Chapter 172
“She’s fine! Someone’s watching her. She won’t die, Grace said coldly.
–
Sarah was deeply worried. Mia’s psychological trauma made her sensitive to stress being kidnapped could trigger another episode.
“Mia has mental health issues. She can’t handle shock. Take me to her once I see she’s safe, I’ll write whatever you want!”
Sarah kept her voice gentle, noticing Grace seemed on the verge of breakdown.
Perhaps the paper incident had pushed her over the edge. Sarah spoke even more softly. “Professor Harrison, remember that before your dismissal, you were a teacher. You taught at Adams for many years, and Mia was your student. Teachers should protect their students. I believe this isn’t what you really want, and we can still resolve this before it gets worse. I’ll help write your paper, but think about it – you were caught last time. What if you’re discovered again? As a psychology professor yourself, you must understand your current state. Don’t do something you’ll regret!”
Grace slammed the steering wheel. “Shut up! If it weren’t for you, that paper would be in the Academic Journal by now. If you hadn’t shown up, how could anyone have known!”
“Please calm down. Even if not at Adams, you could teach at another psychology department. Or open your own counseling practice. Anything’s better than this,” Sarah persisted.
“She told me it’s over! I have no future left!”
Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “Who?”
‘Never mind that! Mia’s fine. She’s not hurt.” Grace fell silent, focusing on driving.
Minutes later, the van stopped at an abandoned building. Grace led Sarah to the second floor, past grimy, blackened furniture. Before she could enter fully, Sarah was shoved into a room an empty room. No sign of Mia.
“Where’s Mia?”
Meanwhile, at a corner café, several girls were taking photos in a studio.
A girl handed Mia freshly printed photos. “See? I told you this pose would look good! So vulnerable next time a professor scolds you, show them this. They won’t have the heart to be strict.”
“Wow, these are amazing!” Mia took the photos, then started patting her pockets, searching. “My phone’s gone! Where’s my phone?”
As her friends helped search, the girl who’d given her the photos quietly placed a phone in the corner from her bag.
Much later, Mia spotted her phone. She pressed the power button several times. “Is it dead?”
She wiped off the dust and put it in her backpack, admiring the new photos. She had
friends to try
ry this studio’s new style.
+15 Bonus
–
Some photos showed ethereal fairy poses. One looked particularly vulnerable – not actually tied up, just posed with rope to create
the effect of being bound.
As she packed up to leave, she saw her brother’s car.
“Zac!”
