Daniel had done his misdeeds again. He'd beaten Kant until the poor boy couldn't move anymore. He lay on the filthy bathroom floor, trying to catch his breath. When he finally managed to get up, he felt his ribs throb like the drums in a rock song. He clutched his torso, his lip burning, blood dripping from it as a cruel reminder of the wickedness of his companions.

He staggers along, his hands resting on the walls as his legs unconsciously guide him toward his sanctuary, his place of peace: the library. The cool air hits his face as he opens the door, almost falling if he weren't for the doorknob he's holding onto. He walks unsteadily, his head spinning around the rows of bookshelves.

Collapsing in a dark corner between the shelves, he breathes heavily, his chest heaving with each labored inhale. God, Daniel was really angry today.. he thinks with thoughts melted by the pain in every part of his body. He feels the light that was blinding him suddenly darken, and he slowly opens his eyes, bewildered, when he sees the figure of a new student walking with books in their hands.

Kant tenses and straightens, looking around frantically, knowing it's too late to hide. So he just hugs himself tightly, hoping that, by some deity's doing and reason, this new person won't notice him or, worse, decide to torment him like the others.