Page 41 of The Bleak Beginning

Atlas crouches down beside me, his voice a quiet mumble of concern. “Are you alright? Do you need medical attention?”

I shake my head, still coughing slightly. “I'm fine,” I manage to rasp out. “Just need a minute.”

He nods, then stands up, addressing the rest of the class. “Alright, everyone. That's enough excitement for one day. Classdismissed. We'll resume our lesson this time next week, and I expect everyone to be prepared and on their best behavior.”

As the other students begin to disperse, whispering and casting curious glances in my direction, Atlas turns back to me. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

I nod weakly, still trying to catch my breath. “I’m okay,” I manage to croak out. “Just…not a fan of drowning.”

He chuckles softly, shaking his head. “I can’t imagine why.”

“Here,” a deep, familiar voice grunts, thrusting a towel towards me. “Thought Prescott might need this after her little swim.”

“Thank you Bishop,” Atlas says, taking the towel and draping it over my shoulders. “That was very considerate of you.”

Considerate? I huff, the doubt written all over my face. It was his constant habit of belittling and embarrassing me that had caused me to end up in the water in the first place.

Atlas arches an eyebrow over in my direction confused by my reaction.

I pull the towel tighter around me, avoiding Bishop's gaze. “Yeah, thanks,” I mutter, my voice still raspy from nearly drowning.

Bishop shrugs, his face an unreadable mask. “Least I could do to help out, our newest student.”

I let out a short, humorless laugh, not fooled by Bishop's false kindness. Unlike Atlas, who seemed to believe that I was only being impolite.

“Let's play it safe just to be sure. Will you be alright here for a couple of minutes? I'll go grab the first aid kit and maybe some dry clothes from the boathouse so you don't have to walk back in your wet uniform,” my professor suggests, ignoring my impolite behavior.

“I have no issue keeping her company, for good measure, of course.” Bishop says, and Atlas nods before walking off.

I watch Atlas's retreating figure, a sense of unease settling in my stomach as I'm left alone with my shadow. The silence between us is heavy, broken only by the sound of waves lapping at the shore.

“You're welcome by the way,” Bishop says after a few seconds, his tone tinged with sarcasm.

I turn to face him, anger bubbling up inside me. “Welcome? For what? For forcing me into the water? Nearly drowning me?”

He scoffs, running a hand through his damp hair. “Please. You were the one who went in there to prove a point. Don't even try to pin that on me.”

My teeth clench together so hard I can feel them grinding against each other. “And what about when I was struggling to stay above the water?”

“You were fine. Atlas jumped in as soon as he heard your mangled scream.”

“So that makes it okay?” I snap back. “You're unbelievable.”

He stares at me with the same void expression that I've come to recognize as his personality. “You shouldn't be here.”

Was he referring to this university or just being near him? The lines in my mind were beginning to blur, and I blame it on the lack of oxygen during my struggle under the water.

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts, and decide not to read too much into his words. “I never asked to be,” I respond sharply.

“Then why are you still here? You are a toxin to us Legacies. And do you know what we do with toxic things, Prescott?” I remain silent. It doesn’t matter what I say, because Bishop already has the answer. “We eliminate them.”

“Not me,” I reply with a sweet smile that causes the muscles in his jaw to flex with uncertainty. “I’m here to stay.”

Bishop's eyes constrict, his face clouding with tension. “We'll see about that,” he says, his voice deep and threatening. “Funnything about the water here is, not even pipes can hold it back…but I’m sure your room could’ve used the upgrade anyway.”

My mouth drops open in shock, and the corner of Bishop's mouth twitches upward in a smirk, knowing he bested me again. He was the one who caused the incident in my room?

Anger boils within me as I furiously rip the towel off my body - I've had enough for one day. “You can keep this, asshole,” I snap before storming away. I wanted nothing to do with Bishop Ashbourne, no matter how much my body betrayed me in the water earlier.

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