“I love you! Please, Kairo! Just one kiss!” Dirt’s mimicked voice pleads through a few speakers. They’re all off beat, but it does the damage we’re intending.
There are a few cackling snorts from nearby girls, and deep laughs from the football team as they all huddle together to watch the video. Charlie’s face falls before she flashes her phone screen to Dirt, and we watch as our victim’s soft features twist into horror. Her pale cheeks turn crimson red as she snatches the device out of her friend’s hand.
She stared down at the deep fake, tears welling in her large eyes. Sick pleasure races through my veins, egging me on as I step into the hall.
“Kairo, Please!” I mock loudly with a cruel smirk. “Just one kiss!”
Howling laughter cracks across the halls, echoing into every fucking corner of this school. I stare Dirt down, waitingfor the moment she looks up.
But Roman beats me to it as he stalks towards her, dark intent swirling around him like a cloud. His hard features are devoid of emotion as he glowers at Dirt like she’s a bug beneath his shoe. “If my dad gets one more fucking call from this school, you’re dead.”
He pushes past her, bumping into her shoulder roughly as he continues down the hall.
Sherrie watches him with narrowed eyes before taking the phone from Dirt with gentle hands. “Rose—”
Our victim takes off running in the direction of the girls’ bathroom as tears stream down her cheeks. I only get a sliver of her agony, but it’s enough to have satisfaction settling into my core.
There’s more where that came from, Dirt.
Chapter Six
Roman
“What are you plotting for phase two?” Kairo is practically vibrating out of his skin with anticipation.
There are three different parts to our plan. Each one of us is going to get a taste of Dirt’s sorrow, and now it's my turn to play with the little bug.
Growing up in a strict military family, I enjoy control. The power I lack at home, I have in abundance outside those confining walls. Every aspect of my life is in the palm of my hand and manipulated by me.
As are most of the student body.
They’repawns—disposable pieces I can move and switch whenever I want.
My favorite piece, our girlfriend, Jordan, is propped against her locker as she talks to a few of the girls on the cheerleading team. From the lack of fire in her eyes, I take it that she hasn’t seen the deep fake yet.
I saunter up to her, fishing my phone out of my pocket before shoving it in her direction.
She lifts a brow. “Not even a kiss good morning?”
“Watch,” I command.
She rolls her eyes before I press the play button. Her face falls as the shrill, fake voice fills the hallway. I see the moment her left eye twitches, and Maddox slaps an approving hand over my shoulder.
“That fucking whore!” Jordan rages before smacking my phone away and stomping off to find Dirt. “I’m going to beat her ass!”
A crowd amasses at the end of the corridor as studentsbegin a headhunt. They’re ripping open classroom doors and scoping out the gym in hopes of finding the poor girl. It isn’t until there’s a victorious whoop that echoes off the walls that we push through the throng.
Jordan stomps out of the girls’ bathroom, a hand squeezing into Dirt’s shoulder before she flings the bug onto the floor. Our girlfriend breathes deeply, her chest rising and falling with her ragged anger.
Jordan points down at Dirt, her mouth twisting. “You fucking skank! I’m going to beat you worse than your dad does!”
Shouts ring out and chants of ‘fight, fight, fight!’ fill the halls. Dirt scrambles back, shaking her head as her red-rimmed and puffy eyes widen. Her cheeks are still glistening with tears, but it’s her fear I’m feeding off of.
I watch with the hooded gaze of a predator, the thrill of the hunt washing over me with an unsettling calm. I’m a spectator, but every move Jordan makes feels like my own.
She’s the perfect pawn—hot-headed and ready to defend what she stakes claim over. But she’s just as disposable as the rest. The moment her shiny exterior wears thin, we’ll be off to the next better thing. Until then, we’re going to stretch her limits and see just how far she’ll go for us.
She lunges for Dirt, but doesn’t make it when a fist connects with her jaw. Charlie, I think her name is, stands over Dirt like her sworn protector as she steps into a fighting stance.
