Dante continued walking beside Frank while his thoughts remained fixed on Carrie White.
The timid girl they had met was the same Carrie whose powers would eventually turn a senior prom into a massacre.
Years of abuse and humiliation would push her beyond her breaking point.
Once that happened, her telekinesis would spread destruction far beyond the school.
Dante had already lived through one life.
He had no intention of standing aside and watching a tragedy unfold when he knew how it could end.
Carrie’s power was not evil.
The real danger came from the fear, anger, and loneliness building inside her.
A small amount of guidance could change everything.
If Dante showed her that the outside world was not entirely cruel, she might learn to control her emotions before they controlled her.
Her telekinesis could also become a powerful weapon.
In a world filled with supernatural killers, having Carrie as an ally would be far better than facing her as an enemy.
As long as Dante treated her carefully and earned her trust, he could keep that dangerous blade pointed away from himself and his family.
“Hey, Dante!” Frank slapped him on the shoulder and pulled him out of his thoughts.
“Move it.
If we don’t get inside soon, somebody’s going to throw an eraser at us.” Dante glanced at the school entrance and noticed that most students had already disappeared inside.
“You’re exaggerating.” “You said that last time.
Carl still has chalk dust in his hair.” They hurried through the building and reached their classroom just before the final bell.
The teacher had already begun writing a long calculus problem across the blackboard.
Dante took his usual seat near the back.
Frank dropped into the chair beside him and opened his notebook with a level of enthusiasm normally reserved for tax audits.
The lecture continued beneath the warm morning sunlight.
Bright beams entered through the windows and revealed clouds of chalk dust drifting through the room.
Within twenty minutes, several students had begun losing their battle against sleep.
Carl had already surrendered.
He leaned over his desk with his face pressed against one arm.
A faint snore escaped him while the teacher continued explaining the equation.
The calculus teacher stopped speaking and slowly looked toward the back row.
His expression hardened when he saw Carl sleeping without any attempt to hide it.
He picked up the chalkboard eraser.
The object sailed across the classroom and struck Carl on the side of the head with a dull thump.
Carl shot upright.
“What the hell?” The class erupted with laughter.
The teacher adjusted his glasses and pointed toward him.
“Sleep in my class again and you can expect an F on your next report card.” Carl rubbed his head and looked around for someone to blame.
His gaze landed on Dante, who had also lowered his head and closed his eyes.
“That’s not fair!” Carl pointed toward him.
“Dante is sleeping too.
Why aren’t you throwing things at him?” More laughter spread through the room.
The teacher did not even bother turning toward Dante.
“He earns straight A grades in every subject.
You are currently failing two classes.” Carl’s mouth opened but no answer came out.
“Do you still want me to explain the difference?” Carl lowered his hand and sank into his chair.
His classmates continued laughing while the teacher returned to the board.
Hearing his name had already disturbed Dante’s sleep.
He slowly raised his head and rubbed one eye.
“Dante.” The teacher tapped the chalk against the board.
“Since you’re awake, solve the problem.” Dante looked at the long series of formulas.
His Eidetic Memory captured every number and symbol before his mind began processing the equation.
He stood and explained the solution without approaching the board.
Each step followed the last with perfect clarity until he reached the final answer.
The classroom fell silent.
Even Carl stopped rubbing his head.
The teacher checked the solution and gave an approving nod.
“Correct.
Sit down.” Dante returned to his chair and leaned back.
Carl stared at him with resentment.
“Show-off.” “You volunteered me.” The bell rang before Carl could respond.
Students gathered their books and poured into the hallway.
Their next class was physical education.
Dante followed Frank toward the gym while the rest of the students changed into their uniforms.
Miss Collins divided the class into teams for volleyball.
The heat inside the gym made the air feel heavy despite the large fans turning overhead.
Carrie stood near the edge of the court in an old gym uniform that had faded after countless washes.
She held her arms close to her body and tried to avoid attracting attention.
Her efforts failed.
A volleyball flew toward her from the other side of the net.
Carrie raised both hands too late and turned her face away.
The ball struck her forearm before bouncing across the floor.
Several girls began laughing.
“Nice move, Carrie!” Chris Hargensen crossed her arms and walked toward her.
A cruel smile spread across her face as the other girls gathered nearby.
“Did you forget how your arms work?” Carrie lowered her head.
Her fingers twisted around the edge of her shirt while color spread across her cheeks.
Chris stepped closer.
“You can’t even touch a volleyball without embarrassing yourself.
Why do you bother showing up?” The laughter grew louder.
Carrie’s shoulders began trembling.
She looked as though she wished the floor would open and swallow her.
Dante entered the gym with Frank and immediately noticed the group surrounding her.
His eyes narrowed.
The opportunity he needed had arrived sooner than expected.
He walked toward the court without hesitation.
Frank followed for several steps before realizing where they were going.
“Dante, are you serious?” Dante continued moving.
“You’re going to help Carrie?” “That’s the idea.” Frank lowered his voice and hurried after him.
“People call her a freak.
Strange things happen around her and she always smells like that weird soap her mother makes her use.” Dante did not look back.
“You don’t understand.” “What don’t I understand?” “I’m saving them.” Frank stared at him.
“Saving who?” Dante reached the volleyball court without answering.
Chris noticed him approaching and stopped laughing.
The other girls also fell quiet as Dante stepped between them and Carrie.
He looked down at the volleyball lying near his foot.
“There’s no reason to treat a classmate like this.” Chris recovered from her surprise and gave him a mocking smile.
“Well, look who decided to play hero.” Her gaze moved between Dante and Carrie.
“Our straight-A genius finally found himself a girlfriend.
I have to admit, your taste is interesting.” The girl beside Chris laughed.
“Maybe he can teach her how to use her hands.” Dante ignored the comments and picked up the ball.
Chris tilted her head.
“Go ahead, genius.
Get her to catch it.” She gestured toward Carrie.
“Just one clean catch.
Do that and maybe we’ll admit you’re as amazing as everyone says.” Frank stopped near the edge of the court and scratched the back of his head.
He had watched Carrie miss easy passes before.
Getting her to catch one under pressure seemed impossible.
Dante turned toward her.
Carrie looked even more frightened now that everyone was watching.
He softened his voice.
“Don’t pay attention to them.” She slowly raised her eyes.
“I’ll help you.” Dante placed the volleyball in her hands and adjusted her grip.
“Keep your eyes on the ball.
Don’t think about Chris or anyone else in this gym.” Carrie swallowed and nodded.
Dante stepped back before gently tossing the ball toward her.
Carrie reached out too soon.
The ball brushed her fingertips and dropped to the floor.
Chris laughed.
“I knew it!” Several girls joined her.
Dante picked up the volleyball without reacting to them.
“It’s fine.
We’ll try again.” Carrie looked down.
“I can’t do it.” “Yes, you can.” Dante waited until she looked at him.
“This time, don’t reach for the ball.
Imagine that it wants to come to you.” Carrie stared at him with confusion.
“Imagine it flying straight into your hands.” He tossed the ball again.
It rose in a smooth arc and began descending toward Carrie.
Her arms remained open while her frightened eyes followed its path.
For the briefest moment, the volleyball shifted in midair.
The movement was too subtle for most students to notice.
It changed direction by only a few inches and fell perfectly between Carrie’s waiting hands.
Thump.
The ball rested against her chest.
Silence spread across the court.
Chris’s smile froze.
Frank’s mouth fell open as he stared at Carrie.
She looked down at the volleyball with wide eyes.
Her fingers slowly tightened around it as though she could not believe it was real.
Dante turned toward Chris.
“She caught it.” His smile carried a hint of challenge.
“Do you admit I’m amazing now?” Chris clenched her jaw.
“That was luck.” Dante took the volleyball from Carrie before tossing it into the air.
“Then let’s try something harder.” He struck the ball lightly toward her.
“Carrie, send it back.” Carrie moved without thinking.
Her arm swung forward and struck the volleyball.
A hidden force exploded from her body at the same instant.
Bang!
The ball shot across the gym like it had been fired from a cannon.
It passed close enough to Chris’s cheek that she felt the air move across her skin.
A second later, the volleyball slammed into the chain-link equipment fence behind her.
The metal rattled from the impact.
Chris stumbled backward and fell onto the floor.
Her face had turned pale as she stared at the dented fence.
The girls beside her stood frozen.
Miss Collins crossed the gym after hearing the crash.
She looked at Chris on the floor before turning toward Carrie and Dante.
“What happened?” One of the students pointed toward the fence.
“Carrie hit the ball.” Miss Collins examined Carrie with visible surprise.
She then looked at Dante and assumed he had been helping her practice.
“Good work, Dante.” She patted him on the shoulder.
“This is what students should be doing.
Help your classmates instead of tearing them down.” Her eyes moved toward Chris and the other girls.
“Is that understood?” Chris climbed to her feet without answering.
Two friends supported her as they hurried away from the court.
Carrie remained in place and stared at her hands.
Her heart pounded hard enough to make her chest ache.
She had felt something when she struck the ball.
The same strange force had appeared during moments of fear and anger in the past.
Until now, she had never understood what it was.
Carrie slowly looked toward Dante.
“Th-thank you.” Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.
Dante gave her a warm smile.
“It was nothing.” He picked up the volleyball and handed it back to her.
“You did the hard part.” Carrie held the ball against her chest.
Dante winked at her before stepping away.
“Come find me whenever you want to practice.” He turned and left the court with Frank.
Carrie watched him go until the surrounding students blocked him from view.
Frank hurried to catch up.
“My God, Dante.
How did you do that?” Dante placed both hands in his pockets and continued walking.
“I didn’t do anything.” “That ball nearly tore through the fence.” “Carrie hit it.” Frank looked back toward the court before lowering his voice.
“She has never hit anything like that in her life.” Dante kept walking and gave him no further explanation.
“I told you before.” Frank waited.
“I’m saving people.” Dante’s gaze remained fixed ahead.
He was saving the students who might otherwise die at the senior prom.
He was also saving Carrie from herself.
Back on the court, Carrie continued studying her palms.
For the first time in years, something other than fear appeared in her eyes.
It was a faint spark of confidence.
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