Chapter 13: Episode Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Diana’s POV
I thought the worst was over after yesterday, but I was beyond wrong
The moment I stepped onto campus the next morning, I knew something was off. AGAIN
Students weren’t just whispering anymore, now they were openly laughing and pointing at me literally to my face…unlike when they were doing it indirectly
Some were even showing each other their phones…
My stomach dropped
What now?
I actually didn’t want to find out, so with my head bent down, I walked faster, trying to get to my first class. But I didn’t make it far because she was always, always faster
Selene stepped out from behind a pillar with her two minions flanking her sides and they blocked my path completely
“Well, well, well,” Selene said with a cruel smile and her hands folded across her chest “If it isn’t the college whore herself”
I tried to walk around her but one of her minions grabbed my arm roughly and shoved me back
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” the minion hissed
“Let go of me,” I said, trying to pull away, obviously not interested in their shenanigans, but they just couldn’t take a hint
Selene laughed “Oh no, We’re not done with you yet, Dirty Diana” she said
“You see, you did something very stupid…but considering that everything you do is stupid, I dont think you might remember”
My heart was racing now… “I don’t know what you’re talking about”
“Don’t play dumb,” Selene snapped “You slapped me the other day….In front of everyone. Do you remember that?”
Oh! Of course I remembered. How could I forget?
“You deserved it,” the words rolled out before I could catch them
Wrong answer
Selene’s face twisted with rage and if someone said she would kill me right there, I wouldn’t even doubt it
She nodded at her minions and they dragged me away from the main pathway and we ended up behind one of the buildings where no one could see us
What a great way to start the day
“You think you’re brave now?” Selene got in my face
“You think because Professor Blackwood fucks your little pussy you’re special now?” My eyes gree wide and I became overly defensive
“I never said that”
“Shut up!” She shoved me hard against the wall
“You need to learn your place,”
“And what place is that?” I asked, matching her tone, Karina growling inside me, obviously impressed
“Beneath me” she seethed
“Beneath everyone here” Selene smiled coldly “You’re nothing but scholarship trash who spreads her legs for grades”
“That’s not true”
“Everyone believes it is. And that’s all that matters” She pulled out her phone and showed me the screen
It was a photo
I wouldn’t even look at it properly if I hadn’t seen my face in it
And not just me…Calum’s too
And boy! That didnt look good
We were standing close together…too close. And we were both barely dressed
My blood ran cold but somehow my insides rose in temperature “Where did you get that?”
“That doesn’t matter,” Selene said smugly “What matters is what I do with it, No?”
“One click and this goes to the Dean. One click and you lose everything”
“You wouldn’t”
“Try me” Her eyes were dead serious “Unless you do exactly what I say”
I should have known it was coming to this
“What do you want?”
“I want you to stay away from Professor Blackwood completely and I mean it…don’t come to his classes, don’t look at him…don’t exist in his world” did she lose her shit?
“I can’t just stop going to his classes. It’ll affect my grades”
“Then fail” Selene shrugged “I don’t care. Just stay away from him”
Something inside me snapped. I thought about Amaryllis. I thought about how hard I had worked to get here. I thought about how I had endured so much already
And I was done taking it
“No,” I said firmly
Selene blinked in surprise “No??” It was more to herself than me
“I said no” I repeated and pushed her away from me. “I’m not doing what you want anymore”
Her face turned red with anger “You stupid bitch!”
She swung at me and her fist connected with my cheek. Pain exploded across my face and I stumbled backwards
But I didn’t fall
Karina roared inside me and suddenly, power surged through my veins
I lunged at Selene and tackled her to the ground. Her minions screamed but I didn’t care
I punched her once, then twice
All the anger and pain and humiliation from the past weeks came pouring out and I let them go freely
“You want to call me a whore? I think you should look in the mirror first” I shouted “You want to ruin my life huh? How about I ruin your face”
Selene tried to fight back but I was stronger some how
Karina was giving me strength I didn’t know I had
Her minions finally grabbed me and pulled me off her. I struggled against them but there were two of them and one of me
Selene stood up slowly, her nose bleeding. She looked shocked. Scared even
“You’re going to regret that,” she said, wiping blood from her face
“I already regret not doing it sooner,” I spat back
One of the minions slapped me hard across the face. Then the other one punched me in the stomach
I doubled over in pain but I didn’t cry. I wouldn’t give them that satisfaction
They hit me a few more times in every part of the body you know, it hurt but I stayed standing
“Let’s go,” Selene finally said “She’s not worth it”
They left me there behind the building, bruised and bleeding but still standing
I waited until they were gone before I let myself slide down to the ground. Everything hurt, my face throbbed, my ribs ached… But weirdly, I felt better than I had in weeks
I had fought back. I had stood up for myself and it didn’t feel so bad after all
But now I had to figure out how to get home without anyone seeing me like this....