Reckless – Episode 35&36

RECKLESS

Reckless – Episode 35&36

→ Out•Of•Control ←

[Book 1 in The Untamed Duet]

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a BOLDLY written permission from ME.

Copyright © 2025

Naomi Cindy B.

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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

 

The darkness drowned her gag sounds.

The rain thrums ate her the voice of her choke.

The water sent chills down the core of her being.

Her saliva coated his fingers like warm sin—something that claimed and ruined at the same time.

Her fingernails scrapped the walls, leaving marks like wolf claws.

His fingers filled the two holes in her deep throat.

In the dark, she got corrupted, and her chest could burst right now.

She felt his body resting on hers as his fingers painted her mouth like a goth canvas. Her lungs fought for respiration, and her chest locked.

Tears forced it’s way out of the dark corners of her eyes, and her gag reflex kicked in.

The headlights from Dorian’s car flushed into the corner.

It wasn’t enough to soak the darkness, but it was enough to knock Stacy’s senses back in place.

She attempted to push his fingers out of her mouth, but he held still, tickling her throat with his fingertips.

She choked, another round of warm tears running down her eyes, wetting the side of his fingers.

When the headlights flooded the corner again, they caught a glimpse of each other’s faces.

Cove’s—charasteristically uncanny. Like the throne of glass belongs to him. Like her life is his.

Stacy’s—scared, terrified. Like she wants to escape this place and never come back or see him again.

She pushed again, and he willingly got rid of his fingers from her mouth.

She didn’t wait. Didn’t look back.

With saliva still on her chin, tears still on her face, and lips still parted, she ran out of the corner.

Dorian and his mum were only just getting out of their car when she ran past, so she wasn’t sighted till she was outta the gate.

In that corner, Cove stood still, staring at his clean fingers which are still slimy with her saliva.

The saliva is drooling off the two to the ground, and that unsettling look riddled his eyes as he watched.

He sighted her small bag laying on the ground, and he picked it up.

She must have forgotten to carry it which is very understandable.

Anyone would be scared after getting fingered in the throat in a dark corner by a pyro.

He opened the bag and met two things… A small mace bottle with ‘Pepper’ written on the body, then a small wrap of lunch chocolate.

He returned the two to the bag, and that was when the loud voice of Kaylee crawled around the garage.

The rain seemed like it was gonna be torrential before, but now it’s like it’s gonna be a shower despite the dark fuckin clouds. Or maybe it’s still gonna go from shower to downpour?

“Anybody here?!” Kaylee’s voice rang through the garage again, rising above the shower.

Cove went out of that corner, meeting Matteo and Trevor in front of the rich Range Rover already.

Kaylee is right in front of them, Dorian and Angela behind Kaylee, and the guards around too.

Assigned guards covered each of them with different umbrellas.

Cove got in front of Matteo and Trevor, facing Kaylee.

“You’re the shit? And I seriously I’m not impressed, so I’ll keep it low,” the woman stated. “Keep your distance from my son. You want a friend? Then go to a gutter…your mates are hiding there in form of rats!”

“And you are the gutter itself,” Cove muttered. “This is so funny.”

“What?” Kaylee’s brows pulled.

“Mum?” Dorian said behind. “Cut it out now.”

He tried to go forward, but Angela held him back. He pushed Angela off, getting in the front.

“Let’s leave! Now that you’ve heard what you’re really craving to hear!”

“He called me a gutter!” Kaylee’s vision darkened.

“You called him a gutter rat first! Can’t take what you dish?” Dorian smirked, and Kaylee pushed past him, moving forward to Cove.

She raised her hand on him, but she could only raise cos he held that hand before he could deliver.

“You don’t get to touch me, Gutter,” he muttered, throwing it off.

The guards moved to come contain the situation, but Matteo quickly went on his knees.

“I apologize on his behalf, he’s always like thi—”

Before he could finish, Cove pulled him up pushed him back.

“Cove!” Matteo’s eyes widened.

“If you apologize or go on your darn knees for anyone cos of me again, I’ll quit working in this garage and then you can find yourself another useful wild card!” Cove glared.

Matteo’s lips closed. Trevor pushed him to a seat.

Then… Cove faced the crowd of the rich. The shower is still ongoing, so he’s so darn soaked. Stacy’s saliva has washed off his fingers, but he could still somehow feel the slime.

“You want it to end? Then talk to your darn son and don’t come here again. I don’t mind killing you and going to jail for it! You can only threaten people who have something to live for! You can’t threaten me, money-driven tramp!” He spat.

Now even Dorian is shocked. Kaylee is too shocked to respond too.

Angela flew forward, picked a stone from the ground and flung it at Cove.

Cove didn’t move out of the way till the stone hit his neck, leaving a slight wound which bled.

“Angel!” Dorian pulled her back till she fell on the ground.

“Riri he was f+kin harassing your mum!” Angela yelled.

“Yes because we came here first to harass him! You don’t know how hard I worked before I was able to rein him in! I’m the one who proposed friendship, not him! Leave Fabio alone!” Dorian yelled back.

By now, Kaylee got her rigid expression back.

She smiled slightly at Cove.

“You have a personality too peculiar for a poor garage boy. Sharp-tongued, fearless, violent, anger issues and zero thirst for wealth.” She muttered, then took two steps closer.

“Wait till I unravel you. You’d love the result, Wizard.” She whispered, her smile widening as she turned around to leave.

“Fabio, I’m so sorry.” Dorian apologized sincerely.

And when he saw Cove is already wearing the bracelet he gave him, he smiled slightly.

“I’ll text and apologize better. Don’t get too mad, hothead.” He was walking backwards as he talked.

When he finally got in the car with his mum and they zoomed out with the guards, Cove stood there, still staring at the gate emptily.

“First was Albert Montana coming here to threaten you about his daughter, you even got arrested. Now Kaylee Wesley came here to threaten you about his son?” Trevor said.

“I swear I’ve only seen those two in the news before they came here. Richest man and woman in this country? I saw them for free? How many more rich people are gonna enter this garage to threaten Wizard? I’m pumped!” He continued.

“You know the most interesting part?” Matteo said. “Their babies don’t wanna leave my wild card alone. Dorian is so into his friendship with him, and Stacy? That one is just starting. She even came here again.”

“She did?” Trevor blinked.

“I saw when Covey was dragging her into the corner beside the toolhouse. Who do you think owns the pink bag with him?” Matteo smiled.

And that was when Trevor noticed the pink bag with him.

“Wait, what did you do to her for her to forget her bag? Did you scare her again?” Trevor gasped.

Cove turned around and just entered the spare room.

Trevor moved closer to Matteo. “Why does it look like I’m witnessing a triangle?”

“Shall we watch it unfold together?” Matteo smiled.

They bumped their hips on each other, chuckling.

Inside the spare room, Cove sat on the old chair, staring at his fingers.

The rain washed her saliva away completely already, but he could still feel the lingering sensations.

As he stared, his throat bobbed—the Adam’s apple moved.

For thirty long minutes. Yeah, thirty good minutes, he sat there, staring at nothing but the fingers.

Then he took out the mace in her bag and rolled it between his fingers.

She must be carrying it everywhere for safety purpose.

Remembering how tears soaked her face earlier made him smirk.

Then… slowly…

The smirk morphed into a evil smile, dragging his lips in a curve.

—

[Montana Mansion – Stacy’s Bathroom]

Stacy has been under the warm shower for an hour, but she’s still not feeling herself.

She might spend the whole day here and maybe the whole night might follow. She’s just under the shower, arms wrapped around herself as the water baptized her.

She could still feel those fingers in her mouth. She could still feel them thrusting her throat.

She could still feel them blocking her airway and restricting the intake of air. She could still feel them deep.

And sometimes, she gagged even when the fingers are now gone.

It was a three minutes occurrence, but it feels like it took a lifetime cos it’s not wiping off anytime soon.

She’s scared of intimacy, but when he was doing that to her, her mind didn’t go there. She was ready to keep scrapping the wall, gagging for air. Hell, she was even ready to beg him to slow down on her.

But then the headlights caught them in the corner, and that was the only thing that stirred her senses.

That was when she began struggling to get his fingers away.

What’s wrong with her?

She unwrapped her arms from her body, letting them fall free at her sides as the water temperature got warmer. The shower has ended outside, and now the real downpour is starting. A heavy rain.

She just wants to remain in this bathroom forever.

But her aloneness was interrupted by a knock on her door.

“Beauty? You’ve been in there for an hour and thirty minutes now. The shower hasn’t stopped running, are you ok or do I need to call 911?” Anita’s worried voice rose over the sound of the shower.

“Anita?” Stacy jerked out of her self-drown.

She used a thick towel this time, wrapping it around herself before slapping the shower to stop.

She stepped out of the room, and Anita gasped when she saw her.

From staying under the shower too much, she’s so damn pale.

“Oh you look like a vietnamese movie ghost. Tell me, what happened?” The woman asked, coming closer to touch Stacy’s wet strands.

“I’m fine,” Stacy lied. She’d rather go 6ft than narrate how she got throat-fingered by the guy she’s not supposed to get attached to.

“Are you sure?” Anita asked, not seeming to believe the lie.

“I swear, just thinking about mother,” Stacy smiled, strengthening the lie.

“Oh I knew it. What else would make you stay in the bathroom for that long?” Anita nodded. “Did you start getting dreams about her again?”

“No. She just came to mind today and I gave it all the thought I could.” Stacy smiled, easing her.

“I understand. Netflix together after you get some rest?” Anita asked, finally dropping it.

“Um…I have to read my notes, I’m so sorry Anita,” Stacy pouted.

“Ouu, our heiress is so serious about upping her grades this semester. Your mum would be so darn proud if she were here, but don’t worry. She’s watching from up there too.” Anita smiled, taking her hand off the hair.

She left the room, and Stacy finally got the space to wipe and dress up in something covering.

The rain is brewing cold.

She got on her bed, sitting like a Buddhist with her forelegs folded below her laps.

She wore her headphones, blocking out all noise before picking her laptop. She clicked the notes she made from Cove’s tutorial and began reading through.

This is her third read since the tutorial, and she’s definitely understanding more than the first two reads.

She successfully read for an hour without any interruption, then she pushed the laptop aside and lay in bed, deciding to stare at her ceiling till she’d only be seeing a black dot.

But she barely lasted three minutes before the feel of fingers in her mouth made her jerk.

She brought her fingers to her own mouth, inserting them into her throat, but before it could get there, she removed them and choked herself with the furry pillow.

“F+k, am I gonna start having dreams of fingers in my throat or sum?” She grunted.

She picked her phone and texted her dad’s secretary—a man she has only talked to maybe two times.

Stacy: Run another check on Covey Fabio. Don’t tell my dad. Get me even the slightest thing about him. You have till tommorow morning.

Secretary: Will do.

Stacy dropped the phone on her belly, her mind finally rolling over to Dorian. Why is he not calling?

—

[Dorian’s Mansion]

Even with just Angela around, Dorian’s uneasiness was hundred percent, so with Kaylee and more guards around, he feels short of air like he can’t breathe at all.

The smokes he loves killing his thoughts with ain’t working today. He hasn’t had another stick since he got back three hours ago.

Kaylee have been in the crew gathering room, talking to them with Angela about the upcoming song.

But Dorian himself is in his room, seated in bed, silent.

Only companion is his phone as he finally punched a text over to Cove.

Dorian: Sorry once again. She has always been like this… Money-driven.

He waited two minutes, nothing came, but at the third minute, three bubbles appeared below his message, meaning Cove is typing.

He waited…then it came.

Fabio: Mama’s boy.

Dorian gasped.

“Who the f+k is he calling Mama’s…darn, it sounds illegal.” He muttered, trying to text back.

But then Stacy’s call interrupted him, and his eyes shone as he picked up.

“Hey, Stace,” He stood, walking over to the rectangular glass on top of a glass table at a side of the sparkling white room.

“I was wondering why my call-bombing friend didn’t call yet. Is your recording that stressful?” Stacy’s thin voice filled his ears.

He smiled.

“Miss me?”

“Now don’t get overconfident again!” She snapped, and he chuckled.

Now he’s standing beside the rectangular glass.

Inside it, there’s a habitat of insects. Different kinds of them.

He has always loved insects, so he keeps a glass of his collection.

He placed a palm on top of the glass, watching as the insects crawled around picking foods inside. Something stained his eyes like blood and darkness, but it didn’t last.

It was like a glitch which he reset almost immediately, maintaining the sweet smile.

“My mum flew over, and with her and Angela here, it’s hellhole. Are you free to come take me outta here? I’ll be your damsel in distress,” he turned his back on the glass as he said that, and Stacy laughed.

Hearing her laugh or seeing her smile has to be his best view ever.

The way the lips go smaller that it already is.

The way her cheeks get rosier.

“You should be glad you still have a mum to look at, don’t hate her.” She said after getting over her crack.

“You have no idea,” he muttered, pocketing an hand.

Before Stacy could say something else, Kaylee entered.

“Talk to you later, Stace.” He ended the call and dropped his phone.

Kaylee smiled. “Albert’s daughter? So it’s true…you have something going on with her!”

“Not yet, don’t get ahead of yourself.” Dorian rolled eyes.

“Not yet, but you like her, don’t you? Leave the rest to me. I only have to talk to her father.” Kaylee said.

“I said let it rest!” Dorian snapped. “I don’t want a relationship because you’re close to her father. I want a relationship because I’m in love with her, and I’ll wait till she sees my sincerity and starts liking me back so don’t interfere. I’ll do it just the way I feel, not the way you want!”

“Never in your life, Dorian. Never in your damn life, snap at me like you did just now again,” Kaylee came closer. “Or you know I hold the key to your fame. Don’t piss me off!”

Dorian’s shoulders lessened, and he took a deep breath. “Fine, but stay off Stacy’s way.”

He left the room, and Kaylee clicked her tongue. “Gawd…he’s so dumb.”

“You can’t call him dumb cos of his feelings, Kaylee.” Angela came in. “He said he’d handle it,so let him do it. Just focus on getting Cove out.”

Kaylee sighed. “Covey Fabio, poor orphan with such guts? Mysterious.”

“He has always been mysterious,” Kaylee shrugged. “Do you want us to……”

Kaylee looked at Angela, getting what the unfinished sentence means.

“No. I’ll handle him myself. You just focus on supervising the crew to make the upcoming release flawless.” Kaylee declined.

Her phone buzzed, and with a frown, she checked.

Unknown: Hey, Kaylee. When last did you get a good D?

Kaylee’s eyes rolled in their sockets as she read the text.

“Anything up?” Angela asked.

“Nothing,” Kaylee replied, getting out of the room.

Angela released the tensed breaths she has been holding, then she dropped on the floor.

Dorian is in love with Stacy?

He just confirmed it.

How???

How did he fall in love blindly when she’s here for him?

Why would he???

And he’s… willing to wait till she starts liking him back?

No. That can’t happen.

She can’t like him back.

Stacy needs to hate Dorian to the core.

She’d make it happen.

—

[Monday, Montana Mansion]

Stacy has a 9am class, so at 8:30, she’s out of the estate, leaving just Anita inside the large house.

The woman was in the lavatory, washing Stacy’s wears in the washing machine when she heard the doorbell ring downstairs.

She wiped her palms on her skirt and left the lavatory, rushing to the main door. She checked the intercom, and the person she saw made her gasp.

She flung the door open, and it’s really her daughter, standing there with a thieving smile.

“Hello here!” Elmira waved.

“Are you crazy?!” Anita slapped her two arms loudly.

“Mum!” Elmira sounded.

“Why would you come here? What if Stacy was at home? Then she’d have known my daughter attends the same uni as her and might blow it out of proportion!” Anita complained.

“I came cos I knew the guards would open the gate, and I have the estate entry card so, duh. And I knew Stacy would be at school already cos I checked her Major group and saw her timetable. Even if she finds out I’m your daughter, what’s gonna happen? She’s not my sponsor!” Elmira scoffed, entering.

“I’m not talking about the sponsorship you dead brain! I’m talking about the biggest secret!” Anita closed the door. “To everyone in RIDE, you’re the daughter of the CEO of a VVIP Hotel in Saudi Arabia, so if it gets out that you’re the daughter of Stacy’s maid…”

“That can’t happen, mum. How many times do I have to tell you my secret is very safe? I’ve been guarding it since year one, watch me gatekeep it up till my last year,” Elmira plopped herself to the couch.

“Gosh, I love the couch in this mansion and the AC. Stacy should have died at birth and I should have been born here! Why the fûck aren’t you s+ducing her father?”

“The next time you say something about seducing my boss, I’ll kill you Mira, you think I’m some old shameless slût? I won’t slut around like you!” Anita glared.

“Slut around?” Elmira stood. “Wait … Are you talking about the 150 I sent you? I got that from my boyfriend! Max Wyse, son of the most Influential socialite in this city. He’s the one I’m currently f+kin, and he’s got shitload. Like load…”

“I didn’t bring you up this way…to get into relationships and open your legs cos of money…” Anita shook her head, nearly crying.

“Mum!” Elmira grabbed her shoulders. “Mum look at me. So far I’m not stealing, I don’t see what’s so wrong. I won’t watch us be as poor as church rats, and I’ll do everything I have to do to get this shmoney. Soon, you’ll even stop working here.”

“Cos you wanna start dating for money, is that why you worked as an escort during your last semester break? Then you stole money from one of your rich clients and went for BBL…” Anita sniffled.

Elmira’s arms dropped.

“You knew?”

“Of course I knew! I didn’t want you to turn this way, that’s why I work so hard here to give you everything you want, but in the end…you fell off my morals…” Anita sniffled again.

Elmira fell back on the couch, holding her head in her palm.

“Can I at least get a plate of good food?” She muttered.

Anita sighed, giving her one last look before entering the kitchen.

Elmira raised her head, lips tainted with knowingness as she stood.

She tiptoed to the stairwell, climbing up as stealthily as ever.

She opened the first two rooms, but nothing fascinating.

The third room made her smile cos she finally got where she wanted.

Stacy’s room.

She stepped inside with careful steps, crossing over the bedroom to the nearest attached room.

She opened the door, and a sharp gasp fell off her lips.

Is this some store?

Stacy’s closet is insane!

No wonder she’s always carrying the queen bee energy around effortlessly.

If she had this closet, she’d be insane with pride too.

Elmira stepped in deeper into the paradise, holding her breaths as the lavishness slapped her in the face.

Poverty is a bastard!

The clothes section is only designers. Down to her p+nty and br@. They’re all friggin designers.

The shoe section? Designers too…jimmy choo, paciotti, red bottoms, snake heels…..

When she turned to the bag section and saw designers too, she didn’t need anymore to tell her everything in here is designer.

Even the fluffy slippers are Gucci… designers too. The pads too.

The jewelries are more insane. Earrings, bracelets and anklets, navel and nose rings, waist chains.

F+k…can Stacy just die?

She wants all of this to herself.

Elmira cursed Stacy gazillion times in her mind.

Why is she born into riches and why is her mum destined as her maid?

She’d never understand.

Stacy hasn’t even touched most of the outfits. They’re still boxed.

Elmira opened one of the boxes, and her eyes widened again.

Oh-Polly new design.

It’s not anywhere in this country yet, and it’s here sitting stupidly in a box in Stacy’s closet?

Finally she found her Massacre Party dress…so f+kin s+xy.

She took the dress out and tucked it under her own pullover.

She wore pullover to this place cos of this mission.

After taking it, she crushed the box and entered the nearest toilet to shove it inside the WC to soak, then she flushed it away.

All records and evidence gone.

She stole a waist chain too.

She returned downstairs, peeking into the kitchen.

Poor Anita, she’s still busy making her food, but too bad she won’t be eating that.

She left the mansion, the stolen dress heavy under her pullover.

—

[Young Mansion]

Kane checked his wristwatch for the third time, losing his patience.

He has been waiting here since two minutes ago, for Scott to come out, but seems he’s taking his time.

F+k, he has a 10am class which he can’t miss at all.

Law lecturers are arses, and he’s not ready to start thinking about blinding any of them in class today again.

He nearly checked his time for the third time, but Scott finally emerged from the room.

He wore a green shirt too… matching with his own green shirt.

“Wasn’t expecting this twist, but good job, sin.” Kane smiled.

“I hate that name…sin.” Scott made faces, walking past him.

Kane pulled him back.

“Make that face again…” He demanded.

“Oh it’s too early for your mania, crazy thing.” Scott replied, making the faces without even realizing.

“Holy f+kin sin, you’re cute!” Kane pulled his cheek, caressing his freckles slightly.

Scott smirked, then Kane interlinked their fingers.

Scott didn’t sweat.

He feels more comfortable than he was when he did this on Saturday.

The maids aren’t serving Silas today, so Owen herself did the serving.

As a full housewife, she’s got no work, and Silas enjoys it like that.

Their heads went up when they heard approaching footsteps from the stairs.

Owen dropped the jug of tea with her and adjusted her long sleeve.

Kane and Scott appeared, fingers interlocked.

“At this point, I don’t know what to say to you both,” Owen said.

“You’re a psychology major, Scott. And Kane is a Law major, so what’s with the sudden coziness?” Silas questione, dropping his tea mug.

As usual, his glasses are balanced over his eyes.

Kane leaned into Scott’s face and pressed his lips to the scattered dots, kissing the freckles softly.

Scott’s eyes didn’t widen.

When Kane’s lips left his face, he leaned into Kane’s face too.

He kissed Kane’s on his nose bridge, and Kane chuckled.

“Sin, ready?”

“Yeah, crazy thing.” Scott laughed.

With their fingers still interlocked, they left the house.

The expressions on Owen and Silas face mirrored.

She gasped, and he took off his glasses, throwing it off.

“What the hell what that????”

—

[RIDE University]

Kane let go of Scott’s hand when they entered campus.

According to him, they’re to start the game slowly till the whole school will deduce the vibe themselves.

They won’t announce a relationship, they’d just leave it to the students sharp eyes and intuitions.

Soon, things will burn.

“I’ll come for you at 12. We both have free periods. You’re following me to the skating rink.” Kane said.

“So…this works according to your orders?” Scott stopped.

“I suggested it, so naturally…yeah…” Kane shrugged.

Scott just made faces and bounced away to his class.

Kane smiled again, watching till he disappeared down the hall.

Then he turned around to proceed to his own class, but that was when he noticed the posters on the wall.

Kehlani’s portrait with writings like…

Flatbread…

Peanut butter…

Wallpaper…

And several others. It’s all-over the school like someone shipped them in.

“The bully culture after public breakup is real here? Cool”

His eyes went somewhere else suddenly…

Cove.

He’s coming from the other end of the hall, eyes that dark shade again.

Everyone moved out of his way. No one dared to bring out their phones to snap pictures cos rumours of how he loves smashing phones is everywhere, so they could only stare and get wet as he passed by.

He wore loose jean jacket jacket on black baggy jean today, backpack on a shoulder.

Everyone moved out of his way except Kane, cos right now their eyes locked unintentionally.

Just the way mad recognizes mad, maniac recognizes maniac too.

It’s the first time his eyes met with Cove’s, so it’s his first time feeling it.

It’s his first time seeing a senior maniac cos as Cove walked past him, he felt that energy.

He even turned around to stare at his back view, then he smiled.

“Interesting,” he muttered.

He checked mass comm major group on his way to class, and he saw Dorian won’t be in campus today cos he’s too busy with his new release.

“Shall I handle my senior maniac myself?” He smiled again, entering Law Mock Court.

—

When Glitz girls bursted into that hallway, it was the start of the chaos, and it didn’t end fast.

It kept spreading.

Stacy and Kehlani herself tore off her portraits from the walls with the help of their guards, but Zendaya and the twins faced the mocking students, mocking them back.

“I wonder why Max dated her for so long! I mean…apart from the face card, nothing special.”

“And there’s nothing special about you too you animal!” Tasha responded that one.

Zendaya got a text, and she smiled brightly when she saw it’s the gym instructor. He got her something to get rid of her fat in a week.

She pocketed her phone and continued tearing off portraits.

“Stop trying to cover Kehlani and let’s carry out the disgrace culture in peace!! Kehlani is flat!” Another student spat from the crowd.

“Flat like your brain!” Tania said and threw her phone at the student who made that statement.

“Tania this is why I’ll always prefer Trinidad to you. Watch as Trinidad gets the best player award this semester over you!” Another student shouted.

“Shut up!!” Zendaya yelled at that one

“Hippopotamus is talking? Audacity!” The student laughed.

Stacy stopped tearing the portraits at this point.

She nearly went to that student to tear her apart, but Tania was faster.

She only had to raise a leg, throwing a brutal roundhouse kick to that student, sending him to the ground.

Blood bloomed from his head, crimson flowed.

“No one,I mean no fuckin body gets to call Zendaya names in this campus and beyond! Is that clear?” Tania yelled angrily.

Kehlani went down to feel the pulse of the bleeding student.

It’s so slow—almost not there.

Close to giving up.

“We have to get him to the hospital right about now, or he dies!” She said urgently, eyes expanding.

The hallway froze.

Zendaya went down to feel the pulse of the guy too.

Faint.

“Tania you and your anger…he’s gonna die!” She said fearfully.

Someone must have called the school medics among the students cos they came with a stretcher to wheel the student out of the hallway fast with an oxygen mask on him.

Tania was taken by the campus police to the Chancellor’s office.

Tasha and the girls followed.

Below the computer science major staircase, Stacy stopped.

She’s feeling it again.

His eyes….on herself.

That gnawing feeling of awareness gripped her… slitting her.

She looked up with a painstakingly slow lift of her neck, and she gasped when she saw Cove there… staring down at her silently.

He’s literally staring into her soul with those fear-inducing orbs as he held the banister with his left hand.

She felt the fingers in her mouth again, getting a replay of last night in her head.

She quickly ran after her friends, but Zendaya already saw the eye contact, so she folded her fists, nearly tearing inti her palms with jealousy till they were out of that hall.

“Ice prince!” Trinidad joined Cove.

He turned slowly.

“What’s the wound on your neck?” She tried to touch, but he grabbed her hand.

“I’m gonna bite if you touch.”

“Oh?” She smiled, releasing herself from him. “Zendaya is gyming cos of you, you heard?”

“My ears have better use, Trinidad.” He replied.

Her face brightened. It’s the first time he said her name.

Her eyes caught the small sound processor behind his two ears, and she stared curiously at them.

Why is he always wearing those? If he’s not wearing his earbuds, he’d be wearing these sound processors.

Though, they’re too small to notice. She only just noticed during their snooker game at the tattoo shop.

“Why are you always wea—”

“Class,” he cut her off when their lecturer arrived.

“Oh…of course…” She followed him into the lecture hall.

—

[Skating Rink]

Roxy’s head is in need of smoke, so she came here to get some from Frank.

She’s sitting with Frank who just finished his ice time, and as they both smoked marijuana, they watched Remo who’s still on the ice.

It didn’t take long before he had a break came to meet them though.

He sat on the ice, drinking diet coke directly from the can.

“How’s it going with Kaylee?” Frank asked him.

“Don’t tell me he’s gonna f+k Dorian’s mother,” Roxy laughed, hanging her blunt.

“F+kin Dorian’s mother?” Scott’s voice sounded as he entered.

Remo stood immediately, throwing down his coke.

“You finally remembered the brotherhood? Have you had enough time cozying up with your manic stepbrother?”

“Where the hell is Max?” Scott asked, ignoring him.

“I’m talking to you!” Remo shouted.

“I don’t wanna talk to you! I don’t wanna argue with you about rights, Remo! Wanna fûck Kaylee? Go ahead, but I have an important football march on Friday and you won’t ruin it for me so avoid me!” Scott glared.

He faced Frank.

“Dude, when Max arrives, ring me,” he said, then he left the rink.

Remo took off his skating shoes and threw them off furiously, breathing so fuckin loud his anger is insurmountable right.

“Did Scott just shun me?”

Frank shrugged.

—

[6pm, Outright Media]

Kaylee adjusted her red suit flat polo when she got out of the car.

Her guards are professionally ready to show her the way.

Angela is home, recording and editing with Dorian and the crew.

It’s been a busy day for them, so Kaylee had to come alone to see Albert about…

You know…

The conjugation of their children.

Her guards carried her purse after her, and as they lined into the skyscraper, Stacy drove out of the underground parking lot.

She came to see her dad’s secretary about Cove’s info, and she got nothing. The secretary got nothing new except what she already knows, and it’s driving her crazy.

Is curiousity gonna kill her like it killed the cat?

Tania was later released in campus, but her punishment will be determined tommorow.

Fingers are still crossed.

Now, should she go to the twins mansion? Call Dorian? Or stalk Cove?

She chose the third.

—

[No Sleep Garage, 7pm]

Since the owner of this Camry brought it for repair at 6:30, Cove has been getting the red line signal.

The red code has been insistent.

He’s currently fixing the Camry wheel, and the owner of the car is seated with Matteo.

Matteo is good at chatting with strangers so far they’re customers in the garage, so he’s chatting with him now, but as they chatted, the man’s eyes didn’t leave Cove.

Even Trevor noticed it.

At 7pm when the car wheel got masterfully repaired, the man asked for water.

It was Trevor who went to get him a glass of water in the spare room tap.

While he’s inside, Cove entered the spare room too.

A minute later, Trevor came back with the water which he handed to the Camry man.

As he drank, Cove left the garage with the excuse that he’s going to get food at the nearest restaurant.

Camry man rushed into his car, getting out of the garage too…

Going after Cove.

Cove sighed on top of his Ducati Panigale V4 bike…he has payed Trinidad off, so now it’s his.

He saw the Camry man chasing after him through his front mirror, and his jaws grinded.

His intuitions are never wrong.

He drove past the nearest restaurant, sliding up a new area completely. The evening air felt so pleasant—too pleasant for what’s about to occur.

Cove’s dry lips refused to move even as he smirked.

Soon, he was inside the woods of that area. Deep, deep…woods.

The Streets is the most underdeveloped place in Bel-Air, and that’s why the most illegal activities happen in this place.

This night, another one is about to happen.

Well… maybe not completely illegal cos the man needs to experience what he’s about to experience.

Experience they say, is the best teacher.

Cove dumped his bike under a tree in the dark woods, he came down.

The man’s Camry stopped right behind, and Cove suddenly felt offended he chased him with a Camry.

Distasteful, but he’s gonna pay for everything this night.

The man literally jumped out of his car, and as the headlights bathed Cove’s face with illumination, hinting his silver eyes, he laughed….

“I knew it! Look, I might be a drunkard but I’m still sane! Fûck! I can’t believe this! Actually…I believe cos i knew it was impossible for a freak like you to die that easily! Like…you? The Pyro? Die? It’s impossible!” He laughed again.

Either Cove can’t identify a joke or what Camry man said isn’t funny at all, cos he stood where he stood, watching him silently.

“You damn Pyromaniac!” Camry man laughed again. “You’re hiding well in that garage! But you can’t hide that vetiver scent! You can’t hide your manic energy you cruel bastard!”

He pointed a finger forward.

“I’m taking you back to where you belong, and don’t think of—”

Camry man couldn’t say more, cos he suddenly grabbed his chest, choking out as his knees fell on the pebbled ground of the woods.

He opened his mouth to talk, but instead of words, blood poured.

“Finally some silence…your loudness was killing me,” Cove muttered, leaning on his bike body.

“The dead can’t walk, did you forget that? So now how are you gonna drag me back to that place?”

“What….” Camry man held his chest, grunting as more blood flowed… ” What did you…do to….m…e…”

“Bold of you to think we offer water for free in our garage,” Cove sighed. “I slipped antiarrhythmic pills into the water you drank. To people suffering from arrhythmia, the pill will keep them alive, but to you with no heart disease at all, the pill will kill you after ten minutes. You have one minute left now. First, you’ll feel slicing pain in your abdomen, tendons—up your mid stomach, and then it crawls into your intestines…”

As he talked, the man held the places he mentioned, the pains from the spots so blood-curdling.

He’s not sane anymore cos the pain is reaching his head, brain… and he’s running insane before death…

“Then the pain spreads to your flesh, that’s the most interesting part cos you won’t be able to breathe anymore. You get crumb breaths till it enters your bones, then your heart…it bursts..” Cove muttered.

The last place Camry man held was his chest, and the blood he spat out afterwards was too much.

He followed the blood to the ground, landing loudly as the last breath left his mouth slowly.

His eyes didn’t even close.

The lifeless eyes made Cove nod.

The way it’s stripped of life. The way it’s dead forever.

No one keeps a secret better than the dead. That has been confirmed over and over again.

He lifted his body from the bike, and the sound processor behind his right ear fell off.

Immediately it fell off, he stopped hearing with that right ear.

He went half-deaf.

The world went silent on the right.

He slowly picked the processor back, plugging it back.

His right ear hearing returned.

He went under the Camry and removed a pipe, then he leaked fuel through it into his palm.

He sprinkled the fuel on Camry man’s body, then he picked a matchbox from the Camry safe.

As he stuck the light stick, the fire burned in his eyes, and when he threw the burning stick at Camry man, it caught instantly, burning the shade of unquenchable inferno.

The forest brightened.

The world glowed.

The space shone.

This man would have been better as a lamp. Him as a human was a mistake.

But then…a lamp is a lamp. Now that his body is burning, it’s acceptable.

Cove smiled.

F+k…it’s been long since he watched things burn. He almost thought that side of him was gone, but who’s he kidding? A pyro is always a pyro.

The excitement inside him right now is contagious, and it deserves a celebration.

He picked a cigarette out of his pocket—using the two fingers he fingered her mouth with.

He went close to the burning Camry man body. From there, he put fire on the cigar and stepped back.

Then…he sat on top of his bike, smoking slowly and watching the burning ceremony of Camry man.

Too bad he’s the only one. A companion wouldn’t be bad.

He puffed hard, feeling much better.

As the fire burned, he’s getting so fuckin hard, and it’s totally normal.

His bastard c+k is shameless when it sees fire burning.

But he has uninvited guests though, cos under the shadows of a oak, Kane stood behind… watching.

He has been stalking him from school, and good fuckin’ gawd…

What a sight!

Senior maniac….no doubt.

He’s just a maniac, but Cove has something behind his own.

He’s a pyro.

Under a mahogany tree—inside her car, Stacy is almost peeing in her pants, and her eyes are teary as she watched the gory scene.

She stalked Cove like she decided, but now she’s regretting.

She just witnessed him burning someone, and if she’s not out of her mind right now, she’s close to it.

Her breaths isn’t balanced anymore. She’s so scared she might just faint right now, so she drove out of the woods same way she came.

Her tears are now flowing, and her hands are shaking on the wheel she almost got into two accidents.

How she got home is a mystery she can’t even narrate.

Her legs were curlingas she rushed into the house, and when the door opened, she met Dorian by the door.

He has been waiting here since 6. He came here immediately he finished his recording cos he missed her, and now that he’s seeing her in tears…

“Stace!” He gasped with troubled eyes, holding her arms, shoulders, and finally her face….

“Stace….

“He…he…set him on fire…in the…mmm…he….”

She began hiccuping, skipping over her wet words.

“Hey you’re slurring, and you’re shaking. Calm down first..” He wiped her tears with his thumbs.

She shook her head.

“He did…in the…the….

“Stace, I’m here till whenever you can talk clearly. For now, calm down, take a deep breath, breathe for me.”

She shook her head again, more tears running out of her eyes.

“He was…so…he….

She couldn’t say more.

He lowered his head to hers, and this time, he didn’t hold back.

He pressed his lips on hers, stopping her slurs and skips and tears.

He tasted her salty tears on her lips, but that is a flavor.

He kissed her gently, softly. Her thin lips seems to melt in his mouth.

Stacy’s wet lashes hugged each other, eyes closing as she kissed him back.

TBC.