Chapter 2The Sadist

He led me up to a room on the third floor. It was a gamer's paradise, with multiple massive screens and a glowing, transparent PC tower. I'd never seen anything like it.

"So," I asked, "shall we begin?"

He plopped into a gaming chair. "You can use that setup," he said, pointing to an identical station next to his.

"How are your gaming skills?" he asked, putting on his headset. "Tiffany said you're a high-rank player, that you could carry me... whoa, what the hell?! Why did my screen go black?"

I emerged from under the desk. "Because I unplugged your power cord."

"What is wrong with you?!"

I pulled the ruler from my back pocket and gave his butt a sharp whack. "If you swear again," I said with a smile, "I'll use this on your mouth."

He yelped, clutching his rear and then covering his mouth. "Who are you? What did Tiffany send you here for?"

"My name is Chloe," I said. "I'm here to tutor you."

His rebellious streak flared up. "I told her to find me a gaming partner! Not a damn tutor!"

He tried to bolt, but I slammed him against the door and locked it. He struggled, and I pressed my body against his back to hold him in place. He suddenly went still, his breathing becoming heavy. "What... what are you doing?"

I leaned in, my lips brushing his ear. "Studying, of course."

For some reason, all the fight went out of him. Maybe I'm just good at handling things. I've wrestled pigs at my grandma's, after all.

In the dimly lit room, I asked him, "What's your name?"

The tough guy was all bravado. He trembled slightly. "L-Liam."