Chapter 69: The Stranger in Her Skin

Ben's heart pounded as he stared up at the woman on top of him—Ellie's face, Ellie's body, but not Ellie.

She stiffened at the sound of her own name, as if it was a foreign word she hadn't heard in a long time.

"Ellie?" he repeated, his voice cracking.

For a fraction of a second, something flickered in her darkened eyes—recognition? A struggle? A buried memory clawing its way to the surface?

Then, just as quickly, it was gone.

A slow, eerie smile stretched across her lips. Too wide. Too knowing.

"Ben," she purred, tilting her head like a predator amused by its prey.

He tensed beneath her, a shiver racing down his spine.

"You're thinking too much," she continued, dragging a lazy finger down his chest, her nails just sharp enough to send a dangerous thrill through his skin.

His body was still betraying him, still drawn to her warmth, to the intoxicating scent of Ellie's skin. But his mind refused to fall under the spell.

"Get off me," he said, his voice firmer this time.

She laughed softly, her eyes darkening further—a void swallowing light.

"Why? Are you afraid?"

Ben clenched his jaw. Yes. But not for the reason she thought.

He was afraid of what he had almost done.

Afraid of how close he had come to giving in to something wearing Ellie's face.

"I know you're not her," he said.

The thing inside Ellie didn't flinch. Instead, she sighed, almost as if she was disappointed.

"You men are always the same," she murmured. "So desperate for pleasure, yet so quick to deny yourselves."

She leaned in, her lips hovering just over his.

"What if I told you..." she whispered, her breath hot against his skin, "...that she's never coming back?"

Ben's stomach twisted.

"You're lying."

She smiled.

"Am I?"

And then—she moved.

A flash of motion, too quick, too inhuman.

Her hands tightened around his wrists, pinning him down with a strength no human woman should have.

Her lips brushed against his ear.

"Ellie is gone," she breathed, low and triumphant. "And you? You're mine now."

A cold, suffocating dread crashed over him.

Ben gritted his teeth. No.

This thing had taken everything.

His love. His sanity. His soul.

And now, it wanted his surrender.

"No," he growled, his muscles tensing.

Her grip tightened, nails pressing into his skin.

"Yes," she whispered. "And you know it."

She moved against him again, slow, deliberate. Testing him. Daring him.

Ben's head swam. The pull was still there. The twisted temptation of what felt like Ellie but wasn't.

But he wouldn't lose himself.

Not now.

Not to this.

Not when Ellie's voice was still calling for him from somewhere beyond the void.

He forced his breathing to steady.

"Tell me," he said, staring into the darkness in her eyes, "who are you?"

The thing in Ellie's body paused.

For the first time, Ben saw hesitation.

Then, slowly, her lips curved into a cruel, knowing smirk.

"You already know."

And deep down, Ben realized that he did.

This wasn't just any nameless soul.

This was something ancient. Something powerful.

And it wasn't done with him yet.