Sins of Dominion

Chapter 10: Unraveling

Evelyn

I didn’t sleep that night. How could I, after what had happened? My mind kept replaying the kiss, over and over, until I could hardly tell what was real and what was some twisted dream. The taste of Dominic still lingered on my lips, and every time I closed my eyes, I could feel his touch, his breath against my skin.

I hated myself for how I had responded to him, for the way my body had betrayed me. But what scared me more was how much I had wanted it, how much I still wanted it, even now.

By morning, I felt like a ghost—pale, hollowed out, and unsteady on my feet. My reflection in the mirror was a haunting reminder of how close I was to losing myself completely. Dark circles shadowed my eyes, and my skin was ashen, drained of any color.

I knew I couldn’t go on like this. Something had to give. But I couldn’t figure out what to do, how to extricate myself from the web Dominic had woven around me.

Hannah noticed my state immediately when I finally emerged from the bathroom. She was sitting on her bed, her laptop open on her knees, but she closed it the moment she saw me.

“Evelyn, you look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she said, her voice full of concern. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

I forced a weak smile, shaking my head. “Just a rough night. Didn’t get much sleep.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” she offered, her eyes soft with empathy. “Sometimes it helps to get things off your chest.”

I hesitated, tempted by her offer. Hannah was kind, and she genuinely wanted to help. But how could I possibly explain what was happening with Dominic? How could I tell her that I had been drawn into something dark and twisted, something that was tearing me apart from the inside?

“I appreciate it, but I’m fine,” I lied, trying to sound more convincing than I felt. “Just need to get through the day.”

She didn’t look entirely convinced, but she nodded. “If you change your mind, I’m here. And maybe take it easy today, yeah? You don’t want to burn out.”

“Yeah, I will,” I said, though I knew there would be no easy days for me anymore.

After a quick, half-hearted breakfast, I headed to my first class, trying to focus on anything other than the gnawing tension inside me. But it was no use. My mind kept wandering, back to the kiss, back to the way Dominic had looked at me, like he knew exactly how to unravel me.

I was sitting in the lecture hall, barely paying attention to the professor’s droning voice, when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. My heart skipped a beat, dread settling over me like a heavy blanket. I already knew who it was before I even looked.

I pulled out my phone, my hands trembling slightly, and saw the message notification from an unknown number—Dominic.

Meet me after class. We need to talk.

I stared at the message, my breath catching in my throat. I knew I should ignore it, delete it, and pretend I had never seen it. But even as the thought crossed my mind, I knew it was futile. Dominic wasn’t someone you could ignore.

The rest of the lecture passed in a blur, the minutes ticking by in a haze of anxiety. By the time the professor dismissed us, I could barely keep myself from shaking. My classmates filed out of the room, their conversations a dull hum in the background, but I stayed in my seat, rooted to the spot.

Eventually, I forced myself to stand, my legs feeling like they were made of lead. I slowly made my way out of the lecture hall, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t know where Dominic wanted to meet, but I had a feeling he would make his presence known.