Ravyn woke up slowly. He blinked, confusion thickening in his head. He wasn't in his room. The bed was huge and the sheets soft.
The door clicked open and a man stepped in. He was tall, dressed in a grey suit.
"Good... you're up, sir." the man said. "The bathroom is through that door and the water is already heated. We'll have someone deliver your uniform to you shortly, and also breakfast will be ready in a few minutes."
Ravyn stared. "Wha..."
The man gave a small nod and withdrew, leaving Ravyn alone.
Ravyn slowly got out of bed. His clothes from yesterday were gone. He found the bathroom and followed the man's instructions.
When he returned, an entirely new uniform was folded neatly on the bed.He dressed and followed the quiet hallway downstairs.
The dining room was sparsely decorated. And only Luna was seated, picking at a plate of fresh fruit.
"You're up late." she stated, not looking up.
Ravyn took the seat opposite her. "I'm sorry. Where is this place? And who was that guy?"
"Just a staff member." Luna said dismissively. "Eat up."
Ravyn glanced around the huge, empty space. "Is anyone else joining us?"
"No. It's only us."
"Damien already left for school?"
Luna looked up, her eyes flashing briefly. "I don't know."
"Right. The house is too big, I get it." Ravyn muttered, pushing the food around.
"No." Luna answered. "Damien lives in his own house."
Ravyn stopped eating. "Aren't you guys siblings?"
"Yes. Though we live in different houses." she replied quickly.
He looked confused. "But... why?"
Luna sighed, tapping her fork on the plate. "My family owns five properties in the city. Damien and I live in our own. And the rest of the family lives in the other three."
Ravyn took in the sheer size of the room. "Leaving in a house this big by yourself... how does it feel?"
Luna managed a stiff, forced smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Peaceful." She immediately changed the subject. "Let's eat before we're late."
They finished in silence. Soon, a black, heavily tinted sedan pulled up to the front door and they were driven to school.
The moment they stepped out of the car, all eyes turned on them. The combination of Luna's reputation, his fight with Cole and now arriving together.
As they walked across the cracked pavement, Ravyn muttered. "The one thing I hate about this school."
"We all relate..." Luna replied, keeping her gaze forward. "But I'm used to it now."
They reached the school building and the scale of the damage was immediately clear.
Students milled about in shock. Teachers frantically tried to guide them toward unaffected classrooms. Yellow police tape cordoned off the entire right wing, the section that Ravyn had crashed through.
Ravyn's gaze went to the shredded exterior walls. "You think she's okay?"
"It's not my place to worry about her." Luna said.
"You're heartless."
Before Luna could respond, a voice cut in. "You misfits really created a mess, huh?"
Damien was standing nearby, surveying the damage with a look of detached disgust.
Ravyn's anger flared. "So, you're going to annoy us until the rest of the Game?"
"Ravyn!" Luna hissed, grabbing his arm.
Ravyn yanked his arm free. "No, I'm tired of this guy. And I'm not scared of him." His voice was loud, carrying over the student chatter. Heads instantly turned toward the confrontation.
Damien, mastering the situation instantly, adopted a mocking look of innocent persecution. "Whoa, everyone hear that? He wants to beat me up, too! What is it, Ravyn? You got a problem with rich kids now?"
Before Ravyn could retort, Principal Krueger approached, his face drawn with exhaustion and frustration.
"Grantham! My office. Now!"
Ravyn clenched his fists. "But, Sir..."
"I said NOW!"
Ravyn threw a furious glare at Damien, who simply smiled, victorious. Ravyn turned and followed Principal Krueger.
In the office, the principal didn't even sit down.
"You are still in hot water for almost beating that Renner boy to death and now you want to start again? In the middle of what looks like a terrorist attack on the school?"
"But he start..."
Krueger cut in. "Aren't you tired, Ravyn? Of always causing trouble wherever you go? I don't know what you're trying to prove or accomplish but it needs to stop. Your mother already has enough problems as it is. Stop adding to them, be the solution."
Ravyn looked at the man. And dropped his gaze. "It won't happen again, sir."
He left the office.