Jill awoke in a quiet room with dim lighting. The morning air was soft yet chilly, like the kind that clings to silence after something sacred or shameful occurred.
Her eyes slowly opened.
The smell came first, a faint, unpleasant odour lingering in the bed sheets. Then came the stickiness on her skin—her thighs, stomach, and covers. Her breath hitched as her eyes adjusted, and there it was: An unmistakable gleam of male release—semen—was smeared across her body and the bed. She lay still, the covers folded over her knees, humiliation creeping up her spine.
She sat up abruptly, her heart squeezing. This was the second time she'd slipped into that strange realm where dream and reality merged—so vivid, so visceral that it made her wonder what she had imagined and what had happened.
Her mind wandered back to the event from last night, recalling how it all unfolded—and how he had been able to manipulate her emotions.
The shadow. The kiss. The weight of his hands pressed gently against her hips. The towel slipped off her shoulders. His mouth and her moans.
It was too real.
But how did he get inside? She couldn't remember unlocking the door or hearing a knock, much less the creak of the front step or the hallway.
She pressed her fingers against her forehead, her eyes tightly shut.
"Shit," she said to herself.
The air in the room still reminded her of him, bringing a profound sense of familiarity and confusion.
She stood up slowly, took off the blanket, and shuffled to the restroom, stiff and unsure of herself. The reflection in the mirror greeted her with pale skin, dark circles, and an expression of regret and longing. She twisted the shower knob, letting the water run as she walked in. The water hissed when it touched her skin. Steam frosted the glass. But nothing could take away how she felt.
As she wrapped the towel around herself and opened the bathroom door, Anna's voice floated up the stairs.
"Jill? You're going to be late for school again!" Anna called from downstairs.
Jill's head snapped up.
"Damn," she muttered.
She rushed to her drawer, yanked it open, and grabbed the first thing her fingers touched—black jeans and a soft beige sweater. She pulled her hair into a loose bun and skipped makeup.
She hurried down the stairs, and the scent of toasted bread and eggs greeted her halfway.
Anna was already at the table, a fork in one hand, her phone in the other. She looked up as Jill entered, her expression unreadable.
"You're late," Anna stated bluntly.
"Yeah, I know." Jill grabbed her bag off the couch and turned toward the door, avoiding eye contact.
"There's breakfast," Anna said.
"I'm not hungry." She replied
"Just eat something," Anna said, her tone surprisingly firm.
Jill halted, astonished by the request. Anna never pressed.
"Seriously, just one bite," Anna said.
"Deal", Anna replied.
"You look like you haven't slept in a week," Anna remarked, noticing the pallor in her face.
Jill shot her a stern glare, but her tone softened as she approached the table. She sank into the chair and bit into the toast, letting the butter melt into the crust and warm it.
Anna watched her.
After a few quiet bites, Jill finally asked, "Did anyone come by last night?"
Anna's brows knitted. "What?"
"Like… did someone ask for me? Maybe when I was in the shower?" Jill asked.
Anna shook her head, chewing slowly. "No. No one came."
Jill swallowed hard; her throat was dry. "You sure?"
"Why would I lie?" Anna replied.
"I didn't say you were lying," Jill said quickly. "I just… I had this weird dream."
Anna studied her for a long second. Then said, "You don't dream often."
Jill looked down. "I know."
There was another pause.
Jill leaned forward a little. "Did you let someone in?"
"What?" Anna blinked. "What are you talking about?"
Jill looked up at her, eyes searching. "You didn't leave the door open either?"
"No. I locked up like always."
"Right," Jill muttered.
Anna squinted. "Jill… What's going on? "You're acting weird."
"I'm fine," Jill said too fast.
"No, you're not."
"I said I'm fine," Jill exclaimed.
Anna went quiet, then stood up and began clearing the table.
Jill stood too, suddenly tired of the air between them. She grabbed her bag and moved toward the door.
"You're lying," Anna said softly.
Jill stopped mid-step.
"You're pretending everything's fine, but it's not. I know that look. I've seen it before." Anna said confidently, her expression unwavering.
Jill turned slowly; her eyes were fierce yet glistening. "And what do you think you know?"
"I don't know what happened," Anna said. "But something did happen. You can't even look at me."
Jill walked back, stood across from her at the table.
"I don't want to talk about it," Jill said.
"Then don't. But don't ask me weird questions and pretend you're okay." Anna replied boldly to her.
"You think I want to talk?" Jill said, voice breaking now. "You think I even know where to begin?"
Anna's lips formed a thin line.
They stared at each other.
Then, Anna said quietly, "Did you sneak someone home?"
Jill was taken aback by the inquiry, which rapidly turned into defensiveness. "Why would I ever do that?" she questioned.
"I'm just asking," Anna replied, her face clouded with confusion.
Jill looked at her for a long time, enough for the silence to tremble.
"No," she said firmly.
Anna gave her a sceptical look.
Jill sighed and glanced away, eyes toward the window. "I saw someone. Or I think I did. I don't even know if it was real. I was tired. Maybe I was dreaming. But it felt like…"
"Curt?" Anna asked.
Jill's head whipped around. "How do you—"
"I heard you say his name," Anna said.
Jill's chest clenched as a flood of shock and disorientation overcame her.
Anna shrugged. "You were talking in your sleep."
There it was! The thread she'd struggled so hard to disentangle was wrapped around her neck.
Jill looked down, feeling ashamed. "What else did you hear?"
Anna stared at her, a hint of confusion in her eyes, before speaking softly,
"Nothing. I just heard you calling out Curt's name in your sleep."
"It felt like him. Like he was there. But I don't know if he was the one." Jill spoke softly and calmly.
Anna folded her arms. "So why didn't you ask me that instead of grilling me like a suspect?"
Jill let out a half-laugh, half-sigh. "I don't know. I woke up… confused. Embarrassed, maybe."
Anna stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder. "You scared me."
"I didn't mean to."
"I know," Anna said. "Just… next time, don't lie."
Jill nodded. "Okay."
Anna picked up her bag. "You still going to school?"
"Yeah. Just need some air."
Anna opened the door, the morning light creeping in.
As Jill stepped out, she turned and looked back at Anna.
"Thanks for breakfast," she said softly.
Anna smirked. "You're welcome. Don't forget your brain on the way out."
Jill managed a small laugh. "I'll try."
She met with Mr. Halden, who was already waiting for her in the car. She entered, sat beside him, and buckled up for the ride.
As they approached the street, her thoughts returned to the previous night. She was unsure what it meant—whether Curt had been there or had summoned him for her pleasure.