CHAPTER 76
ANNA’S POV
She was smirking and the more she stared at me, the more uneasy I became, my stomach twisting because deep down I kept thinking that maybe Sophie really had something to do with all this mess, but then again I was still unsure and since there wasn’t any reasonable evidence I couldn’t just say a word, I
couldn’t risk spoiling the relationship her dad and my dad had together just because of some suspicion or misinformation, so I kept quiet, even though her eyes on me made my chest feel so tight as if it was
closing in.
Just as Ryan’s name was called and it was time for the official transfer of position, my phone suddenly rang, the sound sharp in my ears and making me jump while my pulse picked up. I opened my purse quickly and brought it out, staring at the screen as I saw an unknown number flashing. My brows furrowed, wondering who could be calling me at such a moment. I cut the call immediately but then it came again, buzzing harder like the caller wasn’t going to stop.
I looked around nervously, not wanting to disturb anyone with the ringing, and finally I sighed and stood up, deciding to step outside and pick it while making sure no one noticed. as I started walking toward the door, I caught Sophie’s eyes again and she was smiling at me, that same evil smirk playing on her lips like she knew something I didn’t. My heart skipped but I ignored her and kept moving while my
mind was racing.
Once outside, I found a more secluded area and pressed the phone to my ear.
“Hello?” I said softly.
There was no answer.
“Hello?” I repeated, louder this time while glancing around.
Still nothing. I frowned. “Hello?? Can you hear me?”
But it was just silence again, no voice, no words. I groaned under my breath and hissed, lowering the phone from my ear and pressing the end button before turning to walk back inside.
Just as I was about to step back in, the phone rang again. I froze, staring at it. My hands were shaking now. With a frustrated sigh, I answered.
“Hello??” I snapped, my voice laced with irritation.
This time, after a beat of silence, I thought I heard something faint, like static.
“Can you hear me?” I asked quickly, walking further down the corridor to find somewhere quieter, hoping the signal would be clearer.
1/3
76
+15 BONUS
“Hello?? Can you hear me now?” I pressed, my footsteps echoing as I unknowingly found myself at the top of a quiet staircase while my fingers trembled.
And then… I heard laughter.
Not just one, but several voices laughing, cruel and sharp, a series of evil laughter that sent chills racing down my spine making my skin prickle as if ice was dripping down it.
“Huh?” I whispered in confusion, my voice shaking. “What is happening?? Who is this?”
But the laughter only grew louder, mocking, terrifying.
Before I could even react, before my mind could process what was going on, a hand came out of nowhere and shoved me hard from behind. My eyes widened, my body stumbling forward as my feet slipped against the edge of the staircase. I screamed, my voice breaking as I tumbled, my body hitting the stairs painfully, again and again, each impact shooting sharp pain through me while my thoughts spun out of control. My hands clawed at the air, desperate to hold on to something, but there was nothing, only the cold hard stairs meeting me over and over.
“No–please!!” I screamed, my voice lost in the emptiness of the stairwell.
My head spun as I rolled helplessly, and then the sharpest pain of all hit me, my stomach. It felt like something tore inside me, a brutal jolt of agony that made me cry out louder than before. Tears filled my eyes instantly. My head smashed against the landing at the bottom with a sickening thud, my vision blurring as blood began to soak into my gown, spreading fast, warm and terrifying.
I gasped, my eyes wide, my breathing shallow. My hands shook as I reached instinctively for my stomach. The pain there was unbearable, stabbing, deep, and the last thing I noticed before everything went black was the horrifying sight of myself lying in a pool of my own blood, my trembling fingers slipping over the red as darkness swallowed me whole.
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