Page 3 of Dagger

“Drink?” Sabrina asks suddenly, handing me a red Solo cup she’s grabbed from a table.

“Uh, sure.” I take it and sniff the liquid. It smells like fruit punch, but there’s something else in it, something sharper.

Before I can decide if I’m going to drink it, a tall guy with messy brown hair and a ridiculously charming smile strides over to us. He’s older—not by much, but definitely not a high schooler.

“Ladies,” he says, his voice smooth and confident. His eyes land on me and stay there, making my stomach flip. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Jake.”

“Hey, Jake,” Sabrina says casually, already grinning. “This is my girl Chloe. First party.”

Jake raises an eyebrow, his grin widening. “First party? No way. You’re way too stunning to have been hiding this whole time.”

I let out a nervous laugh, unsure of what to say. “Uh, thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He steps closer, just enough to make my pulse quicken. “So, what’s the story? Sabrina dragging you out tonight?”

“Kind of,” I admit, glancing at Sabrina, who looks like she’s loving every second of this.

“Well, I’m glad she did.” His voice drops a little, playful but steady.

I take a sip of the drink to cover the awkwardness I feel bubbling up. It’s sweeter than I expected, but there’s a burn that lingers after I swallow.

Jake leans in a little, just enough for me to hear him over the music. “Let me guess. You’re the quiet one. The mysterious type. Bet there’s a wild side you’re hiding.”

Before I can respond, Sabrina snorts and butts in. “Oh, she’s got a wild side. You just haven’t seen it yet.”

Jake laughs, his attention still locked on me. “I’d love to.”

I feel my face heat up again, and I can’t tell if it’s the drink, the music, or the way he’s looking at me. Sabrina grins, nudging me with her elbow. I can’t decide if I want to melt into the floor or let myself enjoy it. But as Jake keeps talking, his voice lowand teasing, I can’t help but feel a little bit... noticed. Like I’m actually here. Like I belong.

The rest of the night blurs together in bits and pieces. Sabrina and I keep drinking, the sweet burn of whatever’s in the cup going down easier each time. Jake stays close, laughing with us, pulling us into drinking games with his friends. The music, the laughter, the shouting—it all becomes a haze of motion and noise.

At some point, I stop keeping track of how much I’ve had. Sabrina’s giggling beside me, Jake’s arm is around my shoulders, and someone’s chanting for another round. I try to keep up, but the room spins harder each time I blink. My head feels heavy, my body unsteady.

Then… nothing.

When I wake up, my head feels like it’s been slammed by a truck, and my mouth is as dry as sandpaper. The light in the room is dim, seeping through unfamiliar curtains, but it still stabs at my eyes. I shift slightly, and that’s when I realize—I’m completely naked.

Panic grips me like a vice. My heart pounds as I sit up, clutching the sheet to my chest. I glance to my side and freeze. Jake is lying there, bare-chested, his arm stretched across the bed like he’d been reaching for me.

“Oh my God,” I whisper, my voice shaky and barely audible.

I slide out of the bed as quietly as I can, wrapping the sheet tightly around me like a lifeline. My eyes scan the room, darting from one corner to the next, desperate to find my clothes. But they’re nowhere. The floor is littered with random items—ahoodie that isn’t mine, a pair of sneakers, some crumpled papers—but nothing I recognize.

Where are my things? My clothes? My purse? My phone?

I tiptoe across the room, my pulse loud in my ears, and search every possible hiding place. The dresser, the chair, under the bed—it’s all a mess of unfamiliar belongings. I open a drawer, hoping to find something helpful, but it’s empty.

“Where is it?” I whisper to myself, trying to stay calm, but the panic is rising like a wave.

I glance back at Jake. He hasn’t moved, his breathing deep and steady. I bite my lip, clutching the blanket tighter as I try to think. I need my phone. If I can just find my phone, I can call Sabrina or someone to come get me.

But it’s not here. It’s not on the nightstand, not in the pile of clothes on the floor, not anywhere.

Tears prick my eyes, but I force them back. I can’t break down. Not now. I have to figure this out.

Then I spot it—the phone on the nightstand. It’s not mine, but it’s something. A plain black landline phone with the hotel’s logo stamped on it. My stomach twists as I glance around again, fully absorbing my surroundings for the first time. Beige walls. Heavy curtains pulled shut. A mounted TV. A small desk cluttered with papers and an empty water bottle.

The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I’m in a hotel room. Alone. With Jake.

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