Elena’s heart pounded in her chest as she stood face-to-face with Mia. The usual feeling of fear that Mia seemed to bring was there, but tonight, it was different. There was something more dangerous in the air, something Elena couldn’t quite place.
Mia stood tall, a smirk on her face, with the same cold eyes that had always made Elena feel small. Beside her, the figure from the lecture hall-a tall, imposing person with a dark expression-loomed silently, watching Elena with an intensity that made her feel uneasy.
“Why am I here, Mia?” Elena’s voice was steady, though inside, she was trembling. “What do you want from me now?”
Mia chuckled, her eyes narrowing as she stepped closer. “I think you know exactly why you’re here. You’ve been a thorn in my side for too long, Elena.” Her voice was sharp, and there was a cold edge to it that made Elena want to step back. But she didn’t.
“I’m not afraid of you,” Elena said, her voice firm even though her insides twisted.
Mia laughed bitterly. “You should be. You’ve made the wrong enemies, Elena. You’ve crossed the line, and now you’ll pay for it.”
Elena’s pulse quickened as she looked around. There was no one else here. It was just Mia, the stranger, and her. Her thoughts raced, but she couldn’t think clearly. What was Mia planning? What did she want from her?
Before Elena could say anything else, the tall figure beside Mia spoke. “She’s not going to get out of this one,” he said in a low, almost menacing voice. His words sent a chill through Elena.
“What do you mean by that?” Elena asked, her voice rising, but she could feel the fear creeping in.
Mia’s smirk widened. “Oh, it’s simple. You’re not getting out of here, Elena. You thought you could mess with me, but you haven’t seen anything yet.” She stepped forward, her hands outstretched like she was going to grab Elena. “We’re going to make sure you never forget who’s in charge around here.”
Elena’s breath hitched. She backed up, her mind racing. “What are you going to do to me?”
Mia’s smile didn’t falter. “Oh, you’ll find out soon enough.”
Before Elena could react, the tall figure stepped closer, grabbing her arms roughly. His grip was unyielding, and before she knew what was happening, Elena was being dragged away. Her feet stumbled, and she couldn’t break free.
“Mia, stop! What do you want from me?!” Elena shouted, panic rising in her chest as she tried to break free from his hold.
But Mia simply watched, her expression unmoved. “You’ll regret this, Elena. Just wait.”
The figure dragged her through the darkness, past the trees and into a part of the campus Elena didn’t recognize. It was quiet here, almost eerie. The tension in the air was thick, and Elena’s heart hammered in her chest. She had to find a way out of this.
They stopped at a small, abandoned building. The windows were dark, and the place looked like it hadn’t been used in years. The figure pushed Elena inside, and Mia followed closely behind.
“What is this place?” Elena asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Mia gave her a cold smile. “This is where your lesson begins.”
The figure shoved Elena into a chair, tying her hands behind it before she could even process what was happening. Elena struggled, trying to break free, but the ropes were tight.
“Why are you doing this to me?” Elena asked, her voice trembling as she glanced between Mia and the stranger.
Mia leaned in close, her face cold and emotionless. “Because you need to understand your place, Elena. You’re nothing compared to me.”
Elena’s heart sank. She could feel the weight of Mia’s words, but she refused to let herself show fear. “I’m not afraid of you,” she said, though her voice cracked.
Mia stepped back, her eyes narrowing. “You should be.” She turned to the figure and nodded. “Take her to the pool.”
Elena’s eyes widened in horror. “No, please! Don’t-”
But the figure wasn’t listening. He grabbed her roughly by the arms again, lifting her out of the chair. Elena fought back, kicking and struggling, but he was too strong. She was helpless.
As they made their way toward the back of the building, Elena’s mind raced. She knew what Mia had planned. She couldn’t end up in the pool. Not like this. But she couldn’t think of a way out of the situation. The panic in her chest only grew stronger with every step.
Finally, they reached the pool area. It was dark, the water eerily still under the moonlight. Elena was shoved roughly toward the edge, and she nearly lost her balance. Her stomach dropped as she looked down at the water. She had no idea what Mia was going to do to her, but she didn’t want to find out.
The figure held her in place, and Mia stood a few feet away, watching with a twisted smile on her face.
“You’re going to regret messing with me, Elena,” Mia said, her voice colder than ever.
Elena’s breath hitched as the figure began to untie the ropes around her hands. She could hear her heart beating in her ears, each thud louder than the last. She needed to get out of there.
But just as the ropes loosened, she heard a noise from behind her. A faint sound, like footsteps.
Mia turned, her eyes narrowing as she looked toward the sound. “Who’s there?”
The figure paused, his hand still on Elena’s arm, as if waiting for orders.
Then, from the shadows, a voice called out, low and calm. “Mia, you’ve gone too far this time.”
Elena’s heart skipped a beat. She recognized that voice.
It was Gabriel.
The figure turned, and Elena felt a rush of hope. Gabriel was here. He was going to help her.
Mia’s expression twisted into a scowl. “What do you think you’re doing, Gabriel? This doesn’t concern you.”
Gabriel stepped forward, his eyes locked on Mia. “This concerns me more than you think.” He turned to Elena, his gaze softening. “Are you alright?”
Elena nodded, but she couldn’t hide the panic in her eyes. “I’m fine. Just… get me out of here.”
Gabriel’s eyes hardened as he looked back at Mia. “You don’t scare me, Mia. You’re crossing a line you don’t want to cross.”
Mia glared at him, but before she could respond, a voice from the shadows interrupted her.
“Let her go, Mia.”
It was Andrew.
The situation had just taken a turn, and Elena wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or more scared. What was going to happen now? Would Gabriel and Andrew be able to stop Mia? Or was this just the beginning of something much worse?
The tension in the air was thick, and Elena could feel every second of it. She wasn’t sure if she was safe yet, but one thing was clear this fight wasn’t over.