Chapter 30: A Dangerous Betrayal

The day of the ceremonial event had arrived, but for Mary, it felt like yet another burden she had to bear. The hallways buzzed with excitement as students gathered for the event where the new students were introduced and shown around the school. The air was filled with the energy of anticipation, but Mary felt a knot in her stomach, a heaviness that refused to lift.

Uncle John, her teacher and the one person she could always count on, had asked her to be at the hall by 3 p.m. He had even made it a point to speak with her earlier that day, encouraging her to attend, to be a part of the event, and to enjoy the company of her classmates. Mary, knowing that Uncle John cared for her well-being, had agreed, feeling a small flicker of hope that maybe this event would provide her with some much-needed distraction from the growing storm inside her.

But as the clock ticked closer to 3 p.m., everything started to unravel.

Ryan and Mona, two people who had begun to occupy more space in Mary's life recently, approached her with an offer. Their smiles were sweet, their voices soft and convincing.

"Mary, why don't you skip the event for today?" Ryan asked casually, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "We can go somewhere quiet, just the three of us. It'll be way more fun than that stuffy ceremony."

Mona quickly added, her tone smooth and persuasive, "You've been under a lot of pressure lately. A little break would do wonders for you. We can just hang out, relax. You deserve it."

Mary hesitated, feeling the pull of their invitation. On one hand, she had promised Uncle John that she would attend the ceremony, but on the other, she couldn't ignore the weight of the pressure bearing down on her. The thought of escaping the event, even if just for a moment, was tempting.

"I… I don't know," Mary murmured, torn between her promise and the chance to have a small respite from everything that was piling up. "Uncle John asked me to wait for 3 p.m."

But Ryan's persistence wore her down. "Look, we'll just have a little fun together," he urged, his voice laced with false warmth. "We'll be back before you know it. You can still make it to the ceremony afterward if you want."

Mona, always the smooth talker, joined in. "Just for a little while, Mary. You've been so busy, and we really just want you to relax. Come on, you deserve this. Besides, Uncle John will understand. It's only a couple of hours."

Mary's resolve weakened, and the pressure from both Ryan and Mona pushed her to make a decision she wasn't entirely comfortable with. "Okay," she said reluctantly. "I'll go with you, but just for a little while."

The three of them left the bustling hallways, heading toward a quieter part of the school called the backroom, away from the buzz of the ceremony. The room they took her to was small and dimly lit, with comfortable chairs and a few cushions scattered around. It seemed harmless enough, a place where they could sit, talk, and relax. But as Mary entered, something about the atmosphere felt off—too secluded, too private. Still, she couldn't quite put her finger on what was bothering her.

Mona handed her a cup of yogurt, her voice soft and reassuring. "Here, we got this for you. We thought you'd like it. It's the perfect snack to help you feel better."While we have this wine, because we knew you don't take wine,she smiled.

Mary looked at the cup of yogurt, her mind still a little foggy from the stress of the day. She wasn't sure why, but she felt an uneasy tug in her gut. She had always been careful about what she ate, especially when it came to accepting food or drinks from others. But in that moment, she felt an inexplicable sense of trust—trust that had been carefully cultivated by Ryan and Mona over the past few weeks.

"I'm not really thirsty, but…" Mary trailed off, unsure of why she was even considering it.

Ryan gave her a reassuring smile, "It's just yogurt. You'll feel great. Trust us."

Reluctantly, Mary took the cup and took a small spoonful. At first, everything seemed normal, and she even felt a small sense of relief from the weight of her worries. The yogurt was creamy and smooth, with a hint of sweetness. But as she continued eating, a strange sense of calm began to wash over her. Her mind slowed, her thoughts drifting aimlessly. It felt like a temporary escape, like the tension that had been suffocating her for weeks was finally starting to fade.

Unbeknown to Mary, the drug that had been mixed into the yogurt was beginning to take effect. She felt a little dizzy, but she brushed it off as fatigue. Ryan and Mona exchanged knowing glances, pleased with how quickly the drug was working.

As the minutes passed, Mary's vision became blurry, and her limbs felt heavy. The room seemed to spin slightly, and her thoughts became disjointed. She no longer cared about the ceremony, about Uncle John's request, or about anything else. She just wanted to feel better, to escape from the suffocating emotions that had haunted her for so long.

Ryan and Mona were quick to seize the moment. They led her to a bed in the backroom, a place where they had planned to isolate her and manipulate her while she was vulnerable. The drug had dulled her senses, making her more susceptible to their actions.

Mary felt a strange sense of warmth as she lay down, but everything felt hazy. Ryan sat beside her, trying to comfort her in a way that felt more intimate than it should have been. Mona stood nearby, pretending to be concerned, all while secretly recording everything with her phone. They had planned this moment carefully, knowing that Mary's disorientation would make it easier to control the situation.

As Ryan leaned closer, Mary barely registered what was happening. Everything felt distant, like a dream she couldn't escape from. The room was spinning, and her mind was clouded. She

couldn't fight back. She couldn't think straight.

Ryan and Mona, now fully aware of the power they had over her, continued with their twisted plan. The camera recorded how Ryan was kissing and rubbing hands around her body while she was half naked—everything they knew they could use to manipulate her later. They had pushed her to this breaking point, and now they would have everything they needed to control her.

Mary had no idea what was happening. She couldn't think clearly enough to understand the danger she was in. The trust she had placed in Ryan and Mona, who had once seemed like friends, had been shattered. What she thought was an innocent escape had turned into something far darker.