Elise's footsteps echoed down the quiet corridor, her bag clutched tightly against her chest. She had just left class, hoping for a peaceful walk back to her dorm, but the sudden presence of familiar shadows made her stop dead in her tracks.
Ellie's gang emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malice. Nikki's smirk stretched wide as she whispered, "Thought you could get away, huh?"
Elise's heart pounded, but she refused to back down. "I'm not afraid of you," she said firmly, planting her feet.
The first girl lunged, aiming a harsh strike, and Elise dodged quickly, swinging her backpack like a weapon. The fight erupted—blows and kicks, shouts and grunts—chaos filling the narrow corridor. Elise fought with everything she had, striking, ducking, and twisting out of their reach, but the numbers were against her. A sharp hit grazed her side, warm pain spreading quickly, and a small trickle of blood stained her shirt.
"Ugh!" she hissed, wiping at it with a trembling hand, teeth gritted against the sting.
As one of the girls panicked and tried to run, a cold, chilling presence snapped into the scene.
Davon.
He appeared like a shadow itself, moving faster than any eye could follow. His crimson eyes locked onto the scent of blood that lingered in the air—Elise's blood. Instantly, every girl in the corridor froze, their courage evaporating under the weight of his gaze.
"Run," he said softly, his voice low and dangerous, carrying an edge that made even Nikki's bravado falter.
The girls scrambled, stumbling over one another, fear overtaking their aggression. They didn't need to look back—their instincts screamed at them to flee.
Davon's gaze softened only for Elise, who was trembling and bleeding slightly from her side. He knelt beside her, his fingers brushing her wound as if the heat of his touch could erase the pain.
"It's okay… you're safe now," he murmured, his eyes scanning her face. For a brief moment, the danger faded, leaving only the two of them in a charged silence.
Elise's chest heaved as adrenaline ebbed, and she whispered, "I… I can handle myself…"
Davon's lips twitched into a faint smile, though his eyes glimmered with both worry and pride. "Yes… but I won't let anyone hurt you. Not again."
And in that quiet moment, as the corridor emptied of their attackers, Elise realized just how close danger always seemed to be—and how close Davon always was to keeping her safe.