Chapter 19

In the days that followed, Clarisse returned to her routines, throwing herself into music and the upcoming competitions. Theodore never showed up again, as if he had finally left for good. Relief settled in. The tension that had been gripping her for so long began to ease, allowing her to focus fully on her career. But peace, as always, was just the calm before the storm. … It was a quiet evening. Clarisse had just finished rehearsal and was heading home alone. The area around her apartment was silent, the only light coming from a flickering streetlamp by the curb. As she stepped through the front doors of the building, a hand reached out from the dark and clamped over her mouth and nose. A sharp scent flooded her senses. She barely had time to let out a muffled cry before everything went black. When she came to, she was lying on a cold, metallic table. Panic surged through her chest. Before she could scream, a deep, familiar voice whispered in her ear, "You're awake?" She j