Chapter 9

I made my way through the school halls, my singular intention to evade the enigmatic man from my dreams. Arriving at a corner, I sought solace against the wall outside the school cafeteria. The pungent scent of square pizzas, crinkle-cut fries, and souring milk assaulted my senses, provoking a visceral reaction as I fought to regain composure. With trembling hands braced on my knees, I endeavored to calm my racing heart, acutely aware of the imminent peril. The specter of severe consequences loomed, a palpable threat hanging over me in the form of an iron fist.
As I briefly shut my eyes, the realization that the man from my dreams was a flesh-and-blood reality gradually seeped in. The rush of adrenaline ebbed, replaced by a gnawing panic. He was no longer a figment of my slumbering mind but a tangible presence - flesh, blood, and sinew. Despite his exquisite appearance, I felt an urgent need to flee, unwilling to confront him in my current state of vulnerability.
After the altercation with Andrew, the sterile confines of the school corridors seemed to constrict around me, suffocating me within their boundaries. Steadying myself, I winced at the searing pain in my shoulder, biting my lip to stifle a grimace. Every inch of my body throbbed with agony, every cut and scratch a fiery reminder of the chaos.