Elena had just finished her assignments and was ready to crawl into bed after another exhausting day. The evening had been quiet-too quiet, given the recent storm of rumors and drama. She was thankful for the stillness, though, hoping it would last until morning.
She pulled her blanket closer and sighed. Just as she was about to drift off, a loud knock on her dorm room door startled her. She frowned, checking the time on her bedside clock. It was almost midnight. Who could it be at this hour?
“Who’s there?” she called out, her voice cautious.
“It’s campus maintenance,” a soft but urgent voice replied. “There’s been an issue reported in your room. We need to check something.”
Elena hesitated, her instincts screaming that something was off. But the voice sounded convincing enough, and the last thing she wanted was to get in trouble with the dorm supervisors. Reluctantly, she got out of bed and opened the door just a crack.
Before she could process what was happening, a hand holding a white cloth shot through the gap. The cloth was pressed firmly against her nose and mouth. A sickly-sweet smell filled her senses, and panic surged through her veins. She struggled, her hands flailing to push the intruder away, but her vision blurred and her body weakened.
The last thing she heard before everything went black was Mia’s smug voice. “Take her to the poolside.”
When Elena came to, her body was cold and stiff. Her head throbbed, and the sharp sting of the night air bit at her exposed skin. Groggily, she opened her eyes, only to realize she was lying on the cold tiles of the university’s poolside.
“Finally awake, little nobody?” Mia’s mocking voice pierced the silence.
Elena tried to move, but her hands and legs wouldn’t budge. Panic gripped her as she looked down and saw that her wrists and ankles were tied with thick ropes. Her mouth was gagged, and any attempt to scream was muffled.
Mia and her group stood around her, their faces twisted in cruel smirks.
“You thought you could hide behind Gabriel and Andrew, didn’t you?” Mia sneered, crouching down so her face was level with Elena’s. “You really think you’re special? Let me tell you something, Elena. You’re nothing but a pathetic loser who got lucky.”
Elena’s eyes burned with tears, but she refused to let them fall. She wouldn’t give Mia the satisfaction.
Mia straightened and turned to her gang. “Alright, girls, let’s make sure she learns her place.”
One of the girls stepped forward, a nervous look on her face. “Are you sure about this, Mia? Maybe we’re taking it too far….”
“Too far?” Mia snapped, glaring at her. “She needs to be taught a lesson. Gabriel and Andrew might think they can protect her, but they’re not here now, are they?”
The girl hesitated but eventually nodded, falling silent.
Mia turned back to Elena with a wicked grin. “Let’s make you more… comfortable, shall we?”
She reached down and yanked off Elena’s scarf, tossing it aside. “You won’t be needing this.”
The rest of the girls followed her lead, removing Elena’s sweater, gloves, socks, and even the jacket she’d been wearing. The biting cold seeped into Elena’s skin, and she began to shiver uncontrollably.
Mia chuckled darkly. “You look so helpless. It suits you.”
Elena tried to struggle, to scream, but the ropes and gag held her firmly in place. Her tears finally spilled over, her body trembling with a mix of fear and the freezing temperature.
Mia clapped her hands. “Alright, ladies. Let’s finish this.”
Two of the girls lifted Elena by her arms while another grabbed her legs. She thrashed weakly, her muffled cries growing more desperate.
“Stop squirming,” Mia snapped. “It’s not like anyone’s going to save you.”
With that, they swung her over the edge and dropped her into the pool.
—
The icy water hit Elena like a thousand needles stabbing into her skin. She sank quickly, the weight of her tied limbs pulling her down. Her lungs screamed for air as she struggled to resurface. Panic clawed at her chest as water filled her mouth, the gag making it impossible to breathe.
Above her, Mia and her gang stood at the edge of the pool, watching her struggle with cruel amusement.
“Alright, girls, let’s go,” Mia said, turning on her heel. “She’ll figure out how to survive-or not. Either way, she’ll think twice before crossing me again.”
The group laughed as they walked away, their footsteps echoing in the empty pool area.
—
Elena’s vision blurred as she fought to stay afloat. The icy water sapped her strength, and the ropes binding her made every movement a battle. She felt herself slipping further under, her body growing numb.
This is it, she thought, her mind growing hazy. This is how it ends.
But then, through the fog of her fading consciousness, she heard a voice-a familiar, panicked voice.
“Elena!”
The sound of rushing footsteps and a loud splash followed. Strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her to the surface. She gasped for air, coughing violently as water spewed from her mouth.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” the voice said, firm and reassuring.
Elena’s blurred vision cleared just enough to see Gabriel’s face, his expression a mix of anger and worry.
“Damn it, Elena, stay with me,” he muttered, dragging her toward the pool’s edge.
Another pair of hands helped lift her out of the water. It was Andrew, his usual playful demeanor replaced with a deadly seriousness.
“What the hell happened?” Andrew demanded, his voice shaking with fury.
Gabriel didn’t answer. He grabbed his jacket and wrapped it around Elena’s shivering form, his jaw clenched tightly.
“Elena,” he said, his voice softer now. “Can you hear me?”
She nodded weakly, her teeth chattering too much to form words.
Gabriel’s eyes darkened, his anger barely contained. “Who did this to you?”
Elena tried to speak, but her voice came out as a hoarse whisper. “M-Mia…”
Andrew let out a string of curses, his hands balling into fists. “That’s it. She’s gone too far this time.”
Gabriel’s grip on Elena tightened protectively. “Andrew, take her back to her dorm. Make sure she’s safe. I’m going to deal with Mia.”
Andrew hesitated. “You sure you don’t need backup?”
Gabriel’s eyes burned with cold fury. “I’ll handle it.”
Andrew nodded, scooping Elena up gently. “Don’t worry, little one. You’re safe now.”
As Andrew carried her away, Gabriel turned and stormed off, his mind consumed with thoughts of revenge.