Prologue.

I blink my eyes open.

My head is pounding so hard I feel like it might explode any moment, my throat seems as dry as the Sahara desert.

Everything is a blur.

I blink my eyes rapidly for a few seconds before I can see clearly.

I expect to find myself in my bedroom except I realize the bedsheets, the duvet I'm under, the curtains and the walls of the room are all black not purple.

As if that's not enough to send me into a panic attack, I find a man sitting on the right side of my bed, his muscular hands on the bed as he lies his head on it, his face hidden by his muscular and veiny hands.

I find a clock on the right wall that reads 3:27 am.

I am so dead.

I think to myself.

I slip from underneath the duvet or at least I try to when I hear a deep voice behind me,

"Where do you think you're going?"

I still, not because I was busted sneaking out.

But because of the familiarity of the voice, the voice I can recognise from miles away.

His voice.

Slowly, very slowly, I turn around to come to face the man that I extremely, wholeheartedly, truly hate! H-A-T-E! in this entire universe.

Aslan Werner.

My arch-nemesis.

Clad in all-black clothes.

As if having a black soul is not enough.

A sudden realisation hits me like a punch in the gut.

Black bedsheets, black duvet, black curtains, black walls.

This is his room.

I'm in his room.

On his bed!

But how?

I rack my brain and then the bits and pieces of last night flash through my mind.

Laura convinced me to tag along to the

Party celebration for the football win - at Alsan's house - the house filled with students from Ashford High - truth and dare - the bottle stopping in my direction - Scarlett's dare for me - Seven Minutes in Heaven with Aslan - everyone booing at my hesitation - accepting the dare - entering the closet - having difficulty in breathing - hearing Aslan's voice but not understanding a word - ears ringing - gasping for air - and suddenly it turns all black.

Oh, my God!

I blacked out in front of him.

Aslan Werner, of all people, witnessed my most embarrassing and vulnerable state.

He won't let me live through this.

He is staring me in the eye. As if he is searching for something.

"I am claustrophobic, there I said it.

Go ahead, make fun of me all you want"

I say, trying to appear nonchalant.

I can't let Aslan Werner see more of my vulnerability.

I refuse to.

And divert my eyes down at my hands, resting on my lap.

Given his IQ he must have already figured it out.

I wait for him to laugh at me. Several seconds pass.

Still when I hear nothing.

Gradually, I glance at him.

His intense gaze is set on me. Unblinking.

I wait to see mischief and mockery morph in his eyes. But I don't see a hint of it.

His stare remains sombre. Searching.

I can't decipher the emotions that I see in his eyes.

Sadness? Guilt? Dare I say, Pain?

My eyes are playing tricks on me and my brain probably isn't working properly because of my blackout.

Yeah, that's the only explanation.

No way in hell would Aslan Werner, my arch-enemy, ever feel sad for me.

Ever so slowly, Aslan rises from his position and advances toward me while still watching me with that same intensity.

Something about his expression makes me jump into fight or flight mode.

I have no energy left in me so I choose to escape from his room as quickly as I can.

However, when I hurry to get out of his bed dizziness hits me hard and I lose my equilibrium and almost fall when two huge and warm palms clasp around my biceps to stabilise me engulfing me in their warmth.

I wait for him to lower his hands once I gain my footing and stand erect after a few seconds when my dizziness dissipates.

But then he does the last thing that I expected Aslan Werner to do.

He.....