Michael_Olayemi_3708

Fifteen-year-old Mary appears to have a bright and promising life, but beneath the surface, she battles inner turmoil. Haunted by guilt over a childhood incident with her younger brother, Mark, Mary struggles with self-harm as she faces the growing pressures of family conflict, academic decline, and bullying at school.

Mary's life takes a darker turn when a manipulative new student, Ryan, enters her world. Drawn in by his charm, she hopes he can help her escape her pain, only to be betrayed by his sinister motives. Together with Mona, a jealous classmate with a vendetta against Mary, Ryan's deceit leads Mary into an emotional and physical downward spiral.

As her family’s financial struggles and emotional distance worsen, Mary finds herself isolated from the few sources of light in her life, including her best friend, Sophie. The story builds to a devastating climax when Mary overdoses, sending her into a coma. From there, The Dark Side explores themes of guilt, betrayal, redemption, and recovery as Mary fights her way back to the surface.

The broken path

Mona and Ryan met at their usual secluded spot in the corner of the schoolyard, a place they often used to exchange secrets and plot their schemes without the risk of being overheard. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the worn-out benches, but neither of them noticed the beauty of the setting. Their focus was entirely on their twisted plan.

Mona leaned against the wall, her arms crossed and a devious smirk playing on her lips. "The student orientation event is next week," she began, her voice low and calculated. "It's the perfect opportunity."

Ryan sat on the bench, his expression serious. "And you're sure we can pull this off?"

"Of course," Mona replied confidently, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "We've been planning this for weeks. Mary is already isolated. She's vulnerable, and she trusts you completely. This will be easy."

Ryan nodded, though a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face. He quickly masked it with a smirk of his own. "So, what's the plan exactly?"

Mona stepped closer, lowering her voice. "At the event, you'll keep her close. Make her feel special—like she's the only person who matters. Get her to trust you even more. Once she's comfortable, you'll offer her the drink."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "The drink?"

Mona pulled a small vial from her pocket, holding it up for him to see. "This. It's tasteless, odorless. She won't even notice. It'll make her drowsy and disoriented, but still conscious enough for... you know."

Ryan swallowed hard, his unease briefly showing. "And then?"

"And then," Mona said, her tone dripping with malice, "you'll take her to the backroom. You will take off all her clothes,sleep on the same bed with her,kiss her and do things like you want to have sex.We'll record everything. Once we have the footage, she'll have no choice but to do what we want."

Ryan stared at the vial, a mixture of excitement and trepidation in his eyes. "And you're sure this will work?"

"It has to," Mona snapped. "Once we have that video, Mary will be completely under our control. She'll do anything to keep it from getting out. It's the ultimate leverage."

Ryan hesitated for a moment, but Mona's piercing gaze left no room for doubt. "Fine," he said, pocketing the vial. "But this better not backfire."

"It won't," Mona assured him, her smirk returning. "We've covered everything. And besides, Mary's too naïve to suspect a thing. She's practically walking right into our trap."

As they finalized their plan and kissed themselves, the sound of laughter from students in the distance reminded them of the upcoming event and the opportunity it presented. Mona and Ryan exchanged a glance, their shared cruelty binding them together in their sinister mission. Meanwhile Ryan and Mona are already dating.

The plan was set. All that was left was to wait.

Chapter 24: The Plan Unfolds