No show

Bryce scans the dim interior of Tabz, the familiar scent of stale beer and fried food wrapping around him as he checks every booth. No Cortney. He checks his phone—4:07 PM. No messages. He orders a coffee and sits near the window, watching students pass by outside. Maybe she got held up. By 4:30, his fingers drum against the table. By 5:00, he texts her: Hey, you still coming? No reply. At 5:45, Bryce gives up. He heads toward his 6 PM class Their waits Stephanie Ryan, his once cousin by marriage, bit still good friends. She hades long blonde hair, glasses.

Bryce slides into his seat just as Professor Victor strides into the classroom, his long black coat sweeping behind him like wings. The overhead fluorescents flicker as he passes beneath them. Professor Victor claps his hands—a sound too sharp, too sudden. The class jumps. "

Victor - Today," he says

his voice smooth as aged wine,

Victor - "we prepare sangria."

His lips curl around the word, revealing pointed canines. At the front counter, the professor demonstrates knife skills with unnatural precision.Bryce watches as the girls in class lean forward, their eyes glazed with an unnatural intensity as Professor Victor swirls the crimson sangria in his glass. Their fingers twitch toward him like moths drawn to a flame, their breaths shallow and synchronized. Even Stephanie, usually sharp and skeptical, tilts her head with a dreamy half-smile Victor lifts the glass to his lips, letting a single drop trail down his chin. A collective shiver runs through the female students. Bryce nudges Stephanie. "

Bryce - Uh… you good?"

She blinks slowly, her pupils dilated.

Stephanie- "Hmm? Yeah. He’s just… amazing, isn’t he?"

Bryce watches Stephanie's vacant expression with growing unease as class ends. The girls shuffle out in a daze, their movements sluggish—except for Megan Carter, who lingers near the front desk, swaying slightly on her feet. Professor Victor’s fingers curl around her wrist, pulling her aside with a smile

Victor ' "Megan," he murmurs,

his voice honeyed,

Victor - "stay a moment."

Bryce hesitates near the door, pretending to adjust his bag. Megan nods dreamily, her lips parted as Victor leans in, his breath ghosting over her ear.

Bryce slips out quietly, careful not to draw Victor's attention. The door clicks shut behind him with merciful silence. Outside, the hallway feels colder than before. He glances back through the narrow window—Victor’s hand is curled around Megan’s shoulder now, his thumb tracing slow circles against her collarbone. Megan sways, her eyelids fluttering Bryce’s stomach twists. He pulls out his phone—still no reply from Cortney.

He’s halfway across campus when his phone finally buzzes. Cortney: Sorry! Got caught up. Meet me at Capa Delta tonight? Party’s gonna be wild.

Bryce - Capa Delta..a party

he thinks on how to respond as old feelings surface slightly as he remembers thevfeeelong of them dancing at their first dance as a couple back in highschool.

Back in the classroom with Megan and victor

Victor’s fingers trail up Megan’s neck, his lips moving against her ear in a whisper that makes her shudder. Her eyes glaze over, her body slack like a puppet with its strings cut. Victor’s fingers tightened around Megan’s wrist as he guided her toward the darkened corner of the classroom. His voice was a velvet murmur, words slipping into her ear like poison.

Victor - "You’ve been such a good student, Megan," he purred. "Don’t you deserve a reward?"

Megan’s breath hitched, her body swaying as if drunk on his presence. Her fingers trembled as they reached for the hem of her shirt, pulling it over her head with sluggish obedience. The fabric pooled at her feet, leaving her bare from the waist up. Victor’s smirk deepened, his fingers tracing the curve of her collarbone before drifting lower.Victor's fingers lingered on Megan's bare skin

Victor - " Such devotion deserves... special attention,"

he murmured, tilting her chin up. Megan's lips parted slightly, her breath coming in shallow gasps as Victor's thumb brushed across them. A sharp knock at the classroom door made them both freeze.

Miss Jorden- "Professor Victor?"

A muffled voice called through the wood.

Miss Jordan- "Dean's office needs those midterm grades submitted by tonight."

Victor's grip tightened momentarily before he released Megan with a slow, deliberate smile.

Victor- "Of course. Tell them I'll be along shortly."

Victor exhaled sharply through his nose, his fingers lingering possessively on Megan's waist for a moment longer before withdrawing.

"Dress," he commanded softly

turning toward his desk with predatory grace. Megan blinked slowly, her movements sluggish as she fumbled with her discarded shirt. The fabric slipped through her fingers twice before she managed to pull it back over her head, her arms moving as if weighted down. At the door, Victor paused, his hand resting on the knob.

Victor- "Wait here," he murmured without looking back.

Victor - "I won’t be long."

The click of the lock engaging echoed through the empty classroom as he stepped into the hall.