The Abused is The Abuser in Another World

Chapter 2: Promises in the Shadows

The next day arrived with an unusual sense of anticipation for Noir. He had agreed to Jess's plan to sneak into the school, but a nagging voice in the back of his mind kept reminding him to be cautious. Don't trust him completely, he thought. Keep your eyes open.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Noir made his way to their usual meeting spot near the school. He arrived early, taking time to scan the area. The streets were quieter now, the familiar sounds of vendors packing up for the night and children being called home echoing through the narrow alleyways.

After a few moments, Jess appeared, looking as calm and confident as ever. "Ready?" he asked with a grin.

Noir nodded, his face neutral. "Yeah. Just remember, we get in and out fast. No messing around."

Jess raised his hands in mock surrender. "Got it. We'll be in and out, no games." But there was a gleam in his eyes that made Noir's stomach tighten.

They moved quietly toward the side entrance of the school, sticking to the shadows. Jess had a key—something he had swiped from one of the janitors. "This will make things easier," he whispered with a wink as he unlocked the door. They slipped inside, the dimly lit hallways stretching out before them.

Noir's heart raced. He had never been this close to the classrooms before, and the smell of chalk and paper was intoxicating. Jess led him down a corridor, past darkened classrooms, until they reached a door near the end. "This is one of the storage rooms," Jess explained. "Lots of old books, supplies... stuff they don't use much anymore."

Jess pushed open the door, and they slipped inside. Noir's eyes widened as he saw shelves lined with books, boxes filled with old notebooks, pens, and other supplies. For a moment, he forgot his caution, his eyes darting around, absorbing everything.

"See anything you like?" Jess asked, leaning casually against the doorway.

Noir moved quickly to one of the shelves, pulling down a few books. He flipped through the pages, his fingers tracing the words as if he could absorb them by touch alone. So much to learn... He grabbed a math book, an old dictionary, and a few notebooks with only some of the pages filled.

Jess watched him with interest. "You really are hungry for this stuff, aren't you?" he commented, a slight smile on his face.

Noir shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "I just... I need to know things. I need to get out of here someday."

Jess's smile widened. "Fair enough. But hey, don't worry. I've got your back."

Just as Noir was about to respond, they heard footsteps echoing down the hallway. Jess's face changed instantly, from relaxed to alert. "Quick, hide!" he whispered, grabbing Noir's arm and pulling him behind a stack of boxes.

The footsteps grew louder, and Noir's heart pounded in his chest. If we get caught... He glanced at Jess, who seemed oddly calm, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Why is he smiling?

A janitor appeared at the doorway, peering inside. Jess pressed a finger to his lips, signaling Noir to stay quiet. The janitor lingered for a moment, muttering something to himself before turning away and walking back down the hallway. Jess waited a few moments before exhaling and stepping out from their hiding spot.

"See? No problem," he said with a grin. "Let's grab a few more things and go."

Noir nodded, though his mind was racing. Why didn't he seem worried? He quickly grabbed a few more books and tucked them under his arm. "Alright, I'm ready. Let's get out of here."