Hunted Predators✔️

Chapter Twenty-seven

As the teacher lectures the classroom, Darko's head is nowhere near the equation on the smartboard.

He's sitting at the table in the middle of the cafeteria with Josh, Adelaide, and Rayna, and he's acting like he doesn't notice the way the rest of the students stare at his table, acting like it doesn't please him. "Hey, Rayna." A girl approaches their table and hands Rayna a homework packet. "I finished it for you."

"Thanks," Rayna says. The girl lingers, her eyes on the empty seat next to Rayna. Rayna's smile widens. "See you in math." Rayna snickers as the girl trudges off.

"That was mean," Josh says.

"That was mean," Adelaide confirms. But she's smiling as she says it.

Josh exhales. "Look, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately-"

"About what?" Rayna says, raising her eyebrows.

"About morality and stuff. I think we all could be-"

Darko snorts. "High on the second day of school is not a good look, brother."

"Will you let him speak?" Adelaide snaps.

"He's a grown man. He can talk for himself."

"I'm not talking for him, I'm pointing out how you trample him."

"I'm just tired of things never seem to change," Josh cuts in. "And I-"

"Oh!" Adelaide gasps, her scowl giving way in an instant. She nods at the front of the cafeteria where Misses Duvall brandishes a list. "She's starting!"

"This is what I'm talking about. We all know you and Darko will be first and second. Besides shaming everybody else, there's really no point in reading every student's ranking and taking up all our-"

Adelaide pinches him. "Josh, this is important." Then her glare turns to Darko. Darko has his legs propped up on the table and a book in his lap. "Am I the only one who's taking this seriously?" she asks.

"Oh, come on," Darko says. "She's not going to get to anyone relevant for another twenty minutes." 

Rayna's name is called. As if that proved his point, Darko raises an eyebrow at Adelaide, making her smile for once. Josh looks away. Soon, Adelaide's name is called. Then Darko's. Everyone starts talking again, but then... 

"And finally, in first place," Mrs. Duvall says. "Katherine Cruz."

At the unfamiliar name, a hush spreads around the cafeteria. Students look around, trying to find the culprit. Darko stands up. "Who the fuck is Katherine Cruz?"

A hand raises.

His eyes trails down from the pale brown hand to its owner. Unlike the majority of Mabry's female population, her face is bare from heavy makeup, and the only jewelry she wears is a necklace with a thin gold chain and a single charm. And the girl makes no apparent effort at any fronts: anxiety is clear on her face. Her eyes dart around the cafeteria. She slouches down in her seat, her cheeks warming under the student's stares. The lack of makeup paired with her doe eyed expression make her appear younger than the students, more innocent. 

"She'll be eaten alive," Rayna snickers. Darko steps forward, smirking.

Then, Darko, a six year old Darko, is walking down the sidewalk with his brother, who's aged down as well, only a year or two older. With the sun hanging ahead, it's a bright day; in fact, it's one of the hottest days of the summer.

The two boys walk into a gas station at the end of the sidewalk and walk out of it with lighter pockets and raspberry popsicles. They eat them on the side of the curb, laughing, staining their lips and sticky fingers a dark red.