A chill ran down my spine. It wasn’t pure joy. If their bond broke, I would be the first victim. I was the cause of their fissure. In any direction, by any means, they would not spare me. Time was running out. Whether to prevent the crack or drive it wider, they would grow more brutal and more vicious.There really was no time. If any chance presented itself, I had to seize it. I had only one opportunity—my chance for revenge. Miss it, and everything was over.“…”A heavy silence fell. Jérôme sat like a man weighed down by despair. For a long while, only my quiet sniffles broke the stillness. When I cautiously glanced up, he seemed not to notice me. His finger pressed to his temple, he stared blankly at the empty fireplace.Jérôme appeared truly uninterested in me now—completely deceived. It was a major victory. Not only had I confirmed his disinterest, but also discovered the rift between him and George. Only one thing remained unknown: he didn’t know about the headmaster. How that fact would play out, I could not predict. I swallowed against a dry throat and checked the time.Ding.Six o’clock. Jérôme hadn’t left. He must not have heard the chime. Even past six, no one came. Like statues, we sat side by side in the living room without a breath of sound.The boys didn’t return to the dormitory until after seven. They must have eaten dinner first. Simon, Hugh, and George burst in together. I flinched at the sudden opening door. Though Jérôme certainly noticed me move, he completely ignored it.Hugh seemed in good spirits. He passed by my seat without a glance, which sent an icy wave across my skin. If Jérôme knew of the headmaster, then Hugh did too—Anna had surely informed him about Kal. No worry for Kal now; he was long gone. What frightened me was my upcoming punishment. They’d locked me in the stables before… I didn’t want to imagine anything worse.When George sat beside me, my pulse quickened with dread. Hugh perched on the arm of Jérôme’s sofa and leaned in, casually greeting him.“Jérôme, why didn’t you come down for dinner?” Hugh asked. “You should’ve said goodbye to the others—just now they all left. No one’s left in the dorm.”They must have seen the others off, eaten, then returned. The four boys and I were the only ones in this huge building. My neck prickled with fear.“I didn’t feel like eating…” Jérôme replied softly. Hugh brushed back Jérôme’s dark hair with gentle concern.“What’s wrong? You look crushed.”A tickle ran across my ear. I turned my chin slightly, and saw George staring at Jérôme with cold eyes. His pale blue irises glittered with steely anger. Then I followed George’s gaze back to Hugh, who still looked affectionate.Jérôme looked up at Hugh. “Because of Raymond. That kid was so sharp before—now he’s gone mad.”Hugh laughed. “Oh, is that it? Don’t worry, Jérôme. We can always find another.”“No. There’s no one like Raymond.” Jérôme said gloomily.Hugh stroked Jérôme’s hair. George watched the two with growing frost in his gaze. It was chaos—I couldn’t guess their true relationships or intentions.Then Hugh’s attention suddenly shifted to me, his eyes flashing deep blue. “No need to be so down, Jérôme. Our Raymond pulled off something fun today.”I bit my lip and looked down. Now all I had to do was endure.Without warning, George grabbed the back of my head and jerked me backward. My face snapped up, and I met his cold glare.“This whore sucked cock without permission,” George said flatly. “Is it true, Raymond?”“Ugh… n-no…” Tears welled instantly. I rolled my eyes to Hugh and Jérôme. Hugh watched me with interest, but worst of all was Jérôme’s stare—his expression had shifted from sullen repose to a bizarre, eager gleam, lips parted in anticipation. An insane glint in his eyes.“This bitch’s lying,” George snarled. He thrust his fingers into my mouth, yanking my lips aside. “Did you suck cock or not? Swallowed cum or not?”In a suddenly softer tone: “Did you beg for help to run away, or not?”I could only let tears fall. George let out a cold laugh and shoved my head toward the floor. I fell off the sofa and sobbed on the carpet. Leaning over me, George said icily, “Take off your clothes.”Shaking all over, I climbed to my feet. Behind the sofa, Simon stood like a stone statue, watching. His face looked harsher than usual—perhaps angry I’d left with Kal earlier? Or upset I’d tried to escape? Did he truly believe I’d been playing lover’s games?Either way, it was surreal. I tore my gaze from Simon and began fumbling at my shirt buttons. As I loosened them one by one, I heard Jérôme’s voice behind me:“Did you beg?”“Did you plead or threaten? Who? When? Raymond, do you still have a shred of dignity?”No—he’d only just started to hate me; no hope allowed. I didn’t look back, my shoulders trembling as I stammered, “I-I’m sorry… I… ugh, no, I… it wasn’t like that…”George’s face twisted into a triumphant sneer. I bowed my head and continued undressing. Jérôme said nothing more.I stripped off my shirt, pants, underwear, and shoes, then crouched on the floor. George rose, retrieved the riding crop, and returned to his spot.My breath caught—it was time for the whip. George tapped my bent knees with the crop, then slid it between them, urging me to spread. Rage burned in me—I wanted to kill him, rip out his entrails for this insult. Someday I would. But for now, I had to comply.Tears streaming, partly in outrage, partly to fool them, I slowly spread my legs. The cold leather slid across my thighs. George flicked the crop against my genitals, not as a sexual touch but to humiliate, testing me like an animal’s nuts. Then he suddenly raised the crop and whipped it down onto my groin.I screamed and snapped my legs shut—the crop grazed my knees. George’s brow shot up. Clinging to his knee, I begged between sobs, “Please, please! George! I was wrong! It hurts, it hurts, oh god, stop…”That bastard really tried to whip my genitals! I shook in shock, but the fear numbness dulled the pain.“Don’t whip there, dumbass.” Hugh chimed in from behind.Clinging to George’s knee, I turned to check Jérôme. His face had returned to sullen gloom, buried in the sofa. But Hugh was still bright-eyed, energetic. He sprang up and moved beside George.Hugh tapped my other knee. “Come on up.”I didn’t quite understand and stared blankly. He grinned. “Go on. If you messed up, you deserve punishment. Climb up and bend over.”Compared to the stable, it was mild—but still unbearable humiliation and shame. I crawled to Hugh’s knee, tears pouring, and lay across it. I felt his palm caress my bare butt like disciplining a toddler. Then his hand lashed down in a stinging smack.A scream burst out. The slap echoed. My butt burned hot. I curled my toes and trembled.“This brat always acts like this,” Hugh said. I squeezed my eyes shut, dreading the next blow. Another sting landed.“Only a thrashing will sober him up.”Hugh massaged my burning butt, then slid a finger into my crack. I couldn’t stifle a whimper.“Relax,” he said, spanking me again. I loosened my muscles. He slipped just one finger inside. The degradation flushed me red. Holding it there, he spanked me once more.“Ah!” I cried.“This little whore even enjoys punishment,” Hugh teased, bending his finger in and out.“Ugh… I’m… sorry… Hugh… please…” I gasped, tears flowing. A hand stroked my head.“You know you’re wrong, don’t you?” Hugh murmured. I nodded numbly.“Then tell me how many lashes you want, Raymond.”I couldn’t answer. He continued stroking my hair.“Nothing? How about telling us what you did wrong, one by one?”I remained silent, uncertain where to begin. Hugh smacked me lightly—startling me.“Don’t waste time. I’m tired from seeing the others off today. I want to sleep soon.”“I… sob… Simon… Simon….” I looked to Simon, pleading. He only watched, then stepped back. Hugh laughed.“Raymond, Simon’s angry too! You tried to run from us, didn’t you? After all the sweet talk, you were planning to bolt out the back door.”“N-no, that’s not… ugh… Hugh… please….”I babbled apologies, broken.“I was so scared… sob… at the stables… I’m sorry… sorry… can we stop now?” I clung to his knee, their gazes burning into me—George’s frost, Simon’s indifference, Hugh’s merriment.“Let me go… let me run… I… I can’t….”“Quit the bullshit. Just answer George.”George spoke coldly and passed the crop to Hugh. I shrieked in terror.“Please! No! Please! Oh god, no!”Ignoring me, Hugh whipped my butt again.“Ah!” I leapt in pain. Then another crack. I writhed, tears and saliva wetting the carpet.Hugh said, “I told you, Raymond, you can’t have it both ways. You’ve done nothing yet.”He spoke softly. “We’re going to have a great break. Term only just ended—‘let me go,’ Raymond? Oh, come on.”With that, Hugh whipped me once more. My flesh stung but did not bleed—just seared with heat. As I sobbed, Hugh withdrew his finger from my hole.“Now you have to apologize to each of them. Go to Jérôme first.”Before I could move, Jérôme said, “I’m done.”“Jérôme, just once. It’ll make you feel better.” Hugh urged, and they treated me like a toy in conversation.Sliding from Hugh’s knee, I approached Jérôme. He looked at me coldly, part annoyed, part unwilling. His lack of joy seemed almost normal.I avoided his eyes and sat on his knee, pressing my butt toward him. He half embraced and half pushed me away, then laid his hand on my hip.One light slap. And strangely, I felt a shiver down my spine. Just a gentle tap, but it made the hairs on my neck stand on end. My thighs tensed. Jérôme must have noticed; I felt his stare.I dared to lift my eyes. I met his cold green gaze, then carefully, deliberately, slowly, I kissed him. A whim, a test—eyes closed, I pressed my lips to his. I flicked out my tongue to trace his smooth lips.Jérôme didn’t react, as if frozen. I opened my eyes to see his face lined with a cold sneer.Still kissing me, he whispered, “Save your tricks for your master.”I withdrew from him calmly. He was thoroughly deceived—no more need to fear him. He now looked at me with contempt, disgusted, reluctant even to touch me. That kiss had confirmed everything.Climbing off his knee, I crawled to Simon. He didn’t hit me—just watched in silence. Then George struck my butt again, delivering every lash by hand.The punishment wasn’t over. Hugh said he’d correct this whore’s habit of cock-sucking—he made me lie across the table like a frog on a dissection tray, legs spread. I endured as he did as he pleased. He explained that as a bitch I should accept anything, so instead of a cock he’d use the crop. When the thick handle had entered half a hand’s length, I screamed.But by then, shame was gone—only pain remained. They toyed with me as they wished. Fortunately, Hugh truly wanted to sleep; though agonizing, the punishment ended sooner than I expected.As soon as it was over, Jérôme glared with disgust, gathered his gloves and crop, and left. Hugh and George returned to their room. Simon did not wash me. I crouched alone in the bathroom to clean myself, then, utterly spent, returned to my room.Simon lay in bed when I entered. I stood in the doorway, then slid down to the floor with my back against the door, knees drawn in, weeping silently. I needed Simon’s attention, to restore his favor. He was easily swayed by small gestures, so deceiving him wouldn’t be hard.After I cried long enough, a shadow fell before me. I lifted my tear-streaked face—Simon stood, expression stern.I wiped my cheeks. He knelt beside me and wrapped me in his arms, pressing his forehead to mine. His voice was so soft I almost couldn’t hear it.“You made me angry…” he murmured.“Sorry,” I whispered nothing further. Simon must have wanted that. He wasn’t there to talk—just placed me against him and guided me.After a while, he carried me like a fragile porcelain doll to the bed. He laid me down and covered me with the sheets. I grasped his sleeve, and we faced each other in the darkness.“Don’t go.”My voice was small and weak.“I want to sleep with you…”Simon stood silent in the dark, then slowly folded back the covers. He lay down without pulling me in, and I lay still as he’d arranged.Minutes passed before Simon gathered me into his arms. The bed was cramped for two big boys. We lay pressed together, breath held. I curled a leg between his and whispered,“I want to sleep…”Simon stiffened. Was that a mistake? Had I gone too far? My body tensed too.“Then… we need anesthesia.”He spoke after a long pause. Relief flooded me—it wasn’t a mistake. I nodded, resting my head on his chest. Simon rose, crossed to the bookshelf, and began pulling a book from the fourth shelf…I quickly turned my head and closed my eyes. He’d hidden it there. My heart leapt as if electrified—I knew what it was: the syringe! I felt dizzy with joy.Soon Simon returned with the syringe. With this, I would sleep—and he would have me as he wished. But nothing mattered now—not pain, not shame. I would have endured anything for this relief.He injected me. Leaning into his arms, I closed my eyes. Drowsiness washed [N O V E L I G H T] over me, subduing my excitement. Until the last moment before sleep, I prayed silently: Fourth shelf… fourth shelf… please remember, when I wake, remember the fourth shelf.

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