PROLOGUE. Spring at the College of the Arts

“And what's that rope in your hands for?” I suddenly heard a voice in the hallway. “Huh?” “The rope in your hand. Why do you need it?” the same voice continued.

I raised my head. A guy I didn’t know was looking at me with tired yet angry eyes.

“None of your business,” I said, and quickly walked away. “Oh, she even bought a red rope. Trying to show off that much?”

When I heard his last words, I turned around. “What do you even know? This is none of your business! How dare you talk to me like that?” “Why can't I?” he continued calmly. “You... you! I hate people like you!” I screamed, my voice echoing down the hallway.

I looked back. Everyone around was looking at us.

“I hate people like you. You just want to publicly show how bad you feel. 'Have pity on me, I want to die,'” he answered. “You, you…” “Okay, let's get out of here,” he said to the four guys standing behind him. “Too many people have gathered here.” “Ugh, you're so cheap!” I shouted.

The atmosphere was tense. I got dizzy. I don’t know how, but the next moment my rope flew out of my hands and hit the back of his head.

Even though his back was to me, I could imagine his face writhing in pain. He reached a hand to the back of his neck, remained in this position for a couple of seconds, and began to slowly turn towards me.

His friends, realizing what he was about to do, grabbed his arms and torso. “Don't you dare stop me! I'll kill her! I will kill her!” he shouted, loud enough for the whole campus to hear. “Dan, calm down, it's just a girl!” “Calm down, calm down!” “Let me go! I'm going to kill that stupid brat!” he continued to shout. “What? Where do you think you're going?! Don't you dare run away!” “Uh, sorry, I think it's time for me to go…” I said softly, slowly turning around and taking small steps back. Turning my back on him, I ran out of the corridor at the speed of light.

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