Chapter 157 - Plaything

"Raise your head up and greet our new classmate, mutt." 

That impish boy had a vile sneer on his face while he threw his command on that girl who was sitting still on the desk. Eva was jaw-dropped in shock with the cruel atmosphere, stood like a rock at the entrance without taking a step forward. Even looking at the girl in that pathetic state was causing chills all over her body. The other classmates seemed to be amused with the atmosphere and mumbling among themselves.

"Yeah mutt, you must greet her. She will be one additional member of our group starting from today." A young girl of their age with ginger hair, waving her little ponytail replied in a cheeky voice, pointing her finger towards Eva who was standing like a statue. 

"Why are they calling her a mutt? What's wrong with them?" Gulping her saliva, she was wondering while glancing at them.

The girl didn't even budge to follow their command. She sat still, lowering her face down with her drenched hair threads hovering over her face. As she didn't show a single response, that evil boy walked a step closer to her desk and slammed on it very hard making a loud reverberating noise.

"Do you want to disobey my command? Then should I just ask my dad to stop providing your tuition fee? Then you will be kicked out from here and will live your life on the streets like an abandoned mutt. Do you want it?" In a vicious grumble, he scowled his face while glaring at her.

For a few seconds, she chose to gaze downwards but she was fidgeting her small fingers. After a moment of pause, she slowly raised her chin up from the ground and gazed at Eva who was already gawking at her from the distance.

Her eyes were deep brown, bigger like almonds but looked cold as ice. Her gaze was barren as if she was an empty vessel with no emotions left behind. Drops of water were dripping down her jawline which was sharp and well-built. Her skin was bright porcelain white. Anyone could easily mistake her for a child model but Eva was spellbound to watch the cruel reality of her life. Their eyes met each other for a few seconds, and slowly, she lowered her eyes down again with the unfazed look on her grimace.

"Well done, mutt. I know you aren't going to disobey me, haha!" The boy tossed out a burst of hoarse laughter and roughly rubbed the back of her head as an appraisal for her response. The whole class seemed to be enjoying the ongoing scenario and nodded their head to his remark. 

"Wh-What is going on he-here?" Unable to suppress her dismay anymore, Eva yelled out aloud gathering every ounce of strength left in her frail state. Hearing her sharp query, the boy boldly walked towards and chuckled with a victorious grin.

"I am sorry if you are too surprised with us. Let me introduce myself first, I am Travis, the only son of the Chief Trustee of this school. Also, I am the class president so you can bring your every complaint to me.

Since you are the new member from today, we present you with this adorable mutt who will obey your every command. You can treat her however you like, okay?" He indicated his finger towards that girl who was still lowering her eyes down, soaking wet. 

"Wh-Why are you treating her like that? Why is she in such an awful state? Th-This is horrible!" She objected in a nervous tone, shifting her glance towards her.

A wicked, canny smile escaped his lips hearing out her gallant objection. He crossed his arms and stood firmly before her. "What's the problem with the way I am treating her?"

"What's the problem? You don't find any insanity in this behavior? Why are you calling her a mutt? What did she even do to be bullied like this?" She growled at him fiercely, unable to suppress her burning rage anymore.

"We call her a mutt because she is a mutt. She has no family and no money. Besides, I was the one who asked my father to pay for her tuition fees since she was about to get kicked out of the school. I was the one who did favor on her and that's why I have the right to play with her. I think you have mistaken Eva. We don't bully her, she is just our plaything." Shamelessly sounding all proud, he proclaimed his words in a sonorous voice while the rest of the class nodded to his point.

"I can't believe this! You are treating a person worse than an animal and yet you are proud about it? This is unbelievable!" Her throat was choked in rage as she sounded a bit husky, looking at the desk helplessly.

Standing still for a moment, the boy tossed a small sneer and boldly walked a few steps closer to her. Acting brazen, suddenly he gripped Eva by her shoulder which flinched her in surprise. Bringing his face a bit closer, he swirled his pupils and ogled holding a dark intense gaze. 

"Eva, you are talking a bit too much. You have come here just today. I have encountered many like you but soon enough, they join our group with their own will. I know, you will also join us very soon so...don't bother about her much. If you want to survive here...you will have to become one of us. And, you are smarter enough to learn it soon." His dark voice resonated in a deep echo as he whispered closer to her.

Shoving away his arm and unleashing her shoulder from his grip, she snarled her face at him fuming in wrath. Smiling victoriously, Travis walked out of the class and the rest of the herd followed him outside like a magnet. In that giant classroom, Eva was left alone with that girl who still had an unfazed look on her face even with all the ruckus going on. 

Rushing closer towards her, she immediately took out her handkerchief and stretched out her arm to give it to her standing before her desk. "Here... please wipe your face and your head. Y-You will catch a cold if you stay all soaked. It's already November!" Her voice sounded much concerned for her. 

"Go away." An ice-cold answer escaped her trembling wet lips as she still gazed down.

"Wh-What?" Surprised at her response, she murmured in confusion.

..........

**Please keep voting and commenting for me :) :)