Inside the classroom of 2-C....
Several students lounged together, chilling and waiting for the time to pass by. Some loitered around the corridors, chatting with other students from a different class.
The afternoon session hadn't started yet, but the hot gossip was simmering.
"Have you seen the latest livestream in school from Twatch?" Feyline began as she sat between Antonio and Alexis, who were apparently talking about the previous Biology discussion.
"What livestream?!" Antonio's attention immediately diverted upon hearing Feyline's words.
"Great. You distracted him." Alexis huffed.
"Sorry." Feyline apologized, scratching her head. "Got too excited."
"Fey! Come on!" Antonio urged her to come closer with his phone in hand, excitement formed across his cheeks while twiddling on the interface.
Alexis just smiled with understanding as he shut the Biology book in his hands before joining in on whatever they were about to watch.
The livestream was entitled: How to stop beggars from begging.
Streamed 4 hours ago.
It was made under an account named: The Predators.
Although the account was fairly new on the platform. It had been gaining attraction from its various content, especially showcasing explicit content.
Voyeurisms.
Harassments.
Violence.
"This new group again, huh?" Antonio rubbed his chin upon checking the details. "Aren't they infamous for taking stolen shots of students' underwear?"
Alexis eyes rolled to the side. "Seriously?"
"Yep. Now, they are doing this." Feyline nodded before pointing out the video. "It's their new form of content. Beating the shit out of random students."
The faces of the two guys were baffled.
Usually, scandalous content from the Academy is kept hidden in the school forums. Away from the general public eye but close enough to be a buzz from gossip on the whole campus. However, using well-known platforms like this one is considered bold and risky, but stupidly dangerous.
The reward? More views, more ads, more revenue.
All attention gained instantaneously.
Antonio's fingers tapped on the screen to play the video.
A man in a white cap clad in the Academy's jogger pants and varsity jacket introduced himself as Mikey.
The video began with a usual introduction like any other content creator. All written, prepared beforehand with practiced intonations and gestures.
Mikey appeared to be a charming guy, especially with his blonde locks and well-defined build, and his signature move: Rizzing his viewers.
Every interaction ended with him saying. "Sheesh."
While performing a gesture on his arm, paired with a lip bite expression on his face.
Feyline and Alexis just cringed at the sight, while Antonio just enjoyed his charming remarks like any other viewer.
In the background, another guy joined the video.
Standing right behind Mikey, aggressively flipping the finger in front of the camera.
The chat screamed his name.
'It's him! Flipper!'
My man Flipper is back!
Views skyrocketed as more names and chats surged through the box in a spam. Emojis flashed on screen with his signature flipping finger. cheering his arrival on the scene.
Alexis paused the video.
"So which part are we supposed to watch ?" he questioned.
"Hey, I was enjoying it!" Antonio protested with a scowl on his face.
Feyline grabbed Antonio's phone and hovered through the rest of the video's timeline before handing it back to him.
The video played once more from a distant shot with its focal point exactly onto Mikey's face, but something else was different.
A hand was clasped onto his leg while being dragged on the floor.
Followed by a flurry of begs and cries.
Antonio and Alexis looked at each other in confusion.
In the next scene, the camera approached as soon as Flipper began to interact with Mikey. It was like an amateur movie scene, but on a livestream.
As soon as Mikey gestured for Flipper to do something with the guy clinging onto him, the violence started.
Kicking. Punching.
Immediately, screams of agony and pain blasted from the phone's speakers.
Feyline's face just grimaced while Antonio and Alexis felt discomfort at how quickly it turned graphic, clutching each other's hands and flinching at every hit.
It was unbearable to watch.
The views spoke differently. It was a major hit!
Chat requested more as the donation kept chiming, piling one after the other, while the two obliged obediently.
"I can't stand it." Alexis shook his head and gazed away from the phone, feeling nauseous from watching.
Feyline proceeded to comfort him by rubbing her hands on his back. "It's okay, Alex."
While Antonio continued to watch, Raphael had entered the classroom, casually passing right in front of them. Striking a conversation first-hand was never his forte, but this time, it felt like he needed to.
He noticed the various expressions on their faces....
Discomfort. Worry. Disgust.
He stopped and leaned in with curiosity.
"What are you guys doing?"
Antonio jumped from his seat, startled after seeing Raphael's face peering right beside him.
"Whoa, you surprised me!" he clutched his chest.
"Hey, Raphael." Feyline greeted with a smile while taking care of Alexis, who is now doing deep breaths.
"Are you guys alright?" he asked worriedly.
"Yeah...It's the latest gossip in school! So it's a must-watch." Antonio exclaimed.
"Really?"
Raphael leaned in closer to watch.
This time, in the video, the student was covered in bruises and scratches before blood began to spurt out of his lips, clutching his abdomen. Visibly in pain and agony.
He never really watches this sort of video or movies.
Is this even real, or just a performance?
It was hard to tell. But the explicitness of the content seemed too good to be true. At the same time, too brutal to be melodramatic.
Confusion, unease, and disgust settled on his expression. Just like the rest of them.
"Hey, I guess that's enough, Antonio," Feyline suggested, tapping Antonio's shoulder. "Alexis couldn't bear hearing it."
Antonio nodded and turned off his phone to comply, glancing at his friend with worry.
"Who are those guys?" Raphael asked, breaking the silence.
"The Predators," Antonio replied in a low voice. "They are a new group of delinquents... notoriously known for taking advantage of new students or freshmen."
Raphael just gave him a look of disbelief.
Seriously? Another bunch of delinquents?
Is this school just a bunch of brutes and rule-breakers?
"And they beat them up like this ?" he wondered, rubbing his chin.
"No.... not exactly. They do a lot of things like harassment and blackmail stuff." Antonio explained.
"Should I be worried?" Raphael's brows furrowed.
Antonio just paused, tilting his head before looking over at Feyline.
Feyline just stared at him and shrugged. "Not really. They are still new in this kind of gig... so I am not sure."
"Usually, they like targeting girls," Antonio remembered proudly. "I have seen their collage of panty shots in one of their videos."
Feyline formed a disgusted expression on her face. "Gross. You watch those?"
"Panty shots?" Raphael tilted his head. "What is that?"
"Basically, panties-"
A hand clasped onto Antonio's mouth, muffling his words. Feyline gripped it tightly while grinning.
"Sorry, you don't really have to know. It's just bad...."
Antonio still sputtered in defense, but nothing could be understood.
Raphael just laughed softly. "Alright."
In his mind, he quietly pieced it all together.
Panties ... a female undergarment.
Shot. Shooting a bullet? No. It sounds like taking a shot with a camera.
So that means... taking a shot of female undies?
The conclusion was formed, but then a question remained unanswered.
Why?
He wanted to ask.
The two were now locked in a heated argument about panty shots. Antonio claimed it was for entertainment purposes, while Feyline totally disagreed, saying it was private information.
Raphael carefully listened and nodded.
Using someone's privacy for public content?
And without consent? That sounds worse.
At least, it's not something he should be worried about in the meantime.
Quietly, he returned to his seat and heaved a deep sigh.
Predators?
Another name to watch out for.... Just like Sylvia.
Yet he couldn't tell why she was dangerous, unlike the others.
The bell rang from a distance as lunch break ended. Students came flooding into the corridors and returned to their respective classrooms.
Afternoon classes have just begun.