𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡

𝟒 | 𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

"Yes, I know. And he's good. Actually...he's really good," I replied confidently. A hint of a smile crossed my face.

"In that case, let him stop at Monday's practice," the headmistress announced as some commander. I reached for the door handle and was about to pull it, but her other words stopped me.

"Goodbye, Ria, we'll talk about it later, when you return from your grandfather's visit."

"What?" The headmistress turned to me with raised eyebrows.

"You know nothing about that? Well, I guess that was supposed to be your father's surprise. He called me this morning and asked if there's a possibility for you to have two weeks of distance learning. Also, there is a week of school vacation after it, so maybe you'll get the rest you need." I looked at her surprised, not wanting to believe anything she said. I didn't even try to hide my astonishment. Are we seriously going to visit my grandpa? A two-week distance studying? What the hell does that mean?

"Are you nuts? I can't play as Cooper's replacement on Monday," proclaimed my friend Otto in horror as I was taking books from my locker and shut it with a harsh slam. Otto was about to graduate this year, just like me.

"Why not? You play football. A lot," I said, trying to convince him to change his mind.

"Yes. I play. The computer one," he explained pre-affectedly.

"Don't underestimate yourself, Otto Wilder," I winked at him and started talking slow steps towards my class.

"Did you say the same thing to yourself when you were beating a goddamn soul out of poor Cooper? That you shouldn't underestimate yourself?" he muttered and I quirked my lips.

"What do you think?" I asked, seriously interested in his opinion.

"I think," he paused for a moment, "I think you knew in advance who will win. But what's really going through my mind is, why doesn't it bother anyone how you did it? No one has asked you yet if you're taking martial arts classes or some shit?"

"No," I shook my head. "And I'm glad they didn't. Given that, that would mean only one thing. That I have to lie again," I said bitterly, not trying to show too many emotions.

In that thing, I was different than Lucifer. It has always taken me way more effort to keep my face unreadable. On the contrary, it has been very difficult for people to recognize what was on my father's mind. More than once, I wondered if I would be like that one day, too. Will years of training help? Is this stone face something you were born with, or can you learn how to do it?

Otto knew my father was doing something dangerous. But I never told him exactly what it was. And I think it'll be better if it stays that way.

"Anyway, did you hear about Betty's today's birthday party?" Otto changed the subject, for which I was grateful. I didn't feel like talking about my difficult life or my school fight with the football players. Unfortunately, I couldn't change what family I was born into. And as for Cooper, that bastard deserved more than a broken nose.

I shrugged.

"I hear about it now," I remarked.

"I thought we could go," he suggested, his words making me frown.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going out with my mom today," I apologized. "And I don't want to cancel it 'cause I haven't seen her in a long time." It was partly true, partly a lie. It's been a while since I met my mom. She was constantly taking business trips. On the other hand, if I've tried, I would definitely be able to make it to Betty's party later. But I wasn't interested.

I know, I know, it didn't make any sense. With despair, I was trying so hard to fit in, but I never did anything to achieve it. And when the opportunity showed, I walked away from it. I was afraid. What if I fall in love with this life? Sooner or later, I will have to give it up. If I don't taste it, I won't know what I'm missing. I will never be able to be like them. I'm O'Donnell. My destiny is sealed with my own blood.

"Sure, I understand," my friend nodded.

"But you should go and try to seduce some wild freshman girls, okay, Wilder?" I had poked my elbow into his chest, and he returned it with a flirtatious smirk.

We stopped in front of a foreign language classroom. "My class is here. See ya," I said, stepping inside the room. With time, I learned to ignore some of the looks and whispers of my classmates. I was never interested in the opinion of others. If anyone had anything against me – it was their problem, not mine.

With my body still tired from a sleepless night, I sat down on a free seat and began to count minutes until the end of this subject lesson. I wanted to be out of this hell as soon as possible.