BENEATH THEIR DEVOTION | yanderes x reader

1. The New Beginning

[Y/N] glanced out the window as the bus rattled along the narrow, winding road. The landscape outside had shifted from the dull grey of the city to rolling hills, dense forests, and occasional stone buildings that looked like they belonged in a medieval painting. The cool colours of early autumn bathed the countryside, the leaves just beginning to turn shades of red and gold.

Her fingers traced the edges of the creased letter in her lap, the official acceptance letter from Thornebridge University, a fragile reminder that her life had changed overnight. She had reread it countless times, but now, as the university loomed ever closer, it felt more real than ever. Her heart pounded as the finality of the move settled in her chest.

You're not running away, she reminded herself, gripping the paper tighter. This is a new start.

The scenery blurred as [Y/N]'s thoughts wandered back to London, to the ghosts she had left behind. The weight of unfinished conversations, unspoken truths, and shattered trust pulled at her. She shifted in her seat, letting out a quiet breath. Maybe here, miles away from everything she once knew, she could finally find some semblance of peace.

"Hey, are we almost there?" a voice chimed from the seat beside her, breaking the silence.

[Y/N] glanced sideways at the girl sitting beside her—Mika, her soon-to-be roommate. She had boarded the bus a few stops after [Y/N], and despite [Y/N]'s initial reservations, Mika had struck up a conversation with her almost immediately. Upon exchanging names the girls realised they were sitting beside their future roommate. It had been pleasant enough—Mika seemed nice, but [Y/N] wasn't sure how much she wanted to engage, her initial thought being Mika seemed too friendly.

"Should be close now," [Y/N] said, glancing at her phone. The screen showed a low signal and no messages. Not that she expected any. Back in London, she hadn't felt the need to save many numbers, just her mother and father, whose calls she stubbornly never answered, which made the chance of her receiving any messages all the more slim.

"Good, because I swear, if I sit any longer, I'll melt into this seat," Mika groaned, stretching her arms over her head. She had bright, pink hair tied in a messy ponytail, which contrasted with her sharp, green eyes and the sleek, dark clothes she wore. There was something oddly magnetic about her, a blend of intensity and playfulness.

"Can you imagine? First day of college, and I walk in looking like I just crawled out of the crypt," Mika continued, her mouth twitching into a grin.

[Y/N] couldn't help but smile at the image. "Is that not the usual look around here?"

Mika snorted. "Fair point. They might even give me a scholarship for fitting the aesthetic."

The bus crested a hill, and the sprawling campus of Thornebridge University came into view. [Y/N]'s breath caught in her throat. The university looked like it had been carved out of the past—tall spires and stone archways, ancient ivy crawling up the sides of the buildings, and wide courtyards framed by towering oak trees. It was like stepping into a different world, one that felt as distant from London as she could have imagined.

"There it is," Mika said softly, leaning over her to get a better look. "The hallowed halls of academia. Or, you know, an elaborate set for a murder mystery."

[Y/N] chuckled a little under her breath. "Let us hope not."

The bus lurched to a stop in front of the main gates, and [Y/N] took a moment to gather her things—her backpack, a small suitcase, and the carefully folded, albeit creased, acceptance letter. She could feel her pulse quickening again, a mixture of excitement and nerves. As she stepped off the bus, the cool September air hit her, crisp and clean compared to the stuffy, humid city she had left behind.