Page 35 of Dark Bonds

As we make our way to our dorm room, I can’t shake the feeling that everything has changed, yet nothing has. The eclipse incident has left its mark on the campus—heightened security, whispered rumors, and an undercurrent of tension that wasn’t there before.

There are still so many unanswered questions swirling in my mind, like the true nature of the shadow realm, the reason behind Valerie’s actions, and the full extent of my own powers.

One thing’s for certain, though—I’m not the same Frankie who first stepped onto this campus. I’m stronger now, and whatever comes next, I’ll face it head-on, even if it means navigating the complicated feelings I have for four very different, very infuriating guys.

As we reach our room, I start unpacking, trying to lose myself in the mundane task—fold, stack, repeat. It’s almost meditative until…

A chill runs down my spine, sharp and sudden, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up.

I freeze with a half folded shirt clutched in my hands. I turn slowly toward the corner of the room.

For a split second, I see her. Those eyes, cruel and cold and so familiar it makes me want to scream.

Valerie.

I blink, and she’s gone, but the chill remains, settling deep in my bones.

“Frankie?” Tori’s voice seems to come from far away. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I force a smile, but it feels brittle. “Yeah, just… thought I saw something. It’s nothing.”

As I turn back to my unpacking, my hands shaking slightly, I can’t shake the feeling.

Valerie’s shadow still lingers, and somehow, I know our time is running out.

Chapter 11

Frankie

“I can’t take it anymore.”Tori clutches her stomach. “I need to eat.”

“Come on.” I tug her in the direction of the cafeteria. “Best feed you before you die of starvation.”

I don’t mean to say the words, but they come out anyway, and as they do, my memories dance in my mind’s eye. Unlike before, though, they don’t take me out. They are like a whisper of a recollection, at the back of my mind as we head toward the line.

“Please,”I beg, my stomach cramping painfully as I twist on the bed. Luckily, she only chained me to the room by my ankle, but the chain burns my skin. “I’m so hungry,” I plead. It’s shameless, but I’m completely past that after Valerie set me free in the world.

There is no more room for shame or modesty. There is only survival, and I’m dying of starvation. I can feel it every time I take a sip of water and my mouth completely absorbs the liquid.

“Frankie,” Valerie says softly, setting my bone broth on the end table. Nothing else. Just the broth.

“You only give me enough to keep me alive,” I accuse, curling into myself as I try to chase away the stomach cramps.

“Of course, silly.” She bops me on the nose, and I imagine cutting her fingers off one by one.

I’d probably eat them.

“That makes no sense.” I groan, burying my face in the pillow.

“Sweetheart, I’m not trying to torture you.” She pushes my sweaty hair off my face, uncaring that this is just that—torture. “I can’t feed you more than what I am.” There is a hidden sadness in her tone as though she truly believes that.

I don’t care if it’s true.

I blink hard,forcing the memory away. The bustling cafeteria comes back into focus, a stark contrast to the isolation of my past. The chatter of students and the clinking of cutlery ground me in the present, but the phantom pain in my stomach lingers.

“Oh my god, chicken sandwiches!” Tori’s eyes light up like she just discovered buried treasure. Her excitement yanks me back to reality, away from the dark corners of my mind where memories lurk.

I grab a tray, my gaze drawn to the wall of drinks. The sheer variety is overwhelming. Colorful bottles, cans, and fountains offer more choices than I can count. A lump forms in my throat as I remember a time when even a sip of water was a luxury. The contrast is dizzying.

---