TENTH TOWER, TOP SPACE*
The sound of harsh breathings and grunts saturated with the hot afternoon air as Tamlin did squats shirtlessly.
Sweat was running from his face down his chest as he did, and he was doing it with so much ease that he started praising himself inwardly.
Ruslan is sitting at the edge of the place, one leg up and one leg down without caring if he falls to his death or not.
He's Tamlin's best friend, and he's staring out at the vast school without a word when Imogen came in
Imogen is Tamlin's junior sister, a petite girl who looks cruel.
They're the 3 richest students of this tower.
"Your class is over?" Ruslan asked.
"Yeah, and i regret going. Dr. Sage's class is always bitter. Could have slept with my time" imogen replied, throwing her bag on the table.
Ruslan chuckled, leaving the edge.
"Are you gonna spend all day doing stupid squats like a teenage girl?" Imogen faced Tamlin with an irritable look.
"You might wanna keep shut, or I'll do you the favor of sewing your damn mouth shut" Tamlin replied, standing straight.
Imogen scoffed and was about to throw him another verse when a student rushed in.
"Who said you could come up here!" Tamlin picked a stone from the ground, ready to stone him to death.
"Chill, Tammy" Ruslan held him back.
"Now why are you here? And have it in mind that if it's not important, I'll throw you down this place myself" Imogen told the breathless boy.
"He's back... Prof. Slade" the boy replied.
"Which Slade?" Tamlin frowned.
"The same Slade! Slade Luther! The monster of this university! He's back from coma" The boy replied.
Imogen was the first to rush down the place, then Ruslan followed, then the reporter boy.
Tamlin turned around, his taut back still glossing with sweat as he dipped his hand into the pocket of his black jean, bringing out a silver ring.
His lips curled up as he stared at it with dark intentions.
"Who let that wild animal out of the psychiatric home?" He muttered.
*
COUNCIL OFFICE*
A meeting is ongoing with the sponsors of the school when Slade found the office and pushed the door with his forehead.
His head got a cut, but at least the door opened, and he stepped in like a giant, the burn mark on his back almost invisible among his numerous inky tattoos.
All the sponsors inside the room stood to their feet with wide terrified eyes immediately they beheld him.
"Slade?"
"Slade"
"What the fûck! Slade!"
His name came out of their mouths in different forms.
"Slade" the eldest of them called calmly.
He's Lord Vann Wesley, Tamlin's father. A grey-haired man in his fifties.
Lord Vann is like the owner of this university since he donates the highest money monthly.
He's the biggest sponsor.
"My ring" Slade muttered, his whiskey eyes spinning again as plunging veins covered his neck.
This time, his weakness is more fatal than earlier, and he could barely move from his spot as he spoke with a drowning voice...
"My ring is not here, I can't feel it. Where is my ring? Who the hell took it!!!" He yelled, his head pounding with a salacious rhythm.
They all just kept looking at him like he's a ghost or something, and when he got no answers, he staggered out of the room.
Lord Vann made to follow him, but he was held back.
"He might not be with his ring, but a monster is a monster. He's still dangerous let's just find a way to return him to the psychiatric home before he kills everyone"
Together, all the sponsors left the room, trailing after him.
*
Rihannon finished showing the girls around the castle already, and right now they're on their way to get their room keys since they'd be sharing a room.
The scream from earlier came again, and they had to stop again.
"Are you sure you don't have to check?" Twilight asked, and Rihannon was about to move when a number of students raced past them.
"Slade is back!" They overheard one of the students saying, and Rihannon gasped.
Quickly, she faced the two.
"Run!" She told them, taking to her heels without waiting for them.
Tanya ran after her immediately, but Twilight stayed.
All her life, she has never ran. All she did was lay in her bed in her small room at the cottage or do lazy walks to the library to rent books.
_Run, Twilight_ the voice in the air told her in a tone of urgency, but she wouldn't.
Why should she run?
Her question met answers when Slade appeared from the admin building, his foot dragging as he came down the stairs, his eyes bloodshot and his skin blazing.
His toe hit a stone, and he staggered, almost falling.
Twilight ran forward, catching him, but that was her mistake, cos immediately their bodies touched, he grabbed her by neck, turning her back to himself.
"Ah!" She gasped when his hand went to her zip behind.
He destroyed it by pulling it apart roughly, and Twilight froze when his hand went under her bra.
She has no idea how he did it, but he removed the metal under her bra and brought the sharp edge to her neck.
She held her breath, her hair pouring to her face as the devil held her in place.
"Next time, silly little girl, don't help a falling stranger" he whispered gutturally in her ear, his cold fingertips burning her skin and spreading chills as he pressed the metal into her neck.
Crowd of students rushed out of the towers and lecture halls.
Imogen and Ruslan rushed into the scene too, then Tanya and Rihannon.
The sponsors joined the crowd, led by Lord Vann who looks shaken when he saw helpless Twilight in Slade's trap.
"Slade stop!" He yelled.
No one can go closer cos they know what he can do even without his silver ring.
If Slade Luther says he's gonna murder her, then he'd do it especially if you try to stop him.
"Bring me my ring in 3 minutes, or I'll pull out her oesophagus" Slade muttered with a tone that held too much rancour, his hold on her neck tightening.
The pin is starting to enter her neck, and a little trail of blood gushed out.
Twilight struggled, but the metal only penetrated deeper.
"One" Slade started the count.
Everyone stayed still, holding their breaths too.
"Two" he counted further, pressing the metal harder into her neck.
"Mmm! stop please!!" Twilight writhe hurtfully as she felt the sting, the tension in the crowd growing thicker.
"Calm down and let's talk. Leave her out of this, Slade!" Lord Vann yelled.
"Too late
... Three" Slade growled and raised the metal up, bringing it down to her neck.
All mouths hung open, and Twilight let out a tiny scream...
"Papa!!!