Unraveled Minds

Shattered Trust

Olivia lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her heart pounding with a steady rhythm that echoed the thoughts racing through her mind. She couldn’t sleep. No matter how much she tossed and turned, something felt off—something she couldn’t quite place, but that gnawed at her thoughts relentlessly. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the victims: Julie, the quarterback James, and the reports on the news.

Her mind kept circling back to the peculiar things Ariadne had said lately, her strange absence at odd hours, and the eerie way she seemed unaffected by the violence unfolding in their town. Olivia wanted to shake the feeling, wanted to believe it was just her mind playing tricks, but the suspicion was starting to root itself deep inside her. Could Ariadne be the murderer?

The thought was unthinkable. She loved Ariadne. They’d shared so much intimacy, so much tenderness. The way she kissed her, the way she made her feel safe… It didn’t fit. Ariadne couldn’t possibly be the cold-blooded killer terrorizing the town. Olivia told herself she was being ridiculous, paranoid. But that nagging feeling wouldn’t go away. She couldn’t ignore it any longer.

Finally, after hours of restless turning, she gave up on sleep. It was around 3 a.m. when Olivia slid out of bed as quietly as possible, careful not to disturb Ariadne, who was sleeping soundly next to her. The moonlight filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows in their small dorm room. Her footsteps were light as she moved toward the bookshelf.

Olivia’s fingers skimmed across the spines of her books, searching for something that might help her understand. She picked out a few volumes about psychology and the mind—books about Antisocial Personality Disorder, psychopathy, and other personality disorders. Her hand shook slightly as she opened the first book, eyes scanning the text.

Her heart ached as she read through the descriptions of people who lacked empathy, who were capable of such extreme violence without remorse. Ariadne didn’t fit that mold completely. There were moments where she was sweet, loving, vulnerable. Yet, something about the way she’d been acting lately… the way she’d made those casual, chilling comments about the victims… it all lingered at the edges of her consciousness.

Could the girl she loved really harbor such a dark side?

Olivia’s eyes blurred with exhaustion, and she slumped into the armchair near the window, book resting on her lap. Her thoughts drifted back to Ariadne, the sweet moments they’d shared, the laughter, the way Ariadne had kissed her goodnight. She couldn’t reconcile that with the horrific idea forming in her mind. But what if…?

Eventually, Olivia’s eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep, the book slipping from her grasp and falling to the floor with a soft thud.

Around 6 a.m., Ariadne stirred from her sleep, stretching her arms as she yawned softly. She blinked groggily, reaching out to the other side of the bed, only to find it empty. She sat up, glancing around the room until her eyes landed on Olivia, fast asleep in the armchair by the window. A small smile tugged at the corner of Ariadne’s lips, but it faded quickly when she noticed the open books surrounding Olivia.

A sense of unease washed over her as she quietly got out of bed and moved closer. Her eyes fell on the titles—books about personality disorders, psychopathy, and the inner workings of a fractured mind. Ariadne’s heart raced. Olivia was reading about this? Why?

No, it couldn’t be… could Olivia be onto her? Was she starting to piece things together? Ariadne’s thoughts spiraled as she stared at Olivia’s peaceful, sleeping face.

But then, something darker stirred within her. A voice, soft at first, began whispering at the back of her mind. "She knows. She’s figuring it out. You can’t let her betray you."

Ariadne clenched her fists, trying to block out the voice, trying to remind herself how much she loved Olivia. But the voice grew louder, more insistent. "You have to stop her. She’s going to turn on you. You can’t trust her."

Ariadne’s chest tightened as she fought against the wave of panic rising inside her. She loved Olivia. She wouldn’t hurt her. She couldn’t hurt her. But the voice kept pushing, driving her toward a breaking point. "Beat her. Beat her. Beat her." The words echoed in her mind like a drumbeat, over and over, drowning out all reason.

Without realizing what she was doing, Ariadne’s hands began to tremble as she reached for Olivia. She shook her head, trying to silence the voice, but it was too strong. Before she knew it, her hands were striking Olivia’s face. Once. Twice. Harder each time.

Olivia jolted awake in confusion, but before she could react, Ariadne hit her again, this time with a force that sent her tumbling from the chair. She screamed, her hands trying to protect herself, but Ariadne, consumed by the frenzy of the voice in her head, couldn’t stop.

“Stop! Ariadne, stop!” Olivia’s cries for mercy rang out, but they were met with more blows, more uncontrollable violence. Ariadne’s heart broke with every strike, but she couldn’t stop. The voice wouldn’t let her.

Minutes stretched on like hours, and when the madness finally passed, Ariadne stood panting, staring down at Olivia’s bruised and broken body. Her hands shook violently, smeared with blood. The girl she had loved so deeply now lay unconscious and still, barely breathing.

Ariadne stumbled back, horrified by what she’d done. Tears streamed down her face, but the voice in her head spoke again, colder now. "It’s too late. You have to get rid of her."

Numbly, Ariadne dragged Olivia’s body out of the dorm and into the quiet streets. The early morning sky was still dark, the air cold and biting against her skin. Ariadne didn’t know how she managed it, but she left Olivia’s limp form in the shadows of an alley, far from the dorm.

She stood there for a moment, looking down at the girl she had once vowed to protect, her heart aching in ways she hadn’t thought possible. Then, without another word, Ariadne turned and walked away, disappearing into the early morning mist, leaving Olivia’s broken body behind in the cold, empty streets.