Adam broke the silence. His voice was quiet but carried a weight that cut through the tension. "I know this situation isn't good."
Everyone's attention snapped to him. They were listening now. Not just as students listening to a leader, but as four boys trapped in a place that wanted to kill them, listening to the only person who had a plan.
"I want to tell you all something," Adam continued, his gaze moving from Kado to Void, then to Robin, and finally to Ryan. He held each of their gazes for a moment, forcing a connection. "I created this group because I saw the potential in every single one of you. I meant that. I also know what is happening to the other students, the ones who get absorbed into the other factions."
A flicker of understanding passed through their eyes. They had all seen it. The fear, the subservience, the way the upperclassmen treated the new arrivals like property.
