"Beth, that's insane!" I was still reeling from her story about last night.

Beth just shrugged, sinking back into her bed with a nonchalant air. "I know. It was a lot to take in."

"But did you like it? Or was it too much?"

She sighed. "It wasn't that bad. I wasn't expecting it, but maybe I'll get used to it?"

"Get used to it? Are you serious? You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know. But... it's not a big deal now."

"What do you know about the couple? Can you trust them?"

"I've known Naomi for a while, and I know that she treats me right. She's been honest about her intentions with me from the start. I can't say much about Rob though, but these two are thick as thieves. She never does anything without telling him, and I've never seen him disagree."

"Not a common man trait to expect these days,"  I chuckled. "But, it's so strange. What else do you know about them? How did they make all that money?"

"When I asked around, they bought this property very recently, and not many really knows their whereabouts before that. They don't look like old money either. I've heard gossips that they could be into shady business, but I could care less where they made the money from, as long as I'm pampered right."

"You bet. But I guess we have to be a little careful with these rich people"

"Careful? Like what?"

"Umm, like murder and making bodies disappear with a snap of a finger?"

"You've been reading too many books, babe. Real life is far from fiction."

"No real life is stranger than fiction. You know, I do a lot of research for my books right?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. We're going to be fine, trust me."

She said she was fine, but I couldn't fathom what she must be feeling. Just listening to her recount the events made me uneasy. I had only seen dungeons in movies, but being at a party and knowing one was right beneath me felt surreal. I pushed the thoughts aside, grabbed a hairbrush, and started detangling my hair before heading home. I ordered an Uber and made my way down the stairs while Beth drifted back to sleep.

At the landing, I was startled by Beth's brother, who was balancing a hot cup of coffee. His surprise at seeing me resulted in coffee splattering onto his nightshirt.

"I'm so sorry!" I blurted.

"No worries," he said, trying to salvage his shirt with a towel from the counter. "You're awfully quiet for someone on our squeaky floorboards."

"I didn't want to disturb anyone. I didn't know you were here."

"Heading out?" he asked, dabbing at his shirt.

"Yeah, home."

"Care for a coffee before you go?"

"Thanks, but my Uber should be here any minute. Maybe another time." Oops, did I just invite him out? I could see the hint of a smile struggling to break through his embarrassment.

"I think I'll head out now. Bye," I said, quickly exiting to avoid further awkwardness.

The Uber arrived promptly, and I slipped into the backseat, putting on my headphones and immersing myself in my "delulu-morning playlist" to escape the harsh sunlight.

Once home, Sophie was already gone, leaving me with the house to myself. I filled the tub with Epsom salts and sank into the warm water, hoping it would ease the remnants of yesterday's chaos. As I slowly scrubbed my legs, I remembered the way his exhales grazed on my face every time we came up close to whisper in my ears. It was as if he knew exactly what turns me on. I couldn't stop smiling to myself, recollecting all the risqué things I did last night. And, oh, the orgasm that put me into a slumber from a hazed state I was in. 

I wish I knew what happened after that, or how I put on my clothes. Despite Beth's story, there were still gaps in my memory, and I had no clear sense of time. I only hoped I hadn't caught anything from the night's stranger encounters. I decided to push those worries aside and enjoy the bath.

Wrapped in a towel, I danced my way to the bedroom, revelling in the solitude. After slipping into comfy pyjamas and towel-drying my hair, I sat in front of my laptop, determined to write down my thoughts. I opened a new Word document, typed "Chapter 1," and then accidentally switched tabs to check my email.

1 unread email from Kyle

My heart raced as I opened it.

----

Oh my naughty darling,

Seeing you from afar and reading your seductive words was just the beginning. But having you in my arms—feeling you beneath me, moaning and crying out as I made your fantasies real—has been the most exhilarating experience in ages.

Should I be upset that you were with a stranger, or that the stranger was me? But how could I ever be angry with you? All I want is to make you happy, to see you smile. I know you're wondering why I disappeared so suddenly. I promise, it won't happen again.

Last night was all about you—exploring parts of you you didn't even know existed. One day, we'll meet face-to-face. Until then, remember every touch, every shiver, every part of you that responded to my hands. Recall all the times you wanted to call my name but couldn't.

Until we meet again,

Your Mysterious Stranger

----

My breath caught in my throat. Kyle? How could this be? How did he know where I'd be? Was he involved with the elite? This couldn't be real. Was I unknowingly involved with my stalker? The thought was horrifying.

I needed to call Beth immediately, but she likely had her own issues to deal with. Besides, I had to face this twisted game alone. I wasn't going to be a victim of some faceless menace. Not anymore.

I hit reply with shaky fingers.

----

Subject: Enough Games

Hey,

I don't know who you are or what twisted game you're playing, but I'm done being silent. Your little stunt was bad enough, but now you're pushing it too far. My silence wasn't tolerance; it was me waiting for the right moment to tell you how I really feel.

I can't take this anymore. Stop stalking me and hiding behind your cryptic messages. If you have the guts to invade my life, then face me directly. I'm not dealing with cowards or faceless creeps.

Enough is enough. Get a life and stay away from mine.

----

I closed my laptop and went to grab something to eat. The fridge yielded Sophie's casserole from a few nights ago. I served it and placed it in the microwave, then admired her coffee bar setup. Sophie was a coffee aficionado, but I just needed a quick fix to kickstart my day.

As the coffee brewed, my mind wandered back to the embarrassing encounter with Beth's brother. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all? He wasn't unpleasant.

I poured myself a hot cup of coffee and settled in front of the TV with my casserole. Flipping through channels, I stumbled upon the local news. My heart dropped as I saw the house I had just left engulfed in flames. Firefighters scrambled, rescuing people and battling the blaze. The scene was chaotic, and all I could think about was how I had narrowly escaped.

I called Beth immediately.

"I just saw it on the news. I can't believe it!" I shouted.

"That place is practically indestructible. How did it catch fire? I don't believe it." she replied, her voice shaky.

"I can't believe it either. But, it's everywhere in the news. What went wrong?", I sink into my seat still gaping at the muted TV.

"I don't know Mila, this is insane. I hope nobody got hurt"

"I can see charred bodies being carried Beth, it looks really serious. This can't be."

"It can't be... Naomi. Is she? Is she okay? I can't find her on TV."

"I'm sure she's okay and the squad is there helping people out. Now calm down. We're safe by god's grace"

"You're right. If only we weren't home early last night... this tragedy", she trailed off.

"Wait? Do you remember why we left the party early?"

"What? Oh, that. Don't you remember? You kept insisting we leave. You said, 'Something's going to happen. We need to go.' You kept saying that, and you didn't stop until we were out. I didn't know what happened to you, so I thought it was best to bring you back home"

"Are you sure I said that? I can't remember much. Also, I feel like our food was drugged or something."

"I can't deny. They've done that to me too before as a joke. They call it their 'initiation day'"

"Oh my god. We are going to be in so much trouble. Do you think we'll be questioned?"

"Now, you calm down girl. I don't think we're going to be questioned. Nobody knows we went there. Also, we signed NDAs. It's unlikely they'll ask us anything."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Anyways, I'll take care of it. You don't have to worry. Until then, don't breathe a word to anyone."

"Okay," I agreed, feeling the weight of our shared secret. There were lives lost, and somehow, we were entangled in this mess.

I turned off the TV and returned to my room, curling up in bed. But curiosity got the better of me. I opened my laptop to search for more details about the fire.

1 unread email from Kyle.

----

My love,

I know you're eager to see my face, but isn't the mystery part of the thrill? I can sense what you truly desire. Remember, I know all your secrets.

Here's a revelation: you might have heard the news. Let me clarify—it wasn't an accident. Did I just make your fantasy more intense? I hope it excites you.

P.S. That dress you wore? You looked breathtaking. Thanks for letting me undress you. I've got a few pictures to remind us of that night—just for fun.

Attachment: Picture

Yours,

Your lover

----

I hesitated before opening the attachment. The photo revealed me and Beth in our black dresses, clearly visible as we walked down the stairs.

What was he trying to do with this picture? Was he trying to intimidate me? And what did he mean it wasn't an accident?

Questions swirled in my mind. I felt trapped in a nightmare I couldn't wake from.