The Shadow of the Simulacrum

Chapter 29: The Taste of Temptation

The weekend was coming to an end, and Sarah knew she had to return to school. She wondered how she would justify her week-long absence. A mix of fear and a deep desire to see Erica again overwhelmed her, but the dread of hurting her tormented her. Disgusted by the Dusk saga, she decided to quit the Fan Club, which had become a constant reminder of her past naivety in loving that romance. She announced her decision to her best friend via text message. Although disappointed, Erica wasn't surprised. Sarah had never truly been invested, neither mentally nor physically, in the club's activities. The brunette had often missed meetings, and even when she did attend, her mind seemed elsewhere. On top of that, Erica felt overwhelmed with the Fan Club's organization, especially with the big day fast approaching.

A month had passed since the start of the school year, and Sarah already felt exhausted. She hoped this nightmare would end soon. The hunger still gnawed at her, but she managed it better than a week ago. The unbearable hallucinations had almost disappeared, but the fear of being surrounded by humans remained. Thanks to her resilience, she had learned to control her emotions and her most intense urges. All that was left was to face daylight without fear. She hadn't seen Jesse since the party, and she had no desire to. He had acted like a total jerk. He could be a bastard, but sometimes he was also surprisingly gentle. Sarah realized they didn't share the same values.

Sarah got used to putting on makeup using her blurred reflection. She applied black eyeliner around her eyes and mascara. She had developed a taste for dark colors, opting for deep black nail polish. It didn't feel like her, but this urge to wear dark colors tempted her more than bright ones. She was convinced she no longer deserved to wear pastel colors, which she believed were for normal girls, not for a killer's soul, as she thought.

Heading to the kitchen, she looked in the fridge. Only leftovers remained that she hadn't thrown out yet. She grabbed an apple and started eating it. As she ate, she noticed the red rose Jesse had given her in the middle of the dining room table. It was wilted, its petals browned. The teenager didn't spend long looking at it before tossing it into the trash without hesitation.

The doorbell rang. At first, Sarah thought it was Erica, but to her great disappointment, it was only her ex. His silhouette was outlined behind the glass door. She sighed before opening it, glaring at him to show her displeasure. He smiled as he greeted her, fully aware of her anger. Sarah asked him what he wanted, and Jesse reminded her that she had been skipping school for a week, adding that the place felt empty without her. She rolled her eyes, tired of his bipolar behavior. Indeed, Jesse kept going to school solely for the Fan Club and those gatherings in the auditorium.

Seeing that Sarah was unimpressed by his charming words, Jesse calmly pulled a new pair of sunglasses from his pocket. Sarah eyed them with a spark of interest, and as soon as she reached out to grab them, Jesse swiftly caught her wrist. He pulled her toward him abruptly, closing the distance between them to just a few millimeters. His arms wrapped around her firmly, holding her against him with controlled strength. She tried to pull away, but his grip was relentless, keeping her trapped in his embrace. The closeness between them heightened the tension, each shared breath adding to the intensity of the moment. Jesse gazed into her eyes, his own shining with a mixture of charm and menace.

He murmured, gently brushing her face with his fingertips, "You know, you'll probably need me for this first day." His words were a bewitching mix of seduction and control. Still holding her firmly, he used his other hand to put the new sunglasses on her, his movements deliberately slow and calculated.

"The sun is rising soon, I wouldn't want you to catch fire," he continued with a sadistic smile. Sarah glared at him, still trying to break free from his grip. Before putting the sunglasses on her, he observed her made-up eyes and added, "The eyeliner really suits you, my dear fledgling," in a charming tone.