~~BEYOND THE BINARY~~

Chapter- 8

Chapter 8 – Unspoken Error

Iris woke to hushed voices.

Soft. Muted. Like they were trying not to wake her.

Her body felt heavy, like she was sinking into the mattress. For a moment, she wasn't sure where she was—until the familiar scent of Selene's lavender-scented blankets wrapped around her, grounding her back to reality.

Then, she remembered.

The screen. The blood. Herself—grinning, mouthing that single word.

Run.

Her fingers twitched.

The voices grew clearer.

"She showed up freaking out," Selene was saying, voice tight with concern. "Panic attack, maybe? I don't know. She wouldn't tell me anything."

"Did she say what happened?" That was Cassian.

"No," Selene murmured.

"She kept saying, 'It's wrong.' Over and over."

Silence.

"That's not normal," Ash said quietly.

Iris swallowed, forcing her eyes open.

The room was dim, the only light coming from Selene's bedside lamp. Cassian sat cross-legged on the floor, arms resting on his knees. Arden leaned against the desk, eyes unreadable. Ash stood near the door, shifting his weight like he was ready to intervene if needed.

And Selene—Selene was still next to her, brows furrowed, concern deepening when she noticed Iris was awake.

"Hey," Selene whispered, voice softer now.

"Iris," Selene pressed gently, "what happened?"

Iris swallowed hard. She wanted to tell them. The words clawed at the back of her throat.

She hesitated.

Then, voice barely above a whisper, she said, "Something is wrong."

Selene tensed. "What do you mean?"

Iris inhaled shakily. "I saw something. On my screen. It—"

Her phone buzzed violently.

She flinched. The others noticed.

Iris looked down.

A single message.

DON'T.

Her breath hitched.

Another buzz.

DON'T. DON'T. DON'T.

The messages poured in, one after another, filling the screen in rapid succession.

Her fingers trembled as she tried to press the power button, but—

DON'T.
DON'T.
DON'T.

Faster.

Then—silence.

One final message appeared.

"YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU SPEAK."

Iris's chest constricted.

She felt it—like something unseen tightening around her throat, pressing against her ribs.

Selene touched her arm lightly. "Iris, what's wrong?"

Before she could answer—

A soft shuffle outside the window.

Iris's breath caught.

Then, a single knock.

Selene stilled.

Then—

Knock.
Knock.
Knock.

Even. Measured. Just like before.

Arden straightened. "Okay, what the hell—"

Cassian was already moving toward the window, pulling the curtain back in one sharp motion—

Nothing.

Just darkness beyond the glass. The dim glow of streetlights. The empty sidewalk below.

No one.

Arden checked the front door, twisting the handle to peer outside. A cold breeze drifted in. The hall was silent. Deserted.

Nothing.

But the feeling lingered. That heavy, suffocating weight of being watched.

"I don't like this," Ash muttered, rubbing his arms. "No one's out there, but I swear I felt—"

Iris's pulse pounded in her ears. The pressure in her chest grew unbearable.

Selene turned back to her, worried. "Iris, talk to us."

Iris could barely breathe.

"I said it's nothing!"

Her voice cracked through the room like a whip.

A stunned silence followed.

Iris's breath came in short, panicked bursts. She couldn't do this. She couldn't tell them.

Her pulse pounded in her ears as she staggered up from the bed. Selene reached for her again, but Iris shoved past her, panic clawing up her spine.

She barely heard them calling her name as she stumbled toward the door, fumbling with the handle.

"Wait—"

"Just leave me alone!"

Iris barely heard them calling her name as she stumbled away, her pulse roaring in her ears. She just needed to get out. Away from their concern. Away from the eyes she couldn't see but felt on her skin.

Her legs moved on instinct, carrying her through the empty halls, past the dim overhead lights flickering in and out of focus.

Her dorm. She just had to make it to her dorm.

She reached the door with shaking hands, fumbling for the lock. The second it clicked shut behind her, she backed away, pressing herself against the wood, breath coming too fast.

Silence.

Heavy. Suffocating.

She squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't need to check her phone. She didn't need another warning.

She already knew.

She wasn't safe.

......................................................................................................................

Tell me, dear reader...

You locked the door.

But was it keeping them out—

or keeping it in?......