Dark Enchantment

8

Elara

I don’t know how long I’ve been in this room. Time has officially lost its meaning, stretching and warping until it feels like nothing more than a cruel joke. The only constant is the door—how it creaks open every now and then, a reminder that I’m still here, still trapped. Each time it opens, my heart races, sometimes with fear and sometimes with hope. Hope that maybe today will be different, that maybe I’ll see a glimpse of freedom.

But it’s never that simple. Sometimes it’s Asher, holding a plate of food in his hands. He places it on the small table in the corner, his eyes searching mine for something, but I know better. I’ve learned to see through the facade. He offers kindness wrapped in chains, and I refuse to let him see how much I crave even the smallest act of compassion.

Other times, the door opens for their torment. I can’t even say their names anymore without a shiver running down my spine. They come in, their laughter echoing off the walls as they torture me, a sinister sound that coils around me like a snake. They thrive on my fear, and every taunt chips away at the walls I’ve built around my mind. But I can feel the cracks forming, the slow erosion of my sanity as they push me further toward the edge.

And then there are the times when Asher comes to f**k me, each time different. But the sick thing is that his presence gives me a confusing blend of comfort and danger—warmth that I both crave and fear.

A part of me wishes to God that I was a witch, that I could conjure spells and wield power to strike back at these animals who torment me. To get revenge for the women that lost their lives. I imagine the thrill of turning the tables, of making them feel the fear they’ve made me live with every day. If I could just flick my wrist and send them reeling backward, maybe they’d finally leave me alone. Maybe they’d understand what it feels like to be trapped and powerless.

But even as I entertain the thought, I knew nothing would change. The truth is, magic doesn’t exist in this world—at least not the kind that could save me. If I had the power, would it even matter? I can’t shake the feeling that they would find a way to twist it against me, to use my strengths as a weapon to further their cruel delusions.

—

The door creaked open slowly, a sound that echoed in the stillness of the room. My heart raced as I squinted into the darkness beyond, expecting the usual figures of the brotherhood to emerge. But there was nothing. Just emptiness.

I hesitated for a moment, my breath hitching in my throat, but the silence was deafening. They had left me alone, and the thought felt both exhilarating and terrifying. Could this be my chance to escape? I rose to my feet, my legs shaky but I had to know what lay beyond. I had to take the risk.

As I reached the threshold, I paused for a heartbeat, glancing back one last time at the room that had held me captive. Nothing but shadows stared back at me. With a deep breath, I bolted through the doorway and into the corridor, my heart pounding in sync with my frantic footsteps.

I ran, my feet pounding against the cold stone floor, the need to get out of her pushing me forward. The hallway twisted and turned, but I didn’t care; I just needed to get out. I pushed myself harder, adrenaline powering my flight.

Finally, I burst through another door and stumbled into a vast courtyard, moonlight spilling over the ground. Gravestones stretched out before me, their cold faces looming in the darkness. I gasped, taking in the eerie landscape, but it was a sight I welcomed; being outside felt like a breath of fresh air after suffocating in that room.

But as I looked over the area, I felt something shift in the air—a sense of foreboding creeping into my bones. I took a step forward, ready to run, but then I heard it: a low, mocking laughter echoing behind me. My heart dropped as I turned, dread pooling in my stomach.

Emerging from the shadows were figures I knew all too well. The brotherhood. Panic surged through me, and I spun back toward the gravestones, desperate to find a way out.

But then I stopped cold. There, at the edge of the courtyard, was an open grave, and lying unconscious within it was Millie—the lookalike Barbie who had tormented me since I first arrived at the school.

Asher was standing at the grave’s edge, a blade held tightly in his hand. My heart raced as I processed the scene, confusion and fear flooding my senses. Why was he here? What was happening?

“Elara,” he called, his voice smooth and calm, but there was an edge to it, a darkness. “You need to make a choice.”

I stepped back, my heart pounding in my chest. “What do you mean?” I stammered, looking between him and the grave.

“This b***h has caused you pain, hasn’t she?” Asher continued, his gaze unwavering. “Well, you have the power to end it. All it takes is one sacrifice.”

I shook my head, disbelief clawing at my insides. “You can’t be serious. I won’t do it!”

Asher’s expression hardened, and I could see the tension in his posture. “It’s the only way, Elara. You want to be free of her? You want to escape this place? Then it’s time for you to make a choice.”

Panic surged within me. The gravity of the situation felt suffocating. I glanced at Millie, lying unconscious in the grave. A part of me felt a twisted sense of satisfaction at her predicament, the girl who had bullied me now vulnerable. But that wasn’t who I was. I couldn’t do this.

“No! I won’t!” I shouted, my voice breaking, desperation spilling over.

But Asher stepped closer, the blade glinting ominously in the moonlight. “You think you can run from this? You think you can f*****g escape? The Brotherhood always finds a way, Elara. It’s your choice—sacrifice her, or remain trapped here forever.”

This wasn’t just about freedom; it was about morality, about who I wanted to be in the face of unspeakable darkness. I felt trapped, caught between the urge to run and the suffocating reality of my choices.

As I looked at Millie, my mind raced. I could feel the edges of my sanity fraying, the pressure mounting as I fought against the storm of emotions swirling within me. I had dreamed of escape, but this was a nightmare—a choice that felt impossible.

My heart began to sink as I understood the cruel harsh truth: there was no way out. There never was. Whatever I chose would lead me deeper into their darkness.