CHAPTER 2

Rhiane's POV

I can’t help but laugh whenever I remember what happened last night. I shared it with my friend Yvaine, and now she can’t stop laughing either. We were still giggling as we walked into the room—until my eyes landed on someone.

She looked like a loser.

She was wearing a mask.

Who even wears a mask in weather like this?

My brows raised, and she instantly avoided my gaze. Yvaine and I headed to the back since that’s where our seats were. That’s when I noticed the bruises on the four girls known as the mean bitches of the class. I think Yvaine noticed them too, since she was about to approach them.

“Stay back. Don’t bother—the instructor is right over there,” I said.

It’s in Yvaine’s nature to check on people, to ask if they’re okay or not. What kind of attitude is that, right?

I didn’t bother with them and turned my focus to the front.

The instructor arrived and started the lesson. She even asked questions—and the girl wearing the mask? She answered every single one correctly.

An hour and a half passed, and finally, it was break time. Yvaine didn’t hold back—she approached the four girls.

Why is she even interested in them? They’re already broken, for fuck’s sake.

“Hey, what happened to you guys?” Yvaine said, taking a seat in front of them. Their bruises looked oddly sexy, especially the one around the eye.

“It looks painful. What happened?” I added, smiling. I was trying to be fucking kind—and they just ignored us like we were the ones bothering them?

I noticed one of them staring blankly ahead. That’s when I saw Kresta grinning—staring at the four girls sitting right in front of me.

Kresta is known for being mysterious, but Yvaine and I know her.

She just doesn’t know us. Yet.

“What happened to you?” I asked again.

Still no response—as expected.

I turned my gaze to Kresta, and I noticed her smirk fade.

She looked… threatened.

I smirked back.

Knowing Kresta’s true nature made me feel superior.

I knew what she did.

---

Flashback

I was walking behind the school at around 10 in the evening. In the dark alley, I heard the sound of punches and gasps. I peeked around the corner, and there I saw a girl—tall and intimidating.

The view was… interesting.

Watching four people get beaten up was, strangely, more captivating than the view from the hill. And beside her stood another girl—so beautiful, so innocent-looking, almost angelic. The kind of girl you'd never imagine enjoying something so brutal. And yet, there she was, watching with quiet delight.

The tall girl grabbed one of the victims by the face and kept beating her. I even heard something crack.

Was that a bone?

God, I was starting to love it.

I wish I had brought popcorn.

“Please spare us! Forgive us! We’ll do anything!” one of the girls pleaded. She sounded like she was barely breathing. Honestly, I thought she’d pass out any second.

Then I heard the girl laugh. She kept punching and beating them up. And I just stood there… enjoying the view.

I didn’t help—because it wasn’t my business. Besides, their cries of agony? Kinda satisfying.

The angelic girl stepped forward and whispered something to one of the victims. Whatever she said made the poor girl cry harder—from fear, not pain. I’ve always believed mental abuse cuts deeper than physical pain.

And her words? Pure knives.

Those tears? Beautiful.

One of them loved violence. The other? She used words to rip someone apart.

Who were they?

I knew Yvaine would love this tea.

---

Present Time

I still don’t know who the other girl was, but she was incredibly talented, too.

After class was dismissed, I didn’t wait for Yvaine. I stepped out of the classroom and accidentally bumped into someone.

I furrowed my brows and looked down at the girl with a dull expression.

“Lilith,” I read from her name tag.

I chuckled to myself.

What is she, a kindergartener? Wearing a huge name tag like that?

“I—I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to,” she apologized immediately.

“Watch where you’re going,” I said calmly, though I was actually annoyed.

Yvaine and I hurried home—we had things to do.

Fun things, of course.

I smirked to myself.

Later that night, I got hungry and decided to head to the convenience store just a few blocks away from our apartment. The streets were quiet. The usual buzz of the day had been replaced by the occasional bark of a dog and the soft hum of streetlights.

It was kind of peaceful—the kind of silence that either clears your head or drives you to overthink.

Yvaine and I share a small apartment. She’s a working student.

Honestly, I admire her sometimes. She works hard, barely complains, and still manages to stay on top of everything.

But me? I’ve always taken a different route.

I rely on my parents to send me money so I can keep studying and surviving out here. Rent, food, tuition—it all adds up. Thankfully, they’re still willing to support me. For now.

It’s not like I can’t work. I can. I’ve thought about it a lot.

But the idea of waking up early, going to class, working afterward, coming home exhausted, then still having homework?

Sounds like hell.

Maybe it’s laziness. Or maybe I just know myself well enough to avoid burnout.

And let’s be honest—salaries in the Philippines? Trash.

You work your ass off for hours and still barely make enough to survive. That’s not the life I want.

If I’m going to get my hands dirty, I’d rather do something risky. Something that pays off big and fast.

Yeah, maybe that sounds selfish. Shady, even.

But sometimes, hard work doesn’t pay off the way they say it will.

I walked into the store, the fluorescent lights buzzing softly. I wasn’t sure what I wanted—maybe chips, maybe a microwaveable meal. Something to quiet the growling in my stomach and the chaos in my head.

Once I’d eaten, I started walking home. The streets were still mostly empty, just the occasional passing car and rustling leaves in the breeze.

I walked slowly, enjoying the cool night air.

Then, as I turned into the dimly lit alley near our apartment—

Everything happened so fast.

Someone grabbed me and shoved me hard against a wall.

My back hit the cold concrete with a dull thud. It knocked the breath out of me.

“You’re really brave, going out alone at this hour,” the person said.

I caught a glimpse of her face—and laughed.

“And you’re pretty brave yourself, suddenly attacking someone you don’t even know,” I said playfully.

“Do you want to get beaten up?” she asked, clearly annoyed.

“Try me. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get back at you, and you’ll go home with your head hanging off your neck… sounds exciting, doesn’t it?”

“Feisty. I like that. I saw you earlier, staring at me—what’s your problem?”

“Let’s just say… we have a few things in common. Like how torturing people can be… pleasurable. The screaming, the heavy breathing, the crying—it’s all fucking amazing, isn’t it?” I said.

She let go of me and turned to face me, a smirk forming on her lips.

“I’m never wrong,” she said, pulling a pack of candy from her pocket and popping one into her mouth. I gave her a confused look, and she smiled.

“I saw you that night. I just ignored you. I saw how turned on you were, watching those girls.”

“I knew your name,” I said. “And I saw you with another girl that night. She knew exactly how to drive people insane with just her words. Who is she? And do you know what she told those girls?”

“You already know her,” she replied. “She knew all their secrets—how they were selling drugs, and that they had sex tapes… all kinds of shit. She threatened them with that.”

I stared at Kresta, still smiling.

These girls were very interesting.

I still didn’t know who the other girl was,

But I had no doubt—

I’d find out soon enough.

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