Chapter 21:Illiana’s POV:I made myself a sandwich for dinner, but the way my stomach was churning with nerves and anticipation, I couldn’t take a bite.Ever since opening that box, my body had been trembling with molten shivers. In a feeble attempt to cool it off, I hopped under the cold shower.I shaved…not for him. I shaved regularly. I did it in the morning, but twice a day wasn’t a big deal...right?Wrapping a bathrobe around myself, I returned to my bedroom. The box sat on the bed, quiet and yet the loudest.My insides queased with a mixture of so many emotions that I couldn’t pick them apart.Was I really going to do it?Lifting the box in my hands, I moved toward the mirror. I didn't realize the girl staring back at me. I’d never met this Iliana before...so bold, so confident.It was his doing. He had peeled my layers, dived right into me, and planted this crazy madness deep inside me that I was ready to hand myself over to him…for the whole night.A shiver ran down my spine.
Iliana’s POV:Throwing my head against the door, I squeezed my eyes shut and panted heavily. His words, dripping with dark desire and sinful temptation, echoed in my head and burned me from the inside out.Suddenly, I jumped out of my skin as a deafening shriek erupted. It belonged to Thea. And it was coming from my bedroom. The bedroom where I’d dumped those nails…fuck.Peeling away from the door, I stormed into my bedroom and found Thea studying the nails as if they were some cute set of acrylics she had purchased recently.She didn’t seem afraid at all. If anything, she was intrigued as she grazed her fingers over the edges of the bloodied nails.Noticing me in the doorway, she whipped around. Her lips stretched into a creepy grin as she drawled, “Is it what I think it is, Iliana?”Her eyes flickered to the note, and she started reading it.Her jaw dropped. “Holy. Fucking. Shit,” she exclaimed.I collapsed onto the bed and sighed heavily, “I know.”“No, Iliana. That’s like...premiu
Iliana’s POV:I didn’t stop until I reached the back alley behind my building, where my bedroom window faced the treeline.I didn’t know why I came here, but considering the possibility of him escaping through my window, I thought there might be a chance of catching him here.The night air was cold, and other than its rustling through the leaves, it was eerily quiet.I stood in the center of the clearing and slowly turned around in a full circle, eyes sweeping the area.Nothing. No lurking shadows. No tall figures.And yet–I felt watched. Something inside me told me that he was nearby. He always was.Sucking in a sharp inhale, I parted my lips and let out a low, shaky whisper, “Are you here?”Silence.I closed my eyes. God, I was going paranoid. Now I was running out in the dark night and blabbering nonsense in the still air. At this rate, I might summon a ghost instead.I was just about to turn around and return to my apartment when I caught a dark shadow in my peripheral vision.And
Iliana’s POV:During the lecture, the Professor reminded us of the approaching deadline for the two pending assignments that had completely slipped my mind because, apparently, my stalker was consuming every single thought of mine recently.So, after being done with all the lectures, I went straight to the library, and by the time I pressed ‘Submit’ on the student portal, it was already getting dark outside.For the first time, I realized how deserted the library had become. Other than the echo of a ticking clock and whispering of a few scattered students, there was mostly silence.Closing my laptop, I slid it into my bag and made my way out of the library. As my apartment was within walking distance, I started walking, enjoying the feel of chilly night air hitting my face.I was halfway through making a mental to-do list after reaching my apartment when my phone started buzzing in my jeans pocket. As soon as I fished it out and saw Dad’s picture on the screen, my whole face lit up.S
WARNING: This chapter contains violence..Maddox’s POV:She moaned my name last night.Not out loud. She didn’t know it yet. But the way her breath hitched, and her body crumpled to the raw desire...I knew she was thinking about me.I planted that madness inside her. It was blooming now and I relished the way it fucking consumed her—wild, untamed, and hungry.Yes, Little Muse, there was no escape now. Not from this darkness, not from this temptation that was now eating you like a sin.By now, I had her schedule memorized. Her routine…the exact time her body gives in to exhaustion and her lashes flutter closed.And that’s when I slip into her apartment, quiet like a shadow.She had no idea, but I’d been doing it for months. Watching her sleep. The soft rise and fall of her chest brought me the kind of peace I couldn’t name.But last night was different. She dreamt of me.At first, I thought it was a nightmare. I was just about to reach her when she jolted awake.I stayed in the shadow
Iliana’s POV:Before I opened my eyes, the insistent buzzing of my phone tugged me from sleep. I stretched my body with a loud yawn, spine cracking, legs stiff.Another buzz.Eyes still clamped shut, I rolled over lazily, palms tapping blindly across the mattress as I searched my phone in between the sheets.As soon as my fingers touched the cold, hard surface, I gripped it tighter and dragged the phone toward me.My eyes fluttered open to a lit screen as another text rolled in. I blinked.5 missed calls and 9 messages. All from Thea.Rubbing my eyes, I tapped on the screen and started skimming through the messages.‘Yo bro, where are you?’‘Why aren’t you in the class yet?’‘Do NOT tell me you’re still snuggled up in bed while I’m suffering through this godforsaken lecture.’‘Oh God, don’t tell me your stalker has kidnapped you.’‘Do I need to alert the authorities?’‘Boring update: class has started.’‘Wait…was our Professor always this attractive, or am I just ovulating?’‘I guess