Lissy Romano

53| Hallucinations.

Lissy Romano

Head pounding, I barely managed to open my eyes. My surroundings felt unfamiliar, and as I blinked away the haze, I caught sight of a silhouette.

A man stood across the room, pulling on a white shirt. He moved with an eerie nonchalance, not sparing me a glance as he walked out and shut the door behind him. His face—nothing, I hadn't seen it. No identifying detail. Just the fading presence of someone who had been here.

The pain in my head was unbearable, like my skull was splitting in two. I tried to sit up, but the room spun violently around me. Where was Xander? The thought sent a jolt of panic through my chest. Was that dream... just a dream? But if Xander wasn't real, then who was here? Was it him? Or worse... Oh no.

"No, no, no..." My voice cracked, and tears began to fall as my chest heaved.

I was shivering now, and my dress was hiked up to a point that made me feel exposed and violated. What happened? My heart raced, my breaths shallow and erratic. I wiped my tears with trembling hands, trying to piece the night together. The sheets around me were a mess, the reflection in the mirror across the room only confirming how disheveled and helpless I looked. I felt disgusting. Broken.

The door creaked open, and I flinched, my eyes darting toward it. A figure stepped in—Aaron. Enzo and Matteo's friend. Relief washed over me, but it was fleeting.

"Lissy, what happened?" Aaron's voice was soft, but his face betrayed his alarm. He crouched in front of me, trying to meet my gaze.

"Nothing," I choked out, my voice unconvincing as I tried to suppress the sobs.

"Lissy, don't lie to me. What happened?" His tone was firmer this time, but still gentle.

"I don't know..." I broke down, clutching my knees to my chest, shivering uncontrollably.

He pulled out his phone, his brows furrowed with concern. "I'm calling your brothers."

"No!" I grabbed his wrist, panic flashing through me. "Don't call them, Aaron. Please."

But he shook his head, resolute. "Lissy, something happened. They need to know."

I could barely breathe as he dialed Vincenzo. My brothers were going to kill me—if not out of anger, then out of sheer devastation.

"Vincenzo, sorry to call you this late, but it's about Lissy," Aaron said, standing up and pacing slightly. "I found her at Tristan's party. She was in one of the bedrooms, crying. She says she doesn't remember what happened." He glanced at me as he spoke, his expression pained.

"Yeah, I'll stay with her until you get here. We'll be in the dark room," he added before hanging up. Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he knelt in front of me again. "Vincenzo's on his way."

The mention of my brother sent another wave of dread through me. I couldn't think straight, couldn't process anything.

"Viola. She was downstairs earlier. Did you see her?" I asked weakly, my voice cracking.

"No, I didn't. Let's go look for her." He helped me up, keeping a steadying hand on my arm as we left the room.

We found Viola passed out on one of the couches downstairs, half-conscious and mumbling incoherently. Aaron hoisted her up between us, positioning himself to shield us both. She was barely coherent, murmuring something about me.