The sound of splashing and laughter from other swimmer’s echoes around me, but my own panicked breaths drown out everything else. I can only hear the surrounding water sloshing all around me, competing with my own heartbeat.
“Alex, on your belly. Float and kick your feet…”
My skin prickles with goosebumps, and my muscles contract. My nose wrinkles at the memory of the harsh chemical scent of chlorine burning my nostrils and filling my lungs.
My fingers twitch, itching to press against my temples, as if physically trying to push the memory away, but I force them to stay at my sides.
“Let go of me,” I insist, tugging at my arm. “Let go and I’ll go. Willingly,” I offer, wanting free from Sylvester’s hand.
The boys exchange glances, clearly enjoying my discomfort. Camden steps forward, gesturing dramatically down the path. “After you, guest of honor.”
Sylvester lets go of me, and I give him a sharp look before cautiously stepping forward. But as I take another step, Camden sticks his foot out, forcing me to trip and land in a pool of muddy water.
I hit the ground hard, my hands splashing into the mucky puddle as I try to break my fall. Cold, dirty water soaks through my clothes, and I can feel grit and small pebbles digging into my palms. The boys’ laughter echoes around me, cruel and mocking.
For a moment, I stay there in the mud, my cheeks burning with humiliation. Then, slowly, I push myself to my knees, wiping my hands on my already ruined clothes.
“Oops,” Camden says, his voice dripping with false concern. “Looks like you slipped. Better be more careful.”
Anger surges through me, hot and fierce, momentarily overpowering my fear and discomfort. I clench my fists, mud oozing between my fingers as I struggle to my feet.
“You think this is funny?” I spit out, gesturing at my mud-covered form.
“It’s hilarious,” Sylvester says, barking out another laugh at my expense.
I feel my face flush with rage, my embarrassment turning into a burning desire for retribution. But I know I can’t take them on physically. I need to be smarter than that.
“You know what?” I say, forcing a smile onto my face. “You’re right. Itispretty funny.”
They exchange confused glances, clearly not expecting this reaction from me.
“In fact,” I continue, “I think we should all enjoy a nice mud bath. Don’t you agree?”
Before they can react, I scoop up a handful of mud and fling it directly at Camden’s face. It hits him square in the nose, splattering across his cheeks and forehead. For a moment, he stands there, stunned, mud dripping down his chin.
Sylvester’s laughter is cut off abruptly, replaced by a gasp of shock. I use their momentary surprise to my advantage, quickly grabbing another handful and lobbing it at Sylvester. It catches him on the shoulder, splattering his dark jacket and neck.
“If this got in my hair… You little—” Camden sputters, wiping mud from his face.
I don’t wait for him to finish. I’m already running, my feet slipping and sliding on the muddy path. I can hear them shouting behind me, their voices a mix of anger and disbelief.
My pulse hammers against my ribs as I sprint, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I don’t know where I’m going, but anywhere is better than going back there with them.
Altair’s building looms tall and menacing, towering over the rest of the campus like a symbol of authority as I decided to make it my safe haven. The pounding of my feet against the ground and the rush of wind in my ears drowned out any other noise, all that matters is the sound of my thumping heart and my breaths coming in quick gasps. The large front doors beckoned ahead with a promise of escape.
I come to a halt once inside, gasping for air as I hope I’ve lost my pursuers. Just when I think I’m in the clear, the sound of heels clicking against the tile floor alerts me to someone’s presence. Their disapprovingtskrings through the hallway as they approach. The figure is tall and slender, with critical eyes that narrow at my disheveled state. Unlike me, their clothes are crisp and professional, not a single wrinkle or stain in sight. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for myself. Thanks to those boys, I’m now covered in thick, slimy mud from head to toe. It’s no wonder this person looks at me with such disdain.
“There’s no time to change,” they say decisively. “You’ll just have to go as you are.”
“You seem to have found our stray, Professor O’Donnelly,” a too-familiar voice says from behind me. I can sense the underlying tone of disapproval, but I mentally curse him for not even sounding out of breath. Sylvester’s demeanor is much friendlier in front of this witness.
“We were just accompanying Prescott to tonight’s assembly,” my shadow continues with another lie, not even a bit out of breath either.
While I looked like a drowned rat, the other three appear to have come out of the rain unscathed. Their dark clothing disguised any trace of their recent encounter with the downpour.Had the rain wiped away the mud I had flung at Sylvester and Camden? It seemed they were able to maintain their composure while I look like a soggy mess.
“Bishop Ashbourne, did she take a tumble down one of the cliffsides on her way over?” The older, female professor asks.
Ashbourne. Wasn’t that the name of the dormitory to the left of mine near the fountain?