CHAPTER 11
THE ONE WHO WATCHES
JAY JAY P.O.V( the lunch)
Something felt off today..
Not loud.Not obvious.
Like—Everyone was waiting.For me..
Noise in the class was the same
Ci-n talking nonstop.
Josh eating.
Drew arguing.
DREW: "No, that was not the deal!"
BLASTER: "You said double or nothing."
DREW: "I say a lot of things!"
EMAN (calm): E"And you lose all of them."
A few laughs.
Normal.
too normal
until-
CALIX: "Still pretending?"
Silence. Not full. But enough. I didn't look at him.
JAY: "Try harder."
A few 'ooooh' reactions
Ci-n leaned in.
CI-N (whisper): "You're going to die.."
JAY: "Not today."
Calix stood up again. slow. Deliberate.
CALIX:"You lost control yesterday."
There it is. direct hit. The class shifted. Watching closely now.
CALIX:"So what happens if I make you do it again?"
Something in me, Movedd....
Not good. I stood up.
JAY: "Then try."
Silence. Dangerous silence. Calix stepped closer. And closer. Until he came too close.
CALIX (low):"Show me."
And that-
Was enough..
My hand clenched.
My breathing changed
The noise faded
Focus was too sharp... too familiar...
Keifer noticed.. immediately he told himself "not again."
He stood up. Not fast but certain.
RORY (low): "Trigger point reached."
EDRIX: "Faster than yesterday."
RORY: "Because of pressure."
Edrix glanced at his phone and showed Rory something.
A file...
EDRIX: "Found more"
RORY: "What is it?"
EDRIX:"Old report."
"School incident."
"Multiple injuries."
Rory's expression changed.
RORY: "...So it's real."
BACK TO JAY
Everything blurred.. Calix's voice felt distant but clear
CALIX: "What now?"
My hand moved
then-
KEIFER: "That's enough."
Everything stopped. Like someone cut the wire. I blinked. Breathing uneven. I was back. Keifer stood between us. Not even looking at me just blocking....
CALIX: "...You again."
KEIFER: "Sit down."
CALIX: "Or what?"
Keifer looked at him with pure frustration. Cold.
KEIFER:"Or I make you."
Silence.
Calix stared and then scoffed..
But stepped back.
Suddenly, The door clicked open....
Everyone turned
And... Someone walked in
Tall.
Calm.
Quiet.
Like he owns silence....
The room shifted.. Instantly
CI-N (whisper, shocked):"...No way."
RORY (low): "So he's back."
EDRIX: "...Earlier than expected."
The boy stepped inside. Hands in pockets. Expression unreadable. He looked around once. Then, his eyes landed on me. He paused for a moment. Then moved away... Like i wasn't important..
CI-N (whispers): "that's grandpa David."
Ah. So this is him.... David braselton
He walked to his seat.
Slow.
Unbothered.
Sat down.
Leaned back.
But, He noticed everything..
RORY: "Timing."
EDRIX: "Not coincidence."
RORY: "He came on this day."
Both looked at david.
Then, at me
I sat down slowly. Heart still not steady. Hands still tense. But controlled. Barely
Now there's another one. watching. Judging. Understanding?
I don't know. But I can feel it.
This class isn't done with me
NOT EVEN CLOSE....