The sunlight hitting the marble floors of Alex's apartment felt like a spotlight on my new reality. I woke up in the guest room, the scent of lavender and expensive detergent filling my senses. For a moment, I forgot the terrifying deal I had made. Then, I remembered the "North Hall" and the man who knew my name before I said it.
"Good morning, Luna," Alex's voice drifted from the kitchen.
He was already dressed in a charcoal-grey suit, looking every bit the untouchable professor. He pushed a plate of eggs and toast toward me. He didn't ask if I wanted it; he expected me to eat it.
"We leave in ten minutes," he said, checking his silver watch. "I don't tolerate tardiness."
The car ride to the university was silent, but his presence was louder than any conversation. Every time he shifted gears, his hand came close to my knee, and my breath would hitch. He dropped me off a block away from the main gate.
"Don't be late for my lecture," he murmured. "I'll be watching for you."
College was supposed to be my escape. As soon as I stepped onto campus, I tried to wash away the feeling of Alex's house. I met two girls, Sara and Meera, in the cafeteria. They were bubbly, loud, and exactly what I needed.
"You have to come to the Freshers' Party tonight!" Sara insisted, grabbing my arm. "It's the only time we can actually have fun before the exams crush us."
I smiled, feeling a spark of hope. "I'd love to."
Throughout the day, I felt a strange sensation. In the library, in the hallway, and even during lunch, I felt a gaze on the back of my neck. I would turn around, expecting to see Alex, but there would only be a crowd of students. He was a shadow I couldn't shake.
During his afternoon lecture, I sat in the back, trying to hide behind Sara. But Alex was a master of the room. Every time he spoke about history or ethics, his eyes would find mine. He didn't look at me with the warmth of a teacher; he looked at me like a scientist watching a specimen in a jar.
The Freshers' Party was a blur of neon lights and loud music. For the first hour, I felt free. I danced with Sara and Meera, the bass of the music drowning out the voice in my head that told me I shouldn't be here.
Then came the drinks.
"One more, Luna! It's just fruit punch with a kick," Meera laughed, handing me a red cup.
I didn't realize how strong the "kick" was. By 10:00 PM, the room was spinning. The colors were too bright, and my legs felt like they were made of jelly. I stumbled out to the balcony, needing air. The night was cold, and I felt sick.
"I shouldn't have... I need to go home," I whispered to the empty air.
"I agree."
The voice wasn't Sara's. It was deep, calm, and terrifyingly familiar.
I turned, my vision blurry. Standing in the shadows of the balcony was Alex. He wasn't in his suit anymore. He wore a black leather jacket, looking like a dark king in the middle of the chaos.
"P-Professor? What are you doing here?" I stammered, my head spinning.
"I told you I'd be watching, Luna. You didn't think I'd let my 'scholarship student' wander into a den of wolves alone, did you?"
He walked toward me, his boots clicking on the stone. He grabbed my arm—not roughly, but with a grip that said I had no choice. "You're drunk. You're coming with me."
"No... I can walk... I have my friends..."
"Your friends are inside, forgetting you exist," he whispered, leaning close enough that I could smell his cologne over the scent of the alcohol. "But I never forget. Not for a second."
He led me through the back exit, away from the music and the lights. He had followed me all night. He had stood in the dark, watching me dance, watching me drink, waiting for the moment I would stumble.
He opened the car door and practically poured me into the passenger seat. As he leaned over to click my seatbelt, his face was inches from mine. In my drunken haze, his eyes didn't look cold anymore. They looked hungry.
"You're going to have a very long talk with me when you're sober, Luna," he said, his voice a low growl. "But for now... you're safe. Because you're mine."
As the car pulled away from the party, I realized I hadn't escaped the "Golden Cage." I had just brought the cage with me to school.