Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 23

Ria's POV:

THREE YEARS AGO

October 31st:

My head is killing me. I cling onto Vlad while he tries to get me back to my dorm safely. My stalker made me so restless and paranoid lately that I decided to just give out for one night. It was Halloween so with a mask he probably wouldnt've even recognized me, right?

I was just so done with being scared and tired. Little did I know that I was such a lightweight. I literally only had one drink at the Alpha Sigma Phi frat party, but everying felt so heavy and light at the same time.

"You miss...mister are v--verrry kind." I slur over my words. "A—a truuueee gentl..gentleguy...or something."

"Am I now?" Vlad smirks, as he opens the door of my dorm. It was barely past 12, so I wasn't surprised to not find my outgoing, social butterfly roommate Stacy in there.

"Yesssss, you al—are." I nod, my head heavier than it was a few minutes ago. My eyes start fluttering closed, but I force them to stay open a few more seconds. Everything is so calm, so peaceful now. All my anxiety and paranoia long gone.

Vlad holds my waist tightly as he guides me to my bed and I plop right down, not even bothering to take my makeup or clothes off.

My bed, my lovely, comfortable, warm bed hugs me from below me and I hug it right back. I hear shuffling next to me and see Vlad put some medication, or whatever it is on my nightstand. That was probably what I felt when I sat on his lap earlier. I tried to interpret the letters but they decided to dance. I still tried, though.

Ro... Ro...

Row, row, row your boat. Gently down the stream.

Wait, no. Stop it. Concentrate, Ria.

I tried again, but my eyelids were suddenly so heavy. What if I just close them for one second? I won't fall asleep, just rest my eyelids. Yes, rest my eyelids. I deserve rest.

Rohyp... hyp...hippie. I once wanted to be a hippie.

Row, row, row your boat. Hippie down the street. Skibidi skabada scooby doo. My body's now on heat.

I should be a poet.

"It's so bloody hot!" I yell to no one in particular.

"I can help you out of these." I suddently hear a dark voice say. I thought I was alone already. I feel hands on my bare legs and look up again to see a familiar face. I know him, but from where?

Oh, right. This is my friend Vlad. He has nice hands.

Which are currently on my bare legs, I nudge them off poorly, cause I can't even seem to control my hands the way I want them, his don't budge.

"I—I...I am o..okay." I mumble, trying to push his hands off my legs, once again.

He narrows his eyes. But there's not a flicker of concern behind them, more like amusement. No, I'm probably imagining things from the alcohol. I am so definitely never drinking again.

"Are you sure? You don't look like it?"

I'm tired. I'm just gonna close my eyes for a second. Just one, teeny, tiny second. The last thing I see are the fluorescent light on the digital clock on my nightstand reading 00.26h, and then I'm out.

However, I'm awoken again by a deep and intense pain at my core. When I look up I see most of my pirate costume nowhere to be seen, and Vlad's disgusting fingers inside me, pumping in and out. He looks like a crazy man. Those eyes— I feel acid in my throat, my dinner threatening to make a reappearance.