Mag-log inIt was the night before the Gala. The dorm was filled with the smell of hairspray and the sound of girls laughing in the hallway. Lucy tried to stay calm. She carefully took the red silk dress out of its bag and hung it on the wardrobe. In the dim light, the dress was stunning. it sparkled like fire. She brushed her fingers against the soft fabric, making sure there were no wrinkles. Zoe was sitting on her bed, looking at her phone. She looked up and stared at the dress for a long time. "It really is pretty, Lucy," Zoe said. Her voice sounded flat. "Everyone will be looking at you tomorrow." "I just want the night to be over, Zoe," Lucy said. Her head was starting to hurt. "I’m going to the lounge to get some tea. Do you want some?" Zoe waited a second before answering. "Yeah, please." Lucy grabbed two mugs and left. The hot water machine was slow, and she had to wait behind three other girls. She stood there thinking about Jonathan. She had hidden her secret phone under her pil
The University Gala was only three days away. The air on campus had changed; students were talking about nothing but their outfits, their dates, and the guest list. For Lucy, the countdown felt like a tightening rope. Every time she checked her phone, the red tracking dot reminded her that Adrian was watching her every move, she couldn't risk a phone call or a text message to talk to Jonathan. She walked toward the university library, her movements stiff. She knew the security guard was likely watching from a distance, and she knew Adrian would see her location update on his screen. The library was one of her safe zones, so she stayed within the lines.Inside, the library was crowded with students cramming for midterms. Lucy didn't go to her usual desk. Instead, she headed for the bank of public computers near the reference desk. These machines were old and slow, used mostly for looking up book locations in the archives. She sat down at a terminal in the middle of a row.She opened a
Lucy jumped as her phone vibrated against the wooden table in the silent room. She looked at the screen. It was her mother. Since Adrian had installed the tracking app and blocked her unknown contacts, every call felt like a potential explosion. She swiped to answer, her fingers trembling."Hey mom. How are you?" Lucy asked, her voice tight."Lucy! He’s awake!" Martha’s voice was high-pitched. "Your father opened his eyes about ten minutes ago. He’s looking around. The nurses are with him now.""I’m coming right now," Lucy said.She grabbed her bag and ran out of the room. She didn't even bother to check the mirror or change out of her casual clothes. As she burst through the dormitory’s heavy front doors, she saw a black car parked at the curb. A man in a dark suit, one of Adrian’s personal security guards, stepped out and opened the back door. He didn't say a word. He just pointed to the seat.Lucy realized then that the tracking app wasn't the only way Adrian was watching her. He h
Lucy sat at her desk, trying to focus on her notes, but the silence of the dorm room felt heavy. Zoe had left early, claiming she had errands to run for her "mystery man." Lucy took the opportunity to check her hidden folder one last time, sending a quick "I miss you" to Jonathan before deleting the trace.Someone suddenly started banging the door aggressively. Just before she could stand up, the door swung open. Adrian stood in the doorway. His eyes looked bloodshot and he wasn’t wearing his usual polished suit. He didn't say hello, he just barged into the room and kicked the door shut behind him."Give it to me," he said, his voice a low, dangerous growl.Lucy stood up, her legs trembling. "Give you what, Adrian? What are you doing here? You can't just burst into my room.""The phone, Lucy. Now." He held out his hand, his fingers twitching. "I’ve been watching the logs on the family plan. You’ve been active at odd hours. My father’s security team flagged several long outgoing calls
Lucy walked back to the dorm with her head down. The interaction with the professor kept playing in her head. When she entered the room, it was empty. Zoe was out, likely already preparing for the shopping trip or meeting her new boyfriend. Lucy dropped her bag on the floor and climbed into bed without changing her clothes.She pulled out her phone and opened the hidden folder. She called Jonathan."Hey," he answered on the second ring. His voice was warm and calm. "How was the test?""Awful," Lucy whispered, a tear escaping and hitting her pillow. "I fell asleep at my desk last night and missed the last three chapters. I barely finished half the questions. The professor pulled me aside afterward.""Lucy, hey, listen to me," Jonathan said firmly but gently. "One test does not define you. You’ve been through a lot this week. Anyone else would have collapsed days ago. You’re human, not a machine."They talked for a long time. Jonathan told her about a project he was working on. As he sp
Lucy groaned as she woke up, her neck stiff and her back aching. As she blinked her eyes open, she realized she wasn't in her bed. She was still sitting at her desk, her forehead resting on the open pages of her art history textbook. She sat up slowly, rubbing her sore neck. Across the room, Zoe was standing in front of the full-length mirror, blotting her lipstick with a tissue. She was already fully dressed in a stylish knit dress and tall boots."Zoe?" Lucy’s voice was thick with sleep. She glanced at the clock on the wall and her heart stopped. It was 8:15 AM. Her test started at nine. "Why didn't you wake me up? "Zoe didn't turn around. She adjusted her hair in the mirror, her expression neutral. "I saw you passed out pretty hard, Lucy. Honestly, you looked like you really needed the sleep. I figured ten more minutes wouldn't hurt, and then I got distracted getting ready. I thought your alarm would go off eventually.""My alarm was set for six," Lucy said, grabbing her phone. T
The atmosphere in the small apartment remained tense, despite the cool rain outside. Jonathan seemed to realize he had pushed too far. He saw the way her lip trembled, the way her eyes searched his for a lie she couldn't find. He sighed in frustration and ran a hand through his damp hair."I’m goin
The ride ended in a narrow alleyway behind a row of old brick buildings. Jonathan put off the engine. "We’re here," he said, his voice raspy.Lucy came down with shaky legs, her knees nearly buckling. Jonathan caught her by the elbow, steadying her as he led her toward a heavy steel door. He fumbl
Lucy barely felt the cold morning air, as Adrian dragged her to the administrative courtyard. His grip on her upper arm was extremely tight, his fingers digging into the soft skin just above where her bruise was starting to turn yellow. Zoe followed a few paces behind, pretending to be worried. "A
The ride home from the Matthews estate was quiet. Adrian was already tipsy from drinking too much wine. He kept his hand on Lucy’s thigh, his thumb stroking the red silk of the dress Zoe had picked out. Lucy sat still staring out at the blurred streetlights, feeling the cold night air from the wind







