Sins of Dominion

Chapter 6 : Whispers in the Dark

Evelyn

I thought I’d be safe in my dorm room, that the thick walls of Ashworth Hall could keep the darkness at bay. But as the evening shadows lengthened and night fell over Dominion University, I felt anything but safe.

Hannah was out, likely with friends she had made since our first day, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Normally, I would have welcomed the solitude, but tonight, the quiet felt oppressive, like the air was too thick to breathe.

I sat on my bed, staring blankly at the textbook open in front of me, the words swimming on the page. The encounter with Dominic in the library replayed over and over in my mind, each detail etched into my memory—the way he emerged from the shadows, the intensity of his gaze, the calm menace in his voice.

It wasn’t just that he had found me in the library; it was that he had *known* I would be there, waiting like a spider in its web. The thought of how much attention he was paying to me, how deeply he was probing into my life, sent chills down my spine.

I needed to talk to someone, anyone who could help me make sense of this. But Carter was back in New York, and Hannah—despite her kindness—wouldn’t understand. She wasn’t part of this world, this twisted game that Dominic was playing.

With a frustrated sigh, I snapped the textbook shut and tossed it aside. I couldn’t focus on schoolwork, not with the weight of Dominic’s presence hanging over me like a dark cloud. I needed to do something, anything, to distract myself.

Deciding that a walk might clear my head, I grabbed my jacket and headed out of the room. The halls of Ashworth were mostly empty, the other students either out enjoying their night or holed up in their rooms like I had been.

As I stepped outside, the cool night air hit me, a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere inside. The campus was quiet, the only sounds the distant rustling of leaves and the soft hum of streetlights. I walked aimlessly, letting the silence soothe my nerves.

But even as I tried to lose myself in the peaceful night, my thoughts kept circling back to Dominic. What did he want from me? Why was he so determined to break through my defenses? And most of all, how could I stop him before he dug too deep, before he uncovered secrets that could ruin everything?

I rounded a corner, lost in thought, when I suddenly collided with someone, nearly losing my balance. Strong hands caught me before I could fall, steadying me with surprising gentleness.

“Careful there,” a familiar voice said, tinged with amusement.

My heart jumped into my throat as I looked up, expecting to see Dominic’s dark eyes staring back at me. But instead, I found myself face to face with Carter Hayes.

“Carter!” I gasped, relief flooding through me as I realized it wasn’t Dominic. “What are you doing here?”

He grinned, his warm brown eyes twinkling in the dim light. “Surprise. Thought I’d drop by and check in on you. Figured you might need a friendly face around here.”

I felt a wave of emotions surge through me—relief, gratitude, and something close to tears. Carter was more than just a friend; he was my rock, my constant in a world that had been anything but stable.

Without thinking, I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

He chuckled softly, hugging me back just as tightly. “Believe it. You’ve been on my mind, Evie. I had to see how you were doing.”

I pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a weak smile. “I’m glad you did. It’s been… rough.”

His expression softened, concern replacing the playful grin. “What’s going on? You know you can talk to me.”