Our Darkest Knights

Chapter Three

Thunder and lightning rattled the building, as rain poured down, flooding the parking lots and courtyards as I squeaked my murky shoes down the white tiled hallway floors that had glistened yesterday with hateful reflections, now muddy with various-sized footprints.

My first hour focuses on Earth Science. Where we learn to be in harmony with nature, like planting a seed and within a few seconds watching a flower spurt up in its place, but for me, it was an hour staring at my pot, unable to coax anything to grow.

Our classes are categorized by our sectors: Myians, Hylinds, Elalits, Aromites, and Morts.

Myians—strength and durability.

Hylinds—speed and powerful jumps.

Elalits—Elements: fire, water, air, and earth.

Aromites—levitation and shifting.

Morts—human.

There are a few classes we all have mixed, where we learn about charms and Turoks alongside more conventional subjects like math and gym. When rainy days force us indoors, we all gather for my least favorite game—dodgeball. As the most disliked kid in school, I often find myself the primary target, dodging balls hurled at my face. Fortunately, they're only made of foam. Once, a kid threw a stapler at me in geography class, and I still have the indent on my forehead.

Lunchtime is a race to secure my food, hoping it won't end up on the floor or used as an impromptu hair gel pressed into my scalp. On certain days, I eat in a bathroom stall or the library, and when the weather permits, I occasionally sit by the fountain. If it wasn't my only source of food, I would steer clear of the cafeteria altogether.

Navigating the halls feels like strutting down a runway with all eyes fixated on me. You would think, with all the attention I get, that I have been the only delinquent to grace these school grounds.

         It's a regular occurrence to get my books knocked out of my hands at least a few times a week. It's an expected annoyance. So just like any other day, a group of guys collided into me, launching my books across the floor, and me along with them. They laugh as my head hits the lockers.

But today, something different happened. Someone defended me.

"Hey!" A man's voice echoed in the hall, followed by a forceful shove that sent one of my bullies, named Dmitry, sprawling to the ground.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he said.

I had never seen this man before. I could tell he was a Myian. Towering well over 6 feet, with a chiseled jawline peaked from beneath a light scruff, and his short, dark brown hair effortlessly swooped across his forehead, inches from his brooding blue eyes sparkling beneath the hallway lights. I never thought I would have a thing for blue eyes until I saw his.

From the first words out of his mouth. I knew he was an angry person, irritable, and willful.

"Who the hell are you?!" Dmitry yelled, quickly regaining his footing. His words snapping me out of my trance.

"Someone who doesn't need to prove his manhood by bullying girls half his size," he replies.

And just like that, I was drawn back in.

Dmitry chuckled darkly. "Do you know what she did?" He sneered, turning his attention back to me.

Tall dark and mysterious shoots a glance in my direction. "It doesn't matter," he said, stepping closer. "Don't bother her again."

Dmitry's smirk widened. "Or what?" He taunted.

"Or you'll find out." his tone icy and full of promise.

Dmitry chuckles and sizes up the mystery boy, who is a whole head taller than him. He was a Hylind and couldn't possibly win a fight against this man and he knew it, so he slowly backed away, pointing a threatening finger at me, a promise of future consequences and then joins his friends, leaving me with a silent warning.

Without sparing me a second glance, Mystery Boy turns around and starts down the hallway. I scramble to my feet, leaving my books and bag behind, and hurry to catch up. I was intrigued by my unexpected defender.

"Hey, wait!" I yell, grabbing the sleeve of his jacket as he turns around to face me.

"What?" he says sharply.

"...thank you." I pause. "For helping me,"

He brushes me off and turns around to continue on his way, without uttering another word.

I was very confused, but intrigued. I lingered as the warning bell rang above me, unleashing a torrent of students that scatter like demons. The mystery boy fades into the crowd, leaving me to wonder if our paths will cross again.