Chapter 53

Ashley wasn’t completely sure how she had gotten here. She had decided to start out on grading her student’s papers early enough that it wouldn’t be a hassle at a later date.

As she focused on organizing the papers, an unexpected presence had enveloped her from behind. Before she could react, a pair of strong arms encircled her, and a cloth was pressed against her nose and mouth. Panic surged through her as a strange, sweet scent filled the air, but before she could comprehend what was happening, darkness descended.

The world blurred into a disorienting haze, and her surroundings faded into an ominous void. Unseen hands guided her unconscious form, leaving behind the unfinished task of grading and the quiet solitude of her office.

Minutes ticked by in the eerie silence, the only evidence of disturbance being the abandoned papers and the stillness of the office. Outside, the routine cadence of university life continued, oblivious to the mysterious interruption in Ashley's world.

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