Chapter 20

I’m so groggy in the morning, I wonder if I’m coming down with something. Blinking open my sleep-sticky eyes with difficulty, I reach for the glass on my bedside table but find it empty. I’m so thirsty this morning, even though I don’t remember drinking it last night. My throat hurts every time I swallow, which is always an early indicator for me that I’m getting sick.

I lick my cracked, dry lips and find them salty. Dried sweat perhaps? Was I hot last night? It would explain the thirst and the empty glass. Yawning, I stretch and sit up. My head feels fuzzy, like it does the morning after Lizzy convinced me to have a couple of drinks. It’s only happened a handful of times, but the result was always the same, and I don’t like it. I definitely didn’t drink anything last night. I didn’t even see Lizzy. I must have just slept badly. Even if I don’t remember it.

Reaching for my phone, I startle when I don’t find it on my bedside table. I was sure I left it there last night.

Hammering on my bedroom door makes me scream.

“Come on, Cora! You’re going to be late! Are you even up yet?”

“Slater?” I squeak, rushing over to my door and wrenching it open. “What are you doing here?”

My stepbrother’s gaze drinks me in, and something indiscernible flares in his eyes before his expression morphs to one of annoyance.

“It’s just as well I am here, Cora. Otherwise, you would have slept the day away. You’re not even dressed yet?”

I shake my head. “I overslept. My alarm didn’t go off. In fact, I can’t find my phone.”

“Well, you’ll have to worry about that later. You need to get to school. I’ll give you a ride.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask Slater, again, why he’s here, but I really don’t want to be late for school.

“Okay, let me just have a quick shower?—”

“No time. Get dressed. You have two minutes.”

I slam my bedroom door closed – right in his face – and rip my top off and shimmy out of my sleep shorts.

“Cora—” Slater growls menacingly.

I spin round, squeal and dive for my discarded pajamas when I see Slater has opened my door. The angry expression on his face gives way to shock at seeing me naked.

“Get out! How can I hurry when you’re staring at me like a creeper?”

He turns and walks away, yelling at me to hurry up.

Heart pounding and flustered, I grab a pair of jeans from my closet and pull them on, with a simple button-up shirt. I drag a brush through my hair, tie it back, and grab my school bag.

My shoes are downstairs, but at the last second, I grab some socks and race to the bathroom. I don’t care what Slater says, there’s no way I’m leaving this house without brushing my teeth at least.

I’m looking in the mirror while practically scrubbing the enamel from my teeth because I’m brushing so hard, when I notice something dried on my cheek. I use my fingernail to pick at it and it easily flakes away. Weird.

I finish brushing, spit, wipe my mouth, and notice the same dried substance on my lips still.

“Cora!” Slater bellows from downstairs.

Quickly wetting a wash cloth with cold water – no time to wait for the hot to heat up – I scrub my face and lips, the icy temperature helping to shrug off the last crumbs of slumber.

I bend at the waist and take a drink from the tap, wincing at how much my throat hurts, and then I’m halfway down the stairs before Slater has even finished yelling my name again.

Wordlessly, I slide my feet into my shoes and follow my stepbrother out to the car. He’s revving the engine before I’ve even closed my door.

The journey to school is silent, with Slater keeping his eyes firmly on the road. There’s a tense set to his shoulders, but his hands are light on the wheel. He’s such an enigma. Virtually a stranger to me now.

“Thanks for the ride,” I say, mostly to break the tension. As we pull into the school parking lot, Slater looks over at me briefly. After he parks, he faces me fully.

“Can’t trust you to get anywhere on your own safely,” he snarls, and I resist tutting at him and flicking my eyes heavenward. For some reason, I think that might anger him.

“Whatever,” I huff. I don’t want to argue with him. I turn to flee the car, but he stops me with a warm hand on my wrist.

“Wait, I’m sorry.” His hold is firm but gentle, and my pulse comes alive under his touch. He takes a deep breath, but I’ve lost the power to breathe under his stare. “You look pretty today.”

His compliment slams into my chest, and I suck in a shallow breath. Somehow.

“Minus all the…uh, toothpaste, dried on your neck?” He lifts a brow, and I frown.

I can’t tilt my chin down far enough to see what he’s talking about. I could flip the sun visor down to check in the mirror, but I can’t handle this tension for another second longer, so I wrench my wrist free and make a run for it.

Once I’m inside the building, I slow to a walk, keeping my head down. My hand covers my neck self-consciously. I can feel something dried onto my skin, and I’m hoping it’s just a dribble of toothpaste like my stepbrother suggested. I hurry to my locker, planning to grab my books for first period and then make my way to the bathroom before class, but I stop in my tracks when I open my locker and find my phone sitting innocuously in front of my books.

I definitely didn’t leave it here last night.

What’s more, it’s fully charged. Meaning someone took my phone from my home, charged it, and left it in my locker for me to find this morning. But why? And who?

It lights up with an incoming text and vibrates, the sound loud against the metal. Books forgotten, I grab it.

Unknown number

Go to the ladies’ bathroom on the top floor immediately and wait.

Trembling, I close my locker and clutch my phone to my chest like it’s a dirty secret I’m trying to hide. Mr. Spiro. He must have changed his number. My knees shake. Why would he risk coming back to school though? And why reach out to me?

I have half a mind to ignore the message and go to class when another buzzes through. I almost drop my phone.

Unknown number

Don’t keep me waiting. You won’t like what happens next if you do.

I don’t know how I manage to make my feet move, but I do. The fear of what Mr. Spiro will do – the photos and videos I stupidly sent to him flashing through my mind – has me taking the stairs two at a time.

The top floor is deserted. I don’t have any classes up here, so I don’t even know what it’s used for – if it’s used at all. Maybe a throwback to when this was the only high school in town and had a lot more students enrolled, and so every inch of available space was used.

Now we have to compete with the newer, posher school across town that only opened last year, and a lot of parents pulled their kids out of here to go where the grass is greener. Don’t blame them. I would have switched schools too if we were zoned for it or could afford the bus fare. But it means that with fewer butts in seats, the funding is seriously cut, and so there’s a lot of space not being used and falling into disrepair.

The bathrooms are labeled and easy to find. The ladies room is deserted when I enter, and it takes me a moment of feeling along the wall in the dark to locate the light switch. I’m that spooked that it doesn’t even occur to me to use my phone’s light to see better.

“Hello?” I call out weakly. “Is anyone here?”

This time, when my phone vibrates, I do drop it. Luckily, the screen doesn’t crack.

Unknown number

sleepingbeauty.mp4

Trepidation makes my stomach sink as I click to download the file. As soon as it’s loaded, a black screen shows with only the white ‘play’ symbol. I wipe my palms on my jeans and press play, turning up the sound.

I jerk when the black fades and the footage shows my empty bedroom. Who took this? My heart beats double time and I tremble from head to toe. Please don’t be Mr. Spiro. Please don’t be him.

Dread floods me as I watch myself enter my bedroom, wrapped in a towel from my shower. I reach for the lotion I always use and have to look away when I drop the towel to start massaging it in.

Someone was in my room, invading my privacy, and filming me. Without my knowledge or consent. This is different from the video I sent Mr. Spiro. I was a willing participant then. Okay, so I didn’t particularly want to send him the video, but I was desperate and at least I knew what I was doing. This though…this feels like the worst kind of violation.

I watch, sickly fascinated, as I continue my nighttime ritual of getting ready for bed, forgoing writing in my journal because I was inexplicably exhausted.

What I don’t understand is how there can be someone in my room filming me when my mom was actually home last night. From the angle of the recording, with the phone set up across from my bed, I would have noticed someone standing there in my room, recording me, so they must have been hiding somewhere. My closet if I had to guess. Or under the bed. In another room maybe?

That brings back bad memories of my stepfather, so I shove that thought aside quickly. This isn’t him. It’s not his style.

I fast forward through the video that shows me sleeping, going too fast and too far, and having to rewind a little when a flicker of movement on screen catches my eye.

Relief makes my knees buckle, and I fall to the floor of the bathroom, clutching my phone in my hand like a desperate lifeline. It’s him. Not Mr. Spiro. The masked man.

I’ve never been so relieved to see him.

He creeps closer to my bed and stares down at me before sitting on the edge. On screen, I don’t react in any way. In the here and now, my breathing hitches.

He surprises me by reaching for my journal, and I watch as he becomes angry. It’s in the set of his shoulders, the way his hand fists as he reads, the manner in which he violently turns the pages before tearing them out one by one and shredding them.

I frown. What could I have written that would anger him so much?

He stands, frees his cock from his pants and begins to jerk it. His movements are angry, vengeful even, not pleasurable.

Getting to his feet, he leans over me and uses the gloved thumb of his free hand to part my lips. He’s still punishing his dick with his other hand, and realization hits me a moment before he grunts and releases himself all over my face.

Fuck.

It’s not toothpaste on my neck.

I can’t tear my eyes from the screen as he pushes his thumb back between my lips, and I swear I see myself suck. That can’t be real, right? There’s no way…I can’t do…that…in my sleep.

His angry stance seems to melt into one of satisfaction as he rubs his release into my skin.

“That’s it, Cora. Take me. Feed on my essence like a dirty little whore. Get used to my taste, baby, soon you’ll crave it more than life itself.”

Fuck.

Stumbling awkwardly to my feet, I rush over to the sinks and turn the nearest one on full. I wrench my top off and splash myself with cold water, clawing at my skin in a desperate attempt to remove the dried-on cum. I feel gross, too hot, ashamed…and something else too.

My phone vibrates, but I ignore it, obsessed with getting clean. It goes off again and again, but I don’t stop. The water finally heats and turns scalding, but I still continue to splash it against my skin and use my nails to scrape off every last trace of the masked man.

Tears prickmy eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. Why would he do this? Was there a clue in his final, whispered words? What did he say again? He called me a dirty little whore.

Well, I feel like one. And that’s not fair because I had zero say in what he did to me last night. How does that make me a whore?

My phone continues to vibrate across the floor, and I know I can’t ignore it any longer. I shut off the tap, grab a paper towel to pat my now sensitive skin dry, and sigh as I pick it up and see a slew of messages from the masked man.

Unknown number

Did you like that, slut?

Deny it all you like, but there’s no refuting how your body craves and responds to me.

You’re mine, Cora. Even when you’re asleep, you long to be mine.

You saw it, I know you did, the way your lips wrapped around me and sucked, trying to steal more of my taste. Such a desperate, filthy girl for me.

Don’t ignore me, Cora. Remember what I said… You won’t like what happens next. Now put your shirt back on. Lock the bathroom door and follow my instructions carefully.

I don’t hesitateto obey. If this video were to get out… God, it doesn’t bear thinking about. I quickly dress and cross to the bathroom door, peeking my head out to check that the corridor is still empty – it is – before locking the door. The second I do, my phone buzzes again.

He’s watching me. He must be. His timing is too perfect.

Glancing around, I look for cameras in the bathroom, but don’t see any. That’s a relief.

Unknown number

I know you enjoyed that, Cora. Even in your dreams, you’re a slut for me.

I shake my head as I read his words, almost imagining his mechanical voice saying them in my ear.

Unknown number

Don’t deny it. You enjoyed watching as much as you enjoyed what I did to you last night. You’re turned on. I can tell by your breathing and the way your nipples are trying to poke their way out of that tight little shirt you’re wearing. No bra. Interesting choice for school.

Feeling angry, I hit reply.

I was in a rush this morning. My alarm didn’t go off.

Unknown number

How could it, when you left your phone at school?

I swear I can see a smirk in his words. Which is crazy because I’ve never even seen his face, just that damn creepy mask, but I know he smirks at me often from beneath it. I just feel it.

He took my phone then. Deliberately planted it in my locker, knowing I would see his video at school. Why? Why not just show me this morning before school?

Because you would have said fuck being late and showered him off.

So he wanted me to come to school marked by him.

Shit.

Did Slater know it wasn’t toothpaste on my neck?

My face flames at the thought.

What do you want? I’m late for class.

Unknown number

I want you to admit that you’re turned on right now. You liked seeing what I did to you. You like it when I take away your choices and make you helpless. You’re enjoying being late for class right now, trapped in the bathroom and excited to do something illicit…

Is watching myself be sexually violated better than first period math? Tough call. But I don’t want that video being sent anywhere else, so I’m willing to play along.

You’re right… I didn’t hate it.

That’s as good as he’s going to get from me.

Unknown number

Admit it. You like being claimed by someone. Now that I’m gone, you wish you’d kept a tiny piece of me. A dirty little secret you could sit in class and clench your thighs to. The good girl who sits beside her peers covered in the cum of a man she doesn’t know.

My entire body is inflamed, reading his words. I try to tell myself it’s from embarrassment, but there’s no denying I’m clenching my thighs a little too. What the fuck is wrong with me?

Quite a lot, it seems. This masked man is determined to take something from me, yet I can’t quite figure out what. It’s not just sex. My virginity. He could have taken that – or demanded I give it to him – that first night or any night since, so there has to be something else at play.

Before I can contemplate any further what it might be, the bell rings, and I startle. Shoving my phone into the back pocket of my jeans, I grab my bag and rush over to the door. My hand is reaching for the lock when the vibration against my ass stops me.

Sighing, I remove the device once more.

Unknown number

I didn’t say you can leave.

I’ll be late for class!

Unknown number

I don’t care. And in a minute, you won’t either.

What do you want from me?

Unknown number

To have some fun.

Being late and getting into trouble isn’t my idea of fun.

Unknown number

No. Fooling around with your teacher, a known pedo is.

It wasn’t like that.

Unknown number

Save it. Every time I see that asshole’s name, I get so mad I could kill.

Realization hits: my journal. There were too many mentions of Mr. Spiro’s name. In code obviously, but anyone who read it wouldn’t know who VS was. None of the students knew his first name.

But the masked man does.

So I saw, on your video…

Unknown number

Yes, back to that. I’m going to need you to do something for me.

What? If I do it can I go to class after?

Unknown number

Yes.

Go on.

Unknown number

Touch yourself. Watch the video again with your hands inside your panties

“No.” I shake my head, shocked at his suggestion, forgetting that he can’t hear me. I quickly send my refusal via text too for good measure, even though he can clearly see me somehow.

Unknown number

It’s cute that you think you can tell me no. I’m not playing games here, Cora. Do as I say, or I start releasing your texts to Mr. Spiro to everyone in school.

With adrenaline coursing through me, I double-check the lock and move away from the door. Looking around the space, I wonder where’s best to do this. I don’t want to, but I want those messages released even less. What choice is there?

I glance at one of the toilets in the open stalls, scrunching my nose up in disgust. I don’t want to sit on the toilet and do this. I try leaning back against the sink, but it digs into me. It’s too uncomfortable. There’s no way I’ll be able to do what he wants.

My gaze snags on the radiator on the far wall, wide and low enough to perch on and thankfully it’s not on, so I won’t burn my ass in the process. I make my choice and move.

Once I’m in place, I flick open the button of my jeans and slowly lower the zipper, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth and rolling it. With one hand on my phone, I hit play on the masked man’s video and slide the other into my jeans.

I screw my eyes closed and my phone immediately vibrates.

I don’t need to read it, I know he’ll be chastising me for closing my eyes, but I do anyway because all my life I’ve been taught to be good.

Unknown number

You can’t watch the video if your eyes are closed, my sweet slut.

My core pulses. At his words? At the video? At the illicitness of what I’m doing, or the fact that I now know for sure that he’s watching me? Maybe all of those things.

I push my fingers further into my jeans, conscious of the fact that I came to school with no underwear today and the denim is already soaked. Fuck. That could be embarrassing.

Flicking my attention back to the video, I watch. Now that I know what happens, I’m able to relax a little and don’t feel sick to my stomach about who’s in my room. Knowing it’s the masked man, my masked man as I’m coming to think of him, makes me feel relieved.

I should probably be freaked out, sickened, horrified, but I’m not. There’s something about him, something about his presence and the emotions that he evokes in me, that I’m coming to crave.

My finger circles my clit, and I clamp my lips together to hold back a whimper. There’s something wrong with me. Good girls don’t get off in public bathrooms to videos of themselves being assaulted by a stranger, but when he stands and releases his cock, a rush of wetness coats my thighs.

Unknown number

Don’t come. Take yourself to the edge as many times as you need, but you do NOT have permission to finish.

Fuck, he means business. I increase the pace because I”m a glutton for punishment. I don’t want to draw this out. The thought flashes into my mind that going slow would make me even later for class, but I know that’s not why I want to go fast.

I don’t give a shit about being late for class. I chuff a laugh. He was right. I don’t care now, and that didn’t take long at all.

No. Now I want to play his game. I want to chase my pleasure. I part my lips as, on the video, he pushes his thumb into my mouth for the first time. I wish I had my hands free to mirror the action, but I need to hold my phone to keep watching.

Instead, I push my thumb south, between the lips of my pussy and into my tight channel, before pulling it free and sliding it between my lips. I suck, enjoying the taste, and my eyes gleam at the praise that comes through in his next message.

Unknown number

Such a good fucking girl. I knew you loved it. Show me how much. Pull those jeans down to your dainty little ankles and show me what’s mine.

This time, I can’t stop the helpless mewl slipping from my lips. Using both hands, I hook my thumbs into my belt loops and shimmy my jeans down my hips before bringing my phone back up to eye level to watch the video.

The masked man is jerking himself now. Violent, angry actions that make me pulse with need. My fingers find their own way back to my clit without any further instruction.

My heartbeat echoes in my ears, mingling with my pants, his actions on screen further fueling my desire until my phone vibrates again. The message pops up on screen without me having to do anything, and the words make me shiver.

Unknown number

Such a pretty pink pussy, Cora. How did it taste?

“Good,” I moan into the silent, empty room. “It tastes so good.”

As my fingers dance against my sensitive flesh, I can’t help my moans. It’s easy to forget where I am, zeroing in on the phone screen before me and losing myself in my touch. My fingers match the pace of the masked man’s erratic thrusts.

Unknown number

See what you’ve been missing out on all these years? The fun you could have been having. God, I want to watch you come apart for me. Do you want to come, Cora? Does my dirty little whore want to run back to class with cum on her thighs and no underwear to clean up the mess?

“Please,” I beg. I’m so fucking close. He said not to come, but how can I not when his words, when his actions on screen, are driving me so close to the edge?

My eyes blur with desire as I plead with him, whispering the words into the empty room. My hand works faster against my clit, matching the rhythm of the masked man’s wild thrusts on the screen. The heat is building between my legs, wetness pooling around my fingers as I edge closer to the brink.

Unknown number

That’s it, my sweet little slut. Imagine my cock inside you, fucking you hard. You love it, don’t you? You’re dripping wet for me. You want to come so bad, don’t you, Cora?

The words fill my ears, urging me on. The climax is building, the pressure escalating inside me like a dam about to burst.

Unknown number

If you come, I will punish you

My body shudders at the thought of his dominance. But I’m already so close. Punishment might almost be worth it. The thought intensifies the heat between my legs. The closer I get, the more I crave his attention. But will I be able to hold out and not give in to my desires?

The masked man’s wild thrusts seem to mirror my own frenzied movements, as my hand moves faster and faster against my clit. The pleasure is overwhelming; I’m wavering on the edge, uncertain whether to leap or hold back.

I close my eyes, imagining his cock deep inside me, fulfilling my every desire. The thought of his punishment is thrilling, arousing in its own right. It adds an extra layer of excitement to the mix, as if it’s an erotic game of cat and mouse.

As my fingers continue their relentless rhythm against my clit, I can feel the climax building inside of me, threatening to overtake me. The pleasure is intense, the anticipation almost unbearable, but I know I must resist, as I’ve been instructed.

I take a deep breath, steeling my resolve, and look back at the screen.

“No, I won’t come,” I whisper, my voice barely above a breath. “I don’t want to be punished. I want to follow your rules.”

I half hoped my submission would make him change his mind, but when his next message comes through, disappointment and frustration battle for dominance.

Unknown number

STOP

With a growl of frustration, I yank my hand away, panting and miserable. “Are you happy?” I snarl, pissed. What the fuck? He has me late for class, masturbating in a school bathroom, following his every command and whim, and I don’t even get to come for my efforts? That’s fucked up.

More fucked up than all the other shit he does to you? Get a grip, Cora.

I force myself to take a deep breath to calm down. My phone vibrates again, and without thinking, I pick it up and bring it back to my face, eager for his next words.

Unknown number

What’s the matter, Cora? Can’t take a little denial now and then? I’m just testing your resolve, to see how much you want me. Don’t worry, I won’t leave you wanting for long.

My heart skips a beat at the prospect of him giving in. I take a deep breath, trying to slow my breathing. I’m a mess, my body trembling and damp with arousal, my mind a whirl of confusion and desire. I clutch my phone to my chest, hoping to ground myself.

Then I hear the sound of footsteps outside in the hallway. Panic grips me, and I freeze. What if someone hears me? What if they find me like this? My heart pounds in my chest as I yank my jeans up my thighs, button up and race to wash my hands.

I consider my options. I can either wait for him to respond, or I can slip away and forget about the intriguing game we’ve been playing.

Unknown number

What’s wrong, Cora? Are you scared? Afraid to be caught being a dirty bad little slut, or afraid it’s me standing outside, about to burst in and make you scream?

My stomach twists with guilt and embarrassment, but I can’t help the admission.

“Yes,” I whisper, my voice barely a thread. “I’m scared.” I don’t tell him all the things I’m scared of – he probably already knows. He seems able to read me so easily.

I’m most scared, wondering how I’m supposed to go back to normal when all this is over. When he finally has what he wants or decides he’s bored with torturing me. I’m scared I won’t know how to go back to being ‘good’ - terrified my life will go back to being mundane and monotonous.

The masked man has awoken something that’s been laid dormant in me for a long time, and I don’t know how to force it back into hibernation. I don’t even know if I want to.

Unknown number

Fear is good, my dirty little slut. It makes for an even sweeter release. But I’d never let anyone look upon what’s mine like this.

Now tell me, have you ever been with a man like me before? Have you ever let someone take control of you, to the point where you don’t know where one ends and the other begins?

My heart races as I consider his question. The truth is, I’ve never had a sexual experience quite like this. No one has ever dominated me before. The thrill and fear of the unknown is dizzying.

“No,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. He knows my answer already, but he wants to hear me say it. “I’ve never had an experience like this before.”

Unknown number

Well, I’m glad you’ve found your dark side, my sweet Cora. Now, I promise you, the pleasure is just around the corner. But for now, you have to trust me. Keep your desires secret, and your body will thank you. Get to class and do not say a word to anyone.

The footsteps in the corridor fade away, and I’m alone once more. When no more messages come through, disappointment surges through me, leaving me panting and trembling. I stare at the phone in my hand, my heart pounding with anticipation and trepidation. Why am I excited at the prospect of his next visit? Have I fallen under his spell so easily?