Foreigner

Chapter 15

It's Saturday, 5:36 a.m. I'm alone on the basketball court, the only sound the rhythmic squeak of my sneakers on the plastic flooring and the steady thud of the ball. Drills keep my hands busy while my mind churns over everything I learned yesterday.

After yesterday's check-in with Dr. Matthews, I had dinner with Max and Tommy. They weren't eager to talk, but after some prodding, they finally spilled what they knew about the Seven's hierarchy.

Monroe Hayes, the spiky-haired emo kid I saw yesterday, is number seven. Christian's so-called replacement. It's strange to think my roommate used to be number two, second only to Victor Anders, the infamous leader of the Seven. When Christian left, everyone below him moved up a rank, and Monroe was brought in to fill the lowest slot.

From what Max and Tommy said, Monroe is unhinged—erratic and unpredictable. The type to kick someone when they're already down, just because he can. But even with all that chaos bottled inside him, he feels more like a sacrificial pawn than a true threat. When the Seven inevitably step out of line, someone like Monroe is easy to throw under the bus.

Number six is Alex Rivers. He's wiry, medium height, with dark brown hair and dimples that seem permanently etched into his face. From a distance, Alex looks like the harmless joker of the group, the comic relief in a movie. But that grin hides something darker. Max mentioned that Alex has a quick wit and a sharp tongue, using humor and sarcasm to disarm others. It's all an act, though. Underneath that facade, Alex harbors hate for everyone.

Theo Marshall is number five. Lanky and slouched, with unruly light brown hair and pale blue eyes, Theo is the loner of the group. He barely speaks and is often seen skulking around on his own, which makes him the perfect scout. Tommy said Theo notices things no one else does. That kind of quiet observation is a different kind of power—subtle, but deadly when put to use.

Number four is where it gets dangerous. Caleb Feng, the strategist. Sharp-nosed and pale, he's the brains behind the Seven's operations. Every scheme, every manipulation, every calculated takedown is Caleb's handiwork. He's the reason the Seven hold so much sway over both students and faculty.

Number three is Adrian Graves. Picture-perfect in preppy sweaters and polo shirts, with tanned skin and chocolate brown hair swept back like a model. Adrian's smile may look inviting, but he's a snake through and through. He can read a person's desires at a glance and use that knowledge against them. But he's not just a manipulator—he's the group's fixer. Adrian smooths over conflicts and recruits allies, ensuring the Seven remain untouchable.

Number two, the physical threat, is Dean Lockhart. A hulking figure with a buzz cut and knuckles scarred from countless fights, Dean thrives on brute force. He's loyal to Victor and fiercely protective of the group's dominance. Max said Dean and Christian were rivals when Christian was still part of the Seven, their arguments often ending in brutal fights with no clear winner.

And finally, Victor "Vic" Anders. The leader of the Seven. Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark brown hair that always looks effortlessly messy. He walks with an old leather jacket slung over his shoulders and a smirk that seems to disarm everyone around him. Vic exudes quiet confidence, a type of charisma that makes you second-guess your instincts. But beneath that charm is pure cruelty. Nothing happens at Whittiker without his consent.

I dribble down the court, pause at the three-point line, and take the shot. The ball arcs high, bouncing off the rim before falling through the net. I grab the rebound, jogging back to center court, my thoughts racing faster than my feet.

Julian's fear of even the lowest-ranked member of the Seven makes more sense now. And Christian—he's been warning me off since day one. But why? What's his angle in all of this? The more I think about it, the less it adds up.