From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 668

Chapter 668: The Low

In the neon-slicked interior of the bowling alley, the atmosphere had shifted from a celebration to a forced march. The only way to stop the visceral, rhythmic beatdown Sono was delivering to the broken Eric was for every freshman to comply. One by one, those who had spent the night clutching their black velvet pouches with trembling hands finally relented. Under the cold, watchful eyes of the seniors, they swallowed the blue pills, the bitterness of the chemical coating a sharp reminder of their own helplessness.

It took only a few minutes for the wave to hit. It started as a subtle warmth at the base of the skull before radiating through their limbs. Suddenly, their feet felt impossibly light, as if the gravity of the room had been dialed back. Their mouths lifted into natural, involuntary smiles, and a wave of giggles rippled through the business department students. The colors of the bowling alley became more vibrant, the music more rhythmic, and the fear that had paralyzed them moments ago began to dissolve into a hazy, euphoric fog.

Yet, beneath the artificial joy, a terrifying realization lingered: they weren’t in control. It felt as if they were passengers in their own bodies, watching from a distance as they laughed and danced. The seniors, sensing the transition, moved in like predators, pushing drinks down the freshmen’s throats to amplify the effect. It was going to be a long, blurred night of forced hedonism.

"This is good. Everything is going exactly how it should," Donto remarked, leaning back against a sleek card table as he surveyed the room. His eyes were cold, devoid of the chemical joy he was peddling. "No disturbances, no more heroes. We know the best way to prevent problems is to make sure everyone is on the same team. Total compliance."

He turned to a group of seniors from the rugby and soccer clubs, his voice dropping to a low, authoritative rasp. "You know what to do with the ones who couldn’t make it today. We can’t have any gaps in the net."

Eventually, the party sputtered to an end in the early hours of the morning. The freshmen were herded back toward their dorm rooms like cattle. Other than the brutal suppression of Eric, nothing else had "happened", no grand speeches, no further violence. Just the pills.

Yovan and Talia barely made it back to their shared dorm room. Their movements were jerky and uncoordinated as they fumbled with the key, managed to lock the door, and collapsed onto their respective beds, passing out before their heads even hit the pillows.

When they finally woke up the next morning, their alarms had been blaring for a solid ten minutes. The sound was like a physical blow to their eardrums. Talia groaned, her whole body feeling heavy and groggy, as if her blood had been replaced with lead. Her head was ringing with a dull, persistent ache that made every flicker of sunlight through the blinds feel like a needle.

They felt terrible, a profound lack of energy that went beyond a simple hangover. Every fiber of their being screamed for them to stay under the covers and hide from the day.

"Talia... you’re okay, right?" Yovan rasped, finally dragging herself to the bathroom. She splashed freezing water on her face, but it did little to clear the fog in her mind.

"I’m up... I just can’t really find the strength to move," Talia replied, her voice hollow. She stared at the ceiling, trying to piece together the night. "I don’t think this is just the drinks. I did everything I could to avoid the alcohol. I was secretly pouring my cups into the toilets or spilling them in the corners when no one was looking."

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