the remaining onlookers. "Answer me when I talk to you, or else everyone's going to assume you're lying."
Brianna straightened up, her face flushed and a visible swelling rising on her forehead, but she forced herself to ignore the pain. "I've never had any plastic surgery! This baby here is totally normal," she lied, biting her bottom lip.
Megara chuckled, the mockery evident in her voice. "Look at you, lying in broad daylight! How do you explain the unnatural tightness of your face and those disproportionately full lips? You've clearly had your hairline enhanced and your breasts enlarged to be unnaturally full." She smirked, reaching out to hold Brianna's face, her gaze unwavering.
Brianna stood frozen in disbelief, her composure faltering. Her mouth worked silently, opening and closing without sound. "You're lying! That's impossible!" she finally exclaimed, lunging towards Megara.
Before Brianna could reach her, however, a frog leaped through the air, landing squarely on her face and blocking her vision. Brianna shrieked, frantically clawing at the amphibian.
Megara laughed, pure satisfaction etched on her features. "Oh, a quick reminder," she said coolly. "Unless you want to spend another million on that plastic face, get rid of that Cuban tree frog. Quickly."
Brianna shrieked again, stumbling backward before turning and fleeing down the hallway.
Megara then walked over to Jane, who looked utterly shocked and perhaps a little frightened. "Are you okay?" Megara asked, her tone softening slightly. "I think you should see the nurse." She offered Jane her hand.
Turning to the gawking crowd, Megara's gaze narrowed, fixing on one student who looked particularly terrified. "Where's the sickbay?" she demanded, her voice low and sharp. "Or do I need to repeat myself?"
"N-no," the male student stammered, his voice trembling. "It's on the third floor, right of the cafeteria. But... that elevator right there will take you straight up."
Helping Jane carefully onto her back, Megara hurried to the elevator. As soon as they were inside, the doors slid shut. Instantly, the hallway erupted. Phones were whipped out, fingers flying across screens, while others scattered through the building, eager to spread the gossip about Megara's latest confrontation.
IN THE Z3 PRIVATE CLASSROOM
Silence hung heavy in the wrecked Z3 private classroom, broken only by harsh, ragged breathing. Amidst overturned desks, shattered picture frames, and debris, Chris huddled, arms shielding his head, terror stark on his face.
Hugo and Zack strolled in, mid-conversation, their cheerful chatter dying abruptly as they took in the scene. They stopped, staring. Near the window stood Uriel, knuckles raw and bloodied, gripping a golf club that looked suspiciously stained. The sheer violence radiating from him explained the room's destruction.
Hugo, baffled, waved a dismissive hand at Chris. "Get out." Chris scrambled away without a backward glance. Hugo approached Uriel cautiously, his usual swagger gone. "Uriel? What happened here? Did you...?" Concern flickered in his eyes as he reached out, attempting to gently turn Uriel's face towards him. "Uri, look at me. Talk to me."
Uriel jerked away, stalking to the window and staring out at the school grounds before spinning back, his steps deliberate and menacing. "My father! He's trying to drive me insane, always criticizing, always trying to force me into his perfect little mold!" His voice was tight with barely suppressed fury. "You won't believe this. He took the heli keys! Made me take the Lamborghini to school today!"
A choked laugh escaped Zack before Hugo and Uriel's simultaneous death glares silenced him. He eased himself onto the edge of a mangled chair, careful to avoid the worst of the damage. "Okay, let me get this straight. You trashed a classroom because Daddy made you ride in a Lamborghini for, what, the first time ever?" Zack shook his head, incredulous. "Dude, I took the Spectre today. A Lambo isn't exactly slumming it. If it bothers you that much, buy another chopper. Or a jet."
A dangerous glint sparked in Uriel's eyes. "You know what, Zack? That's exactly what I'll do." He pulled out his phone, dialing quickly, leaving his friends bewildered. "Magnus? Prep the new runway. I need the aviation company to deliver three Honda jets and a new Augusta helicopter. ASAP. Within the hour." He listened for a moment.
"Yes, sir. Right away," Magnus's professionally smooth voice came faintly through the phone. "Should I inform Madam?"
Uriel's grip tightened white-knuckled around the golf club. "No. Let it be a... pleasant surprise. For everyone. Especially my father." He ended the call abruptly before Magnus could reply.
He turned back to his friends, meeting their stunned looks. "The janitors will handle this mess. For now, we'll use the old classroom for lectures."
Hugo froze, a sudden realization dawning. Isn't that Megara's class now? He tried to sound casual. "Uh, Uriel? Maybe not that one? The... atmosphere isn't really up to par for us, you know? Their mentality..."
Uriel's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Funny you should say that, Hugo. Especially since you seem comfortable enough associating with low-lifes like Megara." His gaze pinned Hugo, cold and hard. "Don't even think about defending her. I assure you, things are only going to get worse."
Zack pushed himself off the broken chair, looking from Uriel to Hugo. "Wait, friends with her? And you didn't tell us?" He sounded genuinely hurt for a second, then a sly smirk flickered across his face. "Keeping secrets, Hugo? Still, I guess congrats are in order? Finally getting close to your crush."
Uriel ignored Zack, his focus entirely on Hugo. "I saw you yesterday, ducking into the bathroom for a hushed call. And wasn't that you at her work place, playing hero, chasing off some guy? Just to get her attention?" Disgust dripped from his voice. "We are elites, Hugo. Not slum tourists dabbling with the commoners. Cut ties. Now. While you still can."
Hugo stared, his face pale, fists clenching at his sides. "You had me followed?" His voice was dangerously quiet.
Uriel scoffed, turning towards the door. "Watch you? Please, Hugo, don't flatter yourself. It's all over the school forums already. Gossip travels fast." He paused at the door, looking back with mock sympathy. "Wonder how this little 'friendship' will play out for your modeling career." He walked out, slamming the door behind him.
With a roar of frustration, Hugo punched the nearest wall, then kicked a fallen chair, sending splintered wood flying. "It's my life!" he yelled at the closed door. "Mine!" He stormed out after Uriel, leaving Zack alone in the wreckage.
Zack sighed, surveying the damage. He picked up a stray basketball that had somehow survived the carnage, bouncing it absently. "Shame about the chair," he muttered to himself. "Boss man's really losing it." He tossed the ball towards an imaginary hoop near the ceiling. "Just hope this Megara thing doesn't blow everything up. Friends are getting weird." He dropped the ball onto a broken table and walked out, his footsteps echoing softly in the ruined room...