Wrong Place, Wrong Time

By Thursday morning, Anthony Carter had become a rumor Nobody said it directly to his face.

Westbridge students weren’t that reckless But he could feel it everywhere, Whispers stopped when he walked by, Groups went quiet as he approached.

Students glanced at him, then quickly looked away It was like walking through invisible conversations.

Everyone knew who he was, The new boy, The boy who had stared down Lucas Kingstone, The idiot who hadn’t backed down or maybe the first person who had.

Anthony wasn’t sure the version which was spreading faster.

“You know,” Noah said as he caught up beside him, “most people try to stay unnoticed during their first week.”

Anthony adjusted his backpack.

“I was doing a pretty good job until recently.”

Noah laughed.

“No. You weren’t.”

They entered the main building, Students moved around them in neat streams.

“You’re famous now.”

“I don’t want to be famous.”

“Too late.”

Anthony groaned.

Noah grinned.

“You looked Lucas Kingstone in the eye.”

“So?”

Noah stopped walking.

“So?”

He looked genuinely shocked.

“Anthony, that’s like poking a sleeping lion.”

“I just looked at him.”

“At Westbridge, that’s basically a declaration of war.”

Anthony shook his head.

“This school is insane.”

“You’re just figuring that out?”

For the next several hours, life felt surprisingly normal, Classes came and went, Teachers assigned homework, Students took notes.

Anthony even managed to forget about Lucas for a while, Almost, Chemistry passed quickly, History dragged, Mathematics wasn’t terrible.

For a few hours, he felt like a regular student, No mysterious symbols, No secret messages, No self-appointed kings, Just school.

The feeling lasted until the final bell, Then everything changed immediately.

Anthony took a shortcut through the old science wing on his way out, The hallway was mostly empty.

The building was older than the rest of campus, Faded paint, old window, Dusty windows.

Long stretches of silence, Perfect place for trouble, He heard the voices before he saw them, Laughter, Mocking laughter.

The kind that instantly made his chest hurts then another voice, Smaller, Desperate.

“Please give it back.”

Anthony sighed.

Seriously?

Again?

He rounded the corner, Three old students was standing near a row of lockers, A young boy was standing in front of them, Maybe thirteen, Maybe fourteen.

His uniform hung loosely on his thin frame, His backpack lay on the floor.

One of the old students was holding a notebook above his head The younger boy kept reaching for it and failing, The bullies laughed every time.

“Come on,” the younger student pleaded.

“I need that.”

The tallest bully smirked.

“What was that?”

His friends laughed.

“I couldn’t hear you.”

More laughter, The notebook opened, The bully began reading from it out loud.

The younger boy froze His face turned bright red, Anthony immediately recognized the expression, Humiliation, Pure humiliation.

The notebook wasn’t homework It was personal, Maybe stories, Maybe private thoughts, Maybe something the boy never wanted anyone else to see.

The bully kept reading His friends doubled over laughing, Anthony looked away Keep walking, Just keep walking.

That was the smart choice He was already attracting enough attention, Lucas was watching him, Half the school was watching him For once, he should stay out of it.

The bully read another passage, The young boy eyes filled with tears, Anthony stopped walking, Closed his eyes and immediately knew he wasn’t leaving.

“Hey.”

The laughter died instantly, Four heads turned, Anthony stepped forward.

“Give him his notebook.”

The tallest bully stared then smiled.

“Or what?”

Anthony ignored him Instead, he looked at the young student.

“Are you okay?”

The boy nodded weakly, Though clearly he wasn’t The bully laughed.

“Oh look.”

He turned toward his friends.

“Hero boy is here.”

Anthony held out his hand.

“Notebook.”

“No.”

Simple, Confident, Arrogant, The bully wasn’t afraid Not yet, Anthony took another step.

Something in his expression must have changed Because the bully’s smile faded slightly.

“You are Anthony, right?”

Anthony didn’t answer.

The bully chuckled.

“Lucas mentioned you.”

Anthony jaw tightened.

Of course he did.

“Apparently you don’t know how to mind your own business.”

“Apparently.”

The bully smirked again.

“Last chance.”

Anthony folded his arms.

“Last chance for what?”

The bully raised the notebook higher.

“Walk away.”

Anthony looked at the two boys standing behind him Then back at him.

“You need two friends to help you bully one kid.”

The smile disappeared Completely.

“So?”

Anthony shrugged.

“Just seems pathetic.”

The hallway exploded, Students had quietly gathered behind them Now they reacted.

Gasps, Whispers, Phones appearing, Everyone sensed what was coming.

The bully’s face turned red.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me.”

The bully charged Bad decision, Anthony moved instantly, He stepped aside Grabbed the bully’s wrist Twisted.

The notebook slipped free The bully stumbled into his friends, The crowd erupted, Cheers, Gasps, Excited shouting.

Anthony barely noticed He turned toward the young student and handed over the notebook, The boy grabbed it with both hands, Relief flooded his face.

“Thank you.”

Anthony nodded.

“Go.”

The boy didn’t hesitate He ran, Gone within seconds, Smart boy, The bullies regrouped, Angry now, Really angry.

Anthony watched them carefully Then something changed, The atmosphere shifted, A strange silence spread through the hallway.

The crowd stopped talking, Students moved aside, A path opened, Anthony immediately knew who it was.

Lucas Kingstone The King of Westbridge, He walked through the crowd with his hands in his pockets.

Calm, Relaxed, Unhurried, As if he owned the building Nobody challenged him, Nobody blocked his path.

Lucas stopped several feet away His eyes swept across the scene, The angry bullies, The excited crowd.

“Anthony.”

A slow smile appeared One of the bullies immediately spoke.

“He started it”

Lucas didn’t even look at him, The boy instantly shut up, Anthony noticed, Interesting, Very interesting, Lucas focused entirely on him.

“You really enjoy creating problems.”He said to him.

Anthony crossed his arms.

“I don’t like bullies.”Anthony replied.

Several students audibly inhaled, Nobody talked to Lucas that way, Nobody, Lucas raised an eyebrow.

“You think that’s what happened here?”

“I know that’s what happened.”

Silence, The hallway seemed frozen Then something unexpected happened, Lucas laughed, Actually laughed.

Not fake laughter, Not cruel laughter, Real laughter, Even his followers looked shocked, Lucas shook his head.

“You are different.”

Anthony sighed.

People kept saying that.

“I’m starting to get tired of hearing that.”

The smile remained Lucas took a step forward, Most people would’ve backed away Anthony didn’t, Lucas noticed.

“Most students know when to stay out of situations that don’t concern them.”

“You mean they know when to stay silent.”

“I mean they know how to survive.”

Anthony’s eyes narrowed.

“Maybe they’re just scared.”

Lucas stared at him.

“Maybe they’re smart.”

Anthony didn’t look away Neither did Lucas, The tension became almost physical Then Anthony spoke.

“Maybe they’re cowards.”

Complete silence, The entire hallway froze Even the air felt heavy, Lucas smile vanished.

For the first time, Anthony couldn’t read his expression, Not anger, Not amusement, Something else, Something deeper.

Lucas studied him carefully Like he was solving a puzzle, Finally, he nodded Once Slowly as if confirming something.

“Interesting.”

Anthony hated that word now, Lucas turned away The crowd immediately parted for him His followers fell into step behind him.

The moment should have ended there, It didn’t Because halfway down the hallway, Lucas stopped Then looked back Directly at Anthony.

The smile returned But this one felt different Dangerous.

“Tomorrow.”He said to him.

Anthony frowned.

“What about tomorrow?”Anthony asked.

Lucas’s smile widened.

“You’ll find out.”

Then he walked away, The crowd remained silent until he disappeared Only then did people begin breathing again.

The hallway exploded with whispers, Noah appeared beside Anthony His face looked unusually pale Anthony glanced at him.

“Please say something useful.”

Noah stared at him For several seconds, he couldn’t speak Then he finally whispered,

“You have absolutely no idea what just happened.”

Anthony watched the empty hallway.

“Then explain it.”

Noah swallowed.

“Lucas doesn’t challenge people.”

Anthony frowned.

“So?”

“So if he says tomorrow”

Noah looked genuinely nervous.

“Then something is going to happen.”

That night, Anthony couldn’t stop thinking about it, Tomorrow, One word yet it followed him home.

Followed him through dinner, Followed him into bed, Eventually, around midnight, his phone vibrated.

Anthony frowned.

“Unknown number.”

Again.

His pulse quickened, he opened the message slowly, There was no text Only a photograph, Anthony blood ran cold.

It showed him This morning Standing outside Westbridge Academy Taken from a distance, Someone had been watching him.

Beneath the image was a single sentence.

Tomorrow at noon. The King has chosen.

Before Anthony could react, another message arrived, This one contained a location.

Westbridge Arena.

Then a final message appeared, Five words Words that made his heart stop.

Nobody survives the Selection.

Anthony stared at the screen, Outside thunder rolled across the night sky.

And for the first time since arriving at Westbridge Academy He felt afraid.