The Tormentors (Prey Series #1)

Chapter 2

Liessa

She leads us to an abandoned stadium behind the school, a place that hasn't seen a proper game in years, judging by its decrepit state.

A final scowl crosses her face as she heads toward the stage.

I glance around, realizing we-the ten of us scholarship students-are now standing in the middle of a makeshift arena, surrounded by the regular students of Milestone High. Their murmurs are echoing in the air. I can feel their gazes burning on us. It is feeling like we are some sort of exotic animals on display.

I look in front, where on the stage stands three girls, including the one that brought us here. I look at the girl in the middle with waist-length black hair and the way the other two are flapping around her like she's royalty, it's obvious she's the queen bee here and.....this scene isn't unfamiliar, though. I've seen girls like her before. They don't speak, just glance around as if they're waiting for something or someone.

"What do you think this is about?" Richard whispers beside me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"No clue," I say, though my gut tells me this is no welcome party.

Then, the whispers fade into a heavy silence as three boys make their entrance. Tall, confident, and walking with the arrogance of those who know the world bends for them. My eyes lock on the one in the center-the boy with icy blue eyes. The same one I bumped into earlier. He's flanked by two others. One with an air of chaos, shirt half unbuttoned, rings glinting on his fingers, a smirk playing on his lips. The other is calm ... but as calm as the weather before a storm comes.

They move like predators stalking their prey, and when they reach the stage, all eyes are on them. The blue-eyed one steps forward his eyes flickers to mine for a brief moment before his voice cuts through the silence like a blade.

"Welcome to Milestone High." his deep voice loud and commanding, "I am sure you all have worked really hard to get your scholarships and study here. And I am sure none of you want to lose your scholarships. You can study here comfortably and enjoy your time, as well as the luxury. But there are certain rules. For you all, I will make it as simple as possible" he paused for a moment before speaking.

"Heads down, mouth shut, and eyes closed."

He continues, "Follow this simple rule, and you can live here happily and stay out of trouble. But if any of you break this rule...." he studies all of us with a cold, calculative gaze.

"We will make sure you learn a very good lesson about obedience. Mistakes aren't forgiven here, and your life can become worse than a living hell if you make one. Here, the strong rule, and the weak are ruled. You all are charity cases, so do not forget that. Mind your own business and stay out of our way."

His voice hangs heavily in the silence. Something whispers in my mind, Troubles, they are troubles. But despite those whispers I feel a surge of anger rise within me. The audacity, the sheer arrogance dripping from his words. Who the hell do they think they are? Some kind of gods?

But unfortunately I know how this works. Power, wealth, status-they rule everything, even back at my old school in Las Vegas those with power, money, status are always worshipped, and those who were inferior to them were the ones worshipping them, boosting their egos. But this? This is on another level. I've never had to bow to anyone since I didn't belong to ....just any family. I've never played by their rules and I am not planning to start now.

Liessa, calm the fuck down, I mutter in my mind. I know I can't afford to get on their bad side, despite how much I just want to go up there and defy them. I can't afford to lose this scholarship. And most importantly, I can't afford to get... caught.

My eyes go again to the blue-eyed one, and I just want to glare, but tear my gaze off to look at the chaotic one, who has a smirk on his lips like an arrogant prince as he studies us. Then, I glance at the calm one, who is still as expressionless as ever. His expression is unreadable, but there's something in his stare that sends a shiver down my spine.

I don't wait for them to dismiss us. I turn on my heel leaving the stage and their ridiculous power play behind.

They think they rule this place? Maybe they do.

But not me. Never me.