Max did what he could, but, inevitably, Croc was taken to the hospital so doctors could take a closer look at his injuries.

  He wasn’t there when they took him.

  But he stayed by his side as long as he could.

  A pair of students found Croc unconscious in the empty classroom soon after lunch ended. They notified the school faculty who called the ambulance immediately.

  Max could already hear the rumors floating through the halls.

  “He probably got jumped.”

  “Bet he picked a fight he couldn’t win.”

  “Jackson’s crew most likely did it.”

  Nobody said Max’s name, but they didn’t have to.

  Max knew.

  They knew.

  Everyone knew.

  But no one dared to say a thing.

  Max sat alone in the back of his first-period class, his body aching from yesterday, his mind heavier than ever. The teacher bored the class with a history lesson, but Max wasn’t paying attention.

  His ribs hurt. His knuckles ached. His pride was destroyed.

  Croc was gone. For now.

  And Max was alone.

  Again.

  But the world doesn’t stop.

  After what seemed like an eternity, the teacher finally walked out of the classroom which left the students with a small intermission before the next teacher came.

  Two students stepped into the classroom, a blue thread hanging from their collar, indicating their senior status in the school. Max had a red thread, indicating a junior status.

  The two seniors had an evil smirk on their faces as they walked past everyone in the classroom and stopped in front of Max’s desk.

  Max had his head down, resting on the desk as a slam on it jerked his head upwards. He didn’t recognize the two seniors in front of him, but he guessed it was Jackson’s people. Every senior was forced to join his gang, otherwise you were exiled during the last year of high school. Jackson also made sure to sabotage any activities you tried to do, or any accomplishments you tried to reach for.

  “Hey, you’re Max, right?” the taller senior spoke, standing to the right of Max.

  Max nodded.

  “Good, listen. We’re just here to make sure you won’t open your trap to anyone,” he continued while the other senior put both of his hands on the desk.

  Max nodded again.

  “Jackson owns everyone here, but if the police were to get involved…then it would be a much different story.”

  Max continued to nod.

  “We’re talking to you! Speak!” The other senior grabbed Max’s backpack from the floor and threw it across the classroom.

  The entire classroom felt silent, each student slowly standing up and quietly making their way out of the room.

  “I understand. Come on, I already got my ass beat. I don’t want it again,” Max pleaded. He clenched his fists under the desk. The ache in his knuckles sparked up, but he ignored it. Nothing compared to the humiliation chewing away at his pride.

  The tall senior smirked, satisfied with Max’s submission. “That’s right, and that’s why we just want you to be open and honest with us,” he continued, pointing to the other. “We don’t do this because we want to. We do this because we have to.”

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  “No, yeah. I understand completely,” Max softly said. He wanted to consume them, but not like this.

  It’s not something Croc would do. It wouldn’t be right.

  The senior chuckled. “Great. We already paid a visit to your friend, so this situation can be neatly wrapped up in a bow. Don’t mess with Jackson again.”

  He turned to leave.

  And that’s when Max felt it. That uncontrollable feeling from yesterday, burning up from his gut all the way up to his chest and into his skull. His breathing grew slower. His heart pounded, the melody of his beats brewing up something raw.

  I have to consume them. I don’t care what Croc thinks. This is about me.

  Max shot up from his chair.

  Before the tall senior could react, Max’s fist connected with his jaw. A crack echoed throughout the now empty classroom as the senior’s head snapped to the side. His body stiffened, then collapsed limp to the floor.

  The other senior’s eyes widened in shock. “What the…”

  But there was no time to speak.

  Max turned his attention to him, turning his hip and throwing a kick aimed at his side.

  The senior barely raised his arm, partially blocking the kick which still drove him backwards.

  That didn’t stop Max.

  He ran straight at the senior, slamming into him. They both crashed into a desk, sending books and papers flying.

  The rest of the classroom watched in fear from the windows that the room had. None of them made a noise. This had happened before. Maybe not to Max, but he had been one of the students watching from the outside. They wouldn’t be of help. And it didn’t matter. He wasn’t in danger.

  Max swung again, his hand connecting the senior’s side. The senior grunted, leaving him staggering, but he wasn’t weak as he came back with a punch of his own.

  Max ducked. The fist went straight over his head.

  With a grunt, Max lunged for the senior’s legs, driving his shoulder into his right leg. But the senior caught him, holding his balance against Max’s strength. In short bursts, the senior began slamming his fists against Max’s back.

  Max wasn’t fazed. He gripped both of the senior’s legs , and with all his might, lifted him off his feet and slammed him onto the hard floor. The impact rattled the desks.

  Max didn’t stop. He pulled up the senior by his collar with one hand, and swung his first with the other.

  “Who do you think you are?!” Max shouted through clenched teeth.

  His fist dropped on the senior.

  “You think you own me?!” Max continued, spitting everywhere.

  His fist connected again.

  BANG

  The classroom door swung open, crashing against the wall.

  Max froze, his fist hovering above the senior’s bloodied face. His breathing was sporadic, his knuckles on fire.

  Two slim outlines stood in the doorway. One of them, who was a bit bigger than the other, immediately locked eyes with Max. He had blue middle-parted hair and wore the school uniform jacket around his shoulder. The other, who had shaved head, took a step forward, looking at the unconscious bodies on the floor.

  It took a minute to realize who they were, but Max remembered.

  Jackson’s two top captains.

  Puk and Kirishima.

  The raw emotion disappeared, fear seeping back into Max’s head.

  Before Max could say anything, Kirishima moved first. Fast. He used a desk as leverage to jump on top of Max, pinning him down with one foot.

  Max barely had time to gasp before a fist buried itself into his stomach, stealing what little air he had left.

  “Hey, Puk. You lied to me. You said he was strong,” Kirishima taunted, turning his attention towards the person at the doorway.

  Puk scoffed. “I don’t know what to say. This has happened a hundred times and will probably happen again. Nobody will ever satisfy you.”

  Kirishima chuckled. “I know, but it doesn’t hurt to try.” He crouched down, gripping Max’s hair. “Stay down, Max. Jackson oversold you. Just do as he says and everything will be alright.”

  Max’s vision blurred. His body screamed.

  This is how it ends?

  Where is that feeling?

  I need it. Come back.

  But Puk’s laugh interrupted his thoughts. “He’s done. Take them to the nurse, and let’s go.”

  Kirishima stared at Max for a moment longer before releasing his grip. “See you around, Max. Hopefully not like this again.”

  “No! No! No!” Max yelled out, his voice cracking with emotion.

  Kirishima and Puk both turned back towards him.

  “No! I refuse! Tell Jackson to see me! I’m gonna defeat him! I’m gonna destroy him!” He cried out as Puk and Kirshima stared in bewilderment.

  Max’s lungs gave out and his mind went to sleep.

  Kirishima chuckled. “I like him.”

  Puk smiled. “Take him too.” He pointed to Max. “We have to talk to Jackson.”