William's body hit the floor hard as his consciousness fled.
Elion didn't waste a second.
Time seemed to snap back into place as he crouched beside Mira, slipping one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her shoulders, lifting her effortlessly into his arms.
Her body trembled against his chest.
Every pair of eyes in the corridor went wide.
"What—?"
"Did anyone see—?"
"What just happened?"
They had seen nothing but a blur of motion.
Now William lay unconscious on the floor.
Jared stood frozen, shaking, his hand still half-extended as if he couldn't comprehend that she was gone.
The rest of William's friends didn't hesitate as soon as they recognised their handsome classmate.
They bolted.
Every single one.
Elion straightened slowly, Mira held securely against him, his expression unreadable.
And the corridor remained deathly silent.
"Mira," he said sharply, then softer, "I've got you."
Her body trembled in his arms, breath coming in short, uneven pulls.
