Beneath his shadow

Chapter Two – The King

Amelia's POV

My bicycle wheels splashed through shallow puddles as I turned into the long, winding road that led to Richfield High. I tried to ignore the cars that roared past me with tinted windows that hid the faces of the students inside.

I chained my bike in the same corner of the lot and walked with my head low, trying to avoid curious glances.

I was on my way to my first class when I heard a sound,a sharp thud, a muffled cry and cruel laughters. I froze, peeking past the column. A crowd had gathered in a loose circle, watching something unfold in the center. My stomach dropped as I caught sight of them.

Three boys stood at the center of the chaos. The tallest one gripped another student by the collar, slamming him hard against the brick wall. The boy, a thin blonde about my age struggled to breathe, his face was red from the pressure. The two others flanked the attacker, laughing and jeering as if it were some kind of show. And the other student, they did nothing. Just watched. Some even smirked, enjoying the spectacle.

My heart thudded painfully in my chest. I knew who they were, even without Clara’s warning.

Zane Kingston and his friends.

He was impossible to miss. Tall, broad-shouldered, dark hair falling over his face,dressed in the same school uniform but making it look like it had been designed for him alone. He held the boy effortlessly, as if the struggling figure weighed nothing.

His friends,who were as intimidating as he was,stood at his side. They were his lieutenants, his shadows, the ones who carried out his will. Together, they were the core of what Clara had hinted at, the Mafia subgroups that made Richfield High less of a school and more of a kingdom and Zane was the king.

The boy whimpered, clutching at Zane’s wrist. “P-please,I didn’t…”

Another brutal slam cut him off. Gasps rippled through the crowd, but no one dared stepped forward. I felt my breath catch in my throat. How could they watch this, what if he kills him. My instinct screamed at me to turn around and pretend I hadn’t seen anything. This wasn’t my fight. I wasn’t stupid enough to interfere. I tried to turn away but my feet wouldn’t move. Something in me twisted painfully as I watched the boy being beaten badly,his voice cracked with desperation, and the laughter around him sliced through me like knives.

I couldn’t leave him there.

Before I realized what I was doing, I was moving. My legs carried me forward, my heart slamming so hard I thought it would burst. The crowd shifted in surprise as I pushed through, and suddenly I was inside the circle. My brain screamed at me to stop but I didn't listen.

“Stop!”

The word came out, louder than I intended. For the first time, the laughter died.

I watch zane’s hand still, his grip loosening just enough for the boy to gulp in a breath. Slowly, Zane turned his head. This was definitely a mistake. Amelia what have u done?.

His eyes landed on me. The weight of his stare nearly knocked the breath from my lungs. Those eyes pinned me in place, stripping me bare. His mouth curved into the faintest smirk, dangerous and amused, like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

No one spoke. Everyone just watched. They were all watching me. The boy I’d come to save sagged against the wall, trembling, but I couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t look at anyone but Zane.

My voice wavered, but I forced the words out. “Leave him alone.”

A ripple of shock passed through the crowd. Even the boy on the floor looked at me like I was insane. Whispers buzzed at the edges of my hearing.

She actually spoke to him?

She’s insane.

Doesn’t she know who that is?

Zane tilted his head slightly, studying me the way a predator studies it's prey. His smirk deepened, and he let go of the boy’s collar. The boy collapses to the ground, gasping and clutching his chest.

Zane didn’t even glance at him. His gaze stayed locked on me, sharp and assessing, then he stepped forward slowly. The others moved aside for him like he was something untouchable.

He stopped inches from me. I lower my head as he stood before me.

“You new?”

I nodded hesistantly.

His gaze swept down my frame again. Not in a flirty way, like a wolf sizing up his prey.

“Cute,” his smirk widened

One of his friends chuckled darkly. “Looks like the scholarship girl’s got a death wish.”

Laughter rippled again at his word.

I swallowed hard, my entire body trembling. I wanted to run but I stood my ground. Not because I was brave. I was far from that, because I couldn’t bear to let him see me break.

For a moment, no one moved. Then, with a slow, deliberate step, Zane closed the distance between us. I froze on the spot. It took me a lot not to step back.

He didn’t touch me. Just leaned close enough for me to feel the dangerous calm radiating off him, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Careful, little dove,” he said softly, so only I could hear him. “You don’t know the cage you just walked into.”

My heart stopped.

“This is gonna be fun.” He grinned.

And then,just like that,he stepped back. He turned, motioning for his friends, and the three of them walked away as if nothing had happened. The crowd scattered quickly, students rushing off with whispers trailing behind them.

I stood frozen, my hands shaking, my pulse deafening in my ears.

“What just happened? Did I just…..”

The boy I’d saved scrambled to his feet, his broken glasses clutched in one hand. “You… you shouldn’t have done that,” he stammered, his eyes wide with fear. “You don’t understand. He’s….he’s not someone you cross.”

I opened my mouth, but no words came because deep down, I knew he was right.

This was probably the worst mistake I have ever made.