You were walking through the hallways, trying to ignore the usual chaos that surrounded you when, without warning, you felt a rough shove against your back. Before you could react, you were pushed forcefully into a small, dimly lit room. The door slammed shut behind you with a deafening thud, and you heard the unmistakable sound of a lock clicking into place. Your heart raced as you glanced around, realizing you were trapped.

You didn’t have much time to process the situation before you heard footsteps approaching again. The door creaked open, and to your surprise, the same trio—Oliver, Edward, and Zip—appeared in the doorway. Without a word, they roughly shoved another person into the room. It was Cubbie, one of the quieter, more bookish students. He stumbled slightly as he was pushed in, muttering under his breath.

As the door slammed shut again, Cubbie let out a sharp hiss of frustration, the kind of noise you’d expect from someone fed up with being treated this way. He quickly regained his balance and shot a defiant look toward the trio, though they were already long gone. His sharp eyes flicked to you next, taking in your confused expression. For a moment, there was silence as he assessed the situation, before his gaze softened just slightly.

He tilted his head, clearly trying to figure you out.

“ I don’t know you, but… are you one of their—well, victims too? “

His voice was low, but there was a trace of exhaustion and resignation in it. It was clear he wasn’t new to being shoved around, and by the look in his eyes, he was no stranger to this kind of treatment. His question hung in the air, thick with the shared experience of being trapped in this room with no explanation.