Chapter 96

-Ava’s POV-

Pain rippled through my entire body, sharp and searing, as if every nerve had caught fire. For a moment, I thought I might still be unconscious, trapped in some cruel dream. But when I forced my eyes open–despite the heavy weight of my eyelids -I realized I was awake. And alive.

I blinked, struggling to focus on my surroundings. The wreckage the screaming tires, Grayson–they were gone. Instead, I found myself lying in the middle of an open field. The sky stretched endlessly above me, a pale gray that seemed neither day nor night.

“Grayson?” I croaked.

There was no answer. Of course, there wasn’t. I pushed myself up onto shaky elbows, my muscles trembling under the strain, and scanned the field. Nothing. Just emptiness.

“And this,” she said, gesturing toward me with a lazy flick of her wrist, “is why you’ll never get anywhere, Ava Pierce.”

The voice stopped me cold.

It wasn’t just the words that made me freeze–it was the voice itself. Familiar. Unnervingly so. My breath caught as I turned slowly, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

There she was. Me.

Or at least, a version of me.

Instinctively, I took a step back. Her smile widened.

“Stop it,” I snapped, my voice trembling with equal parts anger and unease. “I am not in the mood for this today. If you’re going to try to kill me, just get it over with already.”

Her laughter was light, almost musical, but it held no warmth. “Kill you? Why would I want to do that?” She tilted her head, studying me like a scientist might study a particularly dull specimen. Then, in the blink of an eye, she vanished–only to reappear behind me.

I whirled around, my heart pounding.

“I’m not here to kill you,” she said with mock sweetness. “I am you, after all. Or at least, the better version of you.”

“Better version?” I scoffed, folding my arms over my chest despite the gnawing unease in my stomach. “You’re not me. And you’re definitely not the better version. I don’t hurt people. I don’t make them feel worthless. And I sure as hell don’t try to commit murder.”

Her smirk faltered, just for a moment. Then she clicked her tongue in mock disapproval. “Oh, poor, sweet Ava. And that is exactly your problem. Come on, walk with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said firmly, taking another step back. “I don’t know what this is or how I got here, but I need to get back. There was a crash, and Grayson-”

She shook her head slowl, cutting in, her expression almost… sad “You don’t get it, do you? You never have. But fine.” She turned on her heel, walking away with purposeful strides. “Follow me, or don’t. Either way, you’ll see.”

I glanced around, taking in the endless field. There was no escape. No other path forward. Cursing under my breath, I ran after her.

The ground shifted beneath my feet as I moved, the damp earth giving way to something harder, colder. When I stopped, I

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Chapter 96

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was no

empty

I muttered, turning in a

appeared behind me, leaning casually against a wall. “Brings back memories, doesn’t it?” she said, her voice

slammed against my ribcage. “Stop,” I whispered, my voice barely

echoed through the hallway as she vanished again,

rang, sharp and shrill, and students began pouring through the halls. They moved

hallway with books clutched

steps heavy,

when she saw it was empty. She moved to the

then his voice

isn’t the lovely Ava Pierce. Little Miss

I turned

the room, closing the door behind him with deliberate slowness then locked it. The smile on his face sent a chill

knew she couldn’t hear

are you doing? The professor is going to be here

of her. “If you’re so eager to play teacher’s

scream at her to stop, to run, but I was powerless, frozen in place as

widened as she reached for the key.

His eyes

his claws began

right,” he murmured, his voice dripping with malice. You will make

realizing too late what was

whispered, tears stinging my

desk. She struggled, but he was stronger, his claws tearing through her

it!” she cried, her voice

But he didn’t.

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Chapter 96

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And I couldn’t move.

me Her tone

shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “No. No, that’s not

to believe you’re the victim,” she continued, “but

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pen on the desk, her last hope of defending

him, her

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