“You bitch! You’re really shameless. How dare you hit Nick?!” Cheryl screamed, storming toward me with fury in her eyes.
Without hesitation, she raised her diamond-studded phone and slammed it into my face. The sharp crack echoed through the air, and a wave of searing pain shot through my nose.
Warm blood poured out, splattering across Cheryl’s pristine outfit.
“No! My limited edition Chanel!” She glanced frantically at her dress, hopping around in panic. “You owe me $100,000, not a penny less!”
I pressed my broken nose, seething with rage, my body trembling. “I don’t have one hundred thousand. Want some paper money instead?”
Nick, seething with anger, stood up, his breath heavy. “No money to pay, huh? Alright, I’ve got cash. If you strip down and crawl around the training field in front of the whole school, barking like a dog, I’ll give you a buck for each bark. How’s that? Generous enough?”
Right there, Cheryl grinned, clapping her hands like she was thrilled by the idea.
“Great idea! Nick sure knows how to have fun!”
The crowd buzzed with whispers, eyes darting back and forth as if they were watching a live show.
Nick’s words were clearly meant to crush my dignity, to humiliate me even further.
Standing to the side, the vice-chancellor didn’t lift a finger to intervene.
Instead, he added his own cruel remark. “Ms. Carter, students like you ruin the school’s reputation, and should be publicly punished!”
I couldn’t take it anymore.
I stared at their twisted faces, disgusted, and spat a mouthful of blood right at them.
“You really think I’m gonna kneel for you? An orphan of a martyr?” I pointed at each of them, one by one. “You all look righteous on the outside, but inside, you’re nothing but animals. When General Harris gets here, you’re all done for.”
Nick twisted his body, grinning mockingly, and laughed.
“Oh, I’m so scared!”
But his grin quickly vanished, and his voice turned cold as he snapped, “Why’s everyone just standing there? Strip her down! Make her crawl!”
Several boys leered and started closing in on me, their hands rough and intrusive as they grabbed at my camouflage uniform.
“Get off me! You animals!”
I struggled, screaming for help, but my voice was drowned out by their wild laughter and whistling.
“Stop! You’re breaking the law!”
The military instructor, Officer Anderson, who had been silently watching this whole time, finally couldn’t take it anymore.
His fists clenched, and he charged forward, knocking two of the boys off me.
He quickly shielded me with his strong body, his presence protective.
“You’re out of control! I’ve already called the cops!”
This was the first time anyone had stood up for me.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at Officer Anderson, relief finally flooding through me.
“Sir, thank you.”
But Nick, furious over his interference, signaled to his lackeys. A few boys quickly jumped on him, pinning him to the ground.
Then Nick bent down, grabbed a rock, and slammed it into Officer Anderson’s head with all his strength.
The sickening crack of bone echoed in the air.
Blood splattered, staining Officer Anderson’s veteran badge on his chest.
His eyes widened in shock before he collapsed, limp, right onto me.
“Sir!!” I screamed, my voice cracking in terror.
With no conscience, Nick shouted, “Get rid of that old bastard. Hit them both! If they die, I'll take the blame!”
Nick tossed the bloodstained rock aside as if it were nothing, shaking his hands as though he didn’t care.
Now visibly panicked, Vice-Chancellor Grant stepped forward, wringing his hands in distress.
“Nick, it’s not good to kill them in front of so many people. As the vice-chancellor, I won’t be able to explain this.”
Some students in the crowd, outraged by the brutality, couldn’t hold back.
Nick, you’re treating lives like dirt! Do you even have any respect for the law?”
“The law?” Nick scoffed, placing his hands on his hips with an arrogant sneer. “This school is mine. Who the hell dares to talk back? I’ll have them thrown out right now! With worthless lives like theirs, I’ve already taken out countless others!”
“As long as there’s money, there’s nothing that can’t be fixed. I’m the only son and grandson of the Walker family, you got that?”
His words landed like a bomb, the air heavy with tension. The entire atmosphere seemed to freeze, and no one dared speak after that.
Cheryl cheered from the sidelines, grinning like a predator.
“Hit them! Kill them!”
The next thing I knew, fists and kicks started raining down on me like a storm. The shouts around me were just noise—muffled and distant—like I was underwater, disconnected from everything.
It felt like I was floating, separated from the chaos, as if I wasn’t even part of it.
Then, through the haze of pain, I saw my mom, arms open wide, waiting for me. My dad and my brother stood just a few steps behind her.
I ran toward them, every last ounce of energy pushing me forward.
“Mom! Dad! Ben!” I called out, but no one answered.
They just stood there, calm, their faces filled with quiet love.
And then, finally, my mom spoke softly, “Emily, you’ve grown up. It’s time for you to go on your own.”
I shook my head, crying, “But Mom, I’ve been walking on my own for so long. I don’t want to anymore. I’m tired. I just want to be with you...with all of us again.”
Desperately, I reached out, but as I did, their figures started to fade, slipping just beyond my grasp.
Suddenly, a roar shattered my illusion.
“Stop right now!”
Then, synchronized footsteps thundered through the air, steady and robust.
I struggled to open my swollen eyes, trying to focus.
In my blurred vision, four soldiers in military uniforms marched together, their steps as heavy as the burden of what lay ahead. They carried a coffin draped in the bright national flag.
Two additional soldiers followed closely, holding a plaque that read 'Home of a First-Class Merit.'
Step by step, they came closer. And behind them was the man I’d been waiting for.
General Albert Harris.
