Chapter 5

Scarlett found herself back in that abyss again, with 13-year-old Alison standing in front of her. She wondered where Elliot had gone and why a young Alison was standing before her, unmoving, almost like a doll.

Then the doll-like Alison, who Scarlett thought couldn't make a sound, spoke up. "You didn't listen. You didn't heed my words." Shocked at Alison's sudden outburst, Scarlett was about to react when the setting changed. Suddenly, she was in Alison's old adoptive home, in her room late at night. Her father was on top of her.

"Are you just going to let him ravish me like this, Scarlett? Do something! Why aren't you doing something? Scarlett! Scarlett!!!" screamed Alison. Scarlett felt frozen in place. How could she possibly do anything about this situation?

Yet again, she felt completely helpless. She tried to squeeze her eyes shut but realized she had no body. To her horror, she had to relive the night again. She could hear Alison's screams: "This is a nightmare! You have to wake up! This is a nightmare! You have to wake up!" like a mantra. And then it stopped. Suddenly, the scene shifted again.

"You see what I mean?" Alison said. This time, Scarlett was surrounded by eyeballs, all staring at her and blinking. It was unnerving. "All eyes are on you, Scarlett. Why do you think no one informed you that the professor was that way? They knew what was going to happen." Scarlett felt paralyzed in place. Alison pointed at her. "Now look at you. You're pathetic."

Alison continued, "No one's on your side. You'll die as much of a pathetic death as I did. You'll realize that nothing you do will matter."

Scarlett snapped out of her fear and realized she needed to wake up. Wake up! Wake up! WAKE UP!!!

Scarlett jolted awake, breathing slowly. She looked around the room and saw only white, realizing she was in a hospital. Elliot was beside her, looking concerned.

With a dry throat, Scarlett inquired, "What happened to the professor? How long was I out?"

Elliot responded, "Here, drink some water. It's only been a few hours since you were unconscious, not a week like last time."

Scarlett drank the water offered to her and sighed in relief after her throat no longer felt dry. "The professor is in custody right now. The authorities want to question you about what happened. If you don't want to talk at this moment, I'll go inform them that you're not ready," the crown prince stated.

Scarlett stared blankly, took another sip of water, and said to the crown prince, "No, it's fine. Let them come question me. I'll answer all of their questions." Elliot started shifting from his seated position and said, "Okay, let me just go get them."

Before he could leave her bedside, Scarlett stopped him and thanked him for saving her. He was silent for a moment before leaving without saying anything.

Moments later, the authorities came in and questioned her about what happened. They told her that if she was uncomfortable with going into details, just small information would be fine. Scarlett said she was fine and explained everything. She then inquired about what would happen to the professor. They informed her that he would be charged. "Upon investigation, he has been reported on four counts of sexual assault at this university and three counts of sexual molestation. Due to this sexual misconduct that he did today, he will be released from his role as the professor and formally prosecuted."

Silence befell her. She realized that due to her status as the duke and the crown prince having saved her life, they couldn't sweep this one under the rug. What a life this is, she thought. She found solace in the fact that the victims would find the justice they deserved because of her.

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She spent a week at the hospital, and Scarlett's parents later visited her there. Her mother was bawling her eyes out again; she looked so weak. Poor mother, probably didn't eat or sleep well. Scarlett comforted her mother while her father looked just as devastated and told her that he would make sure the professor never saw daylight again.

Scarlett was just happy that Alison was wrong. She did have family and friends on her side. She bawled her eyes out at that thought.