Axel walked through the school hallways, the familiar scent of freshly waxed floors and the hum of chatter greeting him like an old friend. But amidst the chaos, he noticed the curious glances and hushed whispers directed his way. Everyone seemed to be wondering where he had disappeared to for a month.
As he turned a corner, he spotted Devon, his former bully, standing by his locker. Devon's eyes widened in fear as he caught sight of Axel, and he quickly looked away, avoiding eye contact. Axel couldn't help but notice the change in Devon's demeanor. The guy who used to taunt and tease him mercilessly now looked like he was afraid of his own shadow.
Axel continued on his way, his mind preoccupied with the events of the past week. As he approached his locker, he was intercepted by Riley, his ex-girlfriend. She looked beautiful, as always, but Axel's expression remained neutral.
"Axel, where did you go?" Riley asked, her voice tinged with concern and curiosity. "I've been trying to reach you for days."
But Axel didn't respond. Instead, he ignored her and walked away, heading towards Ethan and Rachel, his spy friends who were standing by their lockers, chatting.
"Hey, guys," Axel said, nodding in greeting. "I'm exhausted."
Ethan and Rachel exchanged a knowing look, and Rachel nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it," she said. "That mission was a nightmare."
"I know, right?" Axel replied, shaking his head. "I'm still trying to process everything that happened. And I'm beat. I need a serious nap."
Ethan chuckled. "You think you're tired? I'm running on fumes over here. We need to get some rest, stat."
The three friends commiserated about their recent mission, sharing stories and jokes about their experiences. Riley watched from a distance, her expression a mix of confusion and concern. She had no idea what had happened to Axel, but it was clear that he was involved in something big.
As the three friends continued to chat, Devon kept a safe distance, watching Axel with a mixture of fear and wariness. He knew he had pushed Axel around in the past, but he had never thought Axel would change so much. There was something different about him now, something that commanded respect.
Axel, Ethan, and Rachel, on the other hand, were too busy complaining about their mission to notice Devon's gaze. They were already planning their next move, discussing strategies and tactics like seasoned pros. It was clear that Axel's disappearance had been more than just a simple absence from school.