Chapter 49 Evil


    ARDEN


    This woman, really.


    s


    I thought she’d screamed herst, stomped her foot, and left the balcony in a huff, just like she always did when things didn’t go her way. However, it seemed she sensed my presence, because she stayed.


    “What the heck?” I gasped as she yanked me backward, <b>hard </b>enough <b>that </b>my feet stumbled over themselves.


    “You’re not satisfied being an attention whore, and now you’re eavesdropping on Jaxon <b>and </b>me?”


    I sighed and gripped her wrist. “I was on the balcony first. If you don’t want anyone overhearing your fights, maybe you shouldn’t do it in public.”


    She bit her lip in frustration and seized me by the <b>hair</b>, dragging me across the hall like a rag doll.


    “Let go of me!” I yelled, wing at her <b>hand</b>.


    But she was stronger <b>than </b>I had anticipated<b>, </b>powered by something far more nefarious than mere rage–pure obsession, <b>perhaps</b>.


    I tried to dig my heels in, but <b>she </b>was already shoving open a door near the bathroom wing. The room smelled like barf <b>and </b>sweat, mixed with <b>a </b>chemical cleaner that didn’t quite do the <b>job</b><b>. </b>


    Sienna finally let me go, shooting me a re that could have melted steel.


    “You really think you’re the best now, huh?” she snapped, cornering me against the wall.


    I straightened my posture and casually brushed my hair back with my fingers, “What is your problem?”


    “You’re my problem” she hissed.


    I was done with this woman.


    “What have I ever done to <b>you</b>, Sienna?”


    <b>“</b><b>You </b>were the better one between the two of us! Back in high school, you were popr. You had followers, friends other than me. Meanwhile, <b>you </b>were the only friend I had!”


    “Your parents actually cared about you. And <b>now </b><b>you </b>have Jaxon. You’re <b>with </b>my mate, <b>and </b>I don’t give a damn about what you do with him. So what the heck do you want from me?!”


    “You think I have him?” Her voice cracked, brittle and ugly. “I don’t. You do. Even now.”


    I stepped forward, challenging her stance. “No, Sienna. What you really want is someone to me for your <b>own </b>emptiness.” I want you to leave,” she growled through gritted teeth.


    “What?”


    “I want you gone she <b>spat </b>“Removed. Forgotten. Treated like a piece <b>of </b>disposable trash. Until <b>that </b>happens, I’m not going to shut up And now that you’re factionless.”


    Shrined in eyes filled with cage. “I will exploit that. I’ll make sure every <bst </b>person here knows you’re nothing.”


    leaned


    I stared at her in dublet


    This wasn’t just anger she was downright <b>insane</b>. She wasn’t thinking straight. Or maybe she was–and that was the scarier


    I slowly scanned the room, trying to conceal my n to escape


    1:14 AM <b>? </b>?


    Chapter 49 Evil


    <b>That </b>was when I spotted a familiar item sitting on the edge of a uniling sunk 4 hard her


    I nced at it once and then back to her.


    This is what she deserves.


    “You really think you can scare me?” I whispered, a daring smile creeping onto my face


    She smirked, confident. “I already have.”


    I smiled sweetly back at her. “Good. Then this won’te as a surprise”


    I grabbed the barf bag and, without a second thought, hurled in straight at her face.


    **WHAT THE HELL Sienna shrieked.


    It sttered all over her <b>hair</b>, down her neck, and onto her silk top


    She screamed again. a high–pitched, throat–shredding wail.


    I didn’t stick around for anything worse to ur.


    s


    I shoved the door open and bolted, nearly tripping on the uneven tile. My breath burned in my throat, but I didn’t stop. The moment I burst into the chaos of the party, Sienna’s shriek faded into the background.


    And with <b>that</b>, I couldn’t help but giggle at her reaction. She definitely deserved that


    The mansion’s corridors had emptied. The music andughter slowly receded into silence. Broinen beer boules and bits of confetti littered the floor, surrounded by the students tasked with cleaning up the aftermath. Most studens had migrated to their own homes, and the After Sound was in full swing again, with people filming their sexual endeavors and amassing points like it was a game.


    With cleaning nearlypleted, I had told Tessa and Owen to head home, insisting I’d nearly finished the deanup myself


    I was working alongside a few others—mostly those caught cutting in <b>line </b>or skipping sses. One guy I vaguely recognized. Trevor, Kieran’s friend, kept casting nces my way.


    Well, that was my cur to go home.


    I gathered thest bits of trash from my area into a bag before attempting t&Jocate my belongings. However, just as I was about to leave, a hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.


    “Seriously?” I hissed, yanking it <b>back</b>. “Let go.”


    He tightened his grip.


    “Trevor,” he smiled–a predator’s smile. He leaned in closer under the dim light. “Your brother, Kieran’s friend. Remember used toe to your house all the time. You were pretty even <b>back </b>then.”


    Gold dread shot through <b>me</b>. This was not <b>going </b>to be <b>a </b><b>casual </b><b>chat</b>.


    I tried to pull away, but <b>suddenly</b>, more figures emerged–Kieran, Sienna, <b>and </b>a couple of others from the West Sienna had


    andard new art of clothes, but the murderous look in her eyes was unmistakably familiar.


    1


    I spun around, trying to bolt, but Sienna coldly grabbed me from the other side.


    “Not as fast,” she hissed


    My mouth open to scream, bet I didn’t get a sound out Kieran <b>stepped </b>forward, brandishing a tiny bottle–something


    “Don’t fight it,” he said “Trust is. You want to be good for something, right? Then, be good to Trevor.”


    1:14 AM <b>c </b>ch.


    Chapter 49 Evil


    He pried open my jaw and tipped something clear on my tongue.


    1 fought, spitting it out


    “No! No-” My voice cracked.


    Trevorughed. “You’re not going anywhere


    They forced my mouth open again-


    And dumped it down my throat. Warm, bitter fluid coated my tongue.


    The world instantaneously <b>spun</b>, and terrors red in my mind.


    Kieran and Trevor forced me upright <b>and </b>began marching me down the hall toward one of therge bedrooms.


    “No–please!” I choked, fighting their <b>grip</b>.


    Sienna whispered in my ear, “You’ll <b>thank </b>us.”


    “Mr. Winters won’t being back until tomorrow,” Kieran chimed. “Make it quick. Trevor.”


    Trevor licked his lips as he gazed at my body. “Don’t worry. We’re not going to get caught.”


    s


    1 fought against them, but the drug kickstarted agony in my head. My vision blurred, fingers losing grip on consciousness. Heat surged through me like molten fire.


    They shoved me onto a mattress, pinned me down.


    “No! Stop it!” I cried, tears burning my eyes.


    I tasted something sweet and horrifying as another pill was forced inside my mouth.


    The drug hit fast. My throat closed around panic.


    They closed in euphoria blooming in my limbs, heat squeezing through my veins, thoughts spiraling in every direction.


    A heat inducer.


    I thrashed my limbs around, but with the four of them there, holding me with Sienna ready to film everything, I felt <b>myself </b>dlowly losing hope.


    I turned to Kieran once, and there wasn’t an ounce of regret in <b>his </b>gaze. How <b>could </b><b>he </b>do this to his own sister? Did he hate me


    that much!


    I began to cry tears streaming down my face. Trevor <b>began </b>unbuttoning my blouse while the other two held my arms. waiting for the full effect of the heat inducer pill to <b>push </b><b>through</b>.


    However, just before I was about to lose hope, the door mmed open.


    “What the fuck are you doing?”