𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐌𝐄

─ ❝ act xl ❞

⎡ act xl - dread ⎦

┊❝ Welcome home, (Y/N) ❞┊

── DYLAN and Ian figured out (Y/N)'s schedule quite easily—much more easily than they first thought, but they didn't mind this as it made what they wanted to do so much more simpler. She had nowhere to be before or after school, and after several days of watching her both in person and through the cameras implemented within her home, they figured out that she cut off contact with her supposed friends and now spent all of her alone time at her house.

It was perfect.

So perfect, that they almost couldn't believe it.

But this is what they sought—this was the very reason why they had isolated her so horribly as they did in the first place, even if they hadn't known it specifically then.

Her father would be easy to deal with.

They could just pin her disappearance on him, since, after all, it was so plainly obvious he didn't care about her and neglected her in an awful manner. Carefully placed bits of evidence strewn about the house when both (Y/N) and her father were out would only lead the police who investigated to one possibility for her disappearance: her own father. Even if (Y/N)'s once-friends informed the police of Dylan or Ian, they would have viable alibis which would make it impossible for the police to place any sort of blame on them, even if there were eyewitness testimonies that they were bullies.

More so than that, Dylan's father would just sweep any other liabilities under the rug.

To Dylan and Ian, it was so very satisfying how well their plan was tying together that they almost assumed that some sort of hitch would arise. Nothing did, though, and it was almost funny to them how the object of their twisted desires was waltzing right into their hands without her even realizing it.

It was cute, in all honesty.

Endearing, overall.

Therefore, it was what led them to the current moment at hand.

(Y/N) was currently walking home after another uneventful trip to the grocery store, shivering from the cold wind that blew past her and ruffled her (H/C) hair. She walked at a fast pace since, despite how safe her neighborhood normally was, that feeling of eyes crawling all over her was once more allowing fear to fill up her veins and make her breathing grow shallow. What was more nerve-wracking was how her father was still at work, forcing her to take her safety into her own hands.

Then again, would he have even made any move to protect her or even listen to her?

Her father would likely blame an overactive imagination for her paranoia rather than any real life danger like a stalker or something equally worse. Feeling her jaw tighten at the thought, (Y/N) all the more quickened her pace.

Who is it?

Dylan? Ian...?

Someone I don't even know?

Chewing her inner cheek nervously, so hard she was sure she'd bite a hole through her mouth, she was then practically sprinting by that point, the plastic bag beating against her thigh as she did so. It was only then did she notice the black car following her at a crawling pace for a vehicle, the very idea that it was keeping pace with her making her blood chill. Trying to run faster, her shoes thumping against the pavement like a drill pounding in her ears, she didn't dare look back out of fear that doing so would only slow her down. The very idea of hands stretching out from the darkness to grab her fueled the adrenaline pumping through her veins, her mind going a mile a minute, it seemed, as well.

Shit!

This can't be happening!

This can't be happening!

Her eyes widened in desperation when she abruptly turned and flew down a nearby alleyway that let out into one of the parks near her home, hoping to lose the black car by doing so. Continuing to run, only then daring to look back, she felt a tentative bit of relief flow through her when she didn't spot that eerily familiar black car anywhere.

I lost them!

But, holy fuck, I need to get home in case they're still out there!

But, what if...

What if they already know where I live?

Just as this fearful thought glanced across her mind, she felt all air leave her lungs when she was suddenly tackled to the ground, the cement scratching at the palms of her hands and the skin on her knees, drawing fresh blood that turned a dark red when mixed with the gravel. Not even a moment later, she felt her arms yanked painfully tight behind her back before a gag was around her face so that she couldn't even scream. To complete her helpless situation, a blindfold was added, further making it impossible to guess who her attackers were.

Struggling and screaming into the cloth, tears pricking at her eyes when her voice only came out as a muffled whimper, she felt only horror when she was lifted up and pulled into a vehicle—the sleek black car that had been following her earlier, she presumed. Two voices shushed her screaming, different pairs of hands stroking her hair and face in an supposed-to-be comforting manner.

Their actions only had the opposite effect.

"Hello, again, (Y/N)," Dylan whispered into her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

The very realization that he had been the one to kidnap her made her want to scream, which she did, continuing to thrash around in her binds despite how tight they were, only succeeding in rubbing her (S/C) skin raw. Dylan tutted at the action, and from a chuckle that he obviously wasn't making, it was clear that Ian had taken part in her kidnapping as well, even seeming to enjoy himself, too.

"Her reactions are so cute," Ian mused, sliding a hand down her thigh, the very act making her shudder in disgust and try to lean away.

"Isn't she?" Dylan chuckled, his eyes crinkling in amusement whilst he licked his lips watching (Y/N) continue to struggle. "It seems you're very pleased to see— well, hear me, (Y/N). Though, I must tell you that I wouldn't scream too much. It'd damage that lovely voice of yours before we could get to our fun, and we wouldn't want that now, right?"

(Y/N) struggled not to cry.

Why are they doing this to me!?

What does this achieve!?

How do I get out of here!?

On the verge of collapsing from exhaustion due to trying to escape in what seemed like hours after the car started moving with her in it, she whimpered when either Dylan or Ian roughly yanked her out of the vehicle to push her down on her already tender knees. After a mumbled conversation, she was then picked up and shoved forward through a doorway, up a flight of stairs, and finally onto what felt like a bed. Soon enough, and thankfully, her gag and blindfold were taken off to reveal Dylan and Ian before her.

She stared up at them with fear.

"Welcome home, (Y/N)," Dylan crooned as he cupped his chin, his eyes swirling with obsession. "It's so nice to have you here."

"Forever," Ian added.

(Y/N) could only feel dread in their presence.

__________________________________

To be continued...