bChapter /bb33 /b

Aurora’s POV

A stillness settled, thick and suffocating. I could hear my own breathing, shallow and uneven.

“Come here,” Mr. Hemming said, his tone nowpletely different–no longer the authoritative instructor but something else. Something worse.

bMy /bfeet refused to move. I clutched the strap of my backpack, my fingers curling tightly around it as if it were my only lifeline.

“Aurora,” he repeated, softer this time, but it sent an ice–cold shiver down my spine.

I forced myself to take one step forward. Then another. My instincts screamed at me to run, to bolt out of the room, but my body wouldn’t listen. I was trapped, caught in a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from.

bMr. /bHemming walked around his desk, closing the distance between us. ‘You’re struggling in my ss, he murmured, his voice carrying a false kindness that made my stomach twist in knots. I just want to help.”

I didn’t believe him. Not for a second. My mouth felt dry, my voice lodged somewhere in my throat.

“You don’t have to be so nervous, he continued, stepping closer. Too close. I could feel the heat of his presence, the way his shadow loomed over bme/b. I don’t bite. I only want to help you, Aurora. After allb…/byou’re all alone, with no one beside you. Unsupervised…”

A cold sweat broke out on my skin. Every nerve in my body was screaming for me to do something, anything. The door bwas /bbehind him. The windows were too high. My nails dug into my palm as bI /bswallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his bgaze/b.

“I–I should go,” I stammered, taking a shaky step back.

But his hand shot out, gripping my wrist, his fingers curling around it like a vice. My breath hitched. My heart mmed against my ribs.

‘Not yet,” he said, smiling now, but it wasn’t kind. It was something else entirely.

I had always known that the world was cruel, but I never imagined I would be caught in such a nightmare. My heart pounded against my ribcage as I stood frozen in front of Mr. Hemming, the man I thought was a decent human being. His beady eyes gleamed with a sinister light, his lips curling into a bsmirk /bthat made my stomach churn with unease.

“You look just like your mother,” he murmured, his fingers tapping against the wooden desk between us. “She was a beauty too, wasn’t she?”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. “Why are you doing this?” My voice came out steadier than I expected, but inside, I was unraveling.

He chuckled like this was all some twisted game to him. “Oh, I haven’t done anything yetb, /bhave I?” He smiled that creepy smile, his grip tightening on mine. “And you see, Aurora, I want to help you. But after all…helpes at a price, doesn’t it? I mean…you don’t have anyone to look after you…wouldn’t it be nice if I stepped into the role of a…parental figure.”

The way he spoke told me there was not a single ‘parental‘ thought in his mind.

I took a shaky step back, my palms damp with sweat. “It’s alright, Mr. Hemming…I–I already have a parent.” My voice roseb, /ba mix of anger and fear bleeding through.

Mr. Hemming’s expression darkened in an instant, the amusement draining from his face. “No, sweetheart, you don’t. Because your father? He’s a coward. He’s not going stop me no matter what I do to youi. /iBut you… you’re right hereb. /bAnd right now…no matter what happens…I can do anything without consequences. Because no one will believe a stupid/charity caseb…/bb” /b

My blood turned ice–cold. I knew where this was/going. “Stay away from me,” I warned, but my voice wavered. He saw it–he could smell the fear radiating off me like a wounded animal.

In a blink, he started moving toward me with deliberate slowness, like a predator stalking its prey. “Now, now,” he cooed, reaching I promise, it won’t hurt. Much.”

o need to be scared.

I bolted, Instinct took over, and I turned on my heel, aiming for the door. I barely made it two steps before ba /brough hand mped down on bmy /bbwrist/b, yanking me backward so hard I stumbled, my back colliding against his solid chest.

bChapter /b33

b“/bWhere bdo /bbyou /bthink you’re bgoing/bb? /bIlis breath was hot against my ear, his gilp tightening bpainfully /baround bmy /bbwilst/b. I thrashed sas ham, a wing, but he was too strongb. /b

‘Let me go!” I screamed, my nails digging into his arm, but he onlyughed, the sound cruel and mocking.

‘Feisty little thing, he muttered before shoving me onto the floor.

Pain shot up my side as I hit the ground, gasping. Before I could scramble away, he was on top of me, his heavy weight pinning me down. My heartheat roared in my ears, my breathsing in panicked gasps as he straddled me, his hands forcing my wrists above my head.

Please, I begged, my voice barely a whisper, my vision blurring with tears. Please don’t do this.”

His grin was all teeth, his eyes dark with hunger. “Oh, sweetheart,” he purred, ‘I’m just taking care of you.”

A sob tore from my throat as I struggled beneath him, my body shaking violently. No. No.

This couldn’t be happening. Not like this. Not to me.

bChapter /bbComments /b