Eliz yawned as she felt her eyelids droop as the professor droned on, today's class was quite longer than usual.
She drifted into a sweet, dreamless sleep until, finally, hours later, she was stirred awake by the sudden jangle of the church bell ringing.
"How long was I asleep"
Eliz mumbled; her voice still heavy with drowsiness.
Eliz stumbled to sit up in her chair, blearily glancing around. As things came into focus, she noticed Professor Alvis staring at her with a smirk.
"Quite a long time" Professor Alvis replied, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
In shock, Eliz lurched backward and fell back, landing unceremoniously on the ground.
"What the hell!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mixture of surprise and indignation.
"Did you watch me sleep?" Her heart thumped in her chest as she awaited his response.
Professor Alvis, his smirk fading into a more sympathetic expression, quickly moved to help her up from the floor.
"Maybe I did," Professor Alvis replied coolly, his voice carrying an air of mystery as he strode toward the lecture room door.
With a wave of his hand, he beckoned,
"Come to my office."
"30 minutes past 2," Eliz muttered, her eyes darting to her wristwatch.
"Those officials won't even let me leave early,"
she groaned reluctantly, following after Professor Alvis.
She was fully aware that leaving school grounds would mean disciplinary action – but what other choice did she have? She had two more hours until school would end for the day.
Eliz stood motionless, unable to utter a word as Professor Alvis closed his office door.
"What was I thinking? Anything but his office, Eliz!!" Her thoughts raced.
She chanced a glance at him, taking in his well-defined jawline and penetrating gaze, then swiftly looked away.
Eliz's eyes wandered around the room, tracing the stacks of paper on the mahogany desk and the impressive array of honorary degrees hanging proudly on the walls.
The atmosphere seemed to thicken with tension as Professor Alvis arched an eyebrow and leaned in, his voice dropping to a hushed tone.
"Have you come up with an answer yet?"
Eliz's fingers nervously intertwined, and a blush crept up her cheeks as a flood of memories rushed back.
She recalled the day when Professor Alvis had asked her out two years ago. However, she had declined, for reasons known only to her.
Now, as Professor Alvis's piercing gaze bore into her face with eager anticipation, Eliz felt her heart thundering in her chest, its rapid beats resonating loudly in her ears.
She couldn't help but be conscious of the countless other women who had vied for his affections during his tenure as their professor.
Her mind became void, her thoughts dissipating into a haze as his intense stare seemed to envelop her entirely as if she were the solitary object of his unwavering attention, poised to be engulfed by it.
She drew in a shaky breath and finally managed to whisper out an affirmative,
"Yess..."
Her cheeks blazed with mortification, and an awkward silence hung heavily between them, thick with unspoken tension.
As the seconds ticked away, Professor Alvis closed the distance between them, his large hands moving with an almost electrifying gentleness to cup Eliz's face.
His touch sent shivers down her spine, and she found herself ensnared by the intensity of his gaze.
"Eliz," he whispered huskily, his fingers tracing a trail of fire from her ears down to the delicate curve of her neck. Desire smoldered in his eyes as he held her captive with his penetrating stare.
And then, in that charged moment, he breathed out a question that hung in the air like a forbidden promise, "Can I kiss you?"
Eliz's cheeks were burning as he made his bold request and her heart raced within her chest with a strange mix of anticipation and fear.
Taking a deep breath she slowly opened her eyes and nodded, granting him permission with a breathless sigh.
His lips met hers with an intensity that she had never felt before, sending sparks throughout her body.
His hands expertly moved around her back, pushing her into the chair beneath them as his tongue explored her mouth hungrily.
She moaned softly at the pleasure he was giving her as his caresses became more insistent, almost desperate in their urgency.
He nibbled on her lower lip before delving in again, teasing her tongue with his own.
Breaking away from their embrace, he looked deeply into her eyes, and Eliz felt like she was melting under his gaze; all of her doubts and fears dissipating into nothingness as time seemed to stand still around them.
He left no area untouched as his roving hands explored her body, kissing trail along her neck and collarbone while whispering sweet nothings in between breaths.
Eliz's eyes fluttered open, and she noticed a palpable sense of relief in Professor Alvis's expression.
"No… What am I doing?" Eliz abruptly pushed him away, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Ve...?" he tried to reach out, but before he could make another move, she hastily gathered her belongings and rushed out of his office.
The door slammed shut behind her, echoing in the quiet room.
Professor Alvis was left standing there, his thoughts swirling with doubt and regret.
Had he gone too far?
Did he make a grave mistake?
The weight of these questions bore down on him, leaving him feeling uneasy and conflicted.
"What were you thinking!!!"
Eliz cursed loudly, her voice echoing through the empty hallway as she fled.
Her breath came in short gasps as she rushed up the stairs to the rooftop of the building complex. Here, far away from the bustle and roar of the university campus.
As she reached the rooftop, she took a moment to catch her breath and basked in the serenity that surrounded her.
The vista over the school grounds was a masterpiece crafted by nature itself.
The gentle sway of trees, the distant murmur of students, and the warm embrace of the sun's rays on her skin provided a momentary respite from what had just happened.
Eliz reached into her backpack, her fingers searching for the guidebook that had been shared in class.
The memory of Professor Alvis's voice still lingered in her mind, and her hands unconsciously moved to her lips as she recalled the unexpected encounter a few minutes ago.
However, the weight of nostalgia from past lectures filled her, and she couldn't help but clasp her cheeks firmly as if trying to ground herself.
"It will be fine," Eliz whispered to herself repeatedly as she flipped through the book.
Several hours had passed, and the waning sun had cast a soft, orange glow over the stone floors, creating a warm, serene atmosphere.
The trees surrounding her reading spot provided patches of shade, offering a brief respite from the sunlight.
Eliz was so engrossed in her reading that she barely noticed the cool breeze rustling through her hair, until it blew leaves onto her and the open book.
She hurriedly checked her watch and realized with a jolt that school had closed over an hour ago.
"Shit, I'm late for work," she muttered under her breath as she hastily rammed the book back into her bag.
The sound of the rooftop door jamming immediately diverted her attention.
Three figures were now blocking the entrance, their silhouettes outlined by the warm, setting sun.
Chloe, with her bobbed black hair and freckle-spotted face, stood at the forefront, her features bathed in the golden glow of the descending sun.
Behind her, the two twins, who looked like they had been plucked straight out of a horror movie, stood eerily, their presence casting long shadows that stretched toward Eliz.
Eliz clung to her courage, her fists clenched in determination as she forced out a curt demand, her voice laced with resolve.
"What do you want?"
Chloe stepped forward, her smile mocking as she sang out in a taunting tone,
"Oooooh! I'm sooooo frightened!"
The twins, standing behind her, cackled sinisterly, their laughter sending shivers down Eliz's spine.
Their collective presence loomed over her like a dreaded omen, casting a dark shadow over the rooftop.
"I repeat,"
Eliz said firmly, her eyes narrowed at the trio.
"Because I feel you are deaf; what do you want?"
In a haunting unison, they replied,
"Nothing..."
Their synchronized response sent a chill down Eliz's spine.
Eliz, her patience wearing thin, stepped back from the trio, frustration simmering in her eyes.
She attempted to push past Chloe, who stood her ground with defiant determination.
"Move,"
Eliz demanded, her tone unyielding.
Chloe, equally resolute, refused to budge.
Their brief struggle resulted in Chloe losing her balance and crashing to the ground, her knee colliding with an uneven surface.
A triumphant smirk tugged at the corners of Eliz's lips as she couldn't resist a quip,
"You begged for it"
Chloe, now seething with anger and nursing her injured knee, shot a glare at Eliz.
"I didn't want to believe that you were a slut, but now I know you are, getting into Professor Alvis' pant for a few good grades, how cheap" Chloe's voice oozed with contempt, each word laced with venom.
Chloe's words landed like a barrage of sharp daggers, piercing through Eliz's composure and leaving her stunned.
For a few good grades?
Eliz felt a cold shiver run down her spine.
The implications of Chloe's accusation were paralyzing.
The mere thought of the rumors that could spread like wildfire throughout the school if anyone caught wind of her encounter with Professor Alvis was suffocating.
The specter of expulsion and the prospect of repeating the entire school year loomed over her, casting a long, dark shadow over her future.
Dread coiled tightly in her stomach, her heart raced, and panic threatened to overwhelm her.
She struggled to catch her breath, her eyes darting anxiously to the ground for support.
Pamela lunged at Eliz with wild desperation, her arms outstretched, fingers clawing the air.
In a nimble sidestep, Eliz narrowly evaded the attack trying to comport herself.
But before she could regain her balance, Camilla exploited the moment of distraction, launching a powerful jab that struck Eliz squarely in the face, sending her reeling backward.
"Fuck!"
Eliz cursed through gritted teeth, tasting the metallic tang of blood on her lip.
She hastily wiped the crimson smear away with the back of her trembling hand.
"Hold her!"
Chloe's thunderous command echoed through the tense air. The twins, their faces twisted with unbridled rage.
As the chaotic brawl raged on,
Eliz's thoughts raced in desperation.
"Why resort to violence? If spreading rumors is the lowest they can stoop, they should just leave me be," she contemplated, her movements becoming increasingly frantic.
Desperately, she darted between the charging figures, her lithe frame pivoting gracefully on one foot.
But Chloe's relentless grip closed around her shoulder like a vice, yanking her back from the door.
"Wait! Stop!" Eliz pleaded, her voice edged with desperation, struggling to maintain her balance as she stumbled backward.
Her back met the cold steel of the school building's balcony railing, and she clung to it, the chaos around her whirling in a maelstrom of confusion and aggression.
Within seconds a crack echoed through the air as the railing splintered and crumbled under Eliz's weight.
In a frantic bid to save herself from plummeting onto the ground below, she instinctively reached out, her fingers clenching what remained of the iron support as her anguished cry pierced the chaotic scene.
"Help me! Somebody, please help!"
Eliz's voice reverberated across the surrounding walls, carrying with it the raw desperation of her situation.
Her grip on the splintered railing was her only lifeline, and she clung to it with every last ounce of strength she possessed.
A stunned hush blanketed the crowd below, their collective gaze fixed on the figure suspended perilously in midair.
"Someone's in danger! Call for help!" A voice pierced through the stunned silence, breaking the spell that held the onlookers captive.
Eliz could feel the rusted shards of the railing digging into her flesh as she clung to it desperately, her strength waning with every passing moment.
Professor Alvis emerged from the doorway, exuding an aura of authority and command.
"Professor Alvis!" Chloe's voice rang out, her attempt to feign innocence failing to escape his notice.
Professor Alvis scanned his surroundings, his eyes darting in search of any sign of Eliz, but she remained elusive.
"Alvis!"
Eliz's panicked screech pierced the air, and he immediately zeroed in on the source of the cry.
With urgency etched on his face, he rushed over to where the metal railing had given way, and there she was, teetering on the brink, her eyes wide with fear.
He extended his hand toward her, his voice laced with pleading desperation.
"Give me your hand, Eliz."
Tears streamed down her face as she trembled, her voice quivering with terror.
"I can't – I'll slip!"
Their eyes locked in a moment of shared anguish, and he whispered her name softly, a hint of pain and guilt in his voice, for he knew that this situation was a consequence of his actions.
"Eliz..."
he uttered; her name heavy with emotion.
Emotionally drained and overwhelmed, Eliz summoned every ounce of courage she could muster and reached out toward him, their fingers inching closer in a desperate bid for salvation.
In a heart-wrenching instant, the metal railing gave way beneath her, and Eliz slipped from his grasp.
"Eliz!!!!" Professor Alvis's anguished scream echoed through the air; his outstretched hand unable to reach her.
As Eliz descended, a sense of resignation washed over her. She closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable.
"Is this the end?"
Her final thoughts carried a glimmer of hope that, if death was her fate, she would not be reborn to face more trials.
With urgency in their voices, the firemen shouted, "Quick! Activate the bed!"
In a split second, a miraculous transformation unfolded before Eliz's eyes. A bed materialized out of thin air, shaping itself just in time to catch her before she hit the ground.
Her eyes widened with a mix of amazement and relief, but a string of hope is too fragile for one to hold on to.
"I actually got to see mana tec.....
The air resonated with a deafening crack as Eliz's head collided with an oak tree branch, sending a shock wave of pain through her.
Her limp body descended onto the floating bed, the impact producing a loud thud.
A cataclysmic fear gripped Professor Alvis as he rushed out of the building and saw Eliz lying lifeless, covered by a blood-stained sheet.
Gently, he shook her body, desperation oozing from every pore of his being, hoping for the faintest sign of life, even as he knew deep down that he clung to a false hope.
Tears streamed down his cheeks steadily as two suited men hoisted Eliz onto a stretcher and whisked her away, leaving him with a broken whisper,
"Eliz..."