(Author's POV)
The college lawns were unusually quiet for mid-morning. The sun was dipping low, casting long shadows over the playgrounds and courtyards, the perfect backdrop for chaos in disguise.
Ami and Luzzy wandered aimlessly, hands shoved into their pockets, just two final-years pretending to be unemployed potatoes as they moved between the blocks. Ami's mind replayed the horrors of last night, reporting the mayor's death to the police had been... complicated. They had suspiciously eyed them more than the actual crime scene.
"Did you tell Ayra yet?" Luzzy asked, walking slightly off-balance.
Ami shook his head. "No. She'd freak out for no reason. Enough stress already."
Luzzy huffed, draping an arm lazily over Ami's shoulder. " I'm already traumatized enough."
The two boys drifted along the main courtyard, dodging clusters of students. The campus looked calm enough on the surface, but the hierarchy was clear, powerful kids ruled here like kings and queens of a concrete jungle.
Seniors barked orders, bullied freshmen, and claimed territory over benches, staircases, even trees.
"Look at this circus," Luzzy muttered, gesturing toward a group of first-years scrambling under a table while a gang of seniors laughed and pointed. "You said this college was normal?"
Ami snorted. "Normal for rich, reckless children with way too much entitlement."
Their attention was drawn to a commotion near the sports grounds. A familiar group strutted forward, The infamous Red Vultures. They were impossible to ignore.
At the front was Sarah, the sharp-eyed, attention-seeking girl whose every move screamed, I run this place. Her brother Rizwan trailed slightly behind her, arms crossed, radiating calm menace. Both were notorious.
Sarah for public humiliation, Rizwan for physical intimidation. They were siblings, the kind who thrived on fear and influence, children of a wealthy politician. So they are untouchable.
Today, a pair of nervous first-years had stumbled into their path. Sarah laughed, cruel and musical, flicking a notebook out of a boy's hands. Rizwan pushed another against a wall with just the weight of his stare. A junior tripped over a backpack, and Sarah laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.
"Seriously, did your parents raise you in a circus?" she mocked.
The boys in her gang jeered, nudging each other, egging the freshers on. A girl's bag ripped from her shoulder, contents spilling in a chaotic heap.
Ami narrowed his eye's. He caught Sarah's attention for a brief moment. Luzzy followed Ami's glance.
"Look, just don't. Let's watch. You know how dangerous they are." He nudged him and whispered.
Ami exhaled slowly. "I can't just... watch. Someone has to... smooth things over."
Luzzy leaned on a wall, hands stuffed in his hoodie. "Try subtle. No heroics. Last time anyone tried heroics here, they didn't make it to lunch."
Ami nodded, eyes narrowing. "Alright. Smooth. Let's see how much we can shift without starting a war."
They moved closer, casually, pretending to be just passing by.
"Hey," Ami called, loud enough for a few in the gang to notice. "Careful with the backpacks, yeah? Would hate for anything to get... lost in the bushes."
Sarah's head tilted, eyes narrowing.
"These two? Didn't think we'd see you wandering around without... drama, huh?" Her voice was mocking, playful, but sharp.
Luzzy smiled too innocently, hands raised like he was offering tea. "Just taking a walk. Admiring the architecture."
Ami shot him a look. "Shut up."
Sarah pushed a first-year girl lightly, making her stumble. "Careful! You don't want to end up like that," she sneered, gesturing toward a corner where a pile of scattered books and papers hinted at previous harassment.
Ami moved subtly, positioning himself so the first-years could escape toward the benches. Luzzy mirrored him, using casual movements to block Rizwan's gang from cornering them. They weren't fighting, not yet, just bending the environment to their advantage.
But the Red Vultures didn't like subtleties.
Rizwan pushed slightly against Ami's shoulder, testing. Sarah's gang started moving in closer, laughter turning to whispers of menace.
"Careful," Ami muttered under his breath, stepping back and guiding the first-years along. "Don't make it worse. We don't wanna die here"
Luzzy's grin faded. "It's already worse," he sighed and muttered.
And just like that, the playful intimidation escalated. The gang shoved, nudged, and tightened their circle, cutting off the exit.
Ami and Luzzy tried to step back, avoid direct confrontation, but their path was blocked. The quad seemed smaller suddenly, the shadows longer, the tension thicker.
The first nudge became a shove, the shove became a push, and the air snapped. The fight was no longer a fight, it was chaos.
Ami's knuckles were bleeding, Luzzy's lip split open, and their gangs were tangled with Sarah's crew and Rizwan's boys, throwing fists, pulling shirts, cursing in raw anger. The crowd of students circled them, phones up, voices high, but no one dared step in.
The Vultures weren't giving them space. One swing nearly cracked Ami's ribs, another fist caught Luzzy across the cheek.
Suddenly a roar ripped through the air. Not human. Not a voice but a growl of an engine.
Every head whipped toward the gate just as a sleek, obsidian-black luxury car slid into the courtyard with a predator's snarl. The driver yanked the wheel, and the machine drifted, spinning the dust into choking clouds before stopping mere inches from Ami, Luzzy, and the boys still swinging fists.
The engine didn't purr. It growled like a beast refusing to be ignored. Dust rose, swallowing everything in a smoky haze.
Everyone froze. The car waited. Daring anyone to move. For three long, breathless seconds, it owned the courtyard. Ami's jaw tightened. Luzzy spat blood on the ground, trying to mask his sudden unease.
The driver's door clicked open.
Out stepped a boy. Tall and lean. Every movement dripping with the kind of confidence that wasn't earned, but born. A gum tucked in his cheek, he chewed lazily, eyes half-lidded, gaze sharp enough to slice. His smirk said none of you matter.
From the other side, the second door opened. A girl emerged, long hair spilling like dark silk over her shoulder. Her walk was gentle, almost too normal, but the kind of normal that felt rehearsed and staged.
And then, the back door clicked.
A third figure hopped out. Short hair chopped in sharp layers, boots crunching the gravel. A lollipop clinked against her teeth as she popped it out of her mouth, smirking with a rebel's arrogance.
They stood side by side, surveying the scene like royalty watching peasants brawl in the dirt. Their eyes glinted with amusement, mockery written in their expressions.
"Seriously?" The boy's voice cut through the silence, smooth and teasing. "This is what you people call a university? Looks more like a street fight in a fish market."
The short haired girl chuckled, licking her lollipop. "Cute though. At least it's entertaining."
The other girl tilted her head, gaze sweeping over the bruised faces. "Honestly, we expected better... but maybe this is the best this place has to offer."
The students stiffened. Sarah's gang exchanged uneasy glances. Rizwan's crew muttered under their breath. Even Ami and Luzzy, bloodied and breathing heavy, found themselves silent under that mocking scrutiny.
Before the tension could snap, the doors of the main building burst open. The principal came rushing out, staff trailing behind him, faces pale and nervous.
"Triplets-" The principal nearly stumbled over his words, plastering on a too-wide smile. "We... we weren't expecting you this early!"
The boy chewed his gum slower, his grin widening. "Surprise."
The principal turned sharply, barking at the students.
"Everyone! Back to class-NOW!"
No one moved at first. Not until teachers began shoving them, forcing the battered gangs to separate. Ami wiped his jaw, eyes still locked on that boy. Luzzy muttered something under his breath, but he stepped back.
And while the campus was dragged into order, the triplets stood untouched.
The staff gathered around them with almost fearful respect, guiding them toward the principal's office.
The dust hadn't even settled, and the air was already heavier.
_______________________
Somewhere far. More than 10 children. Not older than twelve. Eyes wide and lips trembling. Praying in whispers. Huddled together in a cold metal cage.
"Will mama find us?" one girl asks.
"Of course" says the boy next to her, voice too steady for someone whose hands are shaking.
They don't know they've been gone for weeks. They don't know no one's coming. They still have hope. And that's the cruelest part.
Outside the cage, monsters in human flesh. Men with scars, tattoos, and eyes like dead fish. One's sharpening a blade. Another is counting money.
Laughter. Cold, dirty and Evil.
Then, footsteps.
The Butcher walks in.
"We've got a buyer for the kidneys. Girl child. No more than ten."
The girl who asked about mama?
She's ten.
She screams when they open the cage.
She claws, bites, begs, pees herself.
They pull her out anyway.
"It's okay. Just a little test." They said with a evil smirk.
The others watch. The boy who was steady? He breaks. He slams his head against the bars.
"TAKE ME INSTEAD!! TAKE ME-!!"
They don't even glance at him.
They drag the girl behind a plastic curtain. The others press their ears against the cold bars, straining. They hear the slap of rubber gloves, the clink of metal on metal. A suction machine hums to life, low and steady, like a hungry beast waiting for its meal.
Then comes the scream. High, piercing, tearing through the cage like shattered glass.
"She was gonna turn eleven" someone whispers. "Tomorrow."
The little boy with asthma starts hyperventilating. A girl wraps her arms around him, sings a lullaby through choked sobs.
"Close your eyes. We're dreaming. It's just a nightmare."
"I want to go home," He whispered.
"We'll go," says another.
"After this nightmare. We'll all go back."
The Butcher comes back.
"Next...."
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A/N:-
Thank you for reading, my dark stars.
Your comments and votes are my only fuel...don't forget to drop both before you go, okay?
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