The courtyard had turned into a battlefield of pure chaos.
Dozens of girls, covered in blood and sweat, tightened their grips on weapons and slowly began circling Riley like hungry wolves. Knives glinted, bats were raised, and eyes burned with ambition. Riley stood in the center, heart pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. She glanced up at the platform.
Armani was smirking down at her, cigarette dangling from his lips, clearly enjoying the show.
Riley’s mind raced. What do I do? Run? Fight? Hide? There was nowhere to go. The exits were blocked by the crowd, and every girl here now saw her as the fastest way to climb the ranks — or to become Armani’s so-called “new weakness.”
The first girl broke into a run.
Then another.
Then the whole pack surged forward.
Riley didn’t he
