Confrontation and consequences

Kamsi's heart raced as she placed her notebook in front of Xavier, her fingers brushing over the pages nervously. She watched as he opened it, his brow furrowing in concentration.

"Nice try, but you can do better than this," she heard Xavier say, his voice sharp yet unexpectedly calm. The words caught her off guard, and she felt a flicker of indignation rise within her.

"Do the corrections!" he commanded, pointing out her errors with a practiced finger. Kamsi swallowed hard, shifting in her seat as the weight of his scrutiny settled on her.

"Textbook?" he asked, his gaze unwavering. She hesitated for a moment before handing it over, her palms sweaty.

"Page 21-25," he said, flipping through the pages with a dismissive air. Kamsi's mouth almost fell open in disbelief.

"That much?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The thought of tackling that many pages felt overwhelming.

"Ever heard of the saying 'practice makes permanence'?" Xavier remarked coldly, not even glancing at her as he continued to scan the book.

She nodded, feeling a mix of frustration and determination well up inside her.

"You can take it home, work on it so we can move on to the next topic," he added, his tone leaving little room for negotiation.

Kamsi managed a nod, grateful for the opportunity despite her apprehension. "Thank you," she muttered, feeling a small surge of appreciation for his insistence on pushing her limits.

Without another word, Xavier got up, his presence still looming over her. "Hurry up; the streets aren't friendly at night," he said, casting one last glance over his shoulder before striding away.

Kamsi watched him go, her heart pounding. As intimidating as he was, she couldn't shake the feeling that this could be the push she needed to truly excel. With newfound resolve, she opened her textbook, ready to tackle the daunting pages ahead.

In a dimly lit office filled with flickering monitors, the hacker sat nervously in front of his employer, sweat glistening on his forehead. The atmosphere crackled with tension, a palpable sense of disappointment radiating from the man behind the desk.

"Do you realize how simple this task was?" his employer spat, his voice low and seething. "And yet, you still managed to screw it up. Do you have any idea how much you've cost me?"

"I— I'm sorry, boss," the hacker stammered, trying to maintain eye contact despite the fire in his employer's gaze. "There was someone there. They stopped me. I didn't expect it—"

"Incompetent! That's what you are!" His employer slammed his hand on the desk, sending papers flying. "Since there's someone better suited for the job, how about I just hire him instead?"

"Forgive me, boss. It won't happen next time, I swear!" the hacker pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice. He could feel the walls closing in, the weight of his employer's fury suffocating.

"It better not," the employer warned, leaning forward, his face a mask of rage. "Or you'll be back in the gutters where I picked you up. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," the hacker replied, bowing his head, anxiety coursing through him. He knew he was on thin ice, teetering on the edge of losing everything.

"Now get the hell out of my sight," his employer snapped.

As the hacker left the office, his heart raced. The door closed behind him with a finality that echoed in his ears. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he had made more than just a tiny mistake. Who was this person that had managed to counter his attacks?

With each step he took down the dim hallway, the question gnawed at him, feeding his unease. Someone had thwarted him, and he needed to find out who—before they became a threat he couldn't ignore.

Back in the library...

"Ugh," Kamsi yawned, glancing at her wristwatch. It was already past six. "Shoot!" she exclaimed, a wave of panic washing over her. "When did it get so late?"

Hastily, she began to shove her things into her bag, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows. The school was eerily quiet, like a graveyard, with all the students gone. As she cautiously made her way through the dimly lit halls, a deep sense of unease settled in her stomach, as if someone was watching her. She glanced over her shoulder, but found no one there.

Her heart raced, and she quickened her pace, almost running now. Just as she was about to make a turn and take off down the corridor, two guys suddenly blocked her path. Fear gripped her, and she spun around, only to find two girls with their faces partially obscured, closing in from the other side.

"Who are you? Stay away from me!" Kamsi commanded, trying to sound brave, but her voice trembled. The girls only smirked, inching closer.

Before she could react, one of them stepped forward and said, "We were being nice when we told you to stay away from Xavier. But you had to prove stubborn. Now you must face the consequences of your actions."

Kamsi's heart sank. The girl slapped her hard across the face, the sting of the blow making her vision blur for a moment. She could have sworn she recognized that voice—was it Patricia?

"Please, I beg you! I've done nothing wrong! Let me go!" Kamsi pleaded, desperation clawing at her throat.

"Deal with her!" the girl commanded, her tone cold and unyielding.

The guy grabbed her with a vice-like grip, pulling her back. In a moment of panic, Kamsi felt the seam of her shirt tear as he yanked her closer. Adrenaline surged through her, and with all her strength, she bit down on his arm, feeling the flesh give way beneath her teeth.

He yelped, releasing her just enough for Kamsi to kick the other guy hard in the groin. He doubled over, groaning in pain. The girls gasped, shock flashing across their faces. Seizing the opportunity, Kamsi pushed them aside with the last of her strength and sprinted down the hall.

But then, she skidded to a halt as she came face to face with the devil himself—Xavier. His expression was a mix of disdain and confusion, as if he were caught between two worlds.

"Help me, please!" she cried, desperation lacing her voice.

Xavier's eyes flickered with something dark, but he remained silent, the weight of the moment hanging heavily between them. Kamsi's heart raced as she awaited his response, the threat still looming behind her.