Chapter 6: Sofia

As soon as I step out of my last class, I realize how late it’s gotten. The sky is a deep indigo, fading into the darkness of night, and there’s only a scattering of cars left in the parking lot. Most students have already gone, but I prefer it this way—less crowded, less attention, less chance that someone will notice me. I pull my cardigan a little tighter around myself, heading toward the library.

I’ve barely made it halfway across campus when my phone buzzes. I almost don’t want to check, but a part of me already knows who it is. My dad doesn’t call unless he wants something, and there’s a sinking feeling in my stomach as I swipe the screen and hold the phone up to my ear.

“Sofia,” he barks, and I flinch at the venom in his tone. “Where the hell were you today? I had a meeting set up for you, and you didn’t show.”

I close my eyes, fighting to keep my voice steady. “I was at school,” I say, trying to keep my tone calm, even though I know it won’t matter. “I have classes. I told you—”

He cuts me off, his voice harsh and loud. “I don’t give a damn about your classes. You were supposed to be there. Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed me? I had to cover for you, making up excuses to explain why my own daughter doesn’t know how to show up on time.”

His words hit me like a slap, the shame and anger mixing into a tight knot in my chest. I’d honestly forgotten about the meeting—these “appointments” he arranges for me are the last thing I want to think about. Each one is worse than the last, a parade of older men who look at me like I’m something they can own. They never try to hide it, either. Their hands linger too long, their eyes travel over me like I’m a possession they’re evaluating, like I’m just a commodity to be bargained over.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble, hating how small and broken my voice sounds. It’s all I can manage right now. The last thing I need is for him to hear me cry, so I press my lips together, blinking back the tears that are already threatening to spill over.

“You should be sorry,” he snaps. “And you’d better get your act together, Sofia. You have one job—to make sure these meetings go smoothly. I don’t want to hear any excuses. You mess up like this again, and you’ll regret it.”

The line goes dead, but I keep the phone pressed to my ear, standing there in the empty lot with nothing but the cold and the dark for company. The tears finally come, sliding down my cheeks before I can stop them. I wipe them away quickly, shoving my phone back into my bag. I can’t fall apart, not now. I just need to get to the library, where no one can see me, where I can hide in the stacks and pretend that none of this is real.

I turn and start walking again, each step heavier than the last. The path to the library is lined with bare trees, their branches stretching overhead like skeletal arms. The streetlights cast long shadows across the ground, and my footsteps echo in the stillness. I try to focus on the sound, let it drown out the voice still ringing in my ears, but it’s no use. His words cling to me, sharp and suffocating, and I can’t shake them.

As I near the library, I let out a shaky breath, relief washing over me. I’m almost there—just a few more steps, and I’ll be inside, surrounded by the quiet and the books, where no one can touch me.

But before I reach the doors, two figures stumble out of the shadows, crashing into me and sending me sprawling to the ground. I gasp as my hands hit the pavement, the rough concrete scraping my palms. When I look up, I see them—a couple of guys, both of them swaying, their eyes unfocused and glassy. They’re clearly drunk, and one of them smirks down at me, offering a hand.

“Hey, you okay?” he slurs, his words thick and slow. I hesitate, but he reaches down, grabbing my arm and pulling me to my feet. He’s not steady, though, and I almost lose my balance as he stumbles, dragging me forward with him.

“Thanks,” I mumble, trying to pull away, but he tightens his grip, his fingers digging into my arm. I glance at the other guy, who’s watching with a lazy grin, his eyes roaming over me in a way that makes my skin crawl.

“Where you headed in such a hurry?” the first guy asks, his breath hot against my face. I try to step back, but he’s holding me too tight. I glance around, but there’s no one else in sight. The parking lot is empty, and the campus feels deserted, like I’m the last person left in the world.

“Let me go,” I say, my voice trembling, but he just laughs, pulling me closer. I try to twist away, but the other guy steps forward, blocking my path.

“Why don’t you come back with us?” he says, leaning in so close I can smell the alcohol on his breath. “We’re just trying to have a little fun.”

“Please,” I whisper, panic rising in my chest. I can feel my heart pounding, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps. I push against the first guy, trying to break free, but he just tightens his grip, his hand sliding down to my waist. His touch feels slimy, invasive, and I shudder, trying to pull away.

“Aw, don’t be like that,” the second guy says, reaching out to stroke my hair. I flinch, jerking back, but he catches my arm, holding me in place. His fingers are rough, and he smells like sweat and stale beer. I want to scream, but my voice is trapped in my throat, frozen by fear.

The first guy leans in closer, his face inches from mine. “You’re pretty,” he murmurs, his hand sliding lower, and I can feel the bile rising in my throat. I try to shove him away, but he just laughs, grabbing my wrist and twisting it until I cry out in pain.

“Stop it!” I manage to choke out, but they just laugh, closing in around me, their hands everywhere. I feel trapped, suffocated, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep fighting. The world blurs around me, my vision swimming as I struggle, but it’s no use. They’re too strong, and I’m too scared.

And then, suddenly, everything changes. There’s a rush of air, a flash of movement, and the first guy is yanked away from me, his grip vanishing as he’s thrown backward. He hits the ground with a thud, skidding across the pavement, and I look up, stunned, trying to make sense of what just happened.

The second guy stumbles back, his eyes wide with shock as he looks at something—or someone—behind me. I turn, my heart pounding, and I catch a glimpse of a figure standing in the shadows, their face obscured but their presence unmistakable. I have no idea who they are or why they’re here, but right now, they’re the only thing standing between me and the two men who just tried to tear my world apart.

For a moment, everything is silent, the air thick with tension. I can feel my heart racing, my breath coming in shallow gasps as I take a step back, watching the scene unfold, unsure of what’s going to happen next. I don’t know who this person is or what they want, but one thing is clear—they’re not here to play nice. Before anything else can happen, I turn around and sprint as fast as possible, away from them, away from campus, away from the trouble I almost got into.