connected …
And I recognized him.
With a book in my hand, I stare at the shelf in front of me. I’m supposed to put these back in place, just as I always do, but somehow, my body refuses to obey my commands. I feel so groggy, as though I’ve been hit by a brick. My limbs are frozen as dread floods my body, making me icy cold.
Every letter on the books in front of me scrambles into a melting pot of indescribable words, and the pages themselves are drenched in blood.
I shake my head, and the image disappears, the books back to normal as they should be.
I must be losing my mind. There’s no other explanation.
I don’t understand what happened to me. And after I found myself half-naked in the woods with half my memories of that night missing, I feel off. Like I’m completely off my rocker.
Something just isn’t right, but I can’t pinpoint what.
It doesn’t help that Chris has completely disappeared off the face of the earth. I’ve tried texting him to no avail. He didn’t even read my messages this time. I don’t know what happened to him.
All I remember is being at the club, and then … nothing.
I lost track of time and have no memory of it.
Did the alcohol hit me that hard?
Suddenly, a harsh thump makes me jolt, and I clench the book closely while I look for the noise. It was just a customer who dropped a book on the floor. No biggie. But my heart rate shot through the roof.
Why am I so panicky? I can’t shake these jitters, and it’s eating me up while I’m trying to work. It doesn’t help that I haven’t slept either, but who could when you can’t even remember what you did just hours before?
“Hello, Amelia.”
I hear his voice before I see his face. The mere sound makes me drop the book I was holding.
He appears from behind the bookcase, taking a step toward me.
I look around me, but there is no other way out. This bookcase is situated right against a wall.
“Don’t be afraid,” he says with that same sultry voice that tickles every sense of my body. “I’m not here to hurt you.”
“Who are you?” I ask. “And what do you want from me?”
Every step he takes makes a clicking sound, every click pushing me closer into the wall. Click. He adjusts his cuffs. Click. My heart beats in my throat. Click. He towers over me, exuding pure power. Rage. Lust.
All of those things bundled into one, forcing me to cower before him.
“I’m here for you.”
Panic washes over me.
“Me? Why?” My voice is barely audible.
“You don’t know?” He frowns.
I shake my head thoroughly.
His eyes twitch as they narrow, and he comes even closer. “Interesting.”
“I don’t understand—”
Suddenly, his hand reaches for my face, the back of his index finger sliding ever so softly down my cheek, spreading goose bumps all over my body. “I can give you the one thing you’ve wanted but never dared to ask for.” A dangerous smile spreads leisurely on his face. “True release.”
Release? What does he mean?
The look on his face darkens. “Now tell me the truth.”
I back away as he takes a step closer … and closer … and closer. “What truth? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do, Amelia,” he muses.
He plants a hand on the wall beside me. “I know what you did.”
I shudder in place as his energy drips over onto me, making me lose my will to fight.
I don’t know why I’m overcome with the sudden urge to cry and scream, but he covers my mouth before I can.
“Shh,” he whispers. “Don’t want them to hear us.”
“Please,” I mutter through his hand.
He cocks his head. “I only want one thing from you.”
Dread fills my bones, but something else is brewing underneath the surface of my skin. Something I can’t describe as anything other than shame. Something I’m desperately trying to hide.
“Tell me,” he says as he leans so close I can feel his breath on my skin, “your biggest secret.”
My lips part, but all that exits is a choking sound.
He smiles as his hand leaves my mouth, but still, I can’t utter a single word.
“You want to tell me, but you can’t … can you?” His eyes narrow, and he grabs my chin and forces me to look at him.
Tears spring into my eyes. “I don’t know—”
“Yes. You. Do.” That same commanding tone makes my whole body tremble. “But if you refuse to tell