Chapter 6
1283 Words
Corner’s POV
Practice ran longer than usual.
The ice was brutal tonight. Fast. Aggressive. Exactly how I liked it.
By the time training ended, sweat clung to my hair, sliding down the side of my face. My muscles burned in that satisfying way that reminded me I was alive. I pushed off the rink, stick in hand, chest rising and falling heavily.
But something felt… wrong.
It started as a prickle at the back of my neck.
A gaze. Not admiration. Just watching.
I glanced toward the stands.
Empty.
Still, the feeling didn't fade.
For the past few days, it had been the same. Footsteps slowing when I slowed. Shadows that didn't match movements. The sense that someone was keeping track of me.
I tightened my grip on my hockey stick.
Maybe I was imagining it.
I walked toward the locker room, the echo of my skates fading behind me. The hallway felt colder than usual.
When I pushed the locker room door open, the silence inside was suffocating.
No teammates.
No noise.
Just me.
A chill crawled up my spine.
I moved quickly but carefully, opening my locker, changing with one eye on the mirror, one ear tuned to every sound.
My heart beat harder than it should have.
Get a grip, Corner.
A hand tapped my shoulder and I flinched.
Actually flinched.
I spun around, ready to swing.....
Becky.
"Hey, baby," she said sweetly. "Didn't mean to scare you."
I exhaled slowly, the tension not fully leaving my body.
"What do you want?" I asked, closing the locker behind me.
She pouted. "It's been so long since we hung out. Have you been ignoring me?"
Her eyes sharpened slightly. "Is it because of that thing… Snow?"
I smirked. "Your not in the position to be jealous”
"But I thought we had something." she pressed, tugging at my sleeves.
I removed her hand and scoffed.
“What we had, was fun, nothing more”
"I have class," I said flatly, stepping past her.
I walked to the hall, while she tailed behind making me more annoyed.
She grabbed my arm again. "Can't you spare me a minute? I love you, Corner. Stop ignoring me. We're meant to be."
Her voice softened, manipulative. "Is it about Anika? She's gone."
Before I could respond, Becky reached up, touching my face, trying to pull me closer...
"Stop," I snapped.
I hated being touched without my consent, especially by someone who irritated me.
Becky is just someone insignificant, trying to warm my bed at every chance she gets.
I turned around ready to walk away but I bumped into Snow.
She lost her balance, her body tipping backward.
Without thinking, I reached out and caught her mid-air.
For a second, we just stared at each other.
A small smirk tugged at my lips.
“Be careful.”
She looked genuinely shocked for a moment, but her expression quickly returned to its usual calmness.
Then, almost like a reflex, she pushed me away.
“Thank you.”
And just like that, she walked away.
Flawless as always. Uniform crisp. Hair perfectly in place.
Up close, she looks really beautiful and those eyes, I could stare at them all day. They looked like I had seen them before.
I caught a glimpse of her hands.
There were faint bruises along her knuckles. Small scratches lined her fingers. She hadn't bothered to hide them.
She carried them like badges.
Like warnings.
What had she done yesterday?
Who had she hit hard enough to leave marks like that?
And why did it look like she was daring anyone to ask?
Becky was fuming with anger, she had finally decided to leave me alone.
Nothing like peace and quiet.
I was trying to focus on the board, on the teacher's voice, on anything that wasn't her.
It was useless.
Her scent.
Her bruised knuckles.
The way she didn't even look threatened in the hallway.
I smirked.
She's really interesting.
Corner!!
A hand tapping my desk made me snap out of it.
“Focus please”
“Yes, Miss Ruth” I dragged the sentence lazily and winked at her.
_________
The lunch bell rang.
I stepped into the hallway and my phone vibrated.
I checked the caller ID.
"What do you want?" I asked coldly.
A soft laugh came through the line. "Is that how you greet your mother?"
I scoffed.
"I've missed you, Corner honey," she continued lightly. "Be expecting me soon."
Anger surged so fast it made my vision blur.
I walked toward a quieter hallway. "Don't you have any shame?" I hissed. "You disappeared for years, and now you call as if nothing happened?"
"I know I made mistakes," she said, her voice dipping into something almost pitiful. "But I'm ready to come back now."
"No." My jaw tightened. "Don't come here. You left when Dad and I needed you the most. When I needed you the most."
Silence.
Then softer—too soft.
"I left so you could be safe."
I froze.
Safe?
Before I could press further
A sound.
Behind me.
A shuffle.
I turned sharply.
Nothing.
The hallway was empty.
A cold unease slid down my spine.
I ended the call without caring in the slightest how she would feel.
"Hello?" I called out. "Who's there?"
No answer.
I realised I had wandered near the music room.
The door was slightly open.
I stepped inside slowly.
"Anyone here?"
Silence.
Then—
Movement.
Pain exploded at the side of my head.
Something hard had struck me. My vision blurred instantly, ears ringing. I staggered but didn't fall.
Not yet.
I swung blindly, grabbing onto a shirt—fabric rough under my fingers. I threw a punch toward the shadow in front of me. It connected with something solid.
The attacker grunted.
He was strong.
Stronger than I expected.
Another hit.
I stumbled back, my balance slipping. The room spun violently.
I hit the ground hard.
Boots stepped closer.
A weight pressed against me, forcing the air from my lungs. I curled slightly, protecting my head, trying to push back, but my strength was draining fast.
My vision faded in and out.
And in that dizzy haze—
One thought hit me clear as glass.
Someone wanted me gone.
The last thing I heard before everything blurred was footsteps walking towards me.
Then darkness crept in.
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