Stole My Heart 💕

17 - Save from the darkness

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the quiet parking lot as Candice made her way toward the rendezvous point where Hanna and Andy were waiting. She had just submitted a report to Mr. Potts and received a stern warning for its late submission—thanks to Lisa, who had forced her to redo the assignment. She sighed, her thoughts elsewhere, when suddenly, a strong grip yanked her bag from behind. Before she could react, a forceful shove sent her stumbling into a dark room.

Her head struck the cold floor with a sickening thud, pain radiating through her skull. Dizziness clouded her senses, and before she could fully comprehend what was happening, the door slammed shut behind her, sealing her in suffocating darkness.

Panic clawed at her chest. She scrambled to her feet and lunged at the door, pounding with both fists.

"Help! Somebody, please help me!" Her voice cracked, her cries swallowed by the eerie silence. Only the sound of her ragged breathing filled the air. Fear crept into her bones, a cold and unrelenting force.

Sliding down to the floor, she hugged her knees, trying to suppress the sobs shaking her body. A silent plea ran through her mind: Please, someone find me. Don't leave me here.

Time lost meaning. Minutes felt like hours. Just when she thought hope had abandoned her, a voice called out, faint but unmistakable.

----

It had been a week since Nick's unexpected encounter with Blake in Candice's classroom, yet his mind refused to let go of her presence. He hoped she had recovered from her injuries by now, but what unsettled him more was the unsettling truth—why did Candice seem unaffected by him while his thoughts revolved entirely around her? The realization struck his self-esteem, provoking a battle within him. Frustrated with himself, he resolved not to think about her any longer.

That evening, with unfinished work keeping him late at college, Nick finally decided to call it a day. As he made his way to the parking lot, his eyes instinctively scanned the area. Hanna and Andrea stood waiting, but Candice was nowhere in sight. A strange restlessness took hold of him before he could push it aside. Did he long for her presence? The thought sent a jolt through him, leaving him momentarily shaken.

Shaking his head, he forced himself to focus and walked toward Hanna. "Hey, Hanna," he greeted, keeping his voice casual.

"Hi, Nick," she responded, though there was a hint of unease in her tone.

He reminded himself not to ask about Candice, not to let his curiosity betray him. "Why are you guys still here?" he asked instead.

"We're waiting for Candy. She went to submit her assignments, but she hasn't come back yet," Hanna replied, concern evident in her voice.

"Is there a problem?" he questioned, his unease growing.

"Not exactly, but we've been waiting a long time. I'm starting to worry she's getting scolded by Mr. Potts for the late submission," Hanna admitted, biting her lip.

Nick frowned. "That's not possible. Mr. Potts left early today." His anxiety spiked. "Did you try calling her?"

"Yeah, but she's not answering," she said, worry deepening her expression.

Something didn't sit right with him. "Don't worry, Hanna. I'll go check on her," he assured, taking charge before his mind could reason against it.

Taking Candice's number from Hanna, he dialed her while making his way through the dimly lit corridors. The phone rang, but there was no answer. He quickened his pace, checking every room and hallway, his concern morphing into dread. The campus was nearly deserted now, making each second stretch unbearably.