Violet

2. You're My Only Prey.

I wasn't able to react quickly to everything that was happening around me. But I didn't rush myself into any hasty, reckless reactions either, or to any conclusions about these strangers. After all, I was still struggling to understand what was even going on and where it might lead.

I had no idea if guys like these were more often good or bad. I hadn't known enough boys to make such judgments; the few I did know could be counted on one hand (if that hand had no fingers). That is, if we're not counting the boys from my class—and even then, they weren't like these ones. They were different.

Take that coward Val, for instance... a brazen runaway and a liar. None of the three guys now intentionally cornering me on this couch resembled my timid classmate. For one thing, these guys smoked and had multiple tattoos. That already hinted at something... not good.

And they were talking to me. Timid people don't talk. But here I was, silent, just trying to make a move, albeit shyly, which might be why it wasn't working.

"Stop spinning your head around like that—you'll turn yourself inside out!" said the one called Matthew. He shifted his pitch-black eyes from me to Toby. He must have gotten tired of watching me panic and squirm in place, constantly looking around, unable to decide which of these strangers posed the greatest threat and thus deserved my undivided, wary attention. "Take your hands off her, let her go. She's gonna pass out from fear," Matthew insisted, surprisingly on my side, addressing his friend.

All this time, Toby had been glancing at me too, staring as if he'd never seen a person before—or never seen a girl. And hearing his name from Matthew, along with the request concerning me, I looked at Toby as well, probably this time with real fear, even terror, frozen in my eyes, confirming Matthew's words.

I was already feeling lightheaded, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it had moved up into my head, pulsating in my temples.

Toby's hand finally slid off my shoulder, though it seemed reluctant, as if he'd taken several long seconds to decide to do so. His lips pressed into a thin line, as if irritated, and he shot a glare at Matthew.

"We didn't agree on this," Toby muttered. "And don't tell me what to do. Ever."

"We didn't agree that you'd be the first to start groping the girl either," Matthew shot back, not thinking twice about his coarse response.

I guess he meant me by "the girl."

"You both didn't agree on anything!" Arthur joined in on the argument between the two guys.

Out of the whole group, he seemed the most relaxed. He even had his hands casually tucked into his hoodie pockets, watching the unfolding situation without a care, just like I was—only he had nothing to fear. He knew who he was. He knew who his friends were. But I didn't. I knew nothing.

I continued to watch the situation unfold, forced to, while Arthur was probably one of those who had orchestrated this whole terrifying scenario I found myself in.

That was our difference. One out of a million.

My phone, which had been peacefully sitting in my bag, suddenly rang loudly. Not because my phone had some special speaker or was the best of its kind, but simply because everything around was filled with an oppressive silence. Now, it was suddenly filled with sound, and it startled everyone present.

Everyone fell silent because of it. Once again, all eyes were on me. The trio's sinister argument was abruptly cut short.

Fully aware that the call was from my mom, and that I should answer it immediately since she was probably already on her way and needed directions, I was still too afraid to pull out my phone.