The next day, Caleb enters the university, and the whispers follow him like a ghost. They are louder today, filled with suspicion, fear, and something else—something darker. He knows what they are talking about. Max's accident. The gruesome details. And the fact that no one knows who did it.
As he moves down the corridor, heads turn. Some eyes widen in shock, others narrow in distrust. Caleb keeps his expression blank, pushing forward, but then—
A figure steps in front of him. Derek, one of Max's closest friends, his eyes burning with fury.
"This is your fault," Derek hisses, his fists clenched. "You hated Max. You wanted him gone. And now—look what happened!"
Adrian, ever the protector, steps forward, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "Watch your mouth."
Derek doesn't back down. He leans closer, his face inches from Caleb's. "You think you can just sit there and act innocent? People are dead, Caleb."
Before Caleb can even open his mouth, a sudden force from behind sends him flying forward. Pain jolts through him as he crashes onto the cold, hard floor. Gasps ripple through the corridor, followed by cruel laughter.
"Oops," someone snickers. "Looks like the bird can't even sit properly now."
Caleb stares at the floor, his hands pressing against the tiles. He wants to push himself up, but the laughter rings in his ears, drowning out his thoughts.
Then, the laughter stops. Silence falls over the hallway like a suffocating blanket.
"WHAT is going on here?"
The principal's voice cuts through the tension, sharp and commanding. The students scramble back as the principal, a stern-looking woman with piercing eyes, strides forward. Her gaze lands on Caleb, now on the ground, and her expression shifts to immediate concern.
Without hesitation, she bends down and helps him back onto his wheelchair. "Are you alright, Caleb?"
Caleb grips the arms of his chair tightly, his knuckles white. He looks up at her, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please… Please don't pity me."
The principal straightens, her jaw tightening. "Pity? No. But I won't tolerate this kind of behavior in my university."
She turns sharply to the student who kicked Caleb. "You are suspended immediately. Pack your things and leave."
The student's face drains of color. "P-Principal, it was just a—"
"Did I stutter?" she snaps. "Out. Now."
As the student stumbles away, the principal sweeps her glare over the rest of the crowd. "And the rest of you? Laughing at this? You should be ashamed."
The students quickly disperse, leaving Caleb and Adrian alone in the now-empty corridor. Adrian kneels beside him. "Do you want to go home?"
Caleb exhales slowly, shaking his head. "No. Let's just go to class."
---
In class, Olivia and Sophia take their usual seats near Caleb. Unlike the others, they don't look at him with fear or curiosity. They just… look at him.
"Caleb," Olivia starts hesitantly. "You should come to the summer camp. The university is organizing it this weekend."
Caleb frowns. "Why?"
Sophia leans forward, smiling gently. "Because you need a break. Fresh air, nature—it'll be good for you."
Caleb scoffs. "And do what? Watch everyone run around while I sit in a corner?"
Olivia shakes her head. "You won't be a burden. We want you there."
For a long moment, Caleb says nothing. Then, finally, he sighs. "Fine. I'll think about it."
---
That evening, Caleb sits in his room, watching the news like he always does. But this time, he isn't just watching. He's waiting.
Then it happens.
A news flash. The words send a chill down his spine.
BREAKING NEWS: A STUDENT-AGE MALE FOUND BRUTALLY MURDERED. HIS FACE UNRECOGNIZABLE. THE KILLER IS STILL AT LARGE.
Caleb's breath catches. His fingers dig into the arms of his wheelchair. A cold wave of nausea washes over him.
Then his phone vibrates. And again. And again.
Group chat messages flood in.
"Did you see the news??"
"That's Derek. The guy who fought with Caleb today."
"His body was… mangled. And his legs—"
Caleb stares at the screen, his vision blurring. His hands tremble as he places the phone down slowly.
"I… I never expected it to turn like this…"
His own voice sounds foreign, distant. His mind races, his heart pounds.