Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Strangers and Sandwiches

Noah’s

I walked into school the next morning, my head feeling heavy and dull, my mood darker and more hopeless than ever before. I hadn’t seen Enzo since the previous night, when he had carried me gently to bed, his hand lingering in my hair, whispering confusing things I didn’t truly understand. Why does it have to be a human? His voice kept echoing in my mind, soft and broken, like he was genuinely fighting against his own nature. Did he actually say he was sorry? Or was I simply dreaming that moment? The thought instantly made my chest tight, like I was permanently stuck inside a cage I couldn’t physically see.

I slipped quietly into the classroom and sank down into my seat, the loud chatter of the other students buzzing constantly around me like bothersome static. They were all laughing loudly, tossing paper balls across the room, acting completely like life was perfectly normal and fine. I used to be exactly like that, joking easily with James, or expertly dodging the bullies. Now, all I could think about was just getting through the next few hours of the day and going straight back to that awful, heavy house. Five hours. Just five short hours left, and I would be back in Enzo’s terrible world, forced to follow his rigid rules and endure his cold, unreadable eyes.

I didn’t notice James until he loudly plopped into the seat right next to me, his heavy backpack thudding loudly on the floor. “Hey, Noah,” he said, his voice far too loud and overly cheerful for my mood. “Are you even okay, man? You genuinely look like someone ran right over your dog.”

I nodded once, barely looking at him, and rested my head down on my crossed arms. “I’m fine,” I mumbled, my voice flat and lifeless. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Not now, and probably not ever again. Enzo’s rules were like inescapable chains around my neck: Don’t tell anyone. Don’t get comfortable. If I slipped up even once, James could die because of me. I couldn’t let that happen to him.

James sighed heavily, leaning closer to me with concern. “Come on, dude,” he said. “You’ve been acting really weird and closed off all week long. Is it your dad causing problems again? Is he hitting you hard again? ‘Cause I swear to you, Noah, if he is still hurting you, I’m calling the police myself immediately.”

I froze completely, my heart instantly racing with panic. My dad. The very thought of him made my stomach twist uncomfortably, but not as badly as the thought of the truth coming out. “Don’t do that, James,” I said, lifting my head quickly to look at his worried face. “You truly don’t know what is actually going on with me. Just… please don’t.”

His eyes softened, filled with worry and confusion. “Noah, you have to talk to me,” he said. “You’re my best friend. If you’re deeply in trouble, I seriously want to help you figure it out. What is going on? You suddenly show up in a freaking expensive limo, and now you’re acting exactly like a zombie. Tell me something real.”

I wanted to tell him the truth. God, how much I truly wanted to tell him everything—how my dad had sold me to a crime boss, how Enzo fully owned me, how I was completely trapped and powerless. But the dangerous words stuck painfully in my throat, heavy and lethal. “I can’t tell you,” I said, my voice breaking slightly with emotion. “You honestly wouldn’t get it, James. Just leave it completely alone, please.”

He frowned deeply, leaning back slowly in his seat. “Fine,” he said, his voice much quieter now, accepting my silence. “But just know I’m here for you, okay? Whenever you feel ready to talk about it.”

I nodded my acknowledgment, looking quickly away from him, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. The classroom door suddenly opened again, and the entire room immediately went silent. I didn’t look up until I felt that familiar, unnerving sensation of someone intently watching me. Dean. That creepy guy from Enzo’s house, the same one who had aggressively cornered me yesterday in the room. He walked in slowly, his smile sharp and incredibly unsettling, like he was actively hunting me down. My stomach instantly dropped with dread, and I desperately wanted to run away, to get as far from him as possible.

James leaned over quickly, whispering right into my ear, “Yo, isn’t that teacher kinda… sexy? I mean, for a dude, he is definitely good looking.”

I shot him a furious look, my face burning with acute embarrassment. “Shut up about him,” I muttered, keeping my eyes firmly on my desk. Dean’s voice cut cleanly through the quiet room, loud and utterly commanding. “Everyone, please sit down properly,” he said. “Get your required books out now. Let’s start.”

I fumbled nervously with my bag, finally pulling out my book, but I could distinctly feel his eyes still fixed on me. He walked slowly down the main aisle, stopping right next to my desk. “Noah,” he said, his voice smooth but firm, “where exactly is your textbook?”

I held it up quickly, my hands trembling slightly. “Here,” I said, trying not to look directly at him.

“Good,” he said, leaning closer to my space. “Pay close attention this time, Noah. No zoning out of the lesson.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled again, my face feeling hot and flushed. I didn’t understand these strange people—Enzo, Dean, Ren. They all acted like they completely owned the world, like I was truly nothing but a minor inconvenience. I just desperately wanted to get through this class period and disappear back into the quiet house.

Time dragged on forever, the lesson itself a confusing blur of sound and words. I felt incredibly sleepy, my head heavy and nodding, but Dean’s voice suddenly snapped me awake. “Noah!” he called out loudly, sharp enough to instantly make me jump in my seat. “No sleeping in my class today. Do you understand my rule?”

“Sorry, sir,” I said once more, my face hot with embarrassment. “It won’t happen again, I promise.”

“It better not happen again,” he said, his creepy smile slowly creeping back onto his face. “I am constantly watching you, kid.”

Lunchtime finally came, and my stomach growled loudly and painfully. I didn’t have any money or any food with me—nothing but the clothes on my back and Enzo’s dangerous rules echoing in my head. I wandered slowly toward the main staircase outside the school, sitting down carefully on the cold stone steps, my arms wrapped tightly around my knees. I was so hungry it genuinely hurt, but I didn’t know what I should do. Go straight back to the house early? Wait patiently for Ren to arrive? I felt completely lost and alone, like I truly didn’t belong anywhere at all anymore.

A dark shadow suddenly fell over me, and I looked up in surprise. A guy stood there, tall and casually dressed, with a very friendly smile on his face, holding a sandwich carefully wrapped in plastic wrap. “Hey there,” he said kindly, sitting down right next to me. “You honestly look like you could use this. Please take it and eat.”

I stared intensely at the sandwich in his hand, my stomach loudly growling again. “Thank you very much,” I said softly, taking it slowly, my hands still shaking slightly. I quickly unwrapped it and took a large bite, the bread soft and fresh, the peanut butter sweet and comforting. It was easily the best thing I had tasted all day long.

“You’re absolutely welcome,” the guy said, his warm smile widening even more. “You looked pretty rough and defeated sitting here all alone like that.”

I swallowed the food, nodding my head in agreement. “Yeah, I’m just… really hungry right now,” I said. “I will definitely pay you back for this, I promise you I will.”

He waved a hand dismissively, laughing gently. “Nah, don’t worry about the money at all,” he said. “I’m a senior student here. Helping out others is no big deal to me. You’re new around this area, right?”

I shook my head slowly, finishing the sandwich quickly. “Not new, exactly,” I said. “Just… been away for quite a while now.”

He nodded in understanding, his eyes kind but also strangely sharp, reminding me slightly of Dean’s intensity. It made me uneasy and nervous, like I couldn’t trust anyone completely. “Are you okay, though?” he asked, leaning closer to check on me. “You seem kinda out of it and distant.”

“I’m fine,” I said, my voice tight and guarded. “Just very tired lately.”

He smiled again, tilting his head slightly. “Fair enough, I guess,” he said. “But we’re in the same school building, so we should at least know each other’s names, shouldn’t we? I’m Stan.”

I paused for a long moment, my heart racing again. Enzo’s rules instantly echoed loudly in my head: Don’t get comfortable with anyone. But this guy seemed genuinely nice and friendly, and I was so tired of being completely alone all the time. “Noah,” I said softly, nodding my head. “My name’s Noah.”

Stan grinned, holding out his hand for a f

ormal shake. “It’s very nice to finally meet you, Noah,” he said, his voice warm and inviting.