Ren stands in the entrance to the courtyard, scanning the faces of people who populate it. The girls squeal when they notice he's here; I roll my eyes. Typical playboy. They're always using their good-looks to get whatever they want, have whoever they want.
He spots me before I can look away, and he smiles. I ignore him and turn to Ryu, who's watching me with a look of interest on his face. I glare at him in attempt to wipe that look off of his face, but it only increases.
"Hello there," Ren says, suddenly standing beside me. He drapes his arm around my shoulders and leans in close. Ryu's look of amusement quickly morphs into anger, though he hides it well; only those who know him well enough can know the emotions that show on his face, and frankly, I'm the only one who does.
"Hi," I greet pushing his hand away. Ryu takes that opportunity to snake his arms around my waist.
"What business do you have with her," he asks. I can depict the protectiveness in his tone.
"We go to school together," Ren answers. "Or we used to at least."
"We went to the same building, not the same school," I correct him. I turn and start to walk away when he grabs my wrist and pulls me to him, snatching me out of Ryu's grip.
"I wasn't done talking," he says.
"It sure sounded like it. Let me go," I demand, pushing him away. He smirks at me.
"Until next time, my lovely Violet." He disappears before I can give him the finger. I sigh and look to Lilly, whose just staring at the space where he once was. It makes me want to slap the shit out of her. Literally.
"How do you know him," Ryu says.
"He lives—" I clear my throat "—lived in my neighborhood."
"Speaking of places people have inhabited," he sighs. "Do you remember what I said I would do to you if you ever ended up here?" A shiver runs down my spine and I hide behind Lilly. I remember his words exactly, as if he just said them a half an hour ago.
"You were kidding, right," I say.
"You know I don't joke around when it comes to you." He smiles sweetly, but there's a devilish look in his eyes. A bell sounds through the courtyard and Ryu sighs in disappointment. "We will continue later."
I watch him leave, admiring the way his shirt clings to his back, and the way his muscles bulge through his sleeves.
"I wouldn't get too close to him if I were you," someone suggests out of the blue. I look to the person, and she gives me a sad smile. "He claims he's saving himself for this girl. So don't get your hopes up." I feel a pang of jealousy, but I smile to hide it.
"Thanks for the tip," I say. She nods and runs off. That same bell sound is echoing through the dry air as if it were a ringtone. I follow everyone else's lead as they pour into the building. It's going pretty well until we get inside. Then everybody disperses, going in every direction possible.
"Lilly, where the hell do we go," I ask. I turn to where she's supposed standing, only to find that space is empty. Worry starts working its way through me as I scan the crowd for silver hair. "Lilly!" When I look back in the courtyard, I spot her tying her shoe. I sigh in relief and shove past the rest of the life forms to get her.
"Oh, hey. I said wait," Lilly claims.
"Oh really? It wasn't that audible," I tell her. She stands and stares at me blankly. I exhale and turn to walk back inside when I bump into something. Or rather someone. The head guard stands before me with a grim look haunting his features.
"You, silver, go inside," he orders, but she stands her ground. He glares and nods. Suddenly two guys are lifting her off of the ground by her biceps and hauling her inside the building. "Why weren't you inside?"
"I was waiting for Lilly," I say. "I'll go back now." I try to move around him, he moves to block my path.
"No," he says. "You don't get to go back in. Instead, you get to spend some time with our...special guest." He motions to the door just as it opens. Two more guards enter, both holding chains. What they're connected to, though, isn't visible. They yank on the chains and out comes an adolescent male, his head hanging. His deep red hair conceals his eyes, but there, hanging from his mouth, is what looks like a cigarette. But instead of orange and white, it's black, and the tip is red. Black smoke rises from it, spreading in the air like feathers blown in the wind.
The shackles suddenly disappear, as do the two men that came with him. I turn back to the main guy, but he's gone, too. There's a post-it in his place and it reads:
Have fun, and good luck.
