The late afternoon sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across the quiet streets as Wren made her way home. With Stormi off to work and Riley occupied with practice, this was the first time she was truly alone since her return to campus. The sense of solitude should have been comforting, but instead, it left her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

As she walked, her thoughts were preoccupied with the mundane details of her day until she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching from behind. Her breath caught in her throat, and a shiver ran down her spine. The footsteps grew louder, closer, and then she felt a heavy hand grip her right shoulder.

Her heart pounded as a voice she hoped never to hear again spoke directly into her ear. “Hey, babe. Where do you think you’re going?”

Wren’s body tensed, paralyzed by fear. “Ho…ho….home. Please, just leave me al…alone.”

Trevor’s grip tightened, and his breath was hot and heavy on her neck. “Don’t be scared. I will show you a good time. Come with me.”

Wren’s voice trembled. “No, I don’t want to go with you.”

The streets around them were eerily empty, and Wren felt utterly isolated. Her eyes darted around, but there was no one in sight to help her. Trevor’s hand tightened painfully around her wrist, and he yanked her closer to him. His whisper was laced with menace. “If you don’t want me to hurt you, be a good girl. Come with me and don’t fight.”

The terror in Wren’s eyes was palpable as she nodded weakly. “Okay… just please don’t hurt me.”

Trevor’s smile was cold and unfeeling as he opened the door to his car and shoved Wren inside. The vehicle roared to life, and Wren’s heart raced with every mile they traveled. The scenery outside blurred as Trevor drove quickly, taking her far from the familiar safety of campus.

Eventually, the car screeched to a halt in front of an abandoned house. The structure loomed ominously in the twilight, its windows dark and foreboding. Wren’s pulse quickened as she glanced around, her fear escalating with each passing second.

“Won’t your new girlfriend be mad that you are with me?” she asked, hoping to divert his attention, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Trevor chuckled darkly. “So you’ve been watching me. Jealous?”

Wren’s face flushed with humiliation and anger. “No… never! I hate you!”

Trevor’s grin widened as he exited the car. “Awe… don’t be mean, babe. I’ll make sure we have a nice evening.”

Wren’s heart sank at his words. She feared the worst—dreading that he intended to force her into another violation. She clenched her fists, her thoughts racing as she fought to keep her composure.

Trevor returned to the car and flung open the door with a violent yank. Wren’s frantic attempts to hold it shut were futile as he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out. The pain was sharp and relentless, her scalp protesting against the rough treatment.

He threw her onto a couch inside the dark, dilapidated house. The room was cold and unwelcoming, the furniture sparse and shrouded in dust. Wren’s eyes were wide with terror as Trevor loomed over her.

“I’d advise you to cooperate, or this will turn ugly,” Trevor warned, his voice dripping with malice.

Wren’s breath came in ragged gasps, her mind numb with dread. She struggled to suppress her panic, her thoughts a desperate plea. Please… no. Please don’t let this happen again.

As she lay there, the shadows of the abandoned house seemed to close in around her, each creak of the floorboards amplifying her terror. In that moment, she could only hope for some form of salvation, her silent prayers echoing in the emptiness of the room.