Trigger Warning: This content contains references to assault, which may be distressing for some readers. Please proceed with caution. If you know anyone who has been through a tough time, please encourage them to seek support from trusted friends, family, or professional resources.
🎶: Animal I Have Become - Three Days Grace
-Freshman Year Flashback-
The night of the homecoming game was electric, the campus buzzing with excitement. The distant roar of the crowd could already be heard from the stadium, fueling the high energy of students and athletes alike. Lux Crownguard, a recent addition to the cheerleading squad, made her way through the dimly lit halls of the campus stadium. She was a bundle of nerves, clutching her pom-poms tightly as she tried to mentally prepare for her first performance under the glaring stadium lights.
She had been running behind, caught up in the usual jabs and snide remarks from the other cheerleaders. They'd made a point of "forgetting" her as they headed out together, leaving Lux to navigate the labyrinth of hallways alone. Her nerves were already frayed, and the sting of being excluded only made the knot in her stomach tighten.
Her twin brother, Garen, was already on the field, hyping up his football team like the natural-born leader he was. Lux, by contrast, still felt like she was fumbling to find her place in this world of larger-than-life personalities. The clacking of her sneakers echoed down the corridor, the shadows playing tricks on her as she turned the corner toward the cheerleading locker room.
And then she saw him.
Alton Holloran, the infamous Piltovan noble son with a reputation that sent warning ripples across campus, stepped into Lux's path, his smirk curdling into something darker. The corridor was empty, the muted roar of the stadium crowd muffled behind thick walls, leaving Lux painfully aware of how isolated they were. He moved with a confidence that bordered on predatory, his tailored blazer and polished shoes almost mocking the grime of the stadium's underbelly.
"Lux Crownguard," he drawled, his voice dripping with false charm as he blocked her way. "Don't rush off. I've been meaning to talk to you."
She froze, clutching her pom-poms like a lifeline. Her heart hammered in her chest, each beat louder than the next as he took a step closer. "I… I need to go. My squad's waiting," she said, her voice trembling despite her best effort to keep it steady.
He laughed, a low, mirthless sound that echoed down the hallway. "Oh, they can wait. You're too delicate to waste your time with those airheads, anyway." His eyes roamed over her, deliberate and invasive, making her skin crawl. "You should cheer for someone who actually deserves it."
Lux took a shaky step back, but he mirrored her, closing the distance. "Please," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "I need to—"
Alton's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist. The grip was firm, his fingers biting into her skin as he pulled her closer. "What's the rush?" he said, his breath hot against her ear. "You're even prettier up close. No wonder your brother keeps you hidden away."
Lux struggled, trying to wrench her arm free, but he held her fast. Her breathing quickened, panic blooming in her chest like a storm cloud. "Let me go," she demanded, her voice cracking under the weight of her fear.
His smirk twisted into something cruel. "Now, now," he murmured, leaning in until their faces were inches apart. "Don't be difficult. I'm trying to be nice. You wouldn't want me to stop being nice, would you?"
Her stomach churned, the weight of her situation sinking like a stone. She pushed against him, desperation fueling her effort, but he didn't budge. His grip only tightened, making her wince as fear began to take hold. The hallway seemed to close in around her, the distant cheers of the game fading into a suffocating silence, replaced by the deafening pounding of her heart.
Lux's throat tightened, her eyes stinging with the threat of tears she refused to let fall. She wanted to cry, to scream, to do something, but the fear paralyzed her, leaving her frozen in place. The strength to fight back felt just out of reach, and she could barely muster the breath to speak, let alone call for help.
"You should really learn to listen," he said, his voice low and laced with menace. "It'd save us both a lot of trouble."
🎶: Killing In The Name - Rage Against The Machine
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
The voice was a low growl, slicing through the heavy tension like a blade. Lux and Alton both froze, startled, as a figure emerged from the shadows.
The first thing Lux noticed was the sheer presence of her—tall, broad-shouldered, and radiating an unmistakable energy that made the dimly lit hallway feel even smaller. Her damp burgundy hair clung to her neck, framing a sharp jawline that caught the faint gleam of the overhead light. She looked like she'd stepped straight out of a fight—or was about to walk into one. Her blue eyes burned with an intensity that made Lux's breath falter, cutting through the haze of panic and grounding her in an instant.
There was no mistaking the raw power in the way she moved—controlled, deliberate. And in that moment, Lux thought she might've been saved by a storm wrapped in human form, dangerous and untouchable. She didn't know who this girl was, but she didn't need to. All Lux knew was that she was here, and suddenly, Alton's grip on her wrist didn't feel as suffocating anymore.
Her stance radiated quiet authority, the kind of self-assuredness that made you think twice about crossing her. She wasn't just standing there; she was looming, her presence filling the dim hallway and suffocating whatever confidence Alton had left.
"Let her go," she said, her voice calm, almost conversational. But the way her fists clenched and her knuckles cracked promised anything but conversation.
Alton straightened, though his smirk faltered. "This doesn't concern you, Zaunite trash," he spat, his tone dripping with disdain, even as his grip on Lux loosened slightly.
She didn't respond right away. Instead, she tilted her head, her damp hair catching the dim light as if weighing her options. Her gaze never wavered, boring into Alton with a calm intensity that made Lux's breath hitch. She looked like someone sizing up a problem they'd already decided how to solve, just debating how much effort it would take to clean up the mess afterward.
The silence stretched, thick and stifling. Lux swore she could hear her own heartbeat in her ears as the stranger finally took a step closer. Unhurried. Dangerous.
"Oh, it concerns me now," she said, her voice quiet but razor-sharp, the kind of calm that only came before something broke. Her words lingered in the air, carrying a promise that made Alton shift uneasily. His smirk faltered, but he didn't let it drop entirely.
Alton forced a laugh, but it came out hollow. "You think you can scare me?" he shot back, though his voice cracked just enough to betray the cracks in his confidence.
The stranger cocked an eyebrow, and for the briefest second, she almost looked amused. Then her lips curled into a slow, deliberate smirk that sent a chill racing down Lux's spine. "Scare you?" she repeated, her voice soft but laced with something lethal. "Nah, kid. I'm way past scaring you."
Before Alton could process the words, she moved. Quick as a striking viper, her hand shot out, grabbing the front of his designer shirt. But instead of just slamming him against the wall, she paused, staring him down with eyes that burned like twin flames. The tension crackled in the air as he regained enough of his composure to muster some defiance.
"You don't know who you're messing with," Alton spat, his voice dripping with venom despite the tremor in it. "You think a gutter rat like you can just—"
His words were cut off by the sharp, sickening crack of Vi's fist connecting with his gut. The force of the punch doubled him over, a choked gasp escaping his lips as the air rushed from his lungs. He clutched his stomach, wheezing, but she wasn't finished.
Vi didn't even wait for him to recover before driving her knee into his side, sending him crashing against the lockers. He groaned, sliding slightly as he tried to steady himself, one hand on the cold metal. A fit of coughing racked his frame, blood began to trickle from the corner of his mouth, but the fire in his eyes hadn't fully dimmed.
"You… you're gonna regret this," he spat, his voice strained but venomous. "My family—"
The rest of his sentence was silenced by a brutal punch to the nose. The crunch of cartilage and bone echoed down the hall as blood sprayed, staining his expensive shirt. Alton let out a strangled cry, stumbling backward, both hands flying to his face as he staggered against the wall.
"You still talking?" Vi muttered, shaking out her knuckles with a calm that made the violence all the more terrifying. She took a slow step forward, towering over him as he cowered against the wall, blood dripping down his face.
"You can tell your family. Hell, call the fucking Piltie enforcers on me. I don't care," she snapped, her voice sharp and furious, each word laced with barely-contained rage. Her chest heaved as she glared at him, the fire in her eyes blazing hotter. "But I'll still be here. And next time?" Her tone dropped to a dangerous whisper, dripping with menace as she leaned in closer. "It won't just be your nose."
Alton whimpered, his bravado shattered. He stumbled away, muttering incoherently as he clutched his broken nose and bolted down the hall, leaving a trail of blood and humiliation in his wake.
Vi exhaled sharply, flexing her fingers like she was shaking off the encounter. Her shoulders were tense, her frame taut with the kind of adrenaline that came from pure, unfiltered rage. Slowly, she turned back to Lux, her sharp expression softening just enough to let concern shine through. The sharp edge of her anger softened into something quieter, steadier. Her powder-blue eyes met Lux's, and for the first time since the confrontation began, Lux felt like she could breathe again.
"You good?" she asked, her voice calm now, almost gentle in its concern.
Lux nodded, though her legs felt weak beneath her. "Y-yeah," she managed, her voice trembling. "I think so."
The girl studied her for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, without a word, she bent to pick up Lux's discarded pom-poms, holding them out with an ease that made the entire encounter feel like it hadn't even rattled her. "You heading to the game?" she asked, her tone lighter now, casual as if she hadn't just manhandled a guy twice her size.
Lux nodded slowly, her movements hesitant as she shakily took the pom-poms from her hands. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, tinged with a mixture of shock and awe.
The stranger shrugged, smirking faintly. "Don't mention it." She started to turn away but paused, glancing back over her shoulder, her blue eyes glinting with a mix of intensity and nonchalance. "And don't let assholes like that get in your head. You're tougher than you look, cheerleader."
Lux blinked, the weight of those words settling in her chest as the girl turned to leave, her damp burgundy hair catching the faint light like a fiery halo. She moved with an effortless confidence, like she owned the hallway—unbothered and unstoppable.
"W-wait!" Lux called out, her voice trembling as she found her courage. "What's your name?"
The girl paused mid-step, glancing back over her shoulder. A sly smirk curved her lips, but she didn't answer. Instead, she gave Lux a small, almost teasing nod before striding off, disappearing around the corner like a ghost that had come and gone in an instant.
The stadium cheers roared louder as Lux neared the field, but her thoughts were stuck in that dim corridor. Her heart still pounded, not with fear but with something sharper, more electric. She didn't know who that girl was, but one thing was certain: she was unforgettable.
And Lux knew she'd never look at that hallway—or herself—the same way again.
-ਠŕ§-
🎶: Blinding Lights - The Weeknd
The next morning, Lux sat in the principal's office, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as she fought the tremor in her fingers. Garen sat beside her, his presence solid and reassuring. He hadn't said much during their walk to the administration building, but his silence had spoken volumes. He was angry—no, furious—and Lux could feel it radiating from him in waves. But it wasn't directed at her; it was the kind of anger that only a protective older (twin) brother could feel, simmering just beneath the surface.
"You're doing the right thing," Garen said quietly, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, a rock for her to cling to. "Alton deserves whatever's coming to him. And you deserve to feel safe."
Lux swallowed hard, her throat tight. "What if they don't believe me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Garen's hand landed on her shoulder, firm and grounding. "Then we'll make them believe you. You've got me, Lux. I'm not letting him get away with this."
The door opened, and a secretary stepped in, motioning for Lux to follow. Her heart raced as she walked into the principal's office, Garen right behind her. As they entered, her breath stuttered. Caitlyn Kiramman, the poised and ever-composed newly elected student body president, was already seated beside Principal Laurent. Her crisp blazer and calm demeanor gave her an air of authority far beyond her years. Caitlyn's sharp blue eyes met Lux's, offering a reassuring nod that carried an unspoken promise: I'm on your side.
"Miss Crownguard," Principal Laurent began, gesturing for Lux to sit. Her tone was formal, but there was a softness in her eyes as she continued. "Thank you for coming in. We've been discussing this matter thoroughly." She exchanged a brief glance with Caitlyn, whose expression remained firm and resolute. "And we believe it's important to hear your account firsthand."
Lux hesitated, glancing at Caitlyn, who leaned forward slightly. "Lux," Caitlyn said, her voice steady but kind, "we're here to make sure the right steps are taken. Just tell us everything. Take your time."
The quiet strength in Caitlyn's voice eased some of Lux's nerves. She recounted everything—the way Alton had cornered her, the suffocating panic she'd felt, and, finally, the moment a new Zaunite freshman had intervened. Her voice wavered, but she pushed through, determined to tell the truth.
Caitlyn didn't interrupt once, her sharp gaze never leaving Lux as she spoke. When Lux finished, the silence hung heavy in the room. Principal Laurent set her pen down, her expression hardening.
"This is a serious matter," Principal Laurent said, her tone grave. "And after reviewing Alton Holloran's prior complaints… we have enough grounds to proceed with disciplinary action."
Lux's breath caught. "You mean…?"
"We'll be suspending him," Principal Laurent said, her tone measured, though not as resolute as Lux had hoped. "Until the investigation is concluded."
Lux's stomach dropped, and she gripped the edge of her chair tightly. "But… what if he comes back?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound steady.
Principal Laurent sighed, her hands clasped on the desk. "Lux, we take these matters seriously, but we also received a formal complaint from Mr. Holloran. He alleges that he was assaulted by the Zaunite student during the incident in question. Until we sort out the full details—"
"With all due respect, Principal Laurent," Caitlyn interjected, her voice cutting clean through the room, "this isn't a situation that calls for half-measures."
The principal glanced at Caitlyn, her brow furrowing. "Miss Kiramman, I appreciate your dedication to your position, but we must be thorough. Suspending Mr. Holloran while we investigate is the fair course of action."
"Fair?" Caitlyn said, her tone sharp as steel, her blue eyes narrowing. "Fair would be ensuring the safety of students who trusted this institution to protect them. Lux has recounted her experience with courage and clarity, and Mr. Holloran's history of complaints is damning enough to warrant immediate action. Yet you're hedging on expulsion?"
The tension in the room crackled like a live wire. Caitlyn leaned forward, her posture straight and commanding, the full weight of her authority as student body president bearing down. "If Mr. Holloran walks away with another slap on the wrist, this sets a dangerous precedent. What happens the next time a student comes forward? How many will stay silent because they think their voices don't matter?"
Principal Laurent hesitated, her jaw tightening. "Miss Kiramman—"
"And let's talk about this alleged 'assault,'" Caitlyn continued, undeterred. "A fellow student acted in defense of another student. Alton wasn't just 'assaulted'—he was stopped from further harassing Lux. Do you really intend to punish someone for stepping in when this school's system failed to?"
The principal's lips thinned. "We have to consider all perspectives—"
Caitlyn said, her tone cold yet composed, her piercing gaze fixed on Principal Laurent. "If this were your daughter, would you hesitate? If she came to you, terrified, recounting the same experience Lux has just shared—would you still weigh the options so carefully?"
Principal Laurent visibly stiffened, her expression flickering with discomfort. Caitlyn leaned forward slightly, her voice softening just enough to add a razor's edge of urgency. "Because that's what you're doing right now. You're hesitating. Lux has had the courage to come forward, and your response is to give Alton Holloran the benefit of the doubt. To let him remain on campus, walking these halls, as if his actions didn't just rob her of her safety and trust."
The principal opened her mouth to respond, but Caitlyn pressed on, her tone sharpening. "And what happens if he does it again? What happens when another student finds herself cornered, because this institution chose to look the other way? Or worse, because she thought coming forward wouldn't make a difference?"
The room was silent, save for the distant hum of the hallway outside. Caitlyn's expression didn't waver as she delivered the final blow. "My mother is an influential woman, Principal Laurent. She values this institution deeply. But I can assure you, she won't look kindly on a school that allows a known predator to remain unpunished on its grounds."
Principal Laurent faltered, leaning back in her chair as the weight of Caitlyn's words settled over her. The Kiramman name carried undeniable influence, and Caitlyn wielded it with precision, each word a calculated strike.
After a long, tense moment, the principal exhaled sharply, her shoulders sagging slightly in defeat. "You're suggesting expulsion."
Caitlyn didn't flinch. "I'm ensuring it," she replied, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Effective immediately."
The principal's gaze flicked to Lux, then to Garen, whose hard, unwavering stare reinforced his silent agreement. Finally, she turned back to Caitlyn, who remained a picture of unyielding determination. With a reluctant nod, Principal Laurent relented. "Very well. Alton Holloran is hereby expelled, effective immediately."
Principal Laurent leaned back in her chair, her lips pressing into a thin line. "There's also the matter of the Zaunite student involved in this incident. Violence, no matter the justification, cannot be tolerated on this campus. I'll have to recommend her expulsion as well."
The words hung heavy in the air, and Lux's breath caught in her throat. Garen's hand tightened around hers, his jaw clenching, but it was Caitlyn who responded first. Her piercing gaze snapped to the principal, her voice cutting through the tension like ice. "Expel her?" she asked, incredulous. "For what? Defending someone who was about to be harmed?"
"She resorted to violence," Principal Laurent replied, her tone firm but defensive. "There are policies—"
"Policies?" Caitlyn interrupted, her voice calm but edged with steel. "Policies that would punish someone for stepping in when the institution meant to protect its students failed them? Is that what you want to put on record, Principal Laurent? That inaction is rewarded, but standing up for what's right is grounds for expulsion?"
The principal's face flushed, but Caitlyn pressed on, her voice gaining strength. "If this student hadn't intervened, Alton Holloran might have done far worse. Lux didn't feel safe enough to speak out until now. Why? Because she doubted anyone would protect her. And you want to send the message that the one person who did protect her has no place here? Do you understand the precedent that sets?"
Principal Laurent faltered, but Caitlyn wasn't finished. Her tone softened slightly, but the intensity of her words only deepened. "Imagine, again, if this were your daughter. Would you want her to believe that defending someone else—possibly saving them—would cost her everything? Or would you be grateful that someone cared enough to act when no one else did?"
Lux looked at Caitlyn, her heart swelling with gratitude as her words cut through the haze of fear that had surrounded her since the incident. Even Garen, stoic as ever, nodded subtly in agreement.
"I'll remind you," Caitlyn continued, her voice cool and deliberate, "that expelling the student won't go unnoticed. Not by her peers, and certainly not by my mother. You can make a decision now that will protect this school's reputation as an institution that values justice. Or you can set a precedent that will erode every bit of trust your students have left."
Principal Laurent stared at Caitlyn, visibly caught between her position and the weight of Caitlyn's argument. The seconds stretched, the air thick with tension, before the principal exhaled sharply, leaning forward with a resigned expression. "Very well," she said, her voice quieter now. "The Zaunite student will not be expelled. But she will face disciplinary action—mandatory counseling sessions and a written apology."
Caitlyn nodded, the barest flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. "That's more appropriate."
Lux let out a shaky breath, her gratitude for Caitlyn's intervention overwhelming. Beside her, Garen offered a small nod of approval, his steady hand never leaving hers.
Principal Laurent straightened, her gaze briefly meeting Lux's. "Alton Holloran is hereby expelled, effective immediately. And the measures regarding the Zaunite student will be implemented at once."
Lux blinked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you."
ਠEND OF MINI CHAPTER ŕ§