Chapter 66

The party was already in full swing when they arrived. Music thumped through the air, neon lights pulsed to the beat, and the hall was packed with students dancing, laughing, and drinking. Ashleigh stood at the entrance, momentarily overwhelmed by the chaos. She glanced at the others—they seemed unbothered, immediately diving into the festivities. 'Alright, guys, let me introduce you to my friends," Oliver announced, leading them deeper into the crowd. He grabbed Ashleigh's hand, pulling her toward a table near the bar where a group of students sat. Upon seeing Oliver, the group erupted in greetings, their faces lighting up. Ashleigh was welcomed with curious glances as they invited them to sit. "Arthurrrr, it's been too long!" one of the girls slurred, clearly tipsy. She reached across the table to grab his hand, her voice wobbling. Arthur laughed, apologizing with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Sorry! It's been a crazy few weeks, but I'm here now to turn up!" Before he could say more, one of the guys turned to Ashleigh, his eyebrows waggling mischievously. "So, Arthur, who's this pretty girl?" Ashleigh cringed, her discomfort obvious, which sent the group into fits of laughter. Arthur quickly diffused the situation. "Back off, Chase. This is Ashleigh, my friend, and trust me, she's not your type." The group burst into more laughter, and Oliver introduced everyone by name—Alice, Sue, Beatrice, Edward, and of course, Chase, who seemed proud of his reputation as a notorious flirt. Ashleigh smiled politely, noting their names, though her mind was elsewhere. She watched as Sue, the drunk girl, tried to stand but immediately lost her balance. Edward caught her, sitting her back down with a sigh. "You need water, not more drinks," he insisted as Sue pouted in protest. But Chase was already on his feet, declaring, "Shots! I'm getting us shots!" The group cheered, except for Ashleigh, who shifted uncomfortably. She leaned over to Damien, who had been quietly scrolling through his phone the whole time. "I'm not drinking tonight. Alcohol doesn't sit well with me." Damien immediately made the announcement to the table, sparing her the need to repeat herself. When Chase returned with the tray of shots, Ashleigh watched as the others downed theirs, the party mood kicking into full gear. As the night wore on, Ashleigh relaxed a little. She allowed herself to get caught up in the games and conversations. Laughter bubbled up from deep inside her as she danced and sang along with her friends. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt lighter. She took pictures, made silly videos, and for a brief moment, the world outside the party didn't exist. But that peace was short-lived. In the middle of a dance, Ashleigh's phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen—and froze. A message. "Long time no talk." Her blood ran cold. It had been days since she'd received a message from the stalker. They'd reported the situation to the authorities and were still waiting for news. She had hoped it was over. She scanned the room—everyone around her was laughing, dancing, oblivious to the dread that was creeping up her spine. 'What if no one believes me? What if they think I'm just being paranoid?" Ashleigh thought, her hands shaking as she gripped her phone tighter. Her heart raced as another message appeared. "I see you." The words sent a jolt of terror through her. Her breath hitched, and she looked around frantically, but nothing seemed out of place. Arthur, Damien, and Oliver were laughing with the others, completely unaware of the panic rising inside her. "What do you want? Please, leave me alone," she typed with trembling fingers, hitting send before her fear could stop her. She stared at the screen, watching the three dots appear. They were typing. "Want to find out? Come and meet me then." Ashleigh's heart thudded painfully in her chest. Her instincts screamed at her to tell someone, to get help, but just as she was about to reach out to Oliver, her phone buzzed again. "If you tell your friends, consider this deal off..... and sleep with one eye open tonight. Your choice." Her blood turned to ice. Ashleigh's mind raced—what if they really were watching her right now? What if they were here, in the crowd, blending in with the other partygoers? She debated telling someone, but fear kept her rooted to the spot. A spark of determination ignited within her. She needed to know who this person was, and why they were tormenting her. This might be her only chance to confront them, to make them stop. With a deep breath, Ashleigh made her decision. She would leave the party, follow the stalker's instructions, and face whatever came next. Alone. She slipped her phone into her pocket, her eyes scanning the room one last time before she turned to make her way toward the exit. The music and laughter faded into the background as she stepped into the unknown. At the opposite end of the hall which was reserved, Alana watched her leave the hall with a smirk on her lips, nodding to Cameron who smiled wickedly. Ashleigh made her way through the throng of people, her heart racing with every step. She pushed open the door and stepped out into the cool night air, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. But as she looked around, she realized she wasn't alone. The stalker's messages echoed in her mind, and she felt a chill run down her spine. She glanced back at the party, wondering if she should return to the safety of the crowd. That's when she saw the next message on her phone: "Follow the path to your left." Ashleigh's heart skipped a beat. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should ignore it. But something compelled her to move forward, to confront whoever was behind the messages. With a deep breath, she turned and followed the path, leaving the music and laughter behind. The darkness seemed to swallow her whole, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was walking into danger. Every step she took made her heart pound harder. She followed the dimly lit path away from the party, the sound of music and laughter fading with each step. Her phone vibrated again. "You've arrived." Ashleigh looked around, her eyes wide with fear. There was no one in sight. She called out softly, but only silence greeted her. Panic set in. She turned to leave, when suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. A man, hooded and grinning. "Where are you going, pretty girl? You just got here," he sneered, his eyes raking over her with a lecherous gleam. Ashleigh's heart stopped. "Who are you? Leave me alone!" she shrieked, trying to pull away as his grip tightened on her arm. "Isn't that why you came here?" he mocked. "No! I—I thought I was meeting someone else. Please, just let me go!" she begged, her voice trembling. The man's grin widened as more figures stepped out from behind the trees, surrounding her. "Sorry, sweetheart. We're just getting started." Another man approached, holding a cloth soaked with something foul-smelling. Ashleigh's world began to spin as the chemical fumes filled her nose. Desperation surged through her as she struggled, but it was no use. The last thing she remembered before everything went black was a foolish prayer for help. And then, darkness.