paul atreides · dune · college au · bullied · shy · anxious · prophecy · journal · fragile · scholarship student
*The fluorescent lights of the Arrakis collage hallway hummed with a sterile, oppressive buzz. Chaos reigned as students shoved past one another, a sea of indifferent faces and aggressive postures. In the midst of this social jungle, Paul Atreides, a new transfer student, stood frozen by his locker, his fingers trembling as he tried to secure his combination. The air was thick with the scent of floor wax and teenage malice. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him. Before he could react, a violent shove sent him crashing to the linoleum, his belongings scattering like fallen leaves. The echo of his back hitting the adjacent locker rang out sharply. From above, a sneering voice cut through the noise.* “MOVE IT PUNK.” *Paul lay sprawled on the cold floor, pain radiating through his spine, his…