Chapter 4 Under the Rain with Nowhere to Run.

Raelynn

I'm late for my first day at Kings and Queens High, and it's all Grayson and Isabella's fault.

First, my alarm mysteriously turned off, which makes me suspect Grayson snuck into my room again after he left. The thought of him standing in the dark, whispering threats, sends a chill down my spine. I shake it off. He can't actually do anything.

I really need to start locking my door.

Then, my pre-ordered uniform somehow disappeared. While I was tearing my room apart looking for it, the devil twins waltzed out of the house, leaving me behind.

With no other choice, I had to take the bus because our driver had already taken my mom and Edward to work, and apparently, the other driver is exclusively for the royal brats.

And now, I find out my mom will have to mail the rest of my clothes because KAQ is a boarding school.

Just perfect.

I step up to the front desk, trying not to look as frazzled as I feel.

"I'd like to enroll in a dorm room, please," I say quickly, glancing at my schedule. It's already lunch, which means I've missed three whole periods.

The woman at the desk barely looks up as she types into her computer. "Name?"

"Raelynn Walker..." I pause, cringing before correcting myself. "I mean, Blackwell."

Because, surprise, my mom changed my last name without telling me.

The woman's fingers pause over the keyboard. She finally looks at me, eyebrows knitting together. "Blackwell? As in Ian Blackwell? Isabella and Grayson Blackwell?"

I frown. "Uh... yeah?"

Her gaze flicks back to the screen, and after a second, she turns to me with an expression I don't like.

"It says here you'll be sharing an apartment with one of the twins."

My stomach drops.

"What?"

"You won't be in a dorm," she clarifies. "You'll be housed in a private apartment with one of them."

My jaw literally falls open. Since when can high schoolers decide not to live in the dorms?

The only reason I agreed to come to a boarding school was to have my own space in a dorm. Now, I have to live with Isabella, who hates me? Because it can't be Grayson. He's a guy.

Obviously.

I pull out my phone and call the twins... again.

Neither of them picks up.

I let out a frustrated sigh and shove my phone back into my pocket. Whatever. I need food before I deal with this mess.

But before I can even make it halfway down the hall, two girls step in front of me, all bright smiles and gleaming white teeth.

They look like they just stepped out of a high-fashion ad, their uniforms perfectly tailored, their wrists adorned with Chanel and Louis Vuitton. Their whole vibe screams expensive and also fake as hell.

"Hi! You must be Raelynn. I'm Briella, and this is Kimberly." The blonde one stretches out a hand, showing off her perfectly manicured nails.

I hesitate before shaking it, my eyes narrowed in suspicion. The moment she pulls away, I swear she wipes her hand on her skirt, all while maintaining that polished smile.

Kimberly giggles, turning to me. "We're Isabella's friends."

"And Grayson's," Briella adds, but more like a demand.

Red flags. Everywhere.

"She asked us to fetch you."

Fetch. Like a dog.

I grit my teeth, trying to hold back my irritation. "Why?"

They glance at each other before turning back to me. "We're not sure, but she did say something about your rooming situation. Meaning you'll have to leave the school premises now."

Without waiting for my response, they lock their hands with mine and start pulling me toward the exit. I turn to the front desk woman for help, but she's already back to using her phone.

A frustrated groan escapes my lips, and I snatch my hands away.

"Fine, let's just get this over with."

They giggle in unison and lead me to a black sedan.

In the car, Briella and Kimberly engage in a conversation, completely ignoring my presence, and I almost want to puke when Briella starts swooning about how hot Grayson is. Turns out they had a thing last year.

But it's not like I care anyway.

I put on my AirPods to block out their conversation, which actually works, and I relax for some time. But when the car turns onto a lonely road with a lot of trees, I take them off, my eyes narrowing.

"Are you sure this is the right way?"

As if on cue, the car comes to an abrupt stop, causing me to jerk forward and hit my head. I barely have time to regret not putting on my seatbelt when the driver gets out and starts walking to my side of the car.

"What is he doing?" I ask, a sick feeling forming in my gut.

Briella and Kimberly giggle. Giggle. Like this is some kind of joke.

Before I can react, the door swings open, and the driver's hand clamps down on my arm. I let out a shriek, trying to pull away, but Briella and Kimberly shove me forward. I stumble, my knee scraping against the rough gravel as I hit the ground.

I push myself up, ignoring the sting of the fresh wound, and reach for the door handle, but Briella slams the door shut in my face.

"No, no, no!" I yank at the handle, my breath coming in short gasps. Locked.

Through the tinted window, I see their faces-laughing, waving, like this is all some twisted game.

I can't believe I walked right into their trap.

The car zooms off, leaving me there. In the middle of nowhere.

And then, to make things worse, a single raindrop lands on my cheek.

Panic seizes my chest, squeezing tight. Not again.

I whirl around, my hands trembling as I reach for my bag. It's gone. My phone-my only way to call for help-is inside it.

Thunder strikes, and I let out a scream. The rain begins to fall heavily, and the sun hides behind the clouds.

I start walking. I don't know where I'm going, but I have to move.

It's not that night. It's a different day. It's in the past.

But no matter how many times I repeat it in my head, my body remembers. My pulse races, my lungs tighten, and suddenly, it feels like I can't breathe.

I stop, panting, my hands trembling as I rip open the buttons of my shirt and let it drop to the ground. My soaked tank top clings to me, but at least it makes it easier to breathe.

Then, a light flashes over me. Headlights. A car.

I freeze, squinting through the downpour. Maybe it's someone who can help.

But then a thought strikes me, chilling me to my core.

This is a lonely road in the middle of nowhere. Who knows who's driving that car?

Panic claws up my throat. I spin on my heel and start running in the opposite direction, my wet hair whipping against my face.

The rain blinds me, blurring my vision. My feet slip against the wet ground, but I don't stop. I can't.

And then I hear it.

His voice.

"Come on, Sarah, don't be so afraid."

The memory slices through me like a blade, his cruel laughter ringing in my ears.

No. Not real. It's not real.

I shake my head violently, trying to drown out the echoes of the past. But the car behind me doesn't stop-it doesn't chase me outright, but it follows, slow and deliberate. Taunting me.

Maybe they're just passing through.

But then...

The car speeds up, cutting in front of me, blocking my path.

My heart slams against my ribs. I stumble back, my instincts screaming at me to run, to fight, to do something.

And then the window rolls down.

Cruel blue eyes meet mine.