Dawn Of Twilight

Chapter 4 : Breaking Point

Erevin took a long breath, keeping his eyes on the bully. "Just give her the money back," he said, his voice calm but forceful.

The bully, towering over him, smirked. "What if I don't?" he sneered, tossing the bills carelessly in his hands as his friends laughed behind him.

Erevin held his gaze, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Tell you what," he said, his voice smooth and measured. "I'll buy you and your friends a drink, just give her the money back. No need for trouble."

The bully scoffed, glancing at his group. "Buy it for yourself," he snapped. "Or better yet, you can buy us a drink, and I'll keep the money anyway." His friends laughed and enjoyed the show.

Erevin's smile faltered, and his eyes darkened. "You don't want to do this," he added, lowering his voice. "Give the money back, or things are going to get worse for you."

His grin only grew wider. "Oh yeah? Big words for a new kid," he mocked. "What're you gonna do?"

Before Erevin could respond, the bully grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close. "You're not scaring anyone here," he hissed, his companions' laughter ringing all around them.

The bully tightened his hold on Erevin's collar. "I'll give you a golden opportunity, nerd. Say sorry and run." Erevin's gaze sharpened, a dangerous smirk forming on his lips. "Opportunity?" He let out a low chuckle. "You look for opportunities. I create them."

Erevin's hand flew out before the bully could react, scraping aimlessly along the table beside him. He couldn't see it-didn't have time-but his fingers tightened around cold metal. A plate.

He swung upward with a powerful, flowing sweep, aiming instinctively. The impact was brutal, the sharp clang of metal meeting bone echoing through the room. The bully's head shot to the side, his grip slipping from Erevin's collar as he stumbled back, stunned and disoriented.

The cafeteria exploded into chaos. Students screamed, chairs scraped across the floor, and the noise hit a fever pitch.

Suddenly, the two boys who'd been backing up the first guy charged at Erevin, their faces twisted with anger. Without missing a beat, he shoved a table with both hands, tipping it forward in a hard arc towards them. Trays of half-eaten food, drinks, and silverware went flying, splattering across the room in a messy, chaotic spray. The two bullies flinched, stepping back instinctively to dodge the shower of food and cutlery. But before they could regain their footing, they were caught up in the unexpected rush of scared students fleeing for the exit. Bodies jostled, shoulders bumped, and their attempt to charge Erevin was foiled

as they were dragged back, caught among the crowd pushing past them in a furious stampede.

The first bully had recovered from the blow, rage burning in his eyes as he came at Erevin. Erevin barely felt the movement before a thick, punishing hand wrapped around his neck, squeezing hard. The next thing he knew, his back slammed onto the table behind him with a brutal force that sent a jolt of agony up his spine.The air was forced out of his lungs, and he choked, his vision blurring as he gasped for breath.

Then came the first punch-a hard, crushing strike across his cheekbone that sent a white-hot jolt through his skull. His head snapped to the side, stars exploding in his vision and his face throbbing. Before he could even process the impact, a second punch cracked across the corner of his mouth, ripping the skin and sending a hot trickle of blood down his lip.He tried to struggle, but his movements felt heavy, sluggish, like he was moving underwater. Another punch landed-then another. He lost count as each hit landed on his face, sharper and more brutal than the last.

His vision began to narrow, tunnelling into darkness, and he could feel his heart hammering, becoming weaker with each beat.

But somewhere in the fog, his hand brushed against something cold on the table. A bottle-small, smooth. Ketchup. His fingers tightened around it, grasping it like a lifeline. With the last of his strength, Erevin wrenched the bottle up and squeezed, aiming blindly. A thick stream of ketchup splattered across the bully's face, streaking his eyes and filling them with red.