I Want to Die, But I Am Immortal-Chapter 107: Big Game (4)

He was not afraid of their fathers their connections. He was not afraid of the police. He was not afraid of anyone. The rules of the game had changed. And now he was the one making the rules.

He reached out and took Sophia’s hand giving it a gentle reassuring squeeze. She looked at him her fear momentarily forgotten. In his eyes she saw not a monster not a killer but a protector.

And in that moment she knew that no matter what happened she would be safe as long as he was by her side.

"You don’t need to be afraid," Adam said his voice a low calm whisper that was meant only for her. "I’m with you."

His words were a simple promise but they were enough. A sense of peace a fragile but real sense of security washed over Sophia’s troubled heart. She looked at him and for the first time since Lily had walked into the room she felt like she could breathe again.

"If anything happens just tell me," Adam continued his voice a firm command that left no room for argument. "And don’t even think about leaving my side. From now on you’re staying with me 24/7."

Sophia nodded her agreement without hesitation. The thought of being constantly by his side was not a burden. It was a comfort. It was a shield against the darkness that was constantly threatening to consume her.

The morning classes began. But Adam was not focused on the teacher’s lecture. He was watching Lily. He noticed that she kept turning around and smirking at Sophia a look of pure malice in her eyes.

He knew her intentions were not good. He knew that this was just the beginning.

A thought occurred to him. He wondered if Anderson the police commissioner’s son was back in school. The last time he had dealt with them Anderson had been the ringleader the one pulling the strings.

If he was back and if he was planning on bothering Sophia again Adam would have to teach him a lesson he would never forget. The rules had changed. He was no longer afraid of the consequences.

At lunchtime just as Adam and Sophia were about to leave their desks Lily and her two friends stood in front of them blocking their way. It was a deliberate act of intimidation a clear and unambiguous challenge.

"What do you want?" Adam asked his voice cold and hard a stark contrast to the gentle tone he had used with Sophia just moments before.

"I don’t have any business with you," Lily said with a dismissive wave of her hand her eyes fixed on Sophia. "I want to talk to my friend Sophia."

Adam glanced at Sophia. She was staring at her desk her small frame trembling with a fear that was all too familiar. She could not even look at them.

Adam smiled a cruel predatory smile. "I heard you got into a fight on the hill behind the school," he said his voice a low dangerous whisper that was meant only for Lily and her friends. "I heard you got beat up pretty bad." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Lily’s face paled. A flicker of fear danced in her eyes.

"I also know why you were on that hill," Adam continued moving a step closer to her his voice dropping even lower. "So don’t make me say it out loud. Just mind your own business and walk away."

Lily was scared. He could see it in her eyes. But she was also stubborn and proud. She could not back down now not in front of her friends not in front of him.

"Oh so our little friend Sophia has a boyfriend now," she said with a malicious grin her voice a little too loud a little too shrill. "How sweet."

She and her friends laughed a cruel heartless sound that echoed in the quiet classroom. They then turned and walked away their laughter lingering in the air like a poisonous cloud.

They won’t listen to reason, Adam thought to himself a cold determination settling in his heart. He looked back at Sophia. She was still staring at her desk her face slick with a cold sweat.

"Why are you so scared?" he said gently his voice a soft caress that was meant to soothe her frayed nerves. "Come with me." He took her hand his touch a firm and reassuring presence. He led her out of the classroom away from the prying eyes and the lingering scent of their cruelty.

They got their lunch from the cafeteria and sat at a secluded table in the corner. Sophia was still shaken. She had been through so much in the past few weeks. The bullying the fear the violence it was all too much for her to bear.

Adam knew his school life was about to get a lot more complicated. And his prediction came true sooner than he had even expected. He saw Anderson walk into the cafeteria with Lily and his other friends.

They walked straight to their table their presence a dark cloud that cast a shadow over their small island of peace. Anderson pulled up a chair and sat down right next to them his eyes fixed on Sophia. His friends followed suit surrounding them completely.

Lily sat next to Sophia a smug triumphant smile on her face.

Adam wondered if they had always been this bold this open in their torment of Sophia. He did not remember any incidents like this from before his ’Return by Death’ ability had activated.

Something had changed. Was it because Anderson knew his father would protect him no matter what he did? Did the police commissioner’s inaction against his own corrupt officers give his son a sense of invincibility? Did he feel like he was above the law above any consequences? The thought filled Adam with a cold and righteous anger. He would teach him a lesson that even his powerful father could not erase. He would show him the true meaning of fear.