3

Elara

My heart raced as I fled the classroom, my breath coming in quick, panicked gasps. The hallway felt like a labyrinth, twisting and turning as I darted past other people who were blissfully unaware of my turmoil.

What had just happened with Asher?

My mind was a whirlwind of confusion, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of the heat from his hands on my skin, the way they had ignited something deep within me, something both thrilling and terrifying.

I pushed through the bathroom door, locking it behind me with trembling fingers. I approached the mirror, forcing myself to confront my reflection. There I was—Elara. My hair was a tangled mess, and my cheeks were flushed, betraying the storm of emotions raging inside me.

As I stared into my own eyes, memories flashed through my mind like a movie on repeat: Asher's fingers tracing my jawline, the way he had pulled me close, the intensity of that moment when everything had changed. I had only been with two guys back home— sweet, safe experiences that felt like distant memories compared to what just happened with him. This was different. This was alive, electric, and utterly terrifying.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to shut out the memories that felt too raw, too overwhelming. “Get it together, Elara,” I whispered to myself, my voice shaky. I couldn’t face Asher like this—not after I had run out on him, leaving him standing in the classroom. I needed time to process, to figure out what all of this meant.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped away from the mirror, willing my heart to calm. I unlocked the door and stepped out into the hallway, but my sense of relief was short-lived.

As I walked outside, the cool air hit me, but it did little to soothe the warmth flooding my cheeks. I heard hushed whispers, voices low and conspiratorial. I turned to see two men standing a few feet away, their hoods pulled up, plunging their faces into an all consuming darkness. Seeing them standing there, all mysteriously gave me a gut feeling— step back.

But as I did, I bumped into something solid behind me. My heart dropped as I turned around, only to find another hooded figure looming over me. Panic surged through me as I began to feel trapped. I stumbled, my breath quickening. “What do you want?” I gasped, my voice barely a whisper.

They didn’t answer. Instead, I felt a rush of adrenaline as I turned to run, but before I could take a step, a hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my scream as the world around me faded into nothingness.

—

A jolt of panic shot through me as I opened my eyes, the coldness of what I guessed was stone beneath me seeping into my bones. I blinked, struggling to focus as a fog blurred my vision, but the dim light only amplified my confusion. I was lying on a hard surface, that I was sure of. And as the fog in my eyes finally cleared, I realised I was right. I had bound tightly to a stone table, my wrists and ankles restrained. The ropes felt like chains of ice, cutting into my skin and leaving me breathless.

As I turned my head, horror swept over me. Five other women were trapped in the same nightmare, their expressions a mirror of my own terror. One of them, a woman with wild blonde hair, looked directly at me, her eyes wide with fear.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice trembling.

I opened my mouth to respond, but words failed me. I could feel my heart racing, pounding against my ribcage like a frantic bird trying to escape. Just then, another woman began to scream, her voice rising in pitch as she shouted for help. “Somebody! Please! Help us!”

The sound echoed off the stone walls, sending a fresh wave of dread coursing through me. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the panic that threatened to engulf me. I couldn’t let despair take hold; I had to think. I had to find a way out.

I strained against the ropes, testing their grip around my wrists. They were so tight, but as I twisted and turned, I could feel them loosening just a fraction. But, as I turned my head back, my heart dropped. A hooded figure stood before me, just hovering over me. The sight sent a chill racing down my spine, and instinctively, I squeezed my eyes shut, as if I could will myself to wake up from whatever shitty nightmare this was.

But then came the feeling—warm and familiar—of lips pressing against mine. My eyes snapped open, and my breath caught in my throat as recognition flooded through me. Asher.

“What are you doing?” I gasped, my voice barely a whisper.

He remained silent, his face obscured by the shadows of his hood, but I knew it was him. The world around me began to blur as I fought against the ropes, panic clawing at my insides. “Asher, please! You have to let us go!”

But he didn’t respond. Instead, he leaned closer, the warmth of his breath brushing against my skin. “You belong here, Elara.” His voice was low, almost soothing, yet laced with something darker that made my blood run cold.

“What is happening?” I asked, my voice trembling.

I could see the fear mirrored in the eyes of the other women as they watched the scene unfold, their faces pale with uncertainty. I wanted to scream, to shout for help again, but the words caught in my throat.

Asher’s gaze held mine, and for a fleeting moment, I felt a flicker of the connection we had shared. But it was overshadowed by the chilling reality of our situation. “You need to trust me,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, but the smile on his face wasn’t a good one.

Trust? How could I trust him when everything felt like a twisted nightmare? I squeezed my eyes shut again, hoping against hope that when I opened them next, this would all be a figment of my imagination. But when I opened them once more, he was still there, standing ominously before me, and the grim reality crashed down around us like a tidal wave.

I was trapped, and so were the others.

Asher

As soon as Elara burst out of the classroom, panic etched across her face, I felt a rush of triumph. She didn’t know it yet, but I had her exactly where I wanted her. The thrill of the chase ignited something primal within me. I picked up my phone, fingers tapping out a message to my brothers. It’s time.

I could almost hear their excitement crackling through the screen, the anticipation of what was to come. I tossed the phone aside, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips as I began to dress. The adrenaline coursed through me, fuelling my every move. I knew she wouldn’t dare return to the party after what had just happened between us. The memory of her vulnerability, the way she had melted under my touch, was intoxicating. She was such a good and innocent girl, but they were the best ones to break.

Sliding into my jacket, I stepped outside, the cool night air hitting me. I knew that Elara would be a mess, torn between the thrill of our encounter and the fear of what lay ahead. Perfect.

As I approached the designated spot, my brothers were already there, their shadows merging in the darkness. And then I saw her, Elara, unconscious, a bag obscuring her face. They had done well. My heart raced, not from fear but from the thrill of control. They tumbled her into the van, and I could barely contain my excitement as I joined them, the door slamming shut behind me.

“Let’s move,” I commanded, my voice steady and authoritative as I traced her covered lips with my thumb. The engine roared to life as we sped away, the landscape blurring around us. We were heading to the old chapel, the sacred ground where our power thrived.

Once we arrived, we carried Elara from the van, her body limp and unaware, and placed her on one of the stone tables beside five other women who had also succumbed to our designs. Each of them had been drawn to us, ensnared by their own desires and vulnerabilities.

Each woman, bound and helpless, was a testament to our control. Elara would soon understand the game we were playing, the stakes that had been set. She would learn that there was no escape, not from me or from the darkness that loomed over the chapel. She, just like these other women would tonight meet her maker.