The icy grip on Kyle's ankle loosened, freeing him. With a desperate surge, he kicked upward, breaking the surface of the pool with a gasp, gulping down lungfuls of air as he clung to the pool's edge. The world swirled, and he blinked, trying to focus, his heart still pounding from the eerie encounter. The fog had faded, the still night surrounding him with an unsettling silence.
As he looked up, he found himself staring into the face of Rebecca Miller, Zoe Miller's daughter. She stood by the pool, her arms crossed, watching him with a curious expression. Her long hair framed her face, the pale moonlight casting an almost otherworldly glow over her features.
"Kyle," she said, her in a low voice. "What are you doing in the pool at this hour?"
He coughed, wiping the water from his face, trying to shake off the lingering dread. "I... I thought I heard someone. Didn't you see them? Someone was there, pulling me under."
Rebecca's lips twisted into a half-smile, her expression somewhere between amusement and disinterest. "There's no one here but us. If you're done playing ghost stories, I'd get inside before my parents see you slacking off again."
Kyle bristled, but before he could respond, his stomach let out a low, hollow growl. He hadn't eaten all day, and the grueling chores had left him starving. Rebecca's gaze flicked to his midsection, a look of understanding crossing her face.
"I know you haven't eaten," she said, her tone almost soft, which was unusual for her. Rebecca had never been kind to him, always throwing snide comments his way or looking down on him with the same contempt as her parents. "I have some food in my room if you want it."
Kyle's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Rebecca had never offered him a thing, let alone her own food. "Why your room? Why not in the kitchen?"
She arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Are you going to question it, or do you want the food?"
His stomach clenched with hunger, his resolve wavering. Against his better judgment, he nodded. "Fine," he said, climbing out of the pool and wringing out his wet shirt. He followed her across the yard and into the grand, empty house, each footstep echoing off the marble floors. The house felt hollow.
They reached Rebecca's room, and she opened the door, gesturing him inside. As he stepped in, he felt a strange unease settle over him. The room was dimly lit, filled with the faint scent of perfume, and her belongings were scattered across the floor in a careless mess. He turned to her, a question forming on his lips, but she shut the door behind them with a soft click, locking it.
"Why'd you lock it?" he asked, his voice tense. He didn't like the way she looked at him, her gaze lingering, almost predatory.
Rebecca shrugged, a faint smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. "Privacy," she said simply. She crossed the room, opening a drawer and pulling out a plate with a sandwich on it. "Here. I figured you'd be hungry."
The sight of the food made his stomach growl, his hunger overriding his hesitation. He took the plate and sank down onto the edge of the bed, barely pausing before he bit into the sandwich. The taste was bland, but he was too hungry to care, shoving mouthfuls into his mouth.
As he ate, he noticed Rebecca circling him slowly, her fingers tracing along his shoulders, lingering a bit too long. Her touch was cold, sending a shiver down his spine, and he shifted uncomfortably, shrugging her off.
"What are you doing?" he asked, glancing up at her warily.
She leaned closer, her voice a low, teasing whisper. "I want you to make me feel good tonight, Kyle."
His stomach dropped, the sandwich suddenly tasting like ash. He pushed the plate away, swallowing hard. "What… what do you mean?"
She laughed, a low, mocking sound, her eyes gleaming with a dark amusement. "You know exactly what I mean. I want you to sleep with me. Right here. Right now."
Kyle's heart raced, a sickening anger or is it fear churning in his stomach. He shook his head, rising to his feet and backing away. "No, Rebecca. This isn't right. Your father… he's my boss. He'd kill me if he ever found out."
Rebecca's expression darkened, her gaze turning cold. "You think I care about that?" She stepped closer, her eyes flashing with a strange intensity. "Do you have any idea how easy it would be for me to get you whatever I want? All I have to do is say the word, and you'd lose everything you have here." Her lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Not that it's much, but still."
Kyle took another step back, his pulse racing. "No. I'm not doing this. It's wrong."
Her eyes narrowed, her expression hardening into one of cold, furious contempt. Before he could react, she lunged at him, her hands reaching out to grab his shoulders. He shoved her off, the force knocking her back against the dresser, a stunned expression crossing her face as she stared at him.
He took the opportunity, bolting for the door, his hand fumbling with the lock. As he flung it open and dashed into the hallway, he heard her voice behind him, venomous and filled with spite.
"You'll regret this, Kyle," she spat, her words echoing down the empty corridor. "You'll regret rejecting me. I'll make sure of it."
He didn't look back, his heart pounding as he fled down the hall, her threat hanging in the air like a curse. The shadows seemed to grow darker as he moved through the house, twisting and warping, as if they were watching him, waiting.
As he reached the front door and stumbled out into the night, he felt an eerie chill settle over him, the weight of Rebecca's threat pressing on his mind. He had made an enemy that night, and he knew, with a sickening certainty, that she would follow through on her promise.