Aurélia's eyes scanned the message on the phone, her heart racing with anticipation. "Meet me at the old oak tree in the quad at midnight. Come alone." The message was from the same unknown number that sent a message earlier. Aurélia felt a shiver run down her spine as she read the message. Who was behind these mysterious texts, and what do they want from her?
Despite her reservations, Aurélia couldn't help but feel drawn to the mystery. She had to know what was going on. As the clock struck midnight, Aurélia made her way to the old oak tree in the quad. The moon was full overhead, casting eerie shadows across the deserted campus. Aurélia approached the tree, her heart pounding in her chest. Suddenly a figure emerged from the shadows.
It was Isaiah.
"What do you want?" Aurélia demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.
Isaiah smiled, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. "I want to show you something," he said, his voice low and mysterious.
Aurélia hesitated, but her curiosity got the better of her and she followed Isaiah in the darkness. They stopped into the small, dimly lit room in Oakwood University, Aurélia's anxiety spiked. The darkness seemed to swallow her whole, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a trap.
Why had she agreed to meet Isaiah here? Was she crazy? Maybe she wanted to confront him about the bullying, to put an end to it once and for all. Aurélia was a bold girl, but darkness was her kryptonite. Isaiah walked ahead, assuming Aurélia was following. But she had frozen in place, overcome with fear and uncertainty. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she sobbed quietly.
Isaiah turned around, expecting to see Aurélia behind him. But she was nowhere to be seen. He retraced his steps, his eyes scanning the darkness until he spotted her standing alone, her body shaking with sobs. A faint light from outside illuminated the scene, casting an ethereal glow on Isaiah's concerned face. He approached Aurélia gently, his fingers brushing against her cheeks as he wiped away her tears.
"What's wrong, Aurélia?" Isaiah asked with a low and smooth voice. For a moment, Aurélia wondered if Isaiah's concern was genuine or just part of his plan. But she saw something when she looked into his eyes. Was it kindness? Empathy? Or something more? "Why did you bring me here?" Aurélia spat, her voice trembling with fear and anger. "To bully me again? To make fun of me? I understand that you hate me so much, but you don't need to take me to a dark place to purnish me."
Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, her body shaking with each ragged breath. But to her surprise, Isaiah's expression changed. His eyes, once cold and calculating, now seemed to hold a deep concern. "Aurélia, no," Isaiah said gently. "I didn't bring you here to hurt you. I swear it."
Aurélia's expression changed, unsure of what to make Isaiah's sudden change. Had he been playing her all long, pretending to be the bully to hide his true intentions? Or had he genuinely been cruel, only to have a change of heart?
And what about his relationship with Gabriella? Had he really told his girlfriend that he planned to ruin Aurélia's life, or was that just a ruse to keep Gabriella in line? Aurélia's mind whirled with questions, but one thing was certain: she didn't know what to make of Isaiah's sudden transformation. Was it genuine, or just another trick up his sleeve?
Isaiah's words hung in the air like a challenge, his eyes burning with an intensity that made Aurélia's heart skip a beat. "The truth is, I didn't bring you here to show you something or anything," he said."I just wanted to see you and be with you." Aurélia narrowed her eyes, her mind full were questions. Be with her? For what reason? She wasn't his girlfriend, nor were they friends or even close. What was happening to this arrogant boy of Oakwood?
Was this the plan he had discussed with his girlfriend Gabriella? Weaken Aurélia, gain her trust, and become friends with her? Aurélia's instincts screamed at her to be cautious, to not believe a word Isaiah said. She pushed away from him. And she moved outside the room. Isaiah followed her outside.
"Why are you following me, and what do you really want from me? I'm just tired of your games and your torturing. I can't take it anymore." Aurélia said as she was standing firm with tears streaming down. Isaiah walked towards her gently and he again hugged her tightly. This time it was different. It seemed like Isaiah was touched by Aurélia's words. Aurélia quickened her pace, but Isaiah caught up to her. She felt a surge of fear as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a gentle hug.
"Let me go, Isaiah!" Aurélia struggled, but he held firm.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Aurélia," Isaiah whispered. "I just...I need to tell you something."
"Just let me go, Isaiah!" Aurélia whispered, her voice trembling. Isaiah's expression softened and he loosened his hold. Aurélia stumbled backward, gasping for air.
"I'm sorry", Isaiah said with a low and gentle voice. "I didn't mean to scare you."
They stared at each other for a moment, Aurélia's fear began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of uncertainty. Isaiah's eyes never left Aurélia's face as he gestured a nearby bench. "Hey, can we sit down for a minute?" he asked calmly.
Aurélia hesitated unsure if she should trust Isaiah. But something in his expression put her at ease, and she nodded slowly. They sat down, Isaiah turned to Aurélia, his eyes filled with genuine curiosity. "Hey can I ask you something?" he said.
Aurélia nodded, her heart racing slightly.
"Why do you fear the dark so much?" Isaiah asked, his eyes locked onto hers. Aurélia's gaze dropped and she fidgeted with her hands. She hadn't told anyone about her past, not even her closest friends.
But something about Isaiah's empathetic tone put her at ease. She took a deep breath and began to speak, her voice barely above whisper.
"I...I was trapped in a dark room when I was a kid," Aurélia said her eyes welling up with tears. "I was alone, and I couldn't escape. Ever since then, the dark reminds me of that feeling of being trapped and helpless."
Isaiah's expression softened, and he reached out, gently taking Aurélia's hand in his.
"I'm sorry, Aurélia," he whispered. "No one should ever have to go through that."
Aurélia felt a lump form in her throat as she looked at Isaiah. For the first time, she saw him in a different light.
Isaiah's grip on Aurélia's hand tightened as he listened to her revelation. He felt a surge of anger and protectiveness towards her. "No one will ever hurt you like that again," Isaiah whispered, his eyes burning with determination.
Aurélia looked up at him, surprised by the intensity of his gaze. For a moment, they just stared at each other. Isaiah's protective instincts kicked in, and he found himself wanting to shield Aurélia from the world. He knew it was a crazy feeling, but he couldn't shake it off.
Aurélia's mind was a jumble of emotions. Part of her felt grateful for Isaiah's concern, but another part felt trapped and suffocated. She didn't know if she could trust Isaiah, or if his actions were just a ploy to control her.