CHAPTER 160: 160-AND THE BULLYING STARTS

Clementine:

So, for the next few minutes, I told them all about the gnomes, their names, the houses, the setting, everything. I also explained why I was in a new dress, though I left out the intimate stuff I didn’t even want to say to myself. Then I told them how we killed the gnomes, and how their world crumbled after.

Once it was all out, I watched Mr. Rick close his diary and stretch his neck back. "Although I don’t believe you when you say nothing happened there, because it’s inevitable, we have no proof, so we’ll let it slide. You did clear out a big chunk of the North, you know that?"

He mentioned the gnome garden, and all I could do was frown. It seemed like such a small area, what did he mean by a good chunk of the North?

"That garden was nowhere near the smallest area. But that didn’t mean they were the deadliest monsters, only the nastiest ones." A smirk spread across his face when he said that.

"But I must say, I did remind you not to mess with me. Next time you climb onto that train, who knows where it will take you."

Those words froze me. I couldn’t tell if he was saying our luck messed us up after we’d been rude to him, or if he was personally involved. I wasn’t sure, so I just kept watching his face. Then he fixed his collar.

"And since you didn’t break the rule, and you also killed a monster, we’ll let you go." He pointed at the door and stood up. The others followed him.

"I’m free to go?" I asked.

He only nodded.

"What about my squadmates?"

As soon as I mentioned them, Mr. Rick’s nasty look returned. It was like he wanted to say he knew we had done more than just slay monsters.

"They are free. They’ll be released in the evening. But you may leave now. Go change into your own clothes and leave the North clothes outside your dorm," Lenora instructed.

I remembered how they had stolen our weapons too. I began to walk out of the prison, where a lurker waited to escort me to one of the cars. Still, I couldn’t help glancing at the other interrogation rooms, all black from the outside. I wondered what was happening inside, why they weren’t setting them free immediately.

I sat in the car, and they drove me back to the academy.

As soon as I got out of the car, I looked around. The only people I saw in front of the main hall were the white squad members. When they noticed me approaching, I watched them start walking toward me. I didn’t want to deal with anyone at that moment.

"So, I heard you guys were at the gnomes’ garden," Suki said, trying to be messy as she walked beside me. I didn’t know the news spread so fast.

"Can you please just leave me alone?" I snapped, and her squadmates started laughing and giggling.

"Well, it was all of you, right? And you were the only woman. How did you manage it?" Joshua asked, making me clench my fist.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," I hissed. I noticed Jack wink at Joshua, trying to egg him on, make him comment more.

"I mean, we all know what the gnomes’ garden is about. At least we do now. And you know, it’s all about a person’s lust coming out. Surely it does. And for you, it must have been— odd. I mean, we know you’re mates with Haiden. But we’ve seen you get intimate— a little too flirtatious with Troy and Yorick as well. So how was it? Was it like a gangbang kind of thing?" Joshua mocked, shutting himself up like he’d said enough.

Others started laughing with him.

"It must have been all of them with her," Jack said, already starting a rumor.

"I said, nothing happened. Now step out of my way." As soon as I said that and turned, I saw Suki still trying to block me. Her squadmates did the same. They circled me.

"Oh, come on, we know what happened. Tell us, share it with us. Did they touch you here?" Joshua pointed at my thigh. I slapped his hand and quickly spun around, but they kept moving in circles. Their arms were around each other’s shoulders, forming a closed ring.

"Fucking get out of my way!" I screamed, pushing one of them. They quickly broke the circle to avoid my touch, then re-formed it.

"No, he must have touched her there," Jack said, pointing at my chest. I had already slapped his hand away.

"Or maybe everywhere," Suki whispered sneakily.

"You know what, how about we tell everyone she’s been shared by all her squadmates?" Joshua added with a nasty smirk.

"Oh my goddess, that would be so nasty," Suki said, and finally, they stopped.

"Hey, leave her alone."

I heard Oriana arrive. I couldn’t believe she came at the perfect moment. She quickly broke the circle, Jack’s arms came off Joshua, and stepped closer to me, holding my hand.

"She slayed a monster and cleared a good chunk of the North. How about you guys be grateful instead of acting scummy?" she hissed. Joshua raised his brow and measured her up and down.

"This red chick talks a lot, doesn’t she?" Jack muttered to Joshua, who only nodded.

The silent stares they gave her were uncomfortable, even for me. If it were me, I’d be wondering what they were planning. But Oriana didn’t care. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed them.

"Go clean the hall. Somebody spilled coffee everywhere," she ordered.

The white squad hissed and grunted, already knowing who had done it.

"You will pay for this," Joshua said to Oriana.

She shrugged. "My daddy has enough money to pay for anything. Make a bill, send it to me on my father’s phone. Go ahead." She clapped her hands.

Suki had one last jab. "Well, if you’re such a daddy’s princess, you wouldn’t be here, would you?"

She walked away, and I noticed Oriana looked slightly sad before shrugging.

"Anyway, let’s get you out of these clothes. We have to send them to the white squad to clean."

Oriana put me at ease. She walked me to my room so I could change, then took the clothes to the white squad. I sat on the bed, wondering when my squadmates would arrive.

One by one, my squadmates arrived in fresh clothes. I guess that’s why it took so long, they had to change right there in the interrogation rooms.