As the four stood there, unsure of where to go, the sound of rhythmic clicks grew louder and more audible, indicating someone was approaching them.
A throat cleared, and the four looked ahead to see a woman dressed in a black knee-length skirt, a dress shirt tucked in, and a black blazer over it. She had olive-green eyes, full lips, a button nose, and sharp features. She met all four of their gazes confidently, holding a beige file.
She stopped a few meters away and cleared her throat. "Good afternoon, gentlemen. I'm Mr. Paton's assistant. You may call me Victoria."
"I was told to provide all of you with your information to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible." Her voice had a strong allure, low and seductive. She shifted her weight onto one leg and held her waist.
She extended the file toward Soren, who reached out to take it, hesitating as he studied her. A slow, devastating smile touched her lips. "Don't worry, sweetheart, the file won't kill you."
Soren carefully took the file from her grasp before she added, "Alright, have a wonderful day." She winked and then turned around, walking away with a confident sway of her hips.
The four watched her go before Jiwon cleared his throat. "What does the file say?" He leaned toward Soren, eyes fixed on the bland cover.
Soren jolted slightly, then looked down at the file, slowly opening it to see a map on one page, followed by more information about each of them, then another page with additional details.
"Well, since this is an academy," Damien said, slowly sliding his pockets into his shorts. "Where are our dorms?"
Renji leaned over and grabbed a piece of paper from the file, scanning its contents before clearing his throat to speak. "I'm in Room 78 with Soren, and Jiwon is in Room 90 with you," he said, looking at Damien.
Damien nodded slowly. "At least we're with each other, and not dealing with—" he hesitated, pointing past the others, "what the hell is going on over there?"
The others looked toward where Damien pointed, seeing a large group of students. Jiwon stepped toward the crowd, while Soren raised his hand but then let it fall with a soft sigh, falling in line beside Jiwon. Damien and Renji followed.
Luckily, they could see over most of the students' heads. Their eyes widened as a voice echoed, "STOMP ON HIM LEO, I GOT MY MONEY ON YOU!"
Chants erupted around them: "LEO, LEO, LEO, LEO."
A blonde-haired boy was grabbing the hair of a crimson-skinned boy, fists flying into the crimson-skinned boy's face. Leo had a sharp grin, while the crimson-skinned boy cried, repeatedly saying between punches, "I'm sorry," and "I'm sorry."
Leo released the boy's hair and shouted triumphantly as money flew around. The crowd roared.
"Let's leave," Renji murmured, enough for the others to hear. Without further discussion, they turned to walk away.
Even as they distanced themselves, the roar of the crowd persisted. Soren pulled out another paper from the file, studying the contents.
"The dormitories are over there," Soren said, raising a finger and pointing toward another tall building.
"Why is there so much graffiti?" Jiwon asked as they stood before the entrance, leaning over to look at a drawing on the wall.
"That's not important right now," Soren replied as he moved forward. His hand reached for the door handle, and he pushed, a slight strain evident. The others followed, but Damien wrinkled his nose, blocking the smell with his fingers. "Why does it smell like literal shit?"
Jiwon's cheeks suddenly swelled up, and he placed a hand over his mouth. Renji stopped inhaling air while Soren placed his fingers over his nose.
Soren took the lead as the rest followed behind him. They moved down the halls; students sat on metal benches. "We can buy it for 25 larpa," one said, while another whined, "That's too expensive."
Renji glanced at door seven, reading a sign that said, 'One night for 100 larpa, A blow for 25 larpa, A hand for 15 larpa, and a show for 50 larpa.'
Jiwon looked toward an open door, his eyes widening when he saw a man and a woman having sex, with a guy in a chair watching silently. Jiwon quickly looked away, focusing on the floor as the thought, 'What the hell is this place?" raced through his mind.
Damien glanced toward another door, pausing his stride when he saw four men lying on the floor, giggling. Their eyes rolled back with foam running down their mouths.
Soren paid no attention to the doors. They reached a staircase and began climbing until they reached the fourth floor.
Stepping onto the fourth floor, Renji took a shallow inhale to taste the air. He raised his eyebrows slightly before his chest started moving up and down again. Damien and Soren removed their fingers from their noses as Jiwon looked around.
"This floor is cleaner here," Jiwon said as he surveyed the area. Damien cleared his throat. "It's better than whatever was going on on the first floor," he replied.
"I think that was my first time seeing a cuck," Jiwon said, slipping his hands into the pockets of his hoodie.
Renji looked at the numbers on the door, then turned to Soren. "Our room is this way," he said.
Damien glanced at the door numbers. "So, we're this way. I can't wait to see my room," he said, spinning on his heel and starting to walk, followed by Jiwon, who waved.
Soren and Renji walked down the hallway in the opposite direction.
"Here it is," Soren said as they stood before door seventy-eight. Renji grabbed the handle, twisting it before pushing the door open to reveal a well-furnished room. Soren and Renji exchanged glances, raising their eyebrows as they both stepped inside.
Two beds were set against two walls. Renji opened a door to see a clean toilet, while Soren opened another door to find a kitchen already stocked with utensils.
They glanced at each other before a sudden turn of events: a box TV switched on, revealing Mr. Paton. "Good afternoon, new students. Am I guessing you're surprised by how clean your room is? Don't worry about it; you'll probably trash it anyway. My assistant should have provided your files with your information and the school's details. Welcome to Chopstill Academy, the place where you'll be chopped just for standing still."
The TV switched off.
Damien and Jiwon, in their room, stared at the blank screen until Damien said, "And I thought our school was bad for having a catchphrase."
Jiwon sat on his bed, looked around, then suddenly his expression hardened as he stared into the distance. "We don't have clothes..."
Damien suddenly sat on his bed, mirroring Jiwon's expression, and both of them stomped their feet rapidly on the floor.
"How are your rooms?" Renji's deep voice sounded as he leaned against the doorframe, looking at both of them. "What's wrong?"
"We don't have new clothes," they both said in unison.
"Oh," Renji responded before glancing down the hallway. Soren approached and met Renji's gaze. "What?"
"We don't have new clothes," Renji repeated before Soren shifted his weight. "I read through the files; the academy has a mall a few blocks away. We can buy clothes there, and we also get a weekly allowance."
"How does the school have money for an allowance?" Renji asked, as Soren slid his hands into his pockets. "Apparently, this academy is meant to hold delinquents while providing education, and the government funds it to keep it running."
"So we're basically in some kind of juvenile prison?" Renji pushed off the doorframe and sat on Damien's bed, his gaze on Soren, who entered and closed the door behind him. "Pretty much."
"Aren't we like in our early twenties?" Jiwon raised an eyebrow, crossing one leg over the other.
"I don't get the logic," Soren said, sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall, "it's probably like college but in prison for adults."
"Why are we even here?" Jiwon asked. Before anyone could respond, there was a quiet knocking at the door.
They all stared at the door until Damien got up. "I'm coming," he said as he opened the door. "What is it?"
His eyes settled on a shorter woman with olive skin. Her brown eyes reflected light, and her black curls framed her face. She wore round glasses and an oversized white hoodie with a black skirt. She looked up to meet Damien's gaze, and he was momentarily hypnotized until he cleared his throat. "Yes, what is it?"
She looked into his eyes and cleared her throat as well. "Uh, hi," she said, extending her hand. Damien looked down at it and took it. "Yes, hello."
She beamed with a wide smile. "I'm Annabelle, but people call me Anna. I heard you guys are the new students?" Her voice was soft and melodic.
"Y-yes," Damien stammered before clearing his throat. "Yes, yes, we are. I'm Damien."
"Oh, cool. I just wanted to say hi."
"Okay," Damien replied, still holding her hand and gazing into her eyes. She held his gaze until another voice interrupted—it's a man's voice.
"Anna, what are you doing?" the voice belonged to a tall, lean, red-haired boy standing behind her, hands deep in his pockets. "Professor Smith is looking for us."
She jolted slightly, glancing over her shoulder, then looked back at Damien. "I, uh, have to go." She slowly slid her hand away from his and started walking down the hallway, her stride a bit awkward as she talked to the redhead.
Damien watched her walk away, then she looked back, meeting his gaze and waving. Suddenly, she tripped over her own step. The redhead scolded her, and Damien let out a soft chuckle. She got up quickly and disappeared down the staircase.
"I never thought I'd see the day Damien would fall in love," Soren said, stretching his arms overhead. Damien slammed the door shut and walked back toward his bed. "I'm not in love," he said.
Bro, you were literally staring into her soul so deeply that I thought y'all were about to kiss like in those rom-com series," Jiwon said as he wiggled his eyebrows.
Damien opened his mouth before closing it. "I just find her interesting, that's all."
"Man, shut up. I have never heard you," Jiwon chuckled softly, imitating Damien's chuckle.
"It's just," Damien paused as he took a deep breath. "She did something fu—"
"I don't trust her," Renji said, cutting Damien off. He looked over at Damien.
"Why?" Soren looked toward Renji. Renji met Soren's gaze. "I don't know. There is just something about her."
"Are you jealous?" Jiwon added with a wide smile. Renji looked over toward Jiwon with a slight smirk. "Just shut up," he said.
"All I'm saying is be careful around her."
Damien nodded. "Alright, alright."
Soren looked toward Damien. "So basically you are taking Renji's advice..." A slow smile. "Does that mean you do, in fact, like her?"
Damien exhaled. "Shut up, is it not nighttime? Go and sleep."
Soren raised an eyebrow. "Don't try to change the subject."
Jiwon burst out laughing, Renji smirked, and Damien started shouting at Soren, who only responded with a quiet chuckle.
That night, the four of them shared the same room. Soren against the wall. Jiwon snored loudly on his bed, while Damien slept in his own bed. Renji, as usual, lay stretched out on the floor.
Damien's eyes fluttered open. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim light, and noticed Renji and Soren hunched over a stack of papers.
He pushed himself up, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. "What are you guys doing?"
"We've got dark psychology classes in the afternoon," Soren said, frowning slightly. "It's strange."
"Since when?" Damien asked, swinging his legs off the bed.
"Monday, Tuesday, and Friday," Renji replied, scanning the page before adding, "So today's clear since It's Thursday."
"Hmm, I'm going for a walk," Damien mumbled. He opened the door and closed it behind him.
"When was he the type to take a walk?" Soren looked over at Renji, who just stared at the door. "I don't know, but it's good that his lazy ass has decided to take one."
Damien walked down the hallway, down the stairs, and hurried through the first floor. Reaching the door, he opened it and stepped outside. The cool morning breeze brushed against his skin as he took a step forward to walk before a soft voice called out to him, "Damien?"
Damien glanced to his side—and froze when he saw Anna.
His breathing hitched. He cleared his throat. "Anna… hi."
The words slipped out too quickly, and he immediately covered his mouth.
"Oh, you remembered my name?" Her eyes widened, her lips curling into a soft, amused smile.
Damien nodded.
"Are you going for a walk?" she asked.
He nodded again, then forced himself to speak. "Do you… want to walk with me?"
"Pardon?" She raised a thin eyebrow.
He cleared his throat, more composed this time. "Do you want to walk with me?"
She studied him for a second, then nodded slowly, her smile softening. "Alright."
They began walking side by side.
Awkward silence settled between them.
A few meters ahead, a group of demons lounged together. One of them glanced up, eyes narrowing as he spotted the pair.
"Yo, Damon," he called, nudging the one beside him. "Isn't that one of the pretty boy's friends?"
Damon turned, following his gaze. His eyes lit up as he slowly rose to his feet. "Let's go."
Grins spread across the group, sharp, eager and predatory as they moved toward Damien and Anna.
"Yo, pretty boy!" Damon shouted.
Damien stopped, already exhaling in quiet frustration.
Before he could react, they surrounded him.
Damon lingered a few steps back, his gaze drifting then settling on Anna. He looked her over before shifting his attention back to Damien, a crooked smile forming.
"You already found yourself a girlfriend? That's quick."
Damien's eyes narrowed.
Damon rolled his shoulders lazily. "In Chopstill, we've got a custom. When someone gets a new girl…" His grin sharpened. "We figure out what she likes."
Damien's expression went still. "What?" He turned towards Anna.
A demon had already grabbed her by the waist, a hand clamped over her mouth. Her eyes widened in panic as they locked onto Damien.
"Let her go," Damien said, his voice low and controlled.
Damon tilted his head. "And what are you going to do if I don't?"
Damien angled his head slightly, his gaze hardening. "Do you really want to find out?"
Damon smirked, rolling his neck as he licked his lips. "Yeah… I think I do."
The air tightened.
Neither of them moved.
But the silence between them carried the weight of what was about to happen.
(Who was winning this fight?)
(Find out in the next chapter...)