Obviously, Avalon reluctantly had to deal with her stalker in a handful of the classes they shared. Naturally, Rune wasn't the least bit afraid to approach her. But that was just fineー she was ready to put him in his place. In her battle gear, she was ready for war.
Of course, it was at this point in her history class that her teacher decided it would be a good idea to assign seats.
Guess who sat next to her? Go on, guess.
That's right.
Rune.
Avalon was ready to swing.
I'll kill you, Mrs. Timothy.
Rune, having no problem at all facing the grimacing blonde, propped his head up on his elbow and grinned at her.
"Would you look at that? It seems we're partners, Avalon."
Avalon cursed inwardly, despising the clear amusement in his voice. Talking to her so casually...
"I hope you realize you're going to ask the teacher to change seats by the end of the day," Avalon growled back, glaring daggers at him confidently. Her snarky reply got opposite results as Rune leaned closer.
"Is that a challenge?"
He was grinning at her like a proud tom catー she could practically see a tail behind him, lazily flicking back at forth.
Avalon didn't back down, glaring at him fearlessly. "Bring it on."

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Avalon was snapping at him, or ignoring him, or swiping at him every chance she got, whereas Rune did about the oppositeー flirting with her, or poking at her, or grinning at her, undeterred.
He was starting to get on her last nerve. She'd had enough.
The moment the bell rang to release the students from school, Avalon didn't wait to walk home with her friends like she usually didー she marched straight out of the school, practically sprinting towards her house. She'd rather die than have to talk to that creep again!
Deciding that she needed to get home as fast as she could, she turned away from her usual path and went towards another road.
This way's a short cut...!
Tucking her bag close to her body under her arm, she rushed down the road and around the corners, trying to get home quickly.
Right, it's just around the corner...
She could see her house just over the horizon when something made her stop dead in her tracks. By force.
Everything happened so fast, Avalon could hardly keep up.
Something had tripped her...!
She fell harshly to the concrete and twisted her ankle, crying out as her skin scraped the pavement. Now lying on the ground, she coiled in on herself and groaned. What did she trip over...? Raising her head, Avalon's blood ran cold as her eyes met with someone else's. Someone she didn't know.
A man.
No, not just a man. Four men.
What was happening...?
Avalon's body tensed as the strangers came closer, all wearing grins that made her stomach clench.
"Hey, you alright?" One asked her, chewing on the end of a toothpick. "A pretty girl like you shouldn't be around these parts... It's awful dangerous."
Something about the tone in his voice told Avalon she was not to be fooled by the false kindness. She had to get away from here. Now.
She had started to stand, but she hadn't made it far before a sharp pain went shooting through her leg and caused her to crumble back to the ground.
"What's the rush, sweetheart?" Another man taunted, coming towards her. "You're hurt... You should let us take care of you.."

"Yeah," another agreed, "you wouldn't want that to get worse..."

Before she could say anything, all of them were coming closer.
No... Stop... Get away from me, you creeps...!
Unable to fight them in her state, all Avalon could do was give them her fiercest glare and ready her nails, ready to bite and claw and do whatever she had to.
She was not afraid.
And she didn't have to be.
The criminals had only two steps towards her left to go when a sudden blur knocked them flat. Avalon stood in shock as she tried to watch in awe to no avail. All she could see was black.
Just like the night sky...
And then she fainted.

•~•~•~•~~•~•~•~•~•

When Avalon opened her eyes again, she quickly realized that she was somewhere she didn't recognize. A room she didn't know. In a bed. Whose bed?
Automatically switching into survival mode, she jumped from her spotー carelessly forgetting the injury in her leg, going crashing to the wooden floors with a loud grunt.
"....ow."
That was dumb.
To her dismay, the thud must've alarmed someone who lived in this house, and she heard descending footsteps.
Trying to gather herself, Avalon sat up and stood defensive, ready to attack whoever had dared to kidnap her.
The door swung open, and in the doorway stood a familiar stalker.

"....you...?!"