Page 69 of Venomous Desires

No one. Not even the feeling of being watched. A sob threatened to escape my lips, and I quickly rushed into the building.

I was trapped, caught in a web of fear and danger. And I had no idea how to escape.

I was near the reception when my eyes landed on the box meant for me. Another shiver ran down my spine. Something in me told me to not open it. I swallowed the light was on and there was no one, but I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

The light flickered suddenly, and I flinched. My hands hovered over the box, and my fingers trembled as I took a deep breath.

Do not open it.

I grabbed the edge of the tape.

Do not open it, Sera.

I ripped it open.

You’d regret it.

Grabbing the flaps of the box with my both hands, I pushed them away.

I regret it.

A scream echoed in the hall. Blood-curdling and mine. My body stumbled back, and the box I was holding fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Eyes wide with fear, I fell to the floor, scrambling backwards on my hands and knees. The contents of the box spilt out, rolling across the floor, coming to a stop near my foot.

A severed head lay there.

Dead eyes staring back at me.

Chapter 24

The Prey

My stomach lurched, bile rising in my throat again as I emptied the contents into the toilet.

I shut my eyes tightly as I tried to brush away the sight of those lifeless eyes, the paleness of the skin, the blood matted in the hair—it was a grotesque vision straight out of a nightmare.

I tried to swallow, but the lump of fear trapped in my throat choked by terror, making my body paralysed.

I didn’t know how or when I made it to the room and locked myself in the bathroom. I couldn’t look at them anymore. My scream woke up the dorm, and soon the guards were there, followed by several students, and to my horror, none of them could offer me any comfort. The horror on their faces mirrored mine, but it couldn’t compare to what I was feeling.

My breath came in ragged gasps, and I could feel the cold sweat dripping down my back. My fingers shivering from the coldness, yet the back of my sweater was drenched in my sweat. I wanted to flee, to run away, but my legs had given out.

I pushed myself further away from the toilet, my hands slipping on the slick floor.

I rocked back and forth, clutching my knees to my chest, desperate to feel some semblance of safety.

Panic clawed at my mind, making it hard to think, hard to move.

From somewhere far away, I heard footsteps approaching, but I was too anxious. My heart pounded in my chest like the frantic drumbeat of dread.

“Sera?” Alina. It was her. The soft and concerned voice called out to me, followed by two knocks. “Are you okay?” I shook my head, crying on the cold bathroom floor. Another impatient knock followed. “Can you open the door for me, please?”

I couldn’t. I couldn’t move. I whimpered, staring helplessly at the door, my arms trembling as I tried to reach it. Suddenly, it felt impossibly far. I sobbed harder, my body shaking with the effort. Please, someone help me.

“Sera, please,” Her voice was more urgent now, and I hated to make her worry. “Just open the door.”

I tried to speak, to call out, but all that came out were choked sobs. My vision blurred with tears, and I could barely see the door through the haze. The floor felt freezing against my skin, adding to the numbness spreading through me.

Alina knocked again, louder this time. “Sera, I’m begging you, let me in.”