In the first week of the semester, I started having recurring dreams about two men, both of whom claimed to be my boyfriend. I’d wake up sore all over. I went to see a psychiatrist. “It’s just stress. Don’t worry,” he said with a gentle smile, prescribing me some medication. “Take this, and you’ll fall asleep early.” But after I started taking it, I found the dreams only got longer. In the dream, the other man clasped my hands, a low chuckle in his voice. “I told you to use a smaller dose. It lasts too long. She can’t handle it.” 1 “Look at you… so beautiful…” The large hand resting on my collarbone was elegant and long-fingered. But I couldn’t see his face. “Eva, wake up!” A voice yanked me from my sleep. My roommate, Jade, was sitting on the edge of my bed, her face etched with worry. She touched my forehead, which was slick with sweat. “Eva, are you running a fever? Your face is so red. Should we go to the clinic?” I was lying in my small dorm bed, drenched in sweat, my heart hammering against my ribs. My whole body ached. “I’m… fine,” I croaked, my voice hoarse. The clock on the wall ticked rhythmically. I flexed my wrist, a phantom pain from the dream lingering with unsettling reality. Right before Jade woke me, those two men had been discussing how to tie my hands and suspend me in front of a full-length mirror… 2 This was the fourth time this week. Ever since moving into this dorm room, the dreams had become a nightly occurrence. Two men, their faces always obscured. One seemed older, with a calm, warm demeanor. His fingers were long, an expensive watch circling his wrist. His voice was so smooth it could make your legs go weak. A wolf in gentleman’s clothing. The other was younger. Though he always spoke with a smile, he was the aggressive one, showing me no mercy. They both said they were my boyfriend. And they seemed determined to wear me out. Every morning, I woke up feeling sore and battered, sometimes having to grip the bedpost just to steady myself as I stood up. “Eva, we’re going to be late for anatomy lab. You coming?” Jade, clutching her textbook, broke through my thoughts. I’m a medical student, a staunch atheist. I dismissed the strange dreams as nothing more than academic stress. But I couldn’t tell Jade. She was so delicate; she’d hide in a corner during a horror movie. This wasn’t something I could share. 3 Friday afternoon. The anatomy lab was packed. Jade had already saved us seats in the front row. “Eva, where are you going?” she called out from the crowd. Lost in thought about the dreams, I’d walked right past her. The flow of students was thick. As I tried to back up, carrying my books, someone tripped me from behind. I felt myself falling, books and all. Suddenly, a strong, firm hand was on the small of my back, searingly hot. A gentle push was all it took to stop my fall. “Careful. Wouldn’t want you to get soaked.” The low, lazy chuckle sent a shiver down my spine, weakening my knees. It was the same voice that had teased me countless times in my dreams. This had to be a nightmare. Jade was mouthing something at the person behind me—Senior. I slowly turned my head. It was Adrian, a PhD student a few years ahead of us, currently serving as the TA for our anatomy class. He stood behind me, his head tilted slightly, his handsome features framed by a sweep of dark lashes. Beneath them, his dark eyes danced with amusement. “Need a hand?” A nervous sweat broke out on my skin. I scrambled back. “No… no, thank you, Adrian.” His gaze lingered on my face for a second before he smiled. “Take your seat, class is about to start.” I’d never spoken to him before. He was one of the most popular guys on campus, constantly surrounded by admirers, but he’d never been known to have a girlfriend. Rumor had it his tastes were… unconventional. Sunlight filtered through the large windows, slicing into golden shafts around Adrian as he stood at the front of the lab. Dressed in a white coat, he looked almost godlike. He had already pulled on a pair of white latex gloves and picked up a scalpel. The material fit his skin like a second layer as his fingers moved deftly through flesh and tissue. Jade squeezed my hand, her voice a shy whisper. “Eva, did you know? Adrian’s dissection skills are famous.” She spoke a little too loudly. Adrian seemed to hear her and glanced over, a faint smile on his lips. His light-colored eyes met mine, but there was no warmth in them—only a calculating, analytical gaze that sent an inexplicable chill up my spine. I instinctively shrank closer to Jade. At the front, Adrian’s fingers moved with fluid, efficient grace. His cool voice echoed through the lecture hall as he began to explain the day’s lesson. I couldn’t help but be pulled back into the dream—where he used that same skillful touch, that same effortless control, to play with you until you broke down and begged… I was losing my mind. I needed to see a doctor. The moment class ended, I ignored Jade’s calls, packed my books, and fled. 4 The university health center was just south of the main campus, not a long walk. Friday afternoons were always the busiest. I checked in with the psychiatry department and waited for my name to be called. The consultation room was quiet. The warm glow of the setting sun streamed through the window. The only sound was the mechanical click of a computer mouse. My eyes were drawn to a pale, elegant hand resting on it. A watch on the wrist caught the light, glinting brightly. Backlit as he was, I could only make out the blurred profile of his face and the sharp silhouette of his broad shoulders and narrow waist. This was Dr. Smith Croft, the university’s renowned psychology professor. He was young, but he had both a brilliant academic mind and a captivating appearance. He radiated an aura of cool, scholarly restraint. “What seems to be the trouble?” he asked softly. My heart skipped a beat. The voice, smooth enough to melt your resolve, flowed into my ears on the quiet afternoon air. My mind flashed to the dream, to the hand that had pinned me against the mirror, to the voice that had laughed and told me to watch… I really was going crazy. Everyone was starting to look like the men from my dreams. “Miss? Are you listening?” Dr. Croft’s gentle gaze peered over the top of his glasses, pulling me back to reality. I licked my dry lips and noticed he wasn’t writing notes. He was leaning back, arms crossed, waiting patiently for me to speak. “I’m sorry, yes. I’m listening,” I said, sitting up straight like a chastised child. It felt like even looking at him for too long was some kind of sacrilege. “Don’t be nervous. Just tell me what’s wrong.” His voice was a rich, soothing balm that instantly calmed my frayed nerves. I nodded, stammering, “I’ve been having… nightmares. For a week now…” As I said it, I felt a hot blush creep up my neck. Dr. Croft’s expression grew serious. “Nightmares? Can you give me any details?” I was at a loss for words. “Well… not exactly nightmares… more like… being teased…” A flicker of surprise crossed Dr. Croft’s cool eyes. He tapped a pen against his desk in a steady, rhythmic beat. He seemed intrigued, leaning forward slightly. “I see… And what do you think is causing this?” I wrung my hands together. “Maybe… just too much stress. It’s affecting my sleep.” “Are you tired when you wake up?” His voice was so gentle, it was easy to follow his line of questioning. “Yes, Doctor. I… I’m exhausted.” He gave a knowing smile and scribbled something on a notepad. “It’s just stress. Don’t worry. I’ll prescribe you something. Take it as directed. It will help you fall asleep early.” A wave of relief washed over me. “Thank you, Doctor.” I hoped the medication would finally put an end to these mortifying nights. 5 That evening, I sat at my desk and took out the sleeping pills. Jade watched me, her expression hesitant. “Did you… did you go see Dr. Croft today?” “How did you know?” “No reason.” Her eyes seemed to dim. She handed me a glass of sweet-tasting water. “By the way, Eva, I think Adrian is a really great guy. Don’t you?” Great? Maybe. I took the pill with the water Jade gave me. The effects were almost immediate. A heavy drowsiness washed over me, pulling me into a fog. I thought I would finally get a peaceful night’s sleep. But— The dream returned. The same two men. A cool voice spoke first. “…She’s not feeling well today. Take it easy on her.” The scene was bright, blinding. My mind conjured an image of Adrian, but I had no strength to call out his name. Then, the low chuckle of the older man, soothing and close to my ear. “Hush, it’s just a routine check-up. We won’t hurt you.” I mumbled a response, struggling against the invisible bonds of sleep, but I couldn’t wake up. The air was thick with a strange mixture of scents. Pine, citrus, and antiseptic. Their two scents, blended together. Oh god, I thought. Even in my dreams, they’re making me study for exams. “So cute,” the other man whispered, then leaned down and kissed me. Panic surged. I fought back with all my might. Suddenly, a sharp pain on my lip, and the coppery taste of blood filled my mouth. I let out a muffled groan, nearly choking. I couldn’t breathe. I felt like a fish out of water, my mouth opening and closing uselessly. A hand cradled the back of my head, and a palm patted my cheek. “Eva, breathe. You’re going to suffocate yourself—” Adrian’s voice was laced with a weary amusement. “I told you to use a smaller dose. It lasts too long. She can’t handle it.” … Thud. A loud crash shattered the dream. I woke up to find myself sitting on the floor of my dorm room. I’d knocked over the basin of water I kept by my bed. Jade’s sleepy voice drifted down from her bunk. “It’s Saturday, Eva. What are you doing up so early…?” “Sorry…” I mumbled, feeling utterly drained, as if I’d just run a marathon. It hit me then. I’d dreamed again. The symptoms hadn’t just failed to improve; they’d gotten worse. The dream had been longer. I gripped the bed frame, my entire body shaking. A profound weakness, originating from the very core of my being, made it a struggle to even stand. After a few minutes, I managed to pull myself up and get a glass of water. The moment the cool liquid touched my lips, a sharp, stinging pain made me wince. It hurts… I stumbled into the bathroom. In the mirror, a girl in a simple cotton slip nightgown stared back, her hair a mess, her cheeks flushed. And on her lower lip was a tiny, broken wound. A bite mark? It was real? My hands trembled as I lifted my wrist. There, on the tender skin of my inner wrist, were faint, pinkish marks… My reflection’s eyes widened in disbelief, the color draining from her face. Was any of this… really just a dream? 6 I was trapped in a spiral of self-doubt. Was I losing my mind, or was something else going on? “Eva, what are you thinking about?” Jade’s voice broke my concentration. “We have that elective today. The professor takes attendance.” I envied her so much. She got to sleep soundly every night. Ten minutes later, I dragged my exhausted body into the lecture hall. My back and legs ached like an old woman’s. As expected, we were late. “The students who are late, please take a seat in the front.” I had just sat down when the voice from the front of the room reached me. I looked up… it was Adrian. He was leaning against the lectern, a placid smile on his face. But the classroom was dead silent. He had, after all, failed half the class in this elective last semester. Steeling myself, I walked with Jade to the front row. Adrian didn’t call me out directly, but when he got to my name during roll call, he paused. “Eva. Why were you late today?” My voice was barely a whisper. “I… overslept.” “Oh? And what were you doing last night?” I choked. “Exercising.” Adrian suddenly grinned. “As I understand it, for exercise to be effective, you have to be consistent. Perhaps you… need more practice.” My face burned. “Okay…” He didn't bother me for the rest of the class. Jade rested her chin on her hand and whispered, “Adrian is so disciplined and has such a bright future. If I were you, I’d be ecstatic.” Something about that felt wrong. “Why would I be ecstatic?” As far as anyone knew, Adrian and I were complete strangers. Why was she talking as if he liked me? She faltered, fiddling with her pen. “Oh, you’re missing the point…” 7 After class, I packed my books, eager to get back and catch up on sleep. “Eva, come here. I have something for you,” Adrian called from behind me. His voice was cool and businesslike. I hesitated for a moment before walking back. He pulled a black bag out from under the lectern. “For you.” “What is it?” “A heat patch,” he said, gathering his notes. “For muscle strains from… exercise. This will help it heal faster.” “…” He glanced at me. “Jade told me. She’s studying under my advisor now, so she’s my ‘little sister’ in the lab.” “Oh… I see.” I felt a pang of shame for my wild assumptions. No wonder Jade had been acting so strange. She must have misinterpreted Adrian’s odd behavior as interest in me and was trying to set us up. 8 I bought Jade some snacks on the way back to the dorm that day. She was sitting at her computer, busy with something. I crept up behind her, planning to surprise her. But when I saw what was on her screen, the smile froze on my face. She was researching… knots. All kinds of intricate knots, the kind designed to bind someone completely. Hearing me, Jade turned, saw me, and slammed her laptop shut as if she’d been caught. “Eva! You’re back!” She looked flustered, her eyes darting away from mine. My mind was a chaotic mess. I mechanically tossed the snacks into her lap. “Bought these for you.” Jade casually pushed the snacks aside and took my hand. “Thank you…” She was always polite, but this time, her touch made my skin crawl. “What… what were you looking at?” She blinked. “Oh, just practicing knots. The surgery professor just taught us some. I wanted to get some extra practice.” “Really?” I struggled to keep my voice even. The knots on her screen were nothing like the surgical knots we had been taught. Jade linked her arm through mine, changing the subject. “I’m starving. Come eat with me, Eva.” I watched her back with a complex expression, a terrifying thought taking root in my mind. Maybe my dreams were just my imagination. But the physical marks… Jade was the one leaving them. The thought was so horrifying I couldn’t stand the idea of sharing a room with her any longer. That evening, I submitted a request to my advisor to change dorms. She said the earliest she could get me an answer was next Wednesday, which meant I had to spend two or three more nights in that room with Jade. Before bed, she handed me her usual glass of honey water. I poured it down the sink while she was in the bathroom. The night deepened. I lay in the dark, tense and on high alert. Eventually, sheer exhaustion won, and I fell asleep. When I opened my eyes again, it was morning. Jade was already dressed, her dark hair falling smoothly down her back. She spoke in her usual gentle tone. “Eva, I’m going to the cafeteria. Do you want me to bring you anything?” It was the first good night’s sleep I’d had in what felt like forever. “No, thanks.” I lay there, staring at the ceiling, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. I had found the problem. Jade had been drugging me. As long as I was careful, I would be fine. For the next few nights, I avoided her honey water and slept soundly. Jade seemed to notice. She would look at me with apologetic eyes and kept buying me snacks as a form of “penance.” Some things were better left unsaid. My only option was to wait for my advisor’s notice. 9 The day before I was scheduled to move, I went to the clinic for a follow-up. I wanted to thank Dr. Croft and ask for advice on managing mild anxiety. At the entrance, I ran into Mark, the head of the student union. He’d been pursuing me for a while, and despite my repeated rejections, he was persistent. “Eva, fancy seeing you here! Are you sick?” he asked with a wide grin. It was a little awkward. “Yeah, I have an appointment with the psych department.” He looked surprised. “Stressed from studying? Don’t worry, I’ll go with you.” Before I could protest, he was already dragging me upstairs. The psych department was less crowded today. After a quick word with the nurse at the desk, he pushed open the door to Dr. Croft’s office. “Dr. Croft, I have a friend here to see you—” His words died in his throat. Inside the bright office, Dr. Croft was sitting leisurely in his chair, legs crossed. Adrian was leaning against the window, hands in his pockets. They both turned at the sound. Backlit by the window, I couldn’t see their expressions, but a prickling sensation crawled up my spine, as if I were being watched by predators. Mark scratched his head. “Sorry, the nurse said you didn’t have a patient, so I just—” “What are you to Eva?” Adrian cut him off, his tone flat. Mark grinned good-naturedly. “I’m pursuing her.” The room fell silent. Dr. Croft laced his fingers together and let out a soft, almost mocking laugh. Adrian took his hands out of his pockets and stood up straight. The atmosphere in the room grew heavy. My face flushed. “Don’t… don’t say things like that…” Mark gave me a little push into the room. “Well, I’ve got to run. See you later!” Bang. The door closed, leaving the three of us alone. I had no idea they knew each other. “I’m sorry, I’ll… I’ll just go—” Adrian started walking towards me. I stumbled back a few steps as he closed the distance, blocking the light. His dark eyes held a shallow smile as he reached past me. I heard a soft click. The door was locked. The next thing I heard was his cold laugh. “Smith, so this was your brilliant idea? Give her a few days off, and she finds herself a new man.” My mind went blank. The blood drained from my face. Smith stood up, positioning himself between me and Adrian. He took off his watch, his voice as smooth as ever. “As an apology, then. You can go first.” 10 As dusk settled, the hospital’s noise began to fade. Adrian’s hand clamped around the back of my neck, and he mercilessly crushed his lips against mine. The scent of citrus flooded my senses. The last rays of sun reflected in my panicked eyes, but they didn’t seem to notice. Smith wrapped his arms around me from behind, his fingers gently tracing the nape of my neck. “What are you afraid of? It’s not your first time, is it?” My thoughts were a tangled mess. How had my life come to this? Smith lightly squeezed my reddened ear. “I was going to give you a break, but you’re just too eye-catching.” “What does it matter to you if someone likes me?” Adrian rubbed my swollen lips with his thumb and chuckled. “See? She doesn’t even know what she did wrong.” He took my limp body from Smith, one arm supporting my waist. “Where’s the break room?” Smith crossed his arms. “Small door on the right.” “What are you going to do?” “Isn’t it obvious? We’re going to enjoy the main course.” Smith stayed outside. I was dragged into a dim lounge. The air smelled faintly of pine. Dr. Croft’s staff ID was on the nightstand; this was his private space. Adrian tossed me onto the bed. I scrambled forward, but he grabbed my ankle and dragged me back. “Where do you think you’re going?” Sweat beaded on my forehead. “No… I… I’m not feeling well—” “Stop pretending,” he laughed softly. “I did your physical exam, remember? I know everything about you.” In my panic, I kicked out, my foot connecting with a sensitive area. He grunted, his grip tightening. “Eva, even if you broke me, I wouldn’t let you go.” He trapped me, his lips gently brushing my forehead. The power disparity was too great; my struggles were nothing to him. So it wasn’t a dream. Jade was his accomplice. As his familiar touch sent shivers of despair through me, I heard a nurse’s voice from outside the door. My head snapped up. “Help—mmph—” Adrian’s hand shot out, pulling me into the shadows. “You little brat. Who do you think is going to save you?” “Excuse me, Dr. Croft? Is someone in there?” “Yes. A new kitten I just got.” “Oh, we love kittens! Can we see?” Smith’s polite refusal came through the door. “I’m sorry, she’s too small. Not ready for visitors. I’m afraid she’ll get sick.” I had struggled so much I was drenched in sweat. I lay there like a dead fish, all hope gone. The world was ending. Suddenly, the glass door was pushed open. A sliver of light cut across the closed blinds. Smith stood in the doorway, his tone mild. “Not today, I’m afraid. We’ll have to find another place.” Adrian hissed. “Smith, are you serious?” He pushed himself up and saw Smith leaning against the doorframe, shamelessly looking me over. Adrian grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around me, then used a tissue to wipe the sweat from my face. Smith chuckled. “It’s not like I haven’t seen it all before. What are you hiding?” I cleared my throat, swallowing the raspiness. “Can… can I go now?” They both looked at me with mocking smiles, as if I’d asked the stupidest question in the world. A few minutes later, I was sandwiched between them, walking past the nurses’ station, my face burning. “Oh, Doctor, does this young lady need some help?” The hand hidden under Adrian’s coat tightened its grip, and my whole body went rigid. I shook my head violently. “No… I don’t. Thank you.” Adrian laughed. “That was a close one. You wouldn’t want to cause a scene, would you, Eva?”
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