EVELYN

CHAPTER EIGHT

Evelyn's POV

"What's wrong Evelyn?" Langston's words came out almost like a whisper. For some reason, this question made me hitch my breath. This man was coming too close.
I held his arm, gently pushing it away from my face, forcing a respectful smile.

"Sir."  I stuttered.
" I'm not feeling quite well all of a sudden, I need to climb to my bedroom, rest for school tomorrow. So if you'll please excuse me..."
I bow my head slightly, Langston nods–his gaze never leaving me as I dash out of the room

climbing up the stairs, the pounding bass of the music from the party below reverberating in my skull. I hated these nights—the relentless noise, the crowded space, the heat, and the sweaty bodies.

My little brother’s voice called out from below, “Evelyn! Where are you going?”

I sighed .. not responding right away, rubbing my temples as I reached my door. The music made her head spin, her patience already wearing thin. “I’m tired, max,” she muttered, not bothering to face him. “I’m going to bed. Just leave me alone.”

His voice persisted, but I ignored it, pushing open my door and stepping inside my room.
"Ha!" I exclaimed as I felt the weight of the silence envelope as I closed the door behind me.

I was alone at last.

Sighing, I shed the weight of the night—her dress, the heels, everything that had been uncomfortable. My body felt heavy, exhausted from the noise and the strain of pretending to have fun.

I tossed my clothes into the chair, too tired to think about it. I forgot to lock the door behind me with a key, too consumed by the sudden calm.

My body hit the bed with a soft thud, her eyes fluttering shut.. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep. I heard the door creak open. A cold shiver ran down my spine, the hairs on my neck standing on end.

My eyes snapped open, heart racing. There, standing in the doorway, was Mr. Langston.

My breath caught in my throat as fear gripped my chest. I scrambled to sit up, heart hammering. "What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice sharp, barely suppressing the tremor that edged it.

Mr. Langston stood still, his expression unreadable, eyes flickering over me with a look that made my blood run cold. The man had always made me uneasy–An unsettling combination of charm and coldness that kept people at arm's length. I felt a tightening in her chest, an instinctual warning that I couldn't shake.

"I—" He hesitated, as if unsure of his words.

My voice quivered, but I forced myself elf to stand, keeping distance between us. "What do you want? Why are you here?" My mind raced, trying to piece together how he had gotten in.

"I just want to talk, Evelyn" he murmured.

The words didn’t come easily, but I steadied myself. “You need to leave. Now.”
I took a step back, my heart pounding louder than the music downstairs.
I could feel the ground beneath me shift with every slow, deliberate step Mr. Langston took toward me. My heart pounded erratically in my chest, each beat a frantic plea to escape, but my legs felt like lead. I instinctively backed away, my breath shallow, my pulse racing.

“Stay back, I said!” I warned again. my voice trembling, but I couldn't help the edge of panic slipping in. “Or I’ll scream. I’ll tell someone.”

He just... laughed. A soft, dismissive sound that sent a chill crawling down my spine. “Calm down, Evelyn,” he said, his voice smooth, almost coaxing, like he was trying to lull me into some false sense of security. “I mean no harm.”

His words didn’t ease the panic rising in me; they made it worse. I needed to scream, I needed to run.

My eyes darted toward the door. It felt like miles away.  My head spun, and then his voice sliced through my thoughts again, dark and chilling.

“No one will hear you,” he said, and his words felt like a shadow pressing down on me, suffocating. “You can scream all you want. It won’t make a difference.”

I froze. My skin turned cold.
My gaze landed on the heavy vase on my dresser, my last shred of hope. I reached for it, my fingers curling around its cool surface. I could use it as a weapon, maybe. But before I could lift it, his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.

“Shush,” he whispered, his voice low, almost soothing, but his touch felt like a vice, tightening around my arm.

I jerked away, my pulse a drumbeat in my ears. “Let go of me,” I hissed, trying to pull free. But his grip didn’t loosen. I was trapped. My body was frozen, no longer listening to my commands.

His smile... it wasn't reassuring. It was predatory. Cold. “You don't want me getting angry, do you?” he asked, . “ Evelyn..”

I gasped for air, my breath coming faster now, but it felt like my chest was closing in on itself. I couldn’t stop myself from speaking, from trying to fight him off, even though I knew how pointless it was. “please let me go and I won't tell my dad this happened"

His eyes darkened, and my heart skipped a beat. He leaned in close, so close that I could feel the heat of his breath against my skin. “You’re so pretty, Evelyn.” His words made my body flinch, My eyes threatening to wetten.

His grip on my wrist tightened, sending a shock of pain up my arm. “Now, be a good girl and stop struggling. This could be much easier for you if you just relax.”

The words made my blood run cold. My body locked in place, caught between the urge to fight and the horrifying reality that I had no power here. I was powerless.