A short while later Adam left the principal’s office. The only people left in the room now were the commissioner his son Anderson a few shaken teachers and the principal. Lily and her friends were also there.
Fear was clearly visible on Lily’s face a stark contrast to her usual arrogant deanor.
The commissioner looked at his son his expression a mixture of anger and disappointnt.
"Stop hanging out with these people," he said his voice a low command. He then walked over to the principal and whispered sothing in his ear. The principal’s eyes widened in fear and he nodded in agreent.
Tears welled up in Lily’s eyes. She looked at Anderson for support for so sign of defiance. But he was just staring at the floor his face a mask of sha.
He looked up and saw her crying. He felt a pang of guilt a flicker of his old loyalty. But he was powerless. Lily saw his hesitation his weakness and turned to leave her shoulders slumped in defeat.
Anderson wanted to stop her to say sothing to do sothing. But he could not disobey his father. He clenched his fists in frustration his knuckles turning white.
Later when the afternoon classes resud Adam and Sophia were back in their seats.
Lily did not return to class. She was in the nurse’s office with her friends. Anderson’s two male friends the ones Adam had dealt with in the cafeteria were also there their faces bruised and swollen.
The door to the nurse’s office opened and Anderson walked in.
"Traitor," one of his friends said his voice filled with a bitter resentnt. "We thought you were our friend. You abandoned us when we needed you the most. Is this what you call friendship?"
Anderson’s face flushed with anger. He strode over and grabbed his friend by the collar. "You don’t know my father," he hissed his voice a low growl. "You don’t know what he’s capable of when he’s angry. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. And as for abandoning you if I had I wouldn’t be here right now. So don’t worry."
He let go of his friend and walked over to Lily. He sat down beside her on the small cot. "Lily look at ," he said his voice a little softer now.
But she turned her face away her eyes still wet with tears.
"Lily do you really think I would abandon you?" he said raising his voice a little. He stood up and gently took her face in his hands turning her to face him.
"He’s getting cocky," he said his voice a low growl of pure hatred. "He likely has a strong ally supporting him. However, there is no need for concern. He will face the consequences, regardless of my father’s support."
Lily stood up and hugged him her body shaking with sobs. "I thought you had left all alone," she whispered into his chest. "After everything."
"I would never leave you," he said his voice a fierce promise. He looked at his friends who were watching them with a mixture of hope and skepticism. "I would never leave any of you. You’re my friends. My family."
He gently pushed Lily away. "We need to find another way," he said his eyes burning with a new resolve. "A better way."
Lily wiped her tears a small smile touching her lips. "I have an idea," she said. "A way to control him. A way that even his powerful patrons won’t be able to stop."
Everyone in the room leaned in to listen their faces a mixture of desperation and a dawning hope.
The scene shifted.
The final bell of the day had rung. School was over. Adam and Sophia were walking ho together in a comfortable silence.
"If I asked you to co to my house I know what your answer would be," Sophia said her voice a soft whisper. "But I still want to ask."
Adam just waved his hand and continued to walk. "Your house is just a little further," he said. "Go ho. I’ll be fine."
He turned and walked towards his own house leaving Sophia standing alone on the sidewalk. But as he got closer he saw soone standing in front of his house. It was his horoom teacher Jas. And next to him was Philips his eyes filled with a familiar terror.
Will these people ever give up? Adam thought a weary sigh escaping his lips. He took a deep breath. Alright. They’ll get what they want.
But then he saw soone else. Anderson walked out of his front door a triumphant smile on his face. Adam was stunned. He could not believe it. Had the commissioner gone back on his word so quickly?
The three of them stood there smiling at him a trio of predators waiting for their prey. Adam walked slowly towards them his mind racing trying to understand what was happening.
"Wasn’t this morning’s scene enough for you Anderson?" Adam asked his voice a low growl.
Jas put his hand on Anderson’s shoulder a gesture of camaraderie that made Adam’s stomach turn. "This morning’s scene was quite unexpected," he said his voice dripping with a false sincerity. "But we’ve set another scene for tonight. A much more satisfying one."
Anderson’s smile widened. Adam did not like it. Sothing was wrong. They were too confident too arrogant. They must have sothing they could use against him.
But he could not for the life of him figure out what it was. He had the power. He had the skills. He had the protection of the big families. What could they possibly do to him?
He realized then that he only had one true weakness. Sophia. He quickly used his ’Track’ skill and confird that she was still at ho safe. He was confused.
Anderson stepped forward his face a mask of arrogant defiance. "You made a big mistake this morning Adam," he said. "You’re going to pay for it."
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