All Chapters of After Dark: Chapter 11 - Chapter 15

Saturday morning offered a thin, fragile peace. The wad of cash from Richard was hidden deep in my backpack, a heavy secret, yet a desperate relief. It meant Jasper's hospital bill, that grim monster, could finally be tamed. Mom's cough sounded softer, and Jasper's innocent play filled our small apartment with rare, normal sounds. For a few precious hours, our home felt almost safe. But the calm was a lie. It always was, with Caden Dovewood lurking. He'd known about Eve, a shadow always at my heels. His gaze was a constant, chilling reminder that my carefully built double life was his to expose whenever he chose. I'd lived with his eyes on me for weeks, enduring his presence at school, the forced closeness, the terrifying physical demands. The encounter with Richard, a desperate gamble for cash had only deepened my vulnerability, giving Caden more specific ammunition. My mind kept returning to Richard—a lonely man, yes, but also a symbol of how far I’d gone, how much deeper into the

The heavy main door of Caden's mansion clicked shut behind me. The sound didn't offer freedom; it sealed me into a new kind of prison. The bright afternoon sun felt too harsh, mocking the darkness that had just settled deep inside me. I was outside, yes, but no longer my own. The air felt thick, heavy with the weight of the deal. My limbs felt weak, like every bone had turned to water. I had agreed. I had sold myself, not just for money now, but for Caden’s sinister game. The long walk back home was a blur of concrete and green lawns. My mind replayed his cold smile, his cruel words, the way he twisted my love for Jasper and Mom into a chain around my neck. He owned me now, in a way that felt even worse than before. Before, it was about hiding Eve. Now, Eve was his too. I got home just as Mom was waking from her nap. "Maeve, honey? Is that you?" she called, her voice still a little raspy. "It's me, Mom," I said, forcing a cheerful tone I didn't feel. I quickly hid my backpack and