Chapter 68: The Seduction of a Hollow Man

Ben swallowed hard as Ellie—or whatever wore her skin—leaned in closer. Her breath was warm against his neck, her fingers trailing slow, deliberate circles on his chest.

"You're so tense, Ben," she whispered, her lips barely grazing his earlobe.

His body reacted before his mind could catch up. A shiver ran down his spine, not entirely from desire—there was something wrong, something unnatural about the way she touched him.

But she knew exactly what to do.

Her hands moved with too much confidence. Ellie had always been gentle, hesitant, playful. But this Ellie? She was hungry.

She straddled him, her body pressing firmly against his, her hands sliding under his shirt. Her nails scraped lightly over his skin, and his breath hitched.

"Let me take care of you," she murmured, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to his jaw.

Ben's hands instinctively went to her hips, his fingers digging in as she rolled against him. Heat flooded his veins, a dangerous, intoxicating pull.

But his mind screamed at him to stop.

Something wasn't right.

His hands trembled as he gripped her waist, trying to push her back, even as his body betrayed him.

"Ellie..." His voice was hoarse, conflicted.

She tilted her head, her dark eyes gleaming in the dim light. There was something unfamiliar in them. A predatory look, a challenge.

"Why are you hesitating?" she purred, grinding against him again.

Ben squeezed his eyes shut. The scent was Ellie's. The feel of her skin, the warmth of her body—it was all Ellie.

But the way she moved, the way she spoke—

It wasn't her.

A deep, instinctive fear clawed at his gut.

He grabbed her wrists, firm but careful.

"Ellie, stop."

For a moment, she stilled. Then, slowly, deliberately, she leaned in, brushing her lips against his ear.

"Why?"

Her voice was a breathy whisper, but there was an edge to it.

Ben's jaw clenched. His pulse pounded in his ears.

He wanted her. He had wanted her since the first moment he laid eyes on her.

But this wasn't her.

"Because I know you're not Ellie."

Silence.

A chilling stillness filled the room.

Then, she laughed.

Low. Sultry. Dangerous.

"Oh, Ben." She pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes. Her pupils had darkened, expanding like ink bleeding into water.

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice."

Ben's heart slammed against his ribs. His grip on her wrists tightened.

"Who are you?" he whispered.

Her smile widened.

And then—she moved.

Faster than he could react, she pinned his hands above his head, her strength unnatural, inhuman.

Her mouth was on his throat, teeth grazing skin, tongue tracing the pulse point.

Ben's breath came in ragged gasps. He needed to fight.

But the pull was overwhelming.

"Let go," he gritted out.

She chuckled.

"You don't really want that, do you?"

She rolled her hips, slow, torturous.

Desire warred with dread.

His body screamed for her. His soul screamed to run.

But then—

A whisper.

Soft. Faint. Familiar.

"Ben..."

His entire body tensed.

The voice wasn't coming from the woman straddling him.

It was coming from somewhere else.

Somewhere distant.

Somewhere trapped.

His eyes widened.

"Ellie?"

The thing on top of him froze.

And for the first time, he saw it.

The flicker of something other in her eyes. The ghost of a smirk that wasn't Ellie's at all.

His stomach twisted.

His blood ran cold.

This thing had been trying to erase her.

And he had almost let it.