Rick's face was straight and stern, the kind that didn't flinch even under pressure, and as Joe turned around, he saw Rick wasn't alone. Two other boys stood by his side, both with their arms folded and eyes sharp, the kind of backup that never missed a thing.
But what really startled Joe, what made his chest clench and his nerves spark, was the sight of fresh blood staining the front of Rick's shirt. The crimson spots looked almost wet, as if Rick had just "solved a problem" only moments before stepping into this very hallway. Whatever business he'd handled, it hadn't been clean.
From the corner of his eye, Joe caught sight of his own fallen schoolmates behind him. Their slumped forms didn't exactly make for the best first impression, especially not with someone like Rick watching. Joe's stomach twisted. If this was a test, he was failing.
