The Ranking System: Serpenti High, page 4
Keeping it was painful, but throwing it away was worse. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t let go of Adam. Consciously or unconsciously, my mind would drift back to him. When the sun began to rise, a piercing bell filled the hallways.
“It’s time to wake up!” hollered a guard, banging on every metal door as he marched down the hallway.
Vadim sat up, stretched his arms, and yawned. He rubbed his tired eyes before turning towards me. He studied my posture and asked, “Didn’t sleep?”
I was sitting on my bed, my back propped up against the wall with my hand still around my necklace.
“No, not really,” I admitted hoarsely.
“Worried about the Ranking System?”
When I didn’t answer, a slow smile grew across his face, but there was nothing happy about it. “It’s okay to be scared, but once you step out of this room, you better put on an iron mask.”
"Why?"
"Students here can smell fear from a mile away.”
Chapter 8: Heroes Don’t Exist
I went to the communal bathroom and was surprised by my new environment. There were boys with shaved heads, crazy tattoos, rolled-up sleeves, and questionable injuries. Huddled near a window was a group of guys listening to music on a small MP3 player which they probably weren't allowed to have. One of them had a long scar across his face and another had face tats. The guy holding the MP3 had split knuckles marred in red. Fresh injuries.
As soon as I stepped in, all attention was on me. I avoided eye contact and went to an empty sink to brush my teeth. I had a week of immunity, but I needed to stay hyper-vigilant. These kids looked deadly; wild animals waiting to pounce on their prey. I could feel their mouths drooling as they stared at me with hungry eyes. In a crowd like this, it wouldn't surprise me if someone greeted me with a stab in the back. Literally.
I could see them staring at me through the corner of my eye. They whispered loud enough for me to hear, but not loud enough for me to listen. There had to be at least fifteen boys in here, and it felt like I was at the center of their attention. And not in a good way. I left the bathroom as quickly as I could, making a mental note to make as few visits to the bathroom as possible.
Vadim warned me that if I wanted to hang out with him, I needed a dog tag around my neck by the time my immunity shield was down. Being with a Ranking was a sign of weakness, and he didn't want to be associated with anything that endangered his safety. It was hurtful to hear, but understandable.
As we walked down the hallways, I noticed everyone around me was wearing a dog tag. Vadim told me that Nobodies usually hid from the crowd and kept a low profile, which was probably why I couldn’t see any of them here.
“Is being rankless that bad?" I asked.
“Worse than bad. You're better off being dead. At least then, people would leave you alone."
I thought about how I could get a dog tag, but the idea of stealing one didn’t sit well with me.
Vadim hummed a strange melody, his shoulders slightly hunched as he walked. My eyes fell to his necklace. What happened to the previous owner? What did Vadim do to get his hands on such a high ranking?
As soon as we entered the cafeteria, the first thing we heard was a loud clatter. A boy—who looked more like a man—pushed another student to the floor. His tray went crashing down with him, splattering food across the floor.
“What’s going on?” I whispered to Vadim.
"That's what happens when you're a Nobody. Watch."
The tall guy with rolled-up sleeves kicked the boy in the stomach, sending him flying across the cafeteria floor until he hit the wall with a loud crack. Nobody seemed surprised or alarmed. Some of them even cheered.
The lack of remorse sickened me. I tried to look away, but it was impossible to ignore the sound of wincing followed by cracking bones. The guy was stronger, built like a tank. The other was as small as a fry. What shocked me was the twisted grin on the bigger guy’s face. His bruised knuckles were covered in fresh blood, and his eyes looked cold and empty. These weren't students. They were monsters.
My eyes darted towards the guards who stood there, their hands folded behind their backs, standing like statues. Why weren’t they doing anything? I realized then that our safety was the least of their concern. My eyes returned to the fight, if that’s what you could call it. A fight implied two people confronting each other, but this was just a weaker boy getting beaten up by a bully. Something about the smaller boy reminded me of Adam.
“Shouldn’t we help?” I whispered to Vadim who picked up a tray.
“Hm?” He rubbed an apple against his shirt and examined it with one eye closed. “The boy is a goner."
My jaw dropped. Nothing in this school was right.
Blood sprayed across the pristine white floor, and voices blurred as the students continued to cheer.
"Nylon, Nylon, Nylon!" They chanted his name, pumping their fists in the air as they banged the tables like madmen. I gulped, looking at my chaotic surroundings. There were no laws or rules, no authority or safety; everything was balanced on self-interest and inequality. Then again, if you lived in a lawless society like the Ranking System, you made your own rules.
I stepped forward but Vadim caught my arm with narrowed eyes.
“What are you doing?"
“I have to help him."
“You don't have to do anything. Keep your head low, no need to draw attention."
“Someone needs to save him,” I pressed. Vadim cackled darkly, looking at me with his ghoulish eyes.
“Heroes don’t exist here."
I gulped.
“It's every man for himself. Get used to it.”
“I can’t just stand here and do nothing.”
Vadim stared into my eyes, then sighed.
“If you go, no one will help you.”
I smirked coldly. “Story of my life."
Right as I was about to intervene, someone else beat me to it. His back was turned to me, so I couldn’t see his face, but his entire body radiated power, starting from his broad shoulders to his muscular thighs. Not only was he strong, but he was quick. He removed Nylon from the bloodied boy. Nylon smirked and came at him, throwing a right punch. His fist extended way over, and his new opponent delivered an uppercut that hit his jaw.
The crowd made a face at the sound of cracking bones. Nylon staggered back, but before he could catch himself, the other boy hit him twice more, knocking him to the floor. I stared in astonishment. Whoever he was, he knew how to fight.
Nylon got up, letting out a frustrated growl as he charged at the boy. The boy ducked, threw a left hook, and Nylon went crashing into some of the bystanders. This wasn’t even a challenge for him. His fist made contact with Nylon’s bloodied face and he beat him up mercilessly, each strike stronger and deadlier.
It wasn’t until one of the guards blew a whistle that he stopped. The boy ran his hand through the chestnut locks that fell over his dark brows, his knuckles covered in blood. One of the guards grabbed the boy and shoved him roughly against the wall. I caught a glimpse of his side profile and my heart stopped.
The boy was stunningly gorgeous. His lips were curled into an arrogant grin, not a single trace of remorse on his face. The sides of his hair were shaved shorter than the middle. He kept his hands behind his back, standing in a military stance. His height towered over the guard who was shouting in his face. It was obvious that if the guard hadn’t been equipped with a Taser and baton, he wouldn’t have been so confident confronting the student. The boy looked entirely unfazed. His sharp jawline tightened, then released, but his eyes looked bored.
His eyes.
That’s when a jolt of shock snapped through me. His eyes were as blue as the ocean and as clear as the sky. My stomach curled as my chest tightened. Almost everything about him was unrecognizable: his height, his strength, his power... Everything but his eyes.
The notorious beast with bruised knuckles and bloodied hands was no other than Adam.
Chapter 9: Adam Hale
I burst into the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. It couldn’t be Adam. There was no way that that beast was the same crying boy from the orphanage. But his eyes were undeniably the same. I sucked in a shaky breath as I dragged a hand down my wet face.
What was he doing here? How did he end up in Serpenti High? Out of all the shitty schools I had to end up in, why did it have to be the same one as him?!
I bit my lower lip, trying to suppress the pain in my chest. After so long, why did he have to show up in my life again?
Adam had grown taller. Much taller. He had to be at least six feet tall. And where did all that muscle come from? Was he really the same scrawny kid who used to cry in my arms whenever it was dark? The same boy who used to tremble whenever there was a storm? But his bright blue eyes were unmistakable. Only Adam had those eyes.
“Fuck,” I muttered to myself, splashing my face again to numb the pain. I leaned over the sink; hands balanced on both edges. My head hunched in between my shoulders and my shoulders sagged. Every breath hurt. It was as if I was the one who took the blow. My body stiffened when I heard footsteps outside the bathroom.
Just my luck.
I was about to leave until I realized it was Adam. My eyes widened and I quickly lowered my face parallel to the sink. My heart pounded furiously as he turned on the faucet beside mine, washing the blood from his hands. The boy I hadn’t seen for six years was now standing less than a meter away from me.
Please don’t talk to me, please don’t talk to me, please don’t talk to me…
“Are you a Rankless?”
Shit, he’s talking to me.
I shook my head, scared that he might recognize my voice. I didn’t have the same squeaky voice as I did when I was eight, but I judged best to be cautious around him.
“Then what are you?”
The boy whose hand you used to hold whenever you were scared.
"I'm new here," I answered curtly.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"You want to know my name?"
A pause.
"I didn't know it was a secret,” he murmured softly. When he stepped closer, I immediately retreated. He must have sensed that I was about to run away because he caught my arm before I could sprint for the door. My entire body froze when our gazes locked, and his face mimicked the same look of surprise when he looked at me. His beautiful blue eyes gazed at me in surprise. He stared at me for what felt like infinity.
"Your name,” he repeated, his voice a little more rushed. His grip tightened, but only slightly, as if he was aware of his strength and didn’t want to hurt me. I opened my mouth and then clamped it shut.
"Axis," I replied, sounding breathless.
He scanned my face once more. “Liar.”
He spoke with such confidence that I was secretly relieved that he could recognize traces of me even after so many years. His blue eyes studied me with such intensity, I felt exposed and vulnerable. There were so many things I wanted to ask, so many things I wanted to say and scream at him, but I didn’t. The Eric he once knew was gone and dead. It was too late to look for him now.
"Are you going to keep staring at me or are you going to let me go?" I asked coldly.
His crystal-blue eyes hardened. They seemed too beautiful to be true. I couldn't help but stare at him. I hated how handsome he was, how tall and strong he’d gotten, and how all these changes reminded me how long we’d been apart. It hurt to remember. So much had changed, so why did my heart still beat the same whenever he looked at me?
"Don't you remember me?" His voice was hoarse. "We used to sleep together."
I felt blood rush to every visible part of my face. I knew what he meant. Adam used to sneak into my bed whenever he was scared or had nightmares, especially when there was a storm. But out of context, anyone could get the wrong idea. There was nothing to be embarrassed about. If anything, he should be the one blushing, so why was I turning red? I averted my gaze, afraid that if I looked him in the eyes any longer, he’d discover who I was.
“Look, I don’t know what fun adventures you had with another guy, but I’m not him,” I blustered. “Now let go.”
He didn’t. He wouldn’t even move. If it were anyone else, I’d knock them out for even touching me. But Adam? I couldn’t raise my fist no matter how betrayed I felt. He had always been my weakness.
His hand slid down my arm, sending goosebumps down my spine. His hands were bigger than I remembered, and something was telling me that other parts of him had grown too. More heat flooded to my cheeks and a strange curling sensation hit my lower stomach. Adam studied my fingers with furrowed brows, his rough hands brushing over mine. Little did he know, the ring he was looking for was tucked behind my shirt. As I grew older, the ring no longer fit me, so I wore it as a necklace. The look of disappointment in his eyes was clear as day.
"You have the same lips as him," he repeated to himself, perplexed. When he mentioned my lips, I realized how close we were standing. He was still holding my hand too. I swallowed hard as he drew nearer. For an instant, I thought he was going to kiss me.
Then someone called my name.
"Axis!" As soon as Vadim said my name, the look in Adam’s eyes changed. Vadim froze as soon as he saw us, his eyes darting from me to Adam in confusion. I turned back towards Adam who had an unreadable expression on his face.
"I told you my name was Axis,” I sassed, putting on a smirk to throw him off a little more. I tried to play it cool, but my knees felt weak.
Adam’s jaw tightened. He slipped his hands into his pockets and lowered his lips to my ears. It was as if his domineering aura had my senses hyperaware. Everything felt ten times more intense than it should, and his hot breath made my mind go fuzzy.
"Welcome to Serpenti High, Axis.”
The sudden cold tone of his voice rang through my ears and my shoulders tensed when he said my name. He brushed past me, and Vadim quickly sidestepped. Once he was gone, I turned towards Vadim.
“That guy…” My voice was weak. “What’s his name?”
"Adam,” he responded. “Adam Hale."
I felt a punch in the gut.
“I thought you said heroes didn’t exist in this place. Why the hell did Adam save the guy from Nylon?"
"I wouldn't call him a hero. Sometimes he helps the Rankless, sometimes he doesn’t. It really depends on his mood."
Adam Hale is a gorgeous, moody teen. Noted.
“What’s his ranking?” I asked weakly.
“One.”
My jaw hit the floor. “He’s the strongest?!”
Vadim nodded.
“Best you don’t pick a fight with him. He's a good fighter and will break your teeth and bones and everything straight in your body."
I broke into a nervous fit of laughter, hoping that there wasn't a double meaning. That deadly, gorgeous beast was Adam? My Adam?
"Do you two know each other? He looked like he wanted to eat you, like when wolf sees sheep, or in my country, when woman sees bear."
“I've never seen him in my life,” I said a bit too quickly. Vadim raised his brows, opened his mouth to say something, but changed his mind.
“The cafeteria is going to close soon. We should hurry.”
I nodded and followed him, keeping my eyes on the floor as I tried to steady my breath.
Don’t overthink things. There's no way Adam is going to find out who you are. You have no past, you’ve changed your name, and you look completely different. There’s no way he’ll know.
The only thing I had left of our past was the ring around my neck, but that was safely hidden behind my shirt. I wasn’t going to let him crawl back into my life, not after what he did.
When we arrived at the cafeteria, I quickly scanned the room.
"Looking for your boyfriend?" Vadim asked, grabbing a muffin from someone else's tray.
"He’s not my boyfriend,” I grumbled.
“Well, he’s not in the cafeteria. His majesty is probably getting a royal." He finished his sentence with the universal gesture of a hand job, making me scowl.
"I didn’t know you knew sign language,” I muttered.
He barked into laughter. "I am bilingual, what can I say?" He winked and I rolled my eyes. The smile on his face faltered and he lowered his voice. "You sure you're okay?"
I was about to answer but realized it was a rhetorical question. The look in his eyes told me that if something bothered me, I needed to shut up and suck it up. I remembered his advice from earlier and put on an iron mask.
“Never been better. So, what’s for breakfast?”
Chapter 10: New Play Toy
“So, you’re the new guy?”
I looked up and saw a pretty girl with a high ponytail sitting on my desk. Her hair was as red as her lips, and her earthy eyes looked at me with curiosity. Her sleeves were rolled up, revealing the tattoos on her arm. She chewed her bubble gum, blew a bubble, and used her tongue to slip it back into her mouth. How her lipstick remained perfectly intact was a mystery to me.
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
She barked into laughter, rubbing the tip of her nose.
“You really are new here. You shouldn’t go around saying that kind of stuff unless you want to get killed.”
"I'll keep that in mind."
“I’m Ruby, by the way,” she said, extending her hand.
I shook it, surprised by her grip. “Axis.”
“What got you in this dump?”
I shrugged. “I broke a law or two.”
“No dark backstory to tell?” she mused, blowing another bubble. I remembered Vadim’s words and put on an iron mask.
"I'm afraid not.”
She studied my face, shrugged, then smiled.
"If you get a decent ranking, we might be good friends.”
My heart dropped when she mentioned the Ranking System. I was so busy thinking about Adam that I had completely forgotten about the messed up social system that would define whether I’d be an outcast or not. Ruby must have read the worried expression on my face.
