Deep Space Odysse Volume 1

Chapter 9 The Gathering (Part 2)

The music was deafening, and the lights dazzled in every hue.

Matthew and his crew reveled recklessly in Reynolds' room, showing no signs of stopping until they turned the place into a wreck.

Larky, in desperation, shouted at Matthew, "Get out! You're not welcome here!"

Matthew, unfazed, merely waved him off. "Hey, you're not the host here. You don't get to decide. Besides, throwing out invited guests is a rude thing to do. Show some decorum. But don't worry, I'll forgive you; I'm not holding a grudge."

With a mere gesture, the large trainee grabbed Larky like a chick and tossed him into the pool.

As Larky surfaced, another hand pressed him back into the water, laughing all the while, "Don't take it personally, it's just a joke."

Ah, yes, a joke.

Everything here unfolded under the guise of humor.

They ate, drank, brawled, smashed, and looted in the name of a party, of fun.

Yet if you didn't look closely, you'd find no obvious wrongdoing.

After all, as they said, it was just a party.

Everything happening here was typical of any such gathering.

A slight smile tugged at Reynolds' lips, "Interesting..."

A second-year student watching him paused, "What did you say?"

Expecting Reynolds to explode in anger or lose his temper, the student was completely caught off guard by his calm response. His prepared strategies had nowhere to go, leaving him feeling powerless.

Reynolds had already begun walking toward the pool.

The students thought he was going to save Larky and prepared to intervene.

But Reynolds merely said, "If this goes on, you'll drown him. Are you sure that's what you want?"

Everyone froze.

They exchanged glances, then loosened their grip.

Larky, gasping for air, spluttered, "R-Reynolds, I'm so sorry."

"I know," Reynolds replied. "That's why I didn't stop them. You've learned your lesson. Now, come on, get up."

"Aren't you going to kick them out?" Larky asked, astonished.

Reynolds pulled him to his feet. "You think the two of us can throw out all of them? Don't be naive, Larky. They didn't come here planning to leave. Don't waste your time trying to do the impossible."

Larky was dumbfounded.

The other students laughed heartily.

"You're a smart guy, Reynolds, but you made a mistake. You shouldn't have messed with Matthew," one of them said, patting Reynolds on the shoulder with feigned sympathy.

They didn't bear any real grudge against Reynolds, but having chosen to follow Matthew, they were bound to obey his orders.

This also meant that, privately, they didn't go out of their way to make Reynolds' life difficult.

"Thanks for the warning," Reynolds replied politely. "But since you're here, why not enjoy yourselves?"

"Oh, we'll have fun," one student responded. "But I doubt you will." He jerked his chin toward Matthew inside the house. "His fun comes at your expense."

With that, they entered Reynolds' house. Although they kept an eye on him, they didn't really care about him. Outnumbered, Reynolds couldn't do anything but watch as they trashed his home.