Jax pov
Half the school period had passed before Jax even appeared in the hallways. Until now, he hadn't been idle. He, Ji, and Kael had been in the upper floors of Kingston Academy the restricted level only the elites had access to. There, behind heavy doors and polished railings, they observed the currents of the school.
Plans were whispered in low tones, strategies laid out in notebooks, digital tablets, and their sharp, calculating minds. They discussed who held influence, who pretended to be untouchable, and who could be manipulated for amusement or advantage. Every student had a value, and every action had consequences. They plotted quietly, meticulously, testing the hierarchy without stepping into the visible chaos below.
Jax's dark eyes had roamed the hallways from above, noting the flow of students, the subtle shifts in glances, the unspoken fear that trailed behind the titles of The Observer and The Serpent. Ji's silence had been precise, Kael's charm lethal even from a distance. And Jax? He was the enforcer, the one whose presence ensured their words mattered.
But the upper floor couldn't last forever. Eventually, they had to return to the world below. And for Jax, a single thought had consumed him disrespect.
That was when he found the boy. A lower-class student who'd dared to speak ill of him in whispers that hadn't been as private as the boy believed. It didn't matter what the words were exactly they were enough. Enough to demand a lesson.
Now, Jax's broad figure loomed against the lockers. The boy's back pressed hard against cold metal, his eyes wide with panic. The rattle of the lockers under Jax's grip was a warning echoing through the otherwise silent hallway.
"Pathetic" Jax muttered, low and sharp. His ear piercings glinted under the fluorescent lights as he leaned closer. "You think I don't notice when someone talks behind my back?"
The boy stammered, panic breaking through. "I—I didn't mean to—"
Jax tightened his grip, his tone smooth but cruel. "A joke? You think disrespect is funny?"
The hallway was frozen in that instant. Students who had crowded near the windows, peeking around corners, stayed silent. Fear was universal, and Jax thrived in it.
"You've got two options" Jax continued, voice measured, deliberate. "Apologize. Loud enough for everyone here to hear. Or I'll make sure you can't speak again."
Tears welled in the boy's eyes. "I—I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"
Jax smirked, finally releasing his grip. The boy stumbled, clutching his chest, trying to regain composure. Jax adjusted his sleeve casually, like the entire encounter had been trivial.
"Next time" he said coldly, "think before you speak."
The boy disappeared into the crowd, head lowered, trembling.
Jax's gaze swept over the hallway, the silence around him confirming one thing respect or fear had been restored. Another reminder delivered. Another subtle victory in the endless game of Kingston Academy.