Liam grinned. Jackpot.

The impact was visceral. Buddy’s head snapped back, but instead of the usual thwack sound, a low, wet crack echoed from the phone’s speaker. A thin, dark line—not the usual cartoonish bruise—appeared on Buddy’s neck.

Liam ran. He burst out of his dorm, down the concrete stairwell, and into the empty campus courtyard. He didn’t stop until he reached the library, his heart hammering against his ribs. He pulled out his phone, ready to factory reset it, to smash it against the steps.