Who did this?

Ashley lay bruised and trembling on the hospital bed, her skin pale against the white sheets.

Mrs. Fair’s fingers hovered above her daughter’s battered arm, eyes glistening with tears.

“Ashley,” she whispered, voice breaking, “who did this to you?”

Ashley turned her face away, the motion slow, as if even that small effort hurt.

“I… I don’t know,” she murmured. “I shouldn’t have taken that drink. After that… everything’s a blur. I woke up behind the library… covered in blood.” Her voice cracked, and she clenched her fists weakly.

Mr. Fair’s fists tightened at his sides. “Just give us their names. We’ll make them pay.”

Ashley squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head. “No… it’s my fault.”

Mrs. Fair’s breath hitched. “Who gave you the drink?”

Ashley hesitated. “My best friend.”

Mrs. Fair’s face hardened. “Then it must’ve been her—”

“No!” Ashley choked out. “Not Maggie. She didn’t know… she’d never—” Her voice dissolved into a broken sob.

Suddenly, a faint voice echoed down the hallway.

“Ashley! Ashley!”

Ashley’s breath hitched sharply. “It’s Maggie,” she whispered, tears sliding down her face. “Please… let her in.”

Mrs. Fair shot up. “No. I won’t let her manipulate you.” She stormed to the door, ignoring Ashley’s pleading eyes.

Ashley reached weakly toward her father. “Dad… please…”

But Mr. Fair just gave a heavy sigh, his jaw clenched. “I’m with your mother on this, Ash.”

A fresh wave of pain coursed through Ashley, not just physical—but deep, jagged, soul-piercing pain. Her body hurt, yes—but her heart felt shattered beyond repair.

Her virginity—stolen.

By someone she couldn’t name. Couldn’t remember.

And the icy fear that they had photos, videos, something—something they could hold over her—clawed at her chest until she could barely breathe.

Her fists trembled. Why hadn’t I fought back?

She’d always been quiet, gentle, the girl who avoided conflict. She’d never imagined she’d need to know how to fight for her life.

The door opened again—and suddenly Maggie was there, pushing past Mrs. Fair, eyes red and puffy, gasping for breath.

“Ashley!”

Ashley’s voice cracked like thin glass. “Maggie…”

Maggie rushed forward, collapsing to her knees beside the bed, grabbing Ashley’s hand.

“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. “I thought… I thought it would be fun, the drinks, the party—I didn’t know, Ashley, I swear, I didn’t know—”

Ashley let out a ragged breath and squeezed Maggie’s hand weakly. “You didn’t do this. You didn’t know.”

Mr. and Mrs. Fair stood silently, watching the two girls cling to each other.

Finally, Mrs. Fair spoke, her voice soft but steely. “Don’t worry, baby. Once we find out who did this, we’re pulling you out of that school.”

Ashley’s eyes shot wide. “No!” Her voice cracked, hoarse but determined. “No, Mom, I’m not leaving Stanford.”

Mrs. Fair’s brow furrowed in disbelief. “Ashley… after what they did?”

Ashley met her mother’s gaze, her jaw trembling but set. “You always taught me—never run from fear. If I leave now, they win. I’m staying.”

Mr. Fair exhaled slowly, rubbing his face. “But what if next time… it’s worse?”

Ashley’s chin quivered. “It won’t be.”

Mrs. Fair’s eyes filled with tears. “Ashley…”

“Please, Mom,” Ashley whispered. “Please. Don’t take this from me. I need to stay. I need to prove to myself I can survive this.”

For a long moment, the room was silent except for the beeping monitors.

Finally, Mrs. Fair sank into the chair by Ashley’s bed, reaching out and taking her hand, her lips trembling.

“Okay,” she whispered. “You can stay.”

Ashley let out a shuddering breath.

“But listen to me,” Mrs. Fair added, voice firm. “If I see even the smallest sign something’s wrong—I’m pulling you out, no questions asked.”

Ashley gave a faint, teary smile. “I promise, Mom.”

Mrs. Fair leaned forward, pressing a trembling kiss to Ashley’s forehead. “You’re stronger than you think, baby.”

Ashley closed her eyes, letting the tears fall, feeling her mother’s arms wrap tightly around her—and for the first time since waking up, she let herself believe… maybe she could survive this. Maybe.

Ashley lay curled on her side in the hospital bed, the soft beeping of the heart monitor filling the room. The moonlight pooled faintly through the window, casting pale shadows on the wall. Across the room, Mrs. Fair sat slumped in the visitor’s chair, her head tilted back, eyes closed in restless sleep.

Ashley’s brow twitched.

A tiny frown pulled at the corners of her lips.

Her fingers clenched the bedsheet.

Her breathing quickened.

*

The music thudded in her ears.

Ashley stood in the middle of the party, the lights flashing in dizzying patterns—purple, red, green—faces blurring into smears of color as they passed her. Laughter echoed somewhere behind her, but it sounded warped, as if underwater.

She turned, looking for Maggie.

But every time she thought she saw her friend, the figure melted away, replaced by strangers, faceless bodies pressing in close.

A cold hand brushed hers. She looked down. A glass sat in her palm, wet and slippery. She didn’t remember taking it, but it was there, the rim cold against her fingers.

She lifted it to her lips. Suddenly, the floor tilted. Her vision cracked like a shattered mirror—shards of light, blinding and jagged, spinning too fast. Her knees buckled.

She was falling. Ashley’s back scraped against rough concrete, the sharp bite of gravel cutting into her skin.

She tried to move, but something heavy pinned her down. Hot breath on her neck.

She opened her mouth to scream— but no sound came out. Her voice was gone. A shadow loomed above her. No face. Just teeth—gleaming, twisted in a grin. Her body jerked as pain tore through her, leaving her gasping, choking on her own breath.

“Please…” she mouthed. “Please, no…” The shadows only laughed.

Then she began crawling. She was on her hands and knees, scraping across the pavement. Blood smeared the ground beneath her. Her hands reached forward, shaking, grabbing at empty air.

Headlights swept over her, blinding. A car passed by, indifferent, its tires hissing on the road. No one stopped. She was alone.

Ashley jolted awake with a strangled gasp.

Her chest heaved as she fought to steady her breath, the thin hospital blanket tangled around her. Sweat clung to her skin, her hair damp against her forehead.

For a moment, she didn’t know where she was. The beeping. The pale walls. The IV needle in her arm. Her mother’s voice camr through,  “Ashley!”

Mrs. Fair was at her side in an instant, grabbing her daughter’s trembling hands. “Baby, it’s okay,” she whispered frantically, brushing Ashley’s damp hair back. “You’re safe. You’re here. You’re safe.”

Ashley shook her head, choking on a sob. “I saw him,” she whispered, her voice raw and cracking. “I saw his face… but it was all wrong. Everything was wrong…”

Mrs. Fair gathered her into her arms, rocking her gently, pressing kisses into her hair.

“I’ve got you, baby,” she murmured over and over, tears brimming in her own eyes. “I’ve got you.”