Beneath Their Devotion (Yanderes x Reader)

7. Fractured Trust

The dorm room felt oppressively quiet, the faint rustle of fabric as Y/N shifted on her bed the only sounds breaking the quiet. She sat with her knees drawn to her chest, arms wrapped tightly around them, while Mika perched on the edge of her desk chair, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. Her eyes, wide with concern, flicked repeatedly to Y/N's face.

"You're sure," Mika began, her voice barely above a whisper, as though saying it louder might make it worse, "you're sure it wasn't just... I don't know, your mind playing tricks on you?"

Y/N shook her head, her throat tightening. "It wasn't a trick, Mika. It was real. The blood, the expression on their face—" Her voice cracked, and she swallowed before finishing. "It was real."

Mika exhaled, reaching out to place a hand on Y/N's shoulder. Her touch was meant to be reassuring, but her trembling fingers betrayed her fear. "That's... that's horrible," she murmured.

Y/N hesitated, the words on the tip of her tongue. She hugged her knees tighter, her nails digging into her arms. "That expression of his... It didn't feel like an accident. Nothing about it did."

Mika stiffened at that, her hand retracting slightly. She gripped the edge of her chair with her free hand, her knuckles white. "If that's true..." she said slowly, "which it probably isn't, then they'll figure it out. But, Y/N, oh god. That's terrifying."

Y/N nodded, but her gaze dropped to the floor. Not ready to say what she was about to. "Mika... the body. It was your project partner. The one who came to our dorm that night."

Mika froze. For a moment, her expression was unreadable, and then she blinked, her lips parting slightly. "Oh."

Silence stretched between them. Y/N shifted uncomfortably, but before she could say more, or could comfort Mika, Mika spoke again.

"You shouldn't have even been out there," Mika said, her tone sharp and accusing. Her gaze snapped back to Y/N, her brows furrowing. "What were you even doing wandering around so early in the morning?"

The guilt that had been simmering in Y/N's chest flared. "I needed to clear my head. The dreams, my mother, the Circle—it's been too much." She hesitated, then added quietly, "I went to a bar with some people."

Mika's eyes widened, her hand running through her hair. "A bar? Are you trying to get kicked out?! What if the Circle found out?"

The mention of the Circle made Y/N waver. Her hands tightened around her legs as she looked up at Mika, her voice resolute. "You know something, don't you? About the Circle?"

Mika's posture stiffened, her expression hardening as though a mask had dropped into place. "I don't know anything," she snapped, her voice louder than before.

"Don't lie to me, Mika," Y/N pleaded, her heart pounding. "You've been acting strange for days. Ever since that stupid welcome dinner. If you know something, please just tell me. You can trust me."

Mika stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor with a harsh screech. "I don't know anything, okay? Stop looking at me like I'm the bad guy here!"

Y/N flinched at the outburst, the hurt settling deep in her chest. "I'm not accusing you of anything," she said softly. "I just... I don't understand what's happening."

For a moment, Mika didn't respond. Her arms crossed defensively over her chest, and she avoided Y/N's gaze. Finally, she muttered, "Sometimes it's better not to know. Asking too many questions? That's how people get hurt around here."

The warning landed like a punch, leaving Y/N momentarily speechless. She swallowed hard, her throat dry. "So what am I supposed to do?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Pretend everything's fine?"