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Violet’s gaze danced around the room, her heart pounding as it had done minutes ago during the chase from the wolves. Perhaps it was her imagination but the darkness in the room was seemed almost alive.

Nonetheless, her muscles still locked up in fear. Her roommates were still motionless in their beds, undisturbed. Yet her gut told her someone was here with her.

Swallowing hard, Violet took another cautious step, her eyes never leaving the darkest corner of the room.

"Who’s there?" she whispered, trying to be brave.

But there was no response. Just the suffocating silence and her racing heart.

Violet had no choice but to reach for the lamp on her bedside table, her fingers fumbling for the switch. The light flickered to life, casting a soft glow across the room.

And there he was. The Alpha of chaos.

Asher Nightshade.

He sat casually in her own desk chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him and his arms crossed lazily over his chest. Those piercing gray, slitted eyes glinted in the light of her bedside lamp, holding her frozen in place.

There was a casual ease to his posture, but the intensity in his gaze made her blood run cold.

Fuck her life.

"Welcome back, little purple queen," he drawled, his tone low and mocking. "How was the run? I bet you had a good time out there." A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, and Violet’s stomach churned.

She froze, her heart plummeting into her stomach. She had no idea how long he’d been sitting there, waiting. Watching her.

Asher must have had his eyes the whole time she came into the room because there was no way she would have missed those eyes that glowed in the dark. He must have done it intentionally so she could get into the room and not escape earlier.

Asher’s eyes roved over her, and Violet felt exposed under his scrutiny, her damp hair clinging to her face and her clothes still slightly disheveled from her failed escape.

"And those clothes," he continued, "Not exactly running gear, are they? Especially that bag. If I didn’t know better, I’d say someone was trying to escape."

Violet’s blood ran cold. He knew. He fucking knew and was toying with her.

Well, fuck this!

Violet spun on her heel. Or atleast, attempted to. Because it seems Asher must have seen the decision in her eyes and he commanded right at that moment. "Don’t run."

Violet gasped as the words hit her like a wall, and her muscles seized, her legs refusing to move no matter how desperately she wanted to flee.

Panic filled Violet when she realized her plan had been foiled by Asher. But not all of it. Surely, he couldn’t hurt her in the presence of her roommates.

So with the glow of the light guiding her, Violet rushed to Lila’s bed, shaking her friend by the shoulders.

"Lila, wake up!" she hissed, but Lila didn’t stir. Her breathing was even, her face peaceful as if nothing could rouse her.

There was a niggling suspicion in her mind yet Violet didn’t dare to acknowledge her. No, that would only mean he out bested her. Perhaps, Lila was a heavy sleeper after all.

So with anxiety gnawing in the pit of her belly, She moved to Ivy’s bed next, shaking her vigorously. "Ivy, come on, wake up!" But Ivy remained motionless, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

Yet Violet wouldn’t give up. No, she couldn’t give up. That would mean admitting defeat to Asher and she couldn’t do that. He didn’t control her fate, she did.

Finally, Violet made her way to Daisy’s bed with desperation now, praying against all odds that her case was different.

"Daisy! Please, wake up!" She shook her with all her might, but Daisy, too, remained unresponsive, as if locked in some unbreakable sleep.

Violet had no doubt if she put a knife to her throat, the girl wouldn’t even feel the pain as she died in her sleep.

Violet strode toward Asher, her hand flying before she could think, and slapped him hard across the face.

"What the hell did you do to them?!" she shouted, her voice shaking with rage. "Don’t tell me you hurt them, you psycho!"

Asher’s head turned slightly with the force of her slap, and for a moment, he froze, touching his cheek as if stunned by her audacity. Then he slowly turned back to her, his expression unreadable.

Violet knew she was dead meat for slapping him. But she didn’t care. No one hurt Lila and went scot free. His tyranny couldn’t go unanswered.

"You think I hurt them?" he asked, his voice almost... hurt?

Violet was taken aback by his pained expression. She had not been thinking, she only acted based on what she had seen.

Asher continued when she gave no answer, asking, "Why would I hurt them? They’re your friends after all."

But just when she had begin to feel guilty for her action, a dark smile spread across his face, chilling her to the bone.

"Although," he added, "I did get into their heads and command them not to wake, no matter what they heard."

Her stomach sank.

Asher stood, his tall frame towering over her as he stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.

"Don’t tell me you haven’t figured it out yet," he whispered, carrying the weight of a threat.

"Figure out what?" Violet asked nervously, her heart racing.

His grin widened, his eyes gleaming with malicious glee. "How I got into your head that day," he said.

The blood drained from her face as she realized what he meant.

She thought of that day over and over again and nothing made sense. But right about now, she finally knew the answer.

"I was here that day," he said simply, gesturing around her room.

"Unlike your roommates, you have better instincts. You sensed me at once and your eyes opened. Then I get into your head."

He looked her straight in the eyes saying, "All those times we were talking, I was right beside your bed, watching you, my little purple."

Violet went so deadly still it almost felt like a tree was standing. She didn’t react not even when Asher closed the space between them as he finished up his confession.

"When I was done, I made you forget just as I stole a lock of your hair." He grinned proudly, as he fished it out from his pocket. Her purple hair was all tied into a braid and he flaunted it almost as if it were his Goodluck charm before putting it back in his pocket.

"But don’t worry, I don’t need to get into your room to summon you like the first time. I’m already in your head, deeper than you can imagine." His words were so ominous that Violet knew right then and there that she was doomed.

She couldn’t even move, too stunned to move, as he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper. "But enough of the past. Now, it’s time to punish you for being such a naughty little queen, isn’t it?"

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The competition is getting tougher and tougher. We have less than fourteen hours to help our character "Violet Purple" qualify for the semi finals. Please vote for Violet with your points and push her to the point. There would be a mass release event if we win the competition!