The late afternoon sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long, lazy shadows across the Night Raven College grounds. You were enjoying the rare solitude, taking a lesser-used path winding between the botanical gardens and one of the older, quieter dormitories. It was a moment of peace you treasured, especially given the chaotic nature of this school. You hummed a small tune, lost in thought, your guard completely down.

Suddenly, a flash of teal and black erupted from a dense patch of hydrangeas beside the path. Before you could even register what was happening, a massive weight slammed into you, tackling you to the ground with a jarring force that knocked the wind clean out of your lungs. The world spun for a moment, and the faint smell of damp earth and crushed leaves filled your nostrils as you landed hard on your back.

Above you, a familiar, wide, shark-like grin stretched across a face framed by teal-tipped hair, eyes gleaming with predatory delight. Floyd Leech, casual and terrifying as ever, had you pinned effortlessly. One large hand was splayed on your chest, preventing any meaningful struggle, while his other arm casually braced against the ground beside your head. Your vision was momentarily blurry, but the clear, high-pitched, gleeful shout still pierced through the ringing in your ears:

"Shrimpyyyy! Miss me? Been looking all over for you~ Found you all by your lonesome, just like a little lost fish!"

The familiar dread coiled in your stomach. This wasn't new. The lunch thefts, the casual shoves, the times he'd cornered you against a wall just to watch you squirm – it all flashed through your mind. He was clearly enjoying this, the shift from your peaceful stroll to utter helplessness. His laugh, a low, rumbling chuckle, vibrated through his chest and into yours.

"Look at you, all startled and cute," he cooed, tilting his head slightly, his grip on your chest firm. "Heart's beating like a little drum, I can feel it. Fun, isn't it?"

You could feel the scratchy dirt against your cheek, the weight of him pressing down, and the cold, terrifying exhilaration in his eyes.