Varney
"First on the list is Knox."
The processor paused. It seemed like everyone stopped breathing.
"And his partner is Varney."
My eyes almost fell out of their sockets while my heart completely stopped walking. My ears were ringing and it felt like I might faint.
What the hell?
Evan and Darcy were gaping at me, shock and fright written over their faces and I suddenly wished I could disappear at once. I let out a small, wounded sound when the professor demanded the two students get on their feet.
My legs shook when I rose to my feet, and a shocked murmur went through the class as they stared at me. The professor had a shocked look on his face, looking weary, and seeming like the names indeed got shuffled randomly.
If it was random, why did my name get paired with his of all people?
I sneaked a glance behind me, then I flinched at the sight of Knox on his feet as well. He looked bored, that's one way to put it. His face was blank and his hands were in his pockets. All the people seated at the back had pale expressions on, and the entire back row was vacated, like everyone avoided that row cause he was in class today.
The professor cleared his throat, almost awkwardly. "Erm, Varney, please make your way to your partner's side."
Evan and Darcy looked at me with so much worry and pity, and I suddenly felt like crying. I also wished I could ask the professor to switch my partner cause I was fairly sure that wasn't allowed.
Oh heavens. Please save me today.
Those words kept echoing through my head as I walked out of my seat, feeling hundreds of eyes on me as I walked past them, to the back of the seat. Each step felt like I was walking to my death and I could hear a few hushed remarks from the students.
"He has such shitty luck. Imagine being paired with Knox?"
"I'd rather be paired with anyone else. That's literally a death sentence." Another hushed feminine voice exclaimed.
"He's a human on top of that and everyone knows he hates humans. He might kill him with a single punch."
My stomach squeezed tightly in discomfort and I wondered if the students would be allowed to kill each other today in the name of a class?!
Was that normal?
When I arrived at the back of the class, Knox was already sitting again. I stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do or say, but feeling like a wrong move could put me in trouble.
He wasn't even looking at me and I guess that was a good thing?
I awkwardly took the seat beside him, perched at the very edge, my breath coming out in nervous pants.
The professor had finished calling out everyone's names, and now he was explaining something else.
"Everyone, please remember that these people are your classmates at the end of the day, so, no killing, please."
The professor's eyes were on Knox when he spoke and I felt myself tense up at once, my heart pounding away so hard, I felt like I might pass out.
Knox let out a small scoff after that, and it felt like that sealed my fate.
"Let's all head outside then. Everyone be in pairs with your partners, please." The processor clapped his hands, ushering everyone out along with him, and in no time, it was just Knox and I in class.
I jumped up fast, about to speed out or something, but then his intense dark eyes were locking on me and I felt my legs wobble beneath me.
"You can't leave without me, we're partners after all, aren't we?"
He was speaking to me and my brain literally shut down. His voice was so low and deep, it fully washed over me.
"I- I was just…"
He rolled his eyes as he got to his feet, his muscles stretching the material of his black clothes. He was fully towering over me now, a bored expression was on his face as he spoke.
"I'm not gonna go easy on you, human. If you suck out there, I'll break your bones."
I sucked in a sharp breath, my entire heart crumbling in fear.
But I remembered that I probably shouldn't be showing how afraid I feel right now, so I cleared my throat and tried schooling my expression into a blank one.
"I— I'm not gonna suck. I'll give you a hard time too," I blurted out before I could think twice, my thin voice betraying my confident words.
He snorted, his dark eyes raking over me. "You're so terrified, you're about to pass out."
I swallowed, my cheeks heating up in embarrassment. "That's n- not true."
"It's not?" He echoed, then he stepped closer to me and I almost passed out.
"Are you aware of the amount of times you've pissed me off, human?"
My mouth soundlessly moved.
"First, the coffee. The second time, you walked into me and shamelessly blamed me for it. And lastly, just now, for daring to look me in the eye and tell me you'll give me a hard time out there. That's basically you giving me a challenge." I sucked in a sharp breath, the fear within me heightening with each passing moment as his words washed over me.
"And I never back down from a challenge, so out there, I'm gonna forget what the professor said and fully focus on crushing your little bones." He straightened after that and I fell into the seat, blinking up at him with so much terror.
"And if you do survive, well, let's just say, I don't think you will,"
He walked past me after that, and I remained in the same spot, unable to breathe or fully wrap my mind around all that he just said.
Oh heavens.
Just what the hell have I gotten myself into? And on my second day?!?
My legs shook when I finally gathered myself and made my way outside to the large field. I was too frightened to stand beside Knox after our little conversation back in the classroom so while everyone stood beside their partner, I stood a far distance away.
"Now, let the first participants please make their way out and get on with the fight." The professor announced in a loud voice