The Tempting Abyss

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Chapter 11 𓍯𓂃𓏧♡

The library was shrouded in shadows, the only source of light was coming from the flickering candles on the walls and the faint moonlight streaming through the tall, narrow windows. The silence was absolute, broken only by the occasional rustle of parchment as I turned the pages of the ancient book in front of me.

The book contained various hexes and curses and I've been studing them for hours. If something like this happened again, I should be prepared, shouldn't I?

I would make sure what happened today won't be happening again.

As I studied and anyalized, I lost track of time. Though it was something I didn't mind. I wished dearly that this day would end as quickly as possible. So that I can start anew tommorow, that way I had be able to let the humiliation of today be a part of the past.

And I didn't look back and think about events that had already passed by; the past. Because It had be a waste, as for my case, only regret and sorrow is gained from it.

I hadn't bothered to go to my dorm, the common room, or attend the rest of my classes after my visit to the lake.

Minerva and Hagrid were probably worrying themselves sick about me, but they would understand that I needed time alone—time to gather my thoughts and rebuild the parts of myself that had been shattered earlier.

Night had already fallen, signaling that I should return to my dormitory. It was probably past curfew, and here I was, making myself more comfortable in the library, as if the world outside didn't exist. Even after spending half the day here, I didn't want to leave yet.

This place had always been a refuge for me, a sanctuary where I could lose myself in the comforting embrace of knowledge. Here, surrounded by the smell of old books and the whisper of turning pages, I had almost forget the humiliations of the day. Almost.

But tonight, the comfort I usually found in these walls felt fragile, like a thin layer of ice over deep, dark water. The memory of the duel still burned in my mind, every detail etched into my thoughts with painful clarity.

I sighed, closing the book with a soft thud. It was late—far past curfew—and I knew I should leave before someone caught me, but the thought of going back to the common room, facing the whispered comments and judgmental stares, was too much to bear.

But getting in trouble for these mere reasons seemed silly. I won't be rattled by spiteful remarks and gossip.

Just as I was about to stand, I heard the soft, deliberate sound of footsteps behind me.

I stood up quickly, my heart lurching in my chest. I turned around, squinting through the darkness as my breath caught in my throat. Suddenly The library,  a place of solace , now felt like a cage for me, with its towering shelves closing in on me.

My vision was blurry, my eyes struggling to adjust to the low light, but I could make out a figure in the doorway. The moonlight creeping through the tall windows cast long shadows, and as I blinked, the figure became clearer.

My heart skipped a beat, and I turned slowly, already knowing who it was.

Tom Riddle stood in the doorway.

His silhouette was sharp against the dim light,the moonlight catching the edges of his features, casting half of his face in shadow, while the other half was illuminated in a way that made him look even more striking. He was tall, his posture perfect, with an air of authority that filled the room. His dark hair fell just right, framing a face that was both handsome and unnervingly cold.

He didn't say anything at first, just watched me with that same calculating gaze, the one that always made me feel like I was being weighed and measured.

His dark brown eyes bored into mine, and suddenly it felt as if the world had stopped moving.

The air in the room seemed to thicken, every sound muted as my heart pounded painfully against my ribs. I forced myself to breathe, but it felt as though every inhale was a struggle.

I couldn't tell if the ferocious beating in my chest was the result of fear and disdain or something else entirely.

"Out past curfew," he said finally, his voice low and smooth, carrying easily across the empty library. "You know that's against the rules."

The sound of his voice sent a shiver down my spine, and I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "I needed some peace and quiet," I replied, my voice sounding small in the vastness of the room. "This is the only place I can find it."

Tom took a few steps closer, the click of his shoes against the stone floor echoing in the silence.

His presence was overwhelming, his movements fluid and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. The closer he got, the more I could feel the air thicken, making it suffocating.

"And what makes you think you're entitled to special treatment?" he asked, his tone almost mocking. "Rules apply to everyone, after all."

My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms as I fought to keep my composure. "If you're going to report me, just do it already," I said, trying to inject some strength into my voice. But the defiance I intended came out as more of a plea, my voice betraying the nervous flutter in my chest.

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me, his gaze intense and unwavering. The silence stretched between us, a taut string ready to snap.

Then, to my surprise, he gave a small, almost imperceptible shake of his head. "No," he said softly. "I won't report you."

I blinked, taken aback by his response. "Why not?"

Tom's lips curved into a slight, enigmatic smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "What good would it do?" he murmured, moving even closer until he was standing just a breath away from me.

The closeness was more suffocating then the thicken air, making it harder for me to breath. His presence a dark cloud that wrapped around me, making it difficult to think.

The moonlight highlighted the sharp angles of his face, casting his features in a way that made my breath catch in my throat.

"You think I don't know why you're here?" he continued, his voice barely above a whisper, yet it seemed to echo in my mind, filling every corner of my thoughts. "You're hiding, trying to escape the shame and reality. You make it too obvious."

My breath hitched, his words cutting through me like a knife.

He was so close now, I could feel the warmth radiating from him, his scent invading my senses, making it impossible to think clearly. My heart pounded, the sound of it deafening in the stillness of the library.

"That's not it," I protested, my voice firm, narrowing my eyes slightly.  Though we both knew it was a lie.

Tom leaned in, his face inches from mine, his voice like silk wrapping around my thoughts.

"You can lie to yourself all you want, but I see through you," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin. "You're desperate to prove yourself, to show that you're not just a worthless Mudblood. But no matter how hard you try, you'll always be beneath me."

His words stung, cutting deep into wounds that hadn't yet healed. I wanted to fight back, to throw his words back in his face, but his closeness, the intensity of his gaze, left me paralyzed.

He hovered over me, his presence overwhelming, as if he were daring me to move. Seconds stretched into eternity as his eyes trailed slowly down from my eyes to my lips, a dark gleam flickered in his gaze.

Tom's smile slowly faded, his expression darkening as he saw my resolve. I stood my ground, even though every instinct screamed at me to run, to put as much distance between us as possible.

But I couldn't move, as if trapped by this magnetic pull between us.

He stood so close that I could feel his breath on my skin, the steady rise and fall of his chest as he looked down at me.

My pulse quickened despite myself as his gaze turned even darker, his eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place—something that both terrified and fascinated me.

Without warning, Tom reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against my cheek.

The contact was electric, sending a jolt through my entire body. I flinched, but he didn't pull back, his touch lingering, his thumb trailing down the line of my jaw, his gaze never leaving mine.

"Why are you doing this?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. Even after trying my best to make myself sound steady, it came out all wrong; shaky and soft. 

A smirk curled at his lips as he leaned even closer, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered in a low, velvety tone, "Because I can," he said simply. "Because I want to see how far you can be pushed before you break."

His words sent a chill down my spine, and yet, there was a part of me that refused to back down, that wanted to defy him no matter the cost.

"You won't break me," I whispered fiercely, my voice trembling with emotion but filled with a determination I wasn't sure I truly felt.

For a moment, Tom just looked at me, his gaze intense and unreadable.

The world seemed to shrink until there was nothing but the two of us, locked in this silent battle of wills. Then, without warning, he stepped back, the magnetic pull between us snapping like a taut string.

"We'll see about that," he said quietly, his tone holding a dark promise. "But for now, I suggest you return to your dormitory before someone less… forgiving finds you."

I watched as he turned to leave, his long, deliberate strides taking him toward the door. But just before he disappeared into the shadows, he glanced back at me, his eyes locking onto mine one last time.

"Remember what I said," he murmured, his voice lingering in the still air like a lingering curse. "You. Can't. Escape. Me."

And with that, he was gone, leaving me standing alone in the library, the echoes of his words reverberating in my mind.

I stood there for a long time, my heart pounding, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear. I had come here seeking solace, but now I felt more unsettled than ever.

Because deep down, I knew he was right.

I couldn't escape him—not here, not anywhere.

And the most terrifying part?

A small, secret part of me wasn't sure I wanted to.

It maybe because he was a constant reminder of my past, a reminder of how far I've come, of how much I've achieved.

...maybe he wanted to torment me by reminding me of the past, but it rather motivated me to keep on going.

But right now....the way how much his words,touch, his...everything affected me felt so so wrong.

My heart was pounding fiercely against my chest.

Something seemed to boil inside me.

Realization crashes over me like waves.

It was the same terrible feeling I'd kept buried since the great feast of our first year

'You. Can't. Escape. Me'

'You. Can't. Escape. Me'

'You. Can't. Escape. Me'

'You. Can't. Escape. Me'

'You. Can't. Escape. Me'

'You. Can't. Escape. Me'

'You. Can't. Escape. Me'

'You. Can't. Escape. Me'

His words echoing in every corner of my head till I can't seem to hear anything but it.