Today is the final day of University Week, and the highlight event was scheduled for later in the day. I woke up early, determined to make sure everything will be perfect. The sun had barely risen, casting a golden hue through my bedroom window. I quickly jumped out of bed and went through my morning routine.
After a quick shower, I put on my favorite outfit, a crisp white blouse and a navy blue skirt that complemented the university colors. I carefully applied a touch of makeup, brushing on some mascara and a hint of blush. Knowing I'd be on my feet for most of the day, I decided to wear comfortable flats.
I glanced at the clock and realized I was running a bit late. I grabbed my bag and rushed down the stairs. But in my haste, I missed a step on the marble floor and my foot slipped out from under me.
Before I could react, a strong pair of arms caught me effortlessly. It was Silas. The shock of the sudden drop made me cling to him longer than necessary. I could feel the warmth of his body through his shirt. My damn heart raced as I looked up at him.
"Whoa there," Silas voice a mix of concern and amusement. His arms were firm around me.
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I tried to pull away, only to nearly stumble again. Silas caught me once more with a teasing glint in his eye.
"We can do this all day long," he smirked. "It seems fun to catch you in my arms."
I laughed despite my embarrassment. I could feel my cheeks flush even more. "I'm not sure I can handle being caught by you all day. I might just get used to it."
Silas chuckled, "I wouldn't mind, Aurora. But I believe we have a day of events to attend."
I managed to regain my balance and took a step back, trying to compose myself. "Yes, let's get moving before I fall again. But thank you for the... extra support."
Silas' smile widened as he offered his arm. "Always at your service."
With a playful glance and a steadying hand on my back, we headed out together.
Since I was in such a hurry, I didn't wait for Silas to open the door for me. I even went straight to the shotgun seat instead of the back. Silas seemed a little confused but didn't comment.
None of us spoke during the ride. I kept my head turned toward the window so I wouldn't have to look at him, but it was hard not to. Not when we were in the small space of the car, riding together, and I could see the reflection of his face in the window. He was driving with a relaxed expression, and I couldn't help but wonder how someone could look so dashing by just driving.
I sighed and continued to look indirectly at him through the window, unable to help myself. After a while, I noticed a smile rising on Silas' lips.
"Enjoying the view, Aurora?"
I felt my cheeks heat up. "I'm not peeking at you," I denied quickly, perhaps a bit too defensively.
Silas chuckled, his eyes still on the road. "Of course not," his tone light and amused. "I must be imagining things, then."
I turned fully towards the window, trying to hide my embarrassment. "Just focus on driving."
"As you wish."
When we arrived at the front gate of the school, I saw a lot of students from different universities entering. It's open gate today, so anyone could enter the campus.
I reminded Silas to fetch me by six, but before I could go out, he gently grabbed my arm. I turned to him, puzzled. "May I?"
"May you what?" I asked.
He nodded towards my hair. "You forgot to brush your hair. May I fix it for you?"
I felt my cheeks heat up. "Oh, sure, thank you."
Silas reached out, his fingers brushing gently through my hair. Startled by his touch, I almost bumped my head on the window, but he was quick to cover my head with his hand, protecting me from the impact. "Careful. I'd rather not have you start your day with a bump on your head."
I laughed, "I guess I was in too much of a rush this morning."
"Always here to help," he finished his impromptu hair-fixing. "There, much better."
I stepped out of the car, still feeling the warmth of his touch and the playful care in his actions.
The campus was alive with energy and excitement, buzzing with students and faculty enjoying the vibrant University Week festivities. Colorful booths lined the walkways, each offering unique activities-face painting, games, and interactive exhibits. The food festival was a particular highlight, with a mouthwatering array of international dishes drawing crowds eager to sample different cuisines. Our department's horror booth was a massive success, attracting throngs of visitors. The eerie setup, complete with spooky sound effects and terrifying props, had people screaming and laughing. The celebration was in full swing.
I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my stomach. The various foods I had sampled were starting to take their toll. I decided to excuse myself from the group. I need to go to the restroom. Yue noticed my discomfort and came over to me.
"Are you okay? Do you want me to come with you?"
"It's okay, Yue. I just need a moment. I'll be fine."
"Alright," Yue still looking hesitant. "But if you need anything, just call me."
"I will." I made my way towards the restroom, but as I walked, the area seemed unusually quiet. The lively sounds of the celebration felt distant, and the empty hallway gave me a strange, uneasy feeling. I quickened my pace.
A hand suddenly grabbed my arm, and before I could react, I was pulled into a storage room. A handkerchief was pressed over my mouth, and I immediately recognized the strong, chemical odor. My head began to spin, and I felt myself growing faint. I managed to pull the handkerchief away, only to see a figure standing in front of me. It was Steven.
His eyes were wild, darting around like a hungry animal. He stared at me with a twisted smile.
"Hello, Auri." Hearing my nickname from his mouth sent shivers down my spine.
I took a step back, my heart pounding. "What the hell are you doing, Steven?"
He laughed, a low, menacing sound. "Did you really think you could get rid of me that easily? You and your little butler have no idea who you're dealing with."
I swallowed hard and tried to steady my breathing. "Get lost while I'm still being nice. Now."
His smile widened, revealing a glint of madness in his eyes. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere. Not without you."
Panic surged through me, but I fought to keep my voice steady. "You can't do this, Steven. You're in enough trouble as it is."
He stepped closer, "Trouble? You think I care about that? This is between you and me, Auri. No one else matters."
I glanced around the small, cluttered room, desperately searching for an escape route. "Silas will find me," I warned him, trying to sound braver than I felt.
"Let him try," he sneered. "By the time he does, it'll be too late."
My mind raced, and I knew I had to act fast. Gathering all my strength, I made a sudden move, pushing Steven away with all my might. He stumbled back, and I bolted for the door.
But Steven was quicker than I anticipated. He lunged at me, his hand grabbing my arm again. "You're not getting away that easily."
Desperation surged through me as I struggled against Steven's grip, shouting for help with all the strength I had left.
"Someone, help me!" I screamed, but the empty corridor outside offered no response.
Steven's eyes gleamed with a chilling intensity. "No one's coming for you, Auri. No one even knows you're here."
"Let me go, bastard! If my grandfather finds out, you're done for!"
But his grip only tightened, "Your grandfather won't find out. I'll make sure of that. You think he's going to find you buried in the ground?"
"Are you insane?" I shouted, my voice cracking with fear. "You can't do this. You don't get to-"
Steven cut me off with a harsh laugh. "Oh, but I can. And I will. You're mine now, whether you like it or not."
I tried to kick him, but my movements were sluggish and weak. Steven retaliated with a sharp punch to my stomach, making me gasp in pain. "You think you're so tough, don't you? But you're nothing. You're just a scared little girl who's about to learn what real fear feels like."
Without warning, Steven shoved me against the wall. His hands were everywhere, one of them starting to unbutton my blouse. Panic and disgust surged through me, my heart racing as I struggled against him, but my strength was fading fast.
"Stop, Steven! Please, don't do this!"
He ignored my pleas, his eyes gleaming with a sick satisfaction. "You're mine, Auri. You always have been."
Desperation clawed at me and I tried to push him away, but my limbs felt like lead. "Get off me!" I screamed, my voice weak and terrified.
Steven's grip tightened, and he continued unbuttoning my blouse , his breath hot and ragged against my face. "No one's coming to save you."
As darkness began to close in around me, I summoned the last of my strength and screamed as loud as I could, hoping against hope that someone, anyone, would hear me and come to my rescue.
My cries grew weaker and my strength began to fade. My heart sinking with the realization that no one would come. Just as the last glimmer of faith began to flicker out, the door burst open, and Silas appeared.
His face was a mask of pure fury, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that I had never seen before. Everything happened so fast that the next thing I knew, I was on the ground, dazed and disoriented.
Silas tackled Steven with a force that sent them both crashing into the wall. The impact echoed through the room, and I could hear the sickening thud of fists connecting with flesh. Silas was relentless, his rage propelling him forward with a terrifying ferocity. Steven was helpless against him, barely able to defend himself as Silas unleashed a storm of blows.
Steven's face contorted in pain and fear, his earlier bravado crumbling in the face of Silas' wrath. Blood dripped from his nose and mouth, his eyes wide with panic as he realized the full extent of the situation. He tried to scramble away, but Silas was unyielding, his movements swift and brutal.
My heart pounded in my chest as I watched, a mix of relief and horror flooding through me. Relief that Silas had come to save me, but horror at the violence unfolding before my eyes. Silas was a blur of motion, his muscles straining with every punch, every strike driven by a need to protect me.
In a terrifying moment, I saw Silas grab a golf club from the corner of the room. His grip was tight, his knuckles white with tension as he raised it above his head. The look in his eyes was deadly, a chilling resolve that sent a shiver down my spine.
"No! Silas, stop!"
My words seemed to penetrate the haze of his anger, and he hesitated, the club still poised to strike. I scrambled to my feet, my body aching with every movement, and rushed towards him. My hands reached out, grabbing his arm in desperation.
"Please, Silas, don't do it!" I begged, my voice trembling with fear. "You'll kill him!"
Silas' eyes flicked to mine, the rage slowly giving way to confusion. His breath was ragged, his chest heaving as he struggled to control himself. For a moment, it seemed as if he might not hear me, his focus still on Steven's battered form.
"Why are you stopping me, Aurora?" Silas' voice thick with emotion. "He hurt you. He could have killed you. Why don't you want me to make him pay?"
Tears streamed down my face as I looked at him, my heart aching with the weight of the situation. "Because I don't want you to become a murderer," my voice choked with emotion. "I don't want you to lose yourself because of him. Please, Silas. Let the law handle this. My grandfather will make sure he suffers."
Silas' grip on the club loosened, and he dropped it to the floor with a heavy thud. He turned away from Steven, his body shaking with the effort to control his anger. His eyes were filled with a mixture of relief and anguish as he looked at me.
Steven lay on the ground, bloodied and barely conscious, his body curled in on itself. He was a far cry from the menacing figure who had threatened me moments before. Silas' threat still hung in the air, a dark promise that Steven would not forget.
Silas' jaw clenched when he saw the state I was in. Some of the buttons on my blouse were open, revealing my bra. His eyes blazed with fury, his hands balling into fists at his sides. For a moment, he looked like he was ready to kill Steven. His knuckles turned white from gripping it so hard.
But then my hands tightened on his arm, and I shook my head, silently pleading with him to stay calm. The anger in his eyes didn't dissipate, but he managed to restrain himself. He let out a frustrated sigh. His expression softening as he looked at me.
Without a word, he shrugged off his coat and gently draped it over my shoulders, covering me. His touch was careful, almost tender, as if he was afraid I might break. The coat was warm and smelled faintly of him, a comforting contrast to the terror I'd just experienced.
He turned his gaze back to Steven, his voice low and dangerous. "You have no idea how lucky you are that I'm holding back," each word laced with venom. "But this isn't over. Not by a long shot."
Silas knelt beside me, his hands trembling as he reached out to touch my face. "I'm so sorry, Aurora," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I should have been here sooner. I should have protected you."
I leaned into his touch, feeling the warmth and strength in his hands. "You did protect me," my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "You saved me, Silas. And I'm so grateful for that."
Silas pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly as if he was afraid to let go. His embrace was desperate and protective. I rested my head against his chest, listening to the rapid beat of his heart as we both tried to calm down.