He felt an intense pain dealt to his stomach, causing him to fall into the ground writhing in pain and leaving him gasping for air, unable to call for help or open his eyes. Then another followed, this one to his side. Then another. He can feel each hit as it connects, causing more and more pain to his body. He can feel someone kicking, someone punching, and someone doing whatever it is they’re doing.

Then it disappeared. The attacks suddenly stopped. He’s still shaking in pain and in fear, but he wants to see why they stopped, so he slowly opened his eyes even though closing them somewhat alleviates the pain. First thing he noticed is that his vision is tinted red - probably because there’s blood in his eyes. The second thing is that he could see four men - three laying down and a fourth standing up. The last thing he noticed is that the person standing up is Joseph Gavin.

“Oh my,” a familiar voice said, though he can’t recognize who the owner is as he slowly loses consciousness. “What is this all about?”

It hurts. It hurts so much that he would instead want to go to sleep. To just pass out and not feel it. However, he is curious. Curious as to who it is that just spoke. So he tried to open his eyes, though it earned him nothing but pain. The only thing he can see is red, and though he can still here her talking, he can’t understand what she’s saying. Every second that passed made her voice softer and softer, until he can’t here her anymore. He can’t see anymore. He can’t even feel anything anymore. Then he woke up.

The light overhead blinded him, though he can see it so clear that there can’t be blood in his eyes. He doesn’t feel much pain in his body, though he knows it’s still there. More importantly, he can’t move his arms.

“You’re awake!” said a familiar voice, but he’s too tired to remember who it is. He didn’t need to, though, as Julia’s face quickly came into view anyways. “Thank goodness you’re awake! Venus will be happy - she was so worried about you!”

“What happened?” was all he could mutter, and it was so inaudible that Julia had to put her ear right next to his mouth to hear him speak.

“We just found you on the back of your apartment, covered in your own blood! We should be asking you that!”

Though he didn’t actually forget, he is still disoriented and had the memories come back to him. Particularly the sight of his savior standing tall against his assailants. “Gavin…”

“Gavin? What’d you need him for?”

He tried to speak again, but his body is still weak and this act knocked him out cold again.

***

Two days earlier, behind the Class 4 Dormitory A

Venus gently walked down the dark alleyway leading to Class 4’s Communal Trash Dump. She can hear groaning and moaning down the street, and can clearly see the silhouette of a man standing up over four bodies. “Oh my. What is this all about?”

Gavin, the person standing up, went to the sidelines and took a bow.

“Ms. Marigold!” one of the beaten down men said, weakly pointing to another, specifically Louis Monet. “This scum… he’s cheating on you!”

She appeared confused, innocently tilting her head as she knelt down to their level, staining her dress with blood. “Cheating…?”

Another tried speaking, though their wounds make it barely audible. “He’s dating… you… Ms. August.”

“Is that so…?” Venus stood up, satisfied. “Thank you for your concern, but I’ve no need for it. Gavin, if you may…”

“Gladly, my lady.”

Venus removed her blood-stained dress, dropping it to the ground without worry that anyone would dare take a look. She showed no trace of shame even as the cold evening wind blew through her mostly bare skin, her mind focused solely on taking her spare set of clothing off her bag and putting it on. Now in a new set of identical but unstained clothes, Venus turned around to see the pool of blood that formed around the three bodies, a gaping knife wound clearly in their throats. They’re no longer breathing.

“Make sure his body will be discovered before any permanent consequences can arise,” she said, pointing to Louis. She then turned her attention to the three corpses laying on the ground. “Make sure any evidence of them is erased.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“I’ll be going now. I can’t risk being seen with you.”

Venus Marigold gently walked out of the alleyway, going in the same direction she entered earlier.

That night, three students from Class 4 Dorm A will discover the unconscious body of Louis Monet and take him to the Campus Infirmary. He will wake up a few days later with no lasting injuries. The next day immediately after, the school will announce that three students will transfer out of the school due to being unable to bear the pressure. There were many dissenting voices and doubters, but they never reached the level to be taken seriously.