As the school day wound down, Nate clapped a hand on Darius’s shoulder, his usual grin tinged with something softer. “Hey, man. I’m heading home. My dad’s shipping out tomorrow, so... you know. Gotta make the most of it.”
Darius nodded, understanding the weight behind Nate’s words. “Yeah, of course. Spend time with him.”
“Catch you later, though,” Nate said, his grin returning. “Don’t let Rhea rope you into anything too crazy.”
“I make no promises,” Darius replied dryly, earning a laugh from Nate before he jogged off down the street.
Rhea adjusted her bag as the two of them walked a little further. “I’d hang out, but I’ve got this Etherion calibrator project that’s due tomorrow. If I don’t finish it tonight, I’m toast.”
“Go for it,” Darius said. “I need to grab some supplies anyway. My pens gave up on me halfway through class.”
Rhea smirked. “One of these days, you’re going to invest in decent stationery. Catch you later?”
“Yeah,” Darius said. “Good luck with the calibrator.”
Rhea gave a playful salute before heading off toward her house, leaving Darius to make his way to the stationery store a few blocks away.
The small shop was tucked between a bakery and a laundromat, its windows advertising everything from notebooks to specialty pens. The bell above the door chimed softly as he stepped inside, the familiar scent of ink and paper filling the air.
Darius wandered the aisles, picking up what he needed—a couple of notebooks, a set of pens, and a pack of erasers. His bag was starting to wear thin, so he grabbed a new one as well, something sturdier that would last more than a semester.
The sun dipped low in the sky as Darius exited the small stationery shop, a bag filled with fresh supplies slung over his shoulder. The street was quiet, the golden hues of early evening painting the sidewalks in soft light. He adjusted the strap of his bag, feeling a small flicker of contentment. It had been a rough day, but at least he was taking care of something productive.
Turning down a quieter alley that led toward Rhea’s neighborhood, Darius moved briskly, eager to get back. The warmth and safety of the Calloway household felt like a distant sanctuary.
He barely noticed the figures until they stepped into his path.
“Kaelen!”
The voice rang out sharp and mocking, stopping him cold. He looked up to see Zeke Alaric, flanked by two of his usual lackeys—Leon and Jared. Their faces were lit with cruel amusement, but there was something darker simmering beneath Zeke’s cocky grin.
“What do you want, Zeke?” Darius asked, his voice steady but wary.
Zeke’s grin widened, but his eyes burned with anger. “You’ve got some nerve, you know that? My dad got involved in that cafeteria crap because of you. Now I’m the one catching hell for it.”
“That wasn’t my fault,” Darius said, his grip tightening on the strap of his bag. “You started it.”
“And I’m gonna finish it,” Zeke sneered.
Before Darius could react, Zeke’s Gravity Affinity pulsed in the air, a subtle but heavy shift that made the alley seem smaller, the weight of his surroundings pressing down on him. The strap of his bag suddenly snapped, the contents spilling to the ground as if yanked by an invisible hand.
“Zeke, don’t—” Darius began, but his words were cut off by Leon stepping forward, his palms glowing faintly with Etherion as streaks of golden light formed small but potent barriers around his fists.
“Time to teach you your place,” Leon taunted.
Jared smirked, flames dancing along his fingers as he cracked his knuckles. “Shouldn’t have messed with Zeke.”
Panic surged through Darius as the three advanced. He tried to back away, but Zeke’s gravity tugged at his movements, slowing him down.
The first blow came from Leon, his energy-charged fist slamming into Darius’s stomach. Pain erupted through him as he staggered back, gasping for breath. Before he could recover, Jared’s fire-coated hand lashed out, searing the edge of his sleeve and leaving a painful welt on his arm.
Darius stumbled, his back hitting the rough brick wall of the alley.
“Stop this!” he shouted, his voice raw.
“Not a chance,” Zeke said, his tone mocking. “You’re nothing, Kaelen. Just like your drunk of a father.”
The words struck harder than the fists. Anger bubbled up in Darius, but before he could react, Zeke’s Gravity Affinity surged again. The air around Darius thickened, pinning him to the wall as Zeke stepped closer.
“You embarrassed me,” Zeke growled, his voice low and venomous. “You think you can just walk away from that?”
He drove his knee into Darius’s ribs, the impact sending a sharp, radiating pain through his chest.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Blood trickled from Darius’s nose, the metallic taste flooding his mouth as he struggled to breathe. His vision blurred, the world tilting slightly as Leon and Jared laughed cruelly.
“Let’s see what else you’ve got,” Zeke sneered. He reached into Darius’s pocket, pulling out his wallet and tossing it to Jared.
Jared flipped it open, sneering at the meager contents. “Not much to steal. Pathetic.”
Leon added another punch, this one to Darius’s face, the sickening crunch of bone signaling his nose breaking. Blood poured freely now, staining his shirt and dripping onto the ground.
Darius tried to speak, tried to fight back, but his body wouldn’t cooperate. Pain overwhelmed him, and his limbs felt like lead under the oppressive gravity.
“Enough,” Zeke finally said, stepping back and wiping his hands on his pants. “He’s not worth any more of our time.”
The three of them turned and walked away, their laughter echoing in the alley.
Darius slumped to the ground, clutching his ribs as he struggled to catch his breath. His clothes were torn, bloodied, and his bag lay scattered and ruined on the ground.
For a long moment, he just sat there, the pain and humiliation sinking deep into his bones.
But he couldn’t stay here.
With trembling hands, he gathered what little he could salvage, stuffing it into his torn bag before stumbling to his feet. Each step sent fresh waves of pain through his body, but he gritted his teeth and kept moving.
By the time he reached Rhea’s house, it was fully dark, the porch light casting a warm glow over the familiar yard. He hesitated for only a moment before raising a bloodied hand to knock.
The door opened almost immediately, and Rhea’s expression turned from curious to horrified in an instant.
“Darius? What—oh my God, what happened?”
Her voice was laced with panic as she reached out to steady him, her hands brushing against his arm and shoulder.
“Zeke,” he croaked, his voice barely above a whisper. “They... jumped me.”
Rhea’s eyes flashed with anger, and she called over her shoulder, “Mom! Dad! Come here!”
Marianne and Elijah appeared moments later, their faces mirroring Rhea’s shock.
“Get him inside,” Marianne said urgently, guiding Darius toward the couch as Elijah went to grab the first aid kit.
Darius sank into the cushions, his body screaming in protest at the movement. As Marianne began cleaning his wounds and Rhea knelt beside him, her hands hovering uncertainly, he let his head fall back against the couch.
Darius sat on the Calloway couch, the room buzzing with quiet urgency. Marianne worked quickly, her hands steady as she dabbed at his bloodied face with a damp cloth. Rhea knelt beside him, her expression a mix of anger and worry. She kept muttering under her breath, curses directed at Zeke and his goons, her hands clenching and unclenching as though ready to throw punches herself.
"Here," Marianne said softly, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face as she handed him a glass of water. "Drink this, honey. You’ve lost some blood."
Darius took the glass with a trembling hand, the cool water soothing his parched throat.
The sound of hurried footsteps announced Ethan’s arrival. Rhea’s older brother stepped into the room, his usually relaxed expression hardened with concern. He was holding a set of clothes—soft sweats and a hoodie—and he quickly assessed Darius’s disheveled state.
“You’re a mess,” Ethan said, though his tone was gentle. He placed the clothes on the armrest. “Get changed. These should fit you.”
Darius nodded weakly, grateful for the gesture. “Thanks, Ethan.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” Ethan said, crouching to meet Darius’s eye. “But you do need to tell me what happened.”
“Zeke and his crew jumped him,” Rhea cut in, her voice tight with anger. “Because they’re a bunch of cowards.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened, his normally easygoing demeanor replaced with a dangerous edge. “Of course it was Zeke. He’s been a walking problem since the day he got here.”
“Elijah!” Marianne called over her shoulder, not taking her eyes off Darius. “We need to get him to the hospital.”
“I’m on it,” Elijah’s voice boomed from the kitchen. Moments later, he appeared, car keys jangling in his hand. His usual joking tone was gone, replaced with calm determination. He met Darius’s gaze, his sharp blue eyes softer than usual. “You’re coming with me, kid. Let’s get you patched up properly.”
“I’ll come too,” Rhea started, but Elijah shook his head.
“Stay here with your mom and Ethan,” he said firmly, but not unkindly. “Darius doesn’t need an audience, and I’ll call you if anything changes.”
Rhea looked ready to argue, but Ethan placed a hand on her shoulder. “Let them handle it,” he said quietly.
Darius stood with some effort, clutching the clothes Ethan had given him. “Give me a second to change.”
Ethan nodded, guiding him toward the bathroom. Once inside, Darius changed out of his torn and bloodied clothes, the soft material of the sweats and hoodie a welcome comfort against his aching body. He winced as he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror—his broken nose, swollen eye, and bruised ribs painting a brutal picture of Zeke’s handiwork.
When he emerged, Elijah was waiting by the door, his face set with a quiet resolve.
“Let’s go,” Elijah said, holding the door open.
The ride to the hospital was quiet at first, the hum of the car engine filling the space. Darius stared out the window, his mind swirling with thoughts he didn’t know how to untangle.
“You want to tell me what happened?” Elijah asked finally, his voice steady.
Darius hesitated, then took a shaky breath. “Zeke and his friends... They were mad about what happened in the cafeteria earlier. Blamed me for it.”
Elijah’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. “Cowards. Three against one.”
“They used their affinities,” Darius added quietly, his voice tinged with bitterness. “I didn’t stand a chance.”
Elijah glanced at him, his blue eyes sharp. “You can’t let them get away with this, Darius. What they did was more than bullying—it was assault. Those kids need to face consequences.”
Darius shrugged, his shoulders slumping. “What am I supposed to do? No one’s going to take my side against Zeke. He’s untouchable.”
Elijah’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t press further. “You’ve got people in your corner,” he said after a moment. “Rhea, Marianne, me. We’re not going to let this slide.”
Darius didn’t respond, but the weight of Elijah’s words settled over him like a blanket, comforting in its certainty.
When they arrived at the hospital, Elijah guided Darius inside, speaking calmly and efficiently to the intake nurse. They were ushered into a treatment room, where a doctor began tending to Darius’s injuries. Elijah stayed by his side the entire time, offering quiet reassurances as the doctor set his nose and patched him up.
As they left the hospital hours later, Darius felt lighter, despite the bandages and painkillers. Elijah’s steady presence was an anchor, and for the first time in a long while, he felt like someone had his back.
“Ready to head back?” Elijah asked, unlocking the car.
Darius nodded. “Yeah.”