Chapter 28 Is She Crazy?


    Simon didn’t stop after kicking her. He raised his fist and mmed it down, cursing, “That’s for bullying Erin! You shameless bitch! You almost got her killed and don’t even feel guilty. How can someone as vile as you exist?”


    The hard fists. The disgusted curses…


    For a moment, Tracy felt like she was back in that hell.


    They beat her with fists, kicked her, spat on her, and pissed on her. They called her useless trash, a lowly stray dog.


    She tried to hide.


    Under the bed. Inside the closet. Even in the slop bucket.


    But they always found her.


    Then came more beating and more screaming, using whatever they could to torture her.


    Only when she suffered did they get rewards from the teachers.


    A piece of bread. A bottle of water. A sausage.


    All those times she wanted to die-at the institute, that was all she was worth.-


    “Tracy … Tracy..


    Through the haze, a familiar voice called her name.


    Tracy’s hand gripped the hoodie on her body-like clinging to its owner.


    “Tracy, we can’t just keep taking the hits. Stand up …


    “We’re not strays. We don’t need numbers to tell us who we are. We have names. We fight back. We show them we’re not dogs to be kicked around.


    “Tracy, stand up!”


    In that moment, the fear in Tracy’s eyes vanished-reced by a fire that could destroy everything.


    Yeah, she wasn’t a dog to be beaten.


    She had already learned to fight back-back at the Angelic Etiquette Academy, hadn’t she?


    Simon kept swinging his fists, like he was unloading years of humiliation chasing after Tracy, putting on a full disy of loyalty for Erin.


    No one around tried to stop him. They watched like spectators at a public execution, thrilled by the show.


    Just as Simon raised his leg to kick again, the girl who’d been curled up on the ground suddenly struck back-her foot mming into his shin.


    The sudden move startled everyone. Instinctively, they backed away. Liam even threw his arms around Erin to shield her, like she might get hurt.


    “Ahhh-!”


    One kick, and Simon was screaming, clutching his leg and copsing to the ground in pain.


    But earlier, no matter how many times he hit Tracy, she hadn’t make a sound.


    She stared at him, eyes locked. Ignoring the pain all over her body, she lunged forward.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    She didn’t curse. She didn’t yell. She just clenched her fists tight and punched-each hit thrown with everything she had.


    “Ahh-stop! Get off me! You bitch, get away from me!”


    Simon shrieked in pain and kept spewing insults.


    He tried to push her off, but Tracy was like a boulder on top of him—immovable no matter how hard he shoved.


    She gritted her teeth and stayed silent. Her fists just kepting, like she meant to beat him to death.


    Everyone froze, shocked by her rage.


    It took a few seconds before Liam finally shouted, “What are you all standing there for? Get her off him!”


    That snapped them out of it. A few people rushed forward to pull her back.


    But Tracy was like a rabid animal. Anyone who got too close got scratched or hit. One man ended up a bleeding gash on his face.


    with


    She stayed on top of Simon, attacking anyone who approached, and when no one came close, she just kept pounding him.


    Someone once told her that if you’re ever cornered by a group, pick one and go all in.


    Scratch, bite, kick, punch-whatever it takes. Hit like you mean to kill.


    Because if you’re not ruthless enough, you’ll be the one left half-dead on the ground.


    Everyone looked at her in fear now. No one dared step closer.


    “Is… is she crazy?”


    Someone whispered, their voice shaking.


    At this rate, she really might kill him.


    Gritting his teeth, Liam let go of Erin and charged forward.


    He grabbed Tracy from behind, taking several hits and scratches, but he didn’t let go.


    He turned and yelled at the frozen men, “Help me, damn it!”


    They finally snapped out of it and rushed over, fumbling to restrain her. No one knew how many punches. or scratches they had taken before they finally dragged her off Simon.


    Tracy kept struggling, her eyes still locked on him like a predator. If they loosened their grip even a little, she’d pounce again. It took four or five men just to hold her down.