The devil gamble

Chapter 4

The sound of shuffling footsteps in the hallway feels quiet and tense. A woman looked so dishevelled in a deplorable condition that her clothes were torn apart like a beggar who the people in the neighbourhood had just tortured.

Quinza, she was the one. The woman who had endured bullying, relentless torture from the students on her campus, and most recently, Aurelie had tortured her; the woman referred to as Gavriel's lover. Aurelie cruelly inflicted violence on Quinza so that she could not protect herself due to the grip of Aurelie's friends.

Now, all of Quinza's little energy is left to survive. Her eyesight began to blur, but she tried to stay awake. However, with power, Quinza could no longer survive or walk normally. The pain she felt weakened her body even more. 'Oh God, help me to walk all the way there.' It was the only prayer she kept saying in her heart."

"Shh..." Quinza's cries came out, unable to walk; her legs felt like there was concrete blocking her walking. She was supporting her body to stay standing. However, even her strength could not be balanced; Quinza's body just collapsed, and her vision started to darken. Her body fell on the cold floor.

Quinza's little friend named Maverick arrived at just the right moment. He saw the body of his best friend, Quinza, lying on the floor of the campus corridor in an unconscious state. The students who were in the campus corridor just looked down, not caring about Quinza's unconscious body, and thought the woman was faking it to get sympathy from other students who were there.

"Damn," Maverick's harsh words came out; one by one, the students in this corridor stared angrily. They seemed to have no heart and conscience to help Quinza.

"What are you guys showing, huh? Do you think Quinza is just pretending?" Maverick raised his voice. His anger could no longer be controlled until it was heard throughout the corridor. He wanted to beat up the students who were there. Fortunately, it immediately prevented Maverick from staying calm.

"We better get Quinza out of here, Maverick." One of Maverick's friends advised him to take Quinza out of the campus quickly. Looking at Quinza's helpless body.

"You're safe today. And not tomorrow." Maverick carried Quinza's unconscious body. Walking through the crowd of students who were bullying and torturing her.

The crowd roared with laughter and blasphemy. Even when Quinza's body was helpless, they cheered her on, insulting her with inappropriate words.

"You w***e, demon woman like you should live in hell," chanted another student, hurling insults at the poor woman who was already unconscious in Maverick's arms.

***

Meanwhile, at Gavriel's Headquarters.

Gavriel sat on a wooden chair near the window. His eyes were fixed downward, gazing at the crowd of college students from the tenth floor of his headquarters. A sly smile spread across his handsome face as he watched Quinza being bullied by her peers.

"How utterly fascinating," Gavriel said with satisfaction. "A woman mocked, ridiculed, and humiliated by her fellow students."

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette pack. He extracted a stick, placed it between his lips, and flicked his lighter to life, igniting the cigarette.

Puff after puff, Gavriel savoured the moment as if he were enjoying a free drama unfolding below. The smoke curling from his lips witnessed how much he relished Quinza's suffering.

---

Elsewhere.

Insults and taunts flew relentlessly. Quinza walked away from the crowd, but their jeering didn't stop. Instead, it became harsher, more brutal. They hurled unfiltered words at her, crude and venomous, their voices growing louder.

Maverick stayed close by, trying to bolster Quinza's spirits and urging her to endure the verbal assault. He even attempted to comfort her as she appeared like a wilted rose.

"If it's too much, Quinza, cover your ears and block them out," Maverick said softly.

"They're so cruel, Mave. What did I do to deserve this? Am I really that despicable in their eyes?" Quinza's voice trembled, her pain evident.

"They don't know the truth about you, Quin," Maverick replied, his tone steady but sharp. "They only see a twisted version of reality—a single photo and a few words from someone who wanted to see you destroyed."

"But why me, Mave? I'm the victim here—the one who suffered because of Gavriel's vile schemes!"

"I know, Quin. I know who you are. You'd never willingly give away what you treasure most to a man who isn't your husband," he said, his words heavy, lingering in the silence.

For a moment, Quinza froze. Her thoughts drifted back to that night, replaying the memory. Gavriel's eyes had burned with something she had never seen before—rage, jealousy, and possessiveness. And then it happened. He had taken what she had protected her whole life.

Maverick noticed her distant expression and the shallow breaths she drew as she leaned into him. Gently, he brought her back to the present.

"Stop thinking about it, Quin," he said, his voice steady.

"So much has happened, Mave—things I couldn't stop or control."

"Life doesn't always let us prepare, Quin," he said as they approached his car. "But you have to handle it wisely."

He opened the passenger door, guiding Quinza into the seat before walking to the driver's side.

"Wisely?" she murmured, her voice quiet but thoughtful.

"Yes. The decisions you make now will define your future. Your heart might ache now, but the choices you make today will shape the life you live tomorrow."

"I understand, Mave. Thank you for always being here for me."

***

A glimmer of hope flickered within Quinza after hearing Maverick's words. She realized she had to face her struggles with an open heart, to let go of the pain, and to focus on the life she wanted to build. Yet, the hurt lingered. The cruel words, relentless bullying, and undeserved blame were hard to forget. But Quinza began to see this as a trap meant to strengthen her for the future.

"I've been thinking, Mave. Can you help me?"

"Help you?" Maverick raised an eyebrow, his confusion evident.

Seeing his puzzled expression, Quinza sighed and explained her plans. She outlined the steps she wanted to take to secure her future away from the chaos surrounding her.

"So, you're saying you want to leave?" Maverick asked cautiously.

"I've made up my mind, Mave. The pain and disappointment—it's unbearable. Staying here only makes me an easy target for their ridicule and hatred. I'm not strong enough to endure it," Quinza said, her voice cracking as tears rose again. They hovered on the edge of her lashes, ready to fall.

"Are you sure about this? Take some time to think it through, Quin," Maverick said gently.