Three Years Ago
East University Gates – Morning
The gates of East University stood tall, casting long shadows across the sidewalk as students flooded in for the start of the academic year. Among the crowd, three figures stood shoulder to shoulder, staring up at the campus.
Alias adjusted the strap of his bag, sighing. "Well… new beginning for us, huh?"
Lucas shoved his hands into his pockets. "Yeah. Let's try not to screw this one up."
Warren groaned and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but explain to me why she's here again?"
Behind them, a voice snapped like a whip.
"Because you dumbasses repeated 9th grade. Again."
Maeve stood with her arms crossed, student council papers in hand, blazer crisp, her usual irritated glare firmly in place.
"You're embarrassing. All three of you. Don't even think about fighting or making a scene—I'm running for student council this year."
Warren looked at Alias. "Dude, why does your sister have to go to the same college as us?"
Maeve cut in before Alias could reply. "Because someone has to babysit you gorillas. All you do is fight and fail classes like it's a sport."
Alias raised a hand. "Can we at least try to enjoy this first day? Just once?"
Maeve pointed at each of them. "No fighting. No trouble. And if anyone asks—we're not related."
She turned and stormed ahead into campus.
The boys followed behind.
Lucas glanced around. "Y'know… this doesn't look bad. Quiet campus, decent people. Maybe we lay low for once. Actually focus, graduate… live normal lives."
Maeve spun on her heel while walking ahead. "Highly doubt it."
Warren suddenly stopped in his tracks, eyeing a tall student walking by.
"Hey," he called out, grabbing the guy's collar. "You look tough. Wanna fight?"
Maeve nearly screamed. "WARREN!"
Warren shrugged. "What? Icebreaker."
Maeve slapped a hand to her forehead. "I'm leaving. Don't talk to me. Don't look at me."
She stormed off down the corridor while students stared, whispering.
—
Cafeteria – A Few Hours Later
The trio sat around a plastic table in the corner of the cafeteria. Lunch trays filled with greasy food sat untouched as they settled in.
Alias leaned back, chewing on a straw. "You know, this isn't bad. We keep it simple. Study. Pass our classes. Don't start any wars."
Lucas gave a slow nod. "Yeah. My mom's been stressed about me since middle school. Maybe this is finally my chance to make her proud."
Warren was halfway through his second burger. "Huh? Did someone say something?"
Before they could laugh, trouble walked straight to their table.
It was the student Warren had grabbed earlier that morning—now with backup. A dozen more guys stood behind him, all with clenched fists and bad intentions.
"That's him!" the student shouted. "The guy that took my money!"
Another student cracked his knuckles. "Hey! You freshmen think you're hot shit?"
Alias stood up slowly. "Alright, hold on. Let's not start something—"
The other students didn't listen.
Five more chairs scraped back across the floor.
Lucas stood. "Well… so much for peaceful."
The cafeteria erupted.
Punches flew. Tables flipped. A tray went sailing into the air and smacked a bystander. Warren laughed like a maniac as he dove into the chaos.
Alias moved with precision—grabbing wrists, ducking swings, slamming students to the ground with surgical focus. Lucas fought like a brawler, raw and fast, throwing his full weight into every punch. Warren was all power, grabbing two students and slamming them into a table like rag dolls.
"Don't spill my soda!" Warren yelled as he decked a guy into a vending machine.
Five minutes of madness.
Fifteen students down.
Three stood tall.
Alias wiped blood from his cheek.
Lucas adjusted his collar.
Warren finished his burger.
One of the students groaned from the floor. "Alright… you win… we surrender…"
Alias looked around at the destroyed cafeteria. "We're screwed."
Maeve appeared at the entrance, arms crossed, furious.
"YOU IDIOTS!"
Lucas whispered, "Okay. Now we're really screwed."
—
End of Chapter 13