Chapter 16: The Aftermath

The echoes of Lucas's footsteps faded into the distance, leaving a heavy silence in their wake. Dimitri lay on the ground, every breath a painful reminder of the beating he had just endured. Blood trickled from his split lip, and a dark bruise was already forming around his eye. His pale, gaunt face was smeared with dirt, and his usually bright eyes were now clouded with pain. He tried to push himself up, but his body refused to cooperate, limbs trembling with the effort.

Leo and Mark attempted to pick him up, but their rough handling was met with pained gasps from the small boy. His fragile frame seemed even smaller and more vulnerable as he lay crumpled on the ground. It wasn't long before the commotion attracted a few younger students who immediately ran to Dimitri upon seeing him curled up in pain. They cast vicious glares at Leo and Mark, who only looked at them as though they were foolish.

"Hey dude, what happened?" one of the boys asked, his voice tight with worry as he gently helped Dimitri sit up. The boy's hands were tentative, almost afraid to touch him, as if Dimitri might shatter from the contact.

"Who did this to you?" another demanded, his eyes locked onto Mark and Leo, who sighed and turned to leave, knowing they had nothing else to do in this situation.

As they left, Dimitri winced, his entire body aching, but he shook his head. "It doesn't matter," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. His lips quivered as he spoke, and the defeated slump of his shoulders made him look even more pitiful.

"Thank you," Dimitri whispered as the boy helped him to his feet. His voice was so soft and weak that the boy had to lean in to hear him, the innocence in his tone only adding to his pitiful appearance.

"Don't mention it," the boy replied, his voice softer now. "Let's get you to the nurse." He supported Dimitri as they made their way to the nurse's office, moving slowly to accommodate Dimitri's unsteady steps.

In the nurse's office, Dimitri leaned heavily on the boy for support, his legs barely able to hold him up. The nurse took one look at Dimitri and gasped. "What happened to you?" she asked, rushing over to assess his injuries. Her eyes widened in horror as she took in his swollen, bruised face and the cuts on his arms and legs.

"I fell," Dimitri lied, his voice steady despite the pain. His eyes were downcast, and he looked every bit the broken, innocent victim.

The nurse raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. "You need to go to the hospital. These injuries are serious," she said, already reaching for the phone to call an ambulance.

"No hospital," Dimitri insisted, shaking his head. "Just… just call my aunt. I want to go home." His voice was pleading, almost desperate, and it tugged at the hearts of those around him.

The nurse hesitated, clearly torn between following protocol and respecting Dimitri's wishes. After a moment, she nodded and picked up the phone to call Dimitri's aunt.

As they waited, the boys who had helped Dimitri stood nearby, their concern evident. "Why won't you tell who did this to you?" one asked, frustration creeping into his voice. "We just want to help."

Dimitri sighed, his shoulders slumping even further. "Because it won't change anything," he said quietly. "Just let it go."

When Dimitri's aunt arrived, her face was pale, and her body subtly trembled when she looked upon Dimitri, who only watched her, his eyes piercing. She immediately put her head down, avoiding his gaze as she went to the nurse. She exchanged a few words with the nurse before gently guiding her nephew out of the office and towards her car.

"Dimitri, are you sure you don't need a doctor?" she asked, her voice barely masking her fear.

"I'm fine, Aunt Lydia," Dimitri replied, his tone eerily calm. "I just want to go home." His eyes, which had been filled with pain and innocence moments before, now held a cold, calculating glint.

As they walked to the car, Dimitri's aunt couldn't help but glance nervously at her nephew. She had seen that smirk before, the one that twisted his innocent-looking face into something unsettling. She knew what he was capable of, even if no one else did. Every smile from the boy terrified her, but she did what she needed to do.

Dimitri's smirk faded into a mask of pain and innocence as they approached the car. His aunt opened the door for him, and he slipped inside, wincing as he settled into the seat. Lydia got into the driver's seat and started the car, her hands trembling on the steering wheel.

As they drove away from the school, Lydia stole glances at Dimitri in the rearview mirror. "What happened, Dimitri?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I told you, I fell," Dimitri repeated, his voice void of emotion.

Lydia nodded, knowing better than to press further. She had learned long ago that challenging Dimitri only made things worse. Instead, she focused on driving, her mind racing with thoughts of what might come next.

As they neared a red light, Dimitri reached out and gently touched his aunt's neck, his fingers brushing against her skin. She flinched at the contact, her breath hitching.

"Don't be so scared, Aunt Lydia," Dimitri said softly, his voice carrying an unnerving calm. "You handle me better when you're not afraid." His touch lingered for a moment longer before he withdrew his hand, leaning back in his seat with a satisfied smile.

Lydia swallowed hard, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. "I-I'm not scared, Dimitri," she stammered, though her trembling voice betrayed her.

Dimitri's smile widened slightly, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Good," he replied, his tone dripping with a false sweetness. "That's good to hear."

As they pulled into the driveway, Lydia turned to face Dimitri. "We're home. Do you need anything?"

Dimitri shook his head. "Just some rest," he said softly, his eyes wide and innocent. "Thank you, Aunt Lydia."

She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Okay. Rest well, Dimitri," she said, forcing a smile as she watched him walk into the house.

As soon as Dimitri disappeared from view, Lydia let out a shaky breath. She knew the peace would be temporary, and that sooner or later, the darkness in Dimitri would surface again. For now, she could only hope that the facade of innocence he wore would hold, keeping his true nature hidden from the world for a little while longer.

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The following day at school,as Lucas grabbed his backpack and headed out the door, walking the familiar path to school. His eyes darted to the side streets and alleys, half-expecting to see Dimitri lurking in the shadows. But of course, he wasn't there. Lucas had made sure of that.

Lucas struggled to shake the memory of his confrontation with Dimitri. The image of Dimitri's battered face and unsettling smirk was impossible to ignore. .

Lucas tried to slip back into his usual routine, blending into the background. Despite his size, he possessed an uncanny ability to go unnoticed even though he possessed otherworldly looks, observing and calculating with a keen intelligence that often went unrecognized. While his peers chattered about trivial matters, Lucas listened, storing away information like a sponge. His mind was always at work, dissecting conversations and analyzing behaviors. He found a certain thrill in figuring out humans that he became borderline obsessive.He spotted Leo and Rick in the hallway and gave them a nod with a wide innocent smile. They had been there yesterday, had seen the aftermath of his anger and he hated that.

_____

Lucas, although he appeared disinterested in most of his classes and seemed not to get any work done, was considered one of the top students among his peers. The teachers had long realized that for a while now, not feeling insulted anymore every time they saw Lucas dozing off. Instead, many asked if he was interested in the academic clubs, but Lucas brushed them off many times.

Lucas's thoughts were interrupted by Kane's familiar presence. Kane had a way of appearing just when Lucas needed distraction, or when he needed someone to focus his energy on. This time, Lucas wasn't sure which he needed more.

As Lucas entered the cafeteria, Kane's eyes locked onto his. Kane's gaze was intense, almost possessive, and it made Lucas's stomach churn with a mix of unease and attraction. Kane approached with an assured stride, his expression one of barely-contained frustration.

"Lucas, can we talk?" Kane asked, his voice low and urgent.

Lucas nodded, feeling a flicker of anxiety mixed with anticipation. He followed Kane to a quieter part of the school, away from prying eyes and ears. When they reached a secluded hallway, Kane turned to him, his face a mask of concern.

"Mark and Leo told me what happened with Dimitri yesterday," Kane said, his tone edged with something Lucas couldn't quite place.

Lucas forced a casual shrug, trying to mask his unease. "Yeah? And what about it?"

Kane's eyes narrowed. "I've been thinking about it all night. Why did you let him get to you like that? You don't usually let your anger show so… intensely."

Lucas's heart raced. He could see the obsession in Kane's eyes, the way they followed his every movement. It was both unsettling and a bit thrilling. He wanted to focus on Kane's attention and let it pull him away from the thoughts of Dimitri.

"Dimitri just pissed me off," Lucas said, his voice cold and dismissive. "It's nothing you need to worry about."

Kane's frustration was evident. "I'm not just worried, Lucas. I'm jealous. You never let anyone get under your skin like that. It's like you care more about him than you do about me."

Lucas shifted uncomfortably, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of desire. He knew Kane's obsession made him possessive, but it also made him a powerful distraction. "You know that's not true," Lucas said, his tone softening. "You're the one I care about. I just need you to help me forget about him."

Kane's expression changed from frustration to something more vulnerable. He stepped closer, his eyes pleading. "How can I help you forget?"

Lucas reached out, gently cupping Kane's face in his hands. "You know how," he said, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "Just be with me. Make me forget about everything else."

Kane's eyes darkened with a mix of desire and adoration. He leaned in, his lips brushing against Lucas's ear. "I'll do whatever you need," he murmured.

Lucas felt a shiver run down his spine. Kane's touch, his closeness, it all created a distraction from the gnawing thoughts of Dimitri. He pulled Kane closer, feeling the heat of his body against his own. "Good," Lucas said, his voice trembling with anticipation.

Kane's hands moved to Lucas's waist, his touch both firm and tender. He kissed Lucas deeply, their passion building as they lost themselves in each other. The hallway, with its cold, sterile walls, seemed to disappear as they became wrapped up in the intense, consuming need for each other.

As their kisses grew more urgent, Kane suddenly stopped. His expression turned serious, and he pulled back slightly. "Come with me to my house tomorrow night.My parents are currently on vacation" Kane said, his voice filled with a new intensity. "We can continue what we started here."

Lucas felt a pang of disappointment, knowing this would mean confronting the same desires and distractions he had tried to escape. Despite his reluctance, he managed a smile. "Sure," he said softly, masking the inner turmoil.

Kane's smile returned, satisfied and possessive. Lucas watched as Kane's gaze lingered on him, filled with an obsessive kind of affection. Though Kane's presence was a powerful distraction, Lucas now felt the absence of something to keep his mind off Dimitri, leaving him to wrestle with his thoughts alone as he anticipated the next night.

During lunch, Lucas found a quiet corner of the schoolyard and sat down not wanting to interact with anyone anymore, pulling out a sandwich from his bag. He chewed slowly, his eyes scanning the crowd. He spotted Jade and Sophia, their usual aggressive and silent personas contrasting sharply. Jade was in the middle of berating someone, her voice loud and commanding. Sophia stood nearby, her expression unreadable.

Lucas's thoughts drifted back to Dimitri. He wondered what the boy was doing now. Was he lying in bed, nursing his wounds? Or was he plotting something, waiting for the right moment to strike back? The uncertainty made Lucas uneasy, but it also excited him. The power he held over Dimitri was intoxicating, but it came with a risk.

The school day dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity. By the time the final bell rang, Lucas was itching to get out. He had plans, things he needed to do. As he walked home, he found himself heading toward the treehouse. It was his sanctuary, a place where he could think and plan without interruption.

Climbing up, he took a deep breath, the familiar scent of wood and leaves calming him.

He knew he couldn't let his guard down. Dimitri was a wild card, unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Lucas needed to maintain control, to ensure that Dimitri remained submissive. The thought of another confrontation sent a shiver down his spine, one ofexcitement. As his thoughts dwelled on the previous day's violence, he felt a strange heat rising within him. The memory of Dimitri's helplessness, the look of pain and fear in his eyes, stirred something dark and primal inside Lucas.

A rush of arousal surged through him, catching him off guard. The sensation was intense, almost overwhelming. He closed his eyes, letting the images flood his mind something he was frightened to do before: Dimitri's broken form, the blood, the cries for mercy. It was as if the power he had wielded over Dimitri's suffering was transforming into a new kind of pleasure, one that coursed through his veins and settled in his core.

Lucas's breath quickened, and he shifted uncomfortably, trying to regain control over himself. He had always enjoyed the thrill of domination, the rush of asserting his will over others, but this was different. This was deeper, more visceral. It was a forbidden pleasure, one that both thrilled and terrified him.