Chapter 1: The New Order
The silver gates of St. Jude's Academy didn't just open; they seemed to recoil as the black Porsches pulled up.
St. Jude's wasn't just a school—it was a battlefield draped in ivy and expensive limestone. It was the kind of place where the hallways smelled of mahogany and arrogance, where "Ragging" was a tradition handed down like an inheritance. For most freshmen, the first day after summer was a nightmare of avoiding the gaze of the elite seniors.
But the Secret Eight Saviour Squad didn't have spirits that could be broken.They moved like they were used to standing beside each other, like they trusted each other without needing to say it out loud.
They stepped onto the asphalt in a formation that made the rowdy crowd of bullies go silent. Adrian led the pack, his eyes scanning the rooftops and perimeter exits out of habit, not nerves. Beside him, Chloe adjusted her designer blazer, her presence screaming that she owned the blueprints of the building before she even stepped inside. Sky Rodger was already tapping on a slim, translucent tablet, her eyes hidden behind dark tint, silently bypassing the school's firewall.
"I am going to be the most popular person here," Noah said.
Sara looked at him. "You are going to be the most talked about, but not for the right reasons."
"That still counts," Noah replied.
"Security is a joke," Sky muttered, her voice low. "I could shut down the entire grid with a single command. Five minutes, tops."
Ethan leaned slightly toward her. "Five minutes? That's slow."
Sky replied without looking up. "Do you want it done properly or dramatically?"
Chloe smirked. "She has a point."
"Don't," Adrian commanded softly. "We're here to blend in, not cause a blackout on day one
They walked straight to the massive digital notice board in the lobby. The crowd of students parted like the Red Sea, sensing a predatory energy they couldn't quite name.
"Check the lists," Adrian said.
Sky swiped her tablet, and the board flickered, rearranging the names. "Found us. Section A: Adrian, Ethan, Leo. The heavy hitters stay together. Section B: Sara and Noah. Section C: Chloe and I."
Ethan leaned back against a marble pillar, a 'goated' smirk playing on his lips as he looked at Leo. "Section A, huh? Not gonna lie but looks like the teachers are going to have a rough year with us in the back row."
Leo chuckled, clapping Ethan on the shoulder. "Just try not to fall asleep during the first lecture, man. We've got eyes on us."
"Section B? Perfect," Noah grinned, adjusting his collar and checking his reflection in the glass. "I need someone to keep me from falling asleep in Calculus, right Sara?"
Sara just smirked, popping a piece of grape gum. She looked around at the seniors who were currently harassing a group of freshmen in the corner. Her eyes went cold for a split second before returning to their usual calm. "Don't count on it, Noah. I'm only here for the attendance... and to enter in the archery team."
"Everyone ready?"Adrian asked
"No," Noah replied. "But I look good, so it doesn't matter."
"Just stay out of trouble," Adrian said
Chloe raised an eyebrow slightly.
Leo leaned forward. "What if trouble finds me?"
Ethan chuckled from behind.
"Then hide from it,"Adrian replied."I don't want our cover blown on day one."
They separated without hesitation.
They did not need long goodbyes.
They knew they would find each other again any how.They had trained together. Learned together. Fought together.
And it showed.
The First Lecture: Section B
Inside Section B, the atmosphere was suffocating. The teacher, Mr. Halloway, was a stern man with spectacles who began writing complex Trigonometry on the board before the bell even stopped ringing.
Noah was tapping a rhythmic, complex beat on his desk, his mind clearly on his music choreography, while Sara sat by the window. She wasn't looking at the board. She was tracking the security guards in the courtyard, calculating their patrol times so that they could bunk school, some day.
Psst," Noah murmured, his fingers tapping a restless, rhythmic beat on the mahogany desk. "Don't look now, but the 'Queen Bee' in the front row has spent the last ten minutes trying to figure out if your earrings are real diamonds. I think she's realized they didn't come from the local mall."
Sara didn't even turn her head, her gaze fixed on the security guard patrolling the courtyard outside. "Let her keep guessing. Once she realizes they're actually hidden communication devices connected to our private server, she'll have a lot more to worry about than my fashion sense."
Noah smothered a laugh. "True. Though, if Sky hears her thoughts on your outfit through the frequency, she might just 'accidentally' delete the girl's Instagram account by lunch."
They both chuckled, trying to hide their laughter behind the books.
The morning dragged on through lectures that felt like a lifetime. For a squad trained in high-speed chases and combat, sitting in a wooden chair was the ultimate torture.
The Break: The Call to Action
The bell finally rang for the first long break, and the silence of the classroom was shattered.
The door swung open, and a senior girl with a megaphone and a clipboard stepped in, followed by two burly guys in varsity jackets. "Listen up, freshmen! Auditions for the school's elite Dance and Music Team are happening now in the auditorium. If you think you have talent—well, most of you look like you don't—get moving. The rest of you? Stay out of the way."
Noah's eyes lit up. He stood up with a grace that made the other students look clumsy.
"This is my moment."He said as he gave his name for the auditions
Sara shook her head slightly. "You say that about everything."
He looked at her, his best friend and the only person who understood his "lethal rhythm."
"You are coming to support me."
"I am coming to judge you," Sara replied.
"Come on, Sar. I need my favorite critic there. My footwork is a bit too fast for these locals to follow."
Sara sighed, but there was a playful glint in her eyes. She grabbed her bag. "Fine,being your best friend,it is my duty to come to support you. But if it's boring, I'm leaving to go find the stables. I hear this school has champion horses."
Audition Hall
The hall was filled with students preparing nervously. Music played in the background, and groups practiced their routines.
Noah stepped forward when his turn came.
His performance was confident and sharp. His movements were precise, and his presence stood out.
Sara watched from audience's chair behind, arms crossed, impressed.
When he finished, she put a hand around his neck. "Not bad,best bro."
Noah smirked. "I told you."
As they walked out of the auditorium, the main courtyard was already a circus. A circle had formed as break had started, and the sound of mocking laughter echoed off the stone walls.
In the center stood David Knight.
He was the son of the DSP, and he wore that power like a crown. He was currently hovering over a younger student, tossing the kid's glasses back and forth with his friend, Mark. David was handsome,tall,undeniably cool,had dark hair and looked like he had never been told 'no' in his entire life.
Sara accidentally bumped into him
David looked at her, his expression calm but firm.
"You should watch where you are going," he said with arrogance
Sara met his gaze. "Or you could move."
Students nearby stopped to watch.
Mark, standing against the wall, noticed the tension immediately. "This is interesting," he said quietly.
David stepped closer.
"You are new here," he said. "Do not make mistakes you cannot fix."
Sara tilted her head slightly,still calm "Is that a warning?"
"It is an advice," David replied.
"I am getting late,move" Sara said.
Her voice wasn't loud, but it had a vibration of authority that made the surrounding crowd go dead silent.
David looked at her with a mixture of amusement and arrogance. "You must be the new girl. I'm David. This is my hallway, my courtyard, and my school. You want to pass? You pay the toll."
"And what's the toll today, David?" Noah asked, crossing his arms, looking completely unimpressed.
"An apology," David sneered, stepping closer to Sara, trying to use his height to intimidate her. "For the way,you spoke with me."
Up on the second-floor balcony, the rest of the squad appeared. Adrian, Ethan, and Leo—the goated trio—leaned against the railing. Chloe and Sky stood beside them. They didn't rush down. They were confident of her and knew she could handle this.
"Oh, look," Leo whispered, pulling out a small bag of chips, clearly enjoying the show downstairs. "Someone's trying to bully Sara. Poor guy. He has no idea he's talking to the girl who shot a theif last week and has trained with people like 'us'."
"He's cute," Chloe smirked, checking her nails. "Too bad he's about to get a very expensive dental bill."
Down in the courtyard, David stepped into Sara's personal space. The air felt charged, like a storm was about to break. "I told you to look at me when I'm talking to you, Parker."
Sara tilted her head, a playful, dangerous smile tugging at her lips. She wasn't scared; she was amused. "I am looking at you, David. I'm just trying to figure out which part of your face is going to hit the floor first."
David's eyes darkened. He reached out to grab her shoulder—a move meant to pin her against the locker.
In a movement that was a blur of shadows and light, Sara moved. She didn't use a weapon. She used his own momentum. Within two seconds, David's arm was locked behind his back, and Sara delivered a precise, lightning-fast punch directly to the bridge of his nose.
CRACK.
The sound echoed in the silent courtyard.
David stumbled back, blood instantly blooming from his nose, staining his white shirt. He gasped, more shocked by the speed than the pain.Hecouldn't believe that a playful, childish and completely harmless-looking girl like her had defeated him in a way ,he had never imagined.
Sara lowered her hand.
"You should be more careful with your advice," she said.
She stood over him, looking down with a calm, teasing expression. "You're a bit slow, aren't you? We like to play with our food before we eat, David. And right now... you're just an appetizer."
Up on the balcony, Ethan whistled loudly, his voice carrying across the yard. "Nice form, Sis! Keep him down there, he looks better on the floor!"
Adrian simply nodded as a proud leader,a rare, ghost of a smile appearing on his face. He didn't say a word, but the message was clear: The new kings have arrived.
David looked at her.
His expression hardened.
This time, there was no confusion.
Only challenge.
"Stay out of my way or you will regret" David said.
Sara stepped closer again.
"Make me," she replied.
Sara turned on her heel and started walking away with Noah, leaving the entire school in a state of paralysis. No one had ever touched David Knight, let alone embarrassed him.
David sat on the ground, wiping the blood from his lip. He didn't look away from Sara's retreating figure. He wasn't just angry. He was mesmerized. He had spent his whole life looking for someone who could actually challenge him.
Mark walked over, offering a hand to pull David up. He looked at his friend's face—the stunned silence, the intense gaze—and let out a low, teasing chuckle.
"Ouch," Mark said, grinning as he watched the Seven disappear through the double doors. "Looks like someone finally caught David's attention."
David didn't answer. He just touched his nose, the ghost of Sara's strike still humming in his nerves.David wasn't thinking about power or control anymore.
He was thinking about her.
And how badly he wanted to destroy her… or understand her. He didn't know why, but for the first time in his life, David felt something unfamiliar.
Not just anger.
Not just curiosity.
But the undeniable urge to ruin someone,break someone—slowly, completely.
And that someone… was her.