Page 28 of Hunted By Valentine

Spinning on my heel, I make my way over to Ruby, who looks like my compliment of her opponent was a slap to her psyche, which is exactly how it was meant.

“H-how did I do?” she asks, her voice strained, like the words are being dragged from a place of reluctance.

“You did well today, Mrs. Simmons. But next time, don’t hold back. I want to see what you’re truly capable of.”

Her eyes widen, confusion and unease flickering across her face, as if she’s trying to gauge whether my words are a compliment or a threat. The slight tremor in her breath as she exhales, tells me that she’s rattled, unsure of herself. That doubt is exactly what I’ve been cultivating.

I watch her go, a slow smile curling at the edge of my lips. This is only the beginning. The walls she’s built around herself are starting to crack, and when they finally crumble, she’ll have nowhere left to hide.

Chapter 11

The Hunter

Two days later and the atmosphere in the classroom is electric, a buzzing energy that crackles through the air. I stand at the front, my gaze sweeping over the students who are all on edge with anticipation, eager to dive into the intense role-playing exercise that awaits them.

I sense Ruby’s apprehension even before I lock eyes with her. She’s sitting a bit stiffly, her hands fidgeting in her lap, betraying the calm exterior she tries to project.

“Today,” I announce, my voice steady and commanding, “we’ll explore the psychology of criminal behavior through role-play. Each of you will be assigned a character, and it’s your job to embody their motivations, fears, and justifications. The detective will aim to extract a confession, while the criminal will evade, manipulate, or justify their actions.”

My eyes lock onto Ruby’s, her emerald orbs widening with sudden comprehension as I distribute the character assignments.

Most of the class completes theirs before lunch, leaving me with a sense of mediocrity. Their performances are subpar at best, and if I were to grade them, they would be lucky to scrape by with an F.

When I look back at Ruby, I see a fire in her eyes. She is determined to excel, no matter what it takes. That makes my curiosity grow, and even though I’m tempted to cancel lunch to get to it, I force myself to remain patient.

When it’s Ruby’s turn and I call her name, I see her jaw clench, but she quickly masks her discomfort with a determined nod. “Mrs. Simmons, you’ll be playing the role of the criminal,” I say, deliberately emphasizing her character. “Miss Latrell will be your detective. Let’s see how well you can justify your actions.”

Ruby stands slowly, her posture rigid. Miss Latrell glances nervously at her partner, her own character—a timid detective—clearly weighing the challenge ahead. Tension builds as they set up in front of the class, the other students leaning forward in their seats, eager for the performance.

Miss Latrell clears her throat, her voice shaky. “Um, alright. Let’s get started.”

Ruby raises an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. “You’re going to have to try harder than that, detective.”

Miss Latrell’s eyes widen in surprise, but she quickly recovers, her resolve hardening. “Okay, let’s start with the basics. Did you commit these crimes?”

Ruby leans against the desk, crossing her arms, her stance relaxed yet defiant. “Yes.” I smother a chuckle at her obvious disregard of the assignment when she admits to the alleged crimes straight away. “I had to.”

“Umm… you had to?” Miss Latrell asks, clearly thrown off guard.

“Yes,hadto,” Ruby repeats. “Sometimes, the world doesn’t give you a choice…” She fixes her eyes on me. “… like a gazelle kicking a lion—it’s not cruelty; it’s survival.”

Miss Latrell frowns, taken aback by Ruby’s confidence. “Are you saying you were forced into this? Isn’t that just an excuse?”

Ruby straightens, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Not an excuse; a reason. You don’t know what it’s like to feel cornered, to be pushed until you have no other options. What would you do in my shoes?”

“Maybe I’d find a better way,” Miss Latrell replies, her voice gaining strength. “You could have sought help or found a way out that didn’t involve hurting others.”

Ruby scoffs lightly, her body language shifting. “Oh please, as if that’s always an option. You think I didn’t try? Sometimes, desperation drives you to do things you never thought you would.”

Miss Latrell takes a small step forward, her confidence faltering slightly. “But you had a choice. You chose to harm others instead of finding a different path.”

Ruby leans closer, her intensity rising. “And what if the harm was already done to me? What if I was just fighting back? You’d fight, too, if you were backed into a corner like a wounded animal.”

The class watches with bated breath, the tension thick enough to cut. Miss Latrell hesitates, grappling with Ruby’s words. “But what about the people you hurt? The lives you ruined?”

Ruby shrugs, a flicker of defiance crossing her features. “Sometimes people get hurt in the crossfire. It’s unfortunate, but life isn’t black and white.”

Her opponent shifts her weight, clearly unsettled. “Don’t you think that’s a selfish way to think? To prioritize your own pain over others’?”

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