CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

 

 

(ALINA POV)

 

 

The repeatitive vibration of the phone beside me heightened my anxiety.

 

I sucked in hot air, panic rising in my chest as the reality of my actions started to make my face fall.

 

 How could I have been so reckless? How could I have lied to him about where I was last night?

 

My absence now must have probably  raised more than a few eyebrows at home, and now, the truth,..or whatever version he suspected was about to catch up with me.

 

 

 

The phone kept ringing, the sound becoming more insistent, more accusing.

 

 

I felt this unpleasant heat at the back of my neck.

 I sat up, holding onto the duvet around me like a shield.

 

 But as I began to shift, something my eyes met with on the bed made me stop.

 

It was a vivid red stain that had seeped into the white sheets.

 

It was the sight of blood.

 

 

 

I gasped with my hands trembling, my eyeballs popping out as I pushed the duvet away,

 exposing the undeniable evidence beneath me.

 

 

 

My virginity, something I had held onto for so long, something I have always dreamt of giving away under the right circumstances….it was gone.

 

“Gone forever”

 

And I wasn't raped, I very damn well knew what I was doing yestenight, the alcohol notwithstanding.

 

 

But the stranger…he wasn’t even here.

 

I gasped again and returned my stare to the stain, unable to look away,

 

My hands were shaking as I pulled the sheets tighter around my body,

wrapping myself in a limp attempt to feel less exposed, less filthy.

 

The phone stopped ringing.

 

Then, as if to remind me of my troubles, it started again the next second.

 

I began to slide from the bed to the floor, the duvet trailing after me,

My back pressed against the edge of the bed as I hugged the sheet closer, my gaze looking vacantly towards a far corner of the room.

 

 I still couldn’t bring myself to answer.

 

“Oh, God” I whispered with tears blurring my vision.

 

 

“What have I done?”

What if my father found out? What if he already suspected? What if the stranger came back, or worse, what if he didn’t?

 

The silence that followed was oppressive,

 

I sat there, curled up on the floor with nothing but the evidence of my actions and my father’s unanswered calls, I knew I couldn’t stay like this.

 

Something had to give.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An hour later, the taxi slowed to a stop a few houses down from my family’s compact bungalow.

 

 

 I peeped through  the window at the small, overgrown yard, knowing fully well what was awaiting me inside in a few minutes.

 

I closed my eyes and sucked in deep breath,

willing myself to compose.

 

 When I opened them again, my attention immediately went to the driveway.

 

Both cars were there; My father's Honda accord and Sophia's Sedan.

 

 The curtains in the living room window were slightly parted,

a clear sign that the house was packed full.

 

They were all inside, waiting.

 

The driver cleared his throat.

 

“You getting out, miss?”

 

 

I jolted back to reality, sitting upright.

 

 

“Oh! Yes, sorry.”

 

I echoed,  fumbling through my bag and  pulling out some cash,  handing it over  to him.

 

 “Here. Keep the change.”

 

“Thanks,”

 

he bowed slightly, also giving me a brief nod as I climbed out of the car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moments after that I was standing before the family's  front door.

 

The handle felt unusually cold under my hand as I pushed it open.

 

The living room was exactly as I had  imagined,

 

My father was sitting rigidly on the couch, his face completely red with anger.

 

And  to his left, Sophia, my stepmother, wore her usual scornful expression, her lips pushing out in disapproval.

 

 Clara, my stepsister, sat next to her, mirroring her mother’s contempt with a raised eyebrow and a twisted lip.

 

 

I stepped inside, feeling the bites of their judgmental eyes on my skin.

 

The closer I got to them, the higher my anxiety rose.

 

I had indeed just lost my virginity to a total stranger. This wasn't a minor incident at all.

 

And  If my father ever found out, whatever little trust he had in me would be gone.

 

 

As for  Sophia and Clara?

 

They would never let me hear the end of it ever again.

 

Their accusations of me being a loose whore would finally have proof.

 

No. I couldn’t let them know.

 

 I had to stick to the lie I told yesterday, at least until I could figure out what to do next.

 

“Alina.”

 

My father’s voice cut through my thoughts like a knife.

 

 

“Where were you last night?”

 

I froze, blinking way too many times as I tried to collect myself.

 

 

“I… I was at a friend’s place. I told you that,”

 

I stammered, my voice barely steady.

 

“Do you think I’m stupid?”

 

His voice rose, and the cold  suddeness of it made me step back.

 

“You didn’t even call. Do you have any idea what kind of worry you caused?”

 

I opened my mouth to respond, interrupted at once, her tone dripping with disdain.

 

 

“She probably didn’t call because she was too busy linking up with some of her old school boys. Isn’t that right, Alina?”

 

Clara snickered.

 

 “Exactly. What kind of ‘friend’s house’ doesn’t have a phone?”

 

Heat flushed my cheeks as I bit my lip.

My father’s questioning gaze were now boring deeper into me, his patience thinning.

 

“I… I stayed later than I planned,”

 

 I blurted, desperate for a believable excuse.

 

 

“We were watching this movie….you see…and then it got too late to come home. I didn’t want to bother anyone by calling so late.”

 

My father’s eyes narrowed, his expression wrinkling in skepticism.

 

 

“Is that really what happened?”

 

He finally managed to ask.

 

I nodded quickly, trying to look as sincere as possible.

 

“Yes, Dad. I swear.”

 

Sophia and Clara exchanged knowing glances, their disbelief still evident.

 

 

After what felt like an eternity, my father sighed and shook his head weak.

 

 

“Don’t let this happen again, Alina. Do you hear me?”

 

“Yes, Dad. I’m sorry,” I murmured, bowing my head.

 

Then, without waiting for another word, I turned and started rushing toward my room, my heart pounding in relief and guilt.

 

 

 

 

 

I got to my room in a matter of minutes, once inside, I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, exhaling nervously.

 

 

I dropped my bag onto the floor and let myself slide down to the bed, my head falling into my hands.

 

 

 “What have I done?” I whispered.

 

 

 

 

Before I could even question myself further,

My phone started to ring as  I scrambled with fresh urgency to grab it from my bag, my fingers fumbling as I touched and pulled it out.

 

The number on the screen was unfamiliar, it wasn't not saved in my contact list.

 

My brows furrowed as I answered cautiously, holding the phone to my ear

 

“Yes Hello?”

 

There was silence on the other end. I glanced at the screen, wondering if the call had ended..

 

 But it was still connected.

 

 

 “Who is this?” I asked a little more loudly.

 

Then I heard it….a voice I remembered far too well. Smooth, deep, and utterly unforgettable.

 

“Hello, Alina.”

 

I gasped, my body going rigid as the phone nearly slipped from my hand.

 

It was him. Damian. The stranger who had vanished after taking my soul with him.