Page 34 of Venomous Desires

Up ahead, I saw the guard’s cabin built inside the dorm campus. The door was slightly ajar, and I sprinted towards it, throwing myself inside and almost slamming the door shut behind me. The guard inside turned to look at me with curious and confused eyes.

“Are you alright?” He asked. I gulped in the air greedily, crouched down and pointed towards the gates.

I shook my head, unable to speak. I glanced out the window, half-expecting to see the man standing there, but the street was empty. I tried to catch my breath, my mind racing.

The guard came over. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, child.”Worst.

I pointed at the gate again with trembling hands. “There’s a man... outside,” I managed to say. “He’s been following me.”

He frowned, peering out the window. “I don’t see anyone.”

I turned to look as well. The street was deserted; the eerie calm making me question my sanity. “He was there,” I insisted. “I swear.”

The guard gave me a sympathetic smile. “Why don’t you sit down for a bit? You can call someone if you need help. And why were you outside this late?”

I nodded, sinking into a chair. I pulled out my phone and dialled Alina’s number, my fingers trembling. It had only rung once when cut it. She must be sleeping, and I didn’t want to worry her.

The kind man let me sit there, calming my raging heart, and after a while, when my heart was not pounding against my ears. I stood up, not realising my legs were still shaky.

“Thank you,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair in exasperation.

He smiled. And bobbed his head at the door. “Hurry back to your room, kid. Russian nights are not very kind.”

I tried to smile back, but I couldn’t. I was shaking. With extra strength, I pushed open the door and glanced around. There was no one. And I should be glad, only that I wasn’t. The chills wouldn’t stop, and the trembling worsened. I knew he was there, in the dark, somewhere, looking at me, watching me. Swallowing hard, I took cautious steps to the right, where the dorm building was.

Throughout that time, I didn’t look back. I couldn’t bring myself to. How could I when I knew he was watching? Probably amused. Just like a predator hiding in the shadows to pounce on its prey.

I couldn’t see him, but he could see me. Truth was, I was scared, terrified to the point I could feel blood roaring in my veins.

I was about to open the glass doors of the front entrance. It was just a minute detail, a small movement, a haunting shift, but I caught it. The silhouette in the glass door, standing just outside the gate. Head tilted to the side, hands deep in his pockets, like an amused demon ready to toy with my soul. Then the moonlight shifted above. My eyes widened, heart pounded in my chest as I saw a figment of his face.

I felt a chill crawl down my spine, and then I shuddered ashis lips curled into a sinister smile and he mouthed something I couldn’t hear but felt deep in my bones.

Run.

Chapter 12

The Prey

Ididn’t sleep last night. I couldn’t bring myself to. Even within the confined walls and under security, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. This wasn’t how I imagined starting the week. Looking like a sleep-deprived zombie and dark circles. Everything felt mechanical: brush, shower, dress.

And to add pain to my misery, I had to walk to and forth from classes all day. Pulling my hair into a high ponytail, I wrapped a red scarf around my neck. The clothes I wore did nothing to stop the chills running down my spine, and strangely, it had nothing to do with the weather.

I took a deep breath and reminded myself it was day. Not night. Not last night when I was being chased. It was a bright, crowded, and harmless day. At least that’s what I made myself believe, because the alternative was as terrifying.

It was just a normal day. People all around. Sun shining. No shadows lurking. I was safe. I had to be. But the fear was still there, whispering that it was not over. I had to keep going andact normal. Just get through today.

A cloud of unease rolled down into the pit of my stomach as the chills worsened. It took several seconds to realize—no—feel the eyes on me. Someone was watching. The feeling was too strong, too real. It was not just my imagination. I was being watched.

Calm down. Breathe.

It was just paranoia. But what if it was not? What if he were still here? I scanned the street, trying to appear casual, but my heart raced. I had to act normal.

Slowly, I took a deep breath, my senses on high alert. Adrenaline was coursing through my system now, and everything in me stilled for a second.

Whoever it was, no one would be insane enough to attack me in broad daylight with people all around. And even if they did, I could scream and yell. I could use my fist to knock them down—a lie I had been telling myself lately. Even if it didn’t work, I’d fight. There was no way in hell I’d submit or let someone take advantage of me.

The alternative was too terrifying to consider.