Sins Of Her Venom
Chapter 63: Closet Case

Chapter 63: Closet Case

-Glyndon Walton: ( Song of the Chapter: Okay by Chase Atlantic)

I stood there, frozen, long after Kathrine disappeared over the balcony. My breath came in shallow, uneven gasps, my skin still burning where she had touched me.

My mind was at war with itself.

She had been in my room. In my space. Touching me. Whispering in my ear like she knew every dark thought that had ever crossed my mind.

And the worst part?

I had let her.

Again.

I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. I needed to get a grip. I needed to snap out of this.

My legs finally moved, and I rushed toward the balcony, peering over the edge into the night below. Nothing. She was gone. Just like that.

A shiver crawled up my spine, and I took a shaky step back, my heart still racing. I slammed the balcony door shut, locking it this time, before stumbling toward my bed. But there was no way I was sleeping after that.

Instead, I sat on the edge of the mattress, my hands buried in my hair, trying to breathe, trying to think.

She had been outside my window. She had seen the fear in my eyes and had enjoyed it.

And yet, she had been in my room, touching me, whispering to me like she—

I shook my head violently. No. I wasn’t going there.

My phone buzzed beside me, and I flinched so hard I nearly dropped it. My pulse thundered as I grabbed it, my fingers trembling as I unlocked the screen.

A message from an unknown number.

Didyoulikemyvisit, princess?

My stomach dropped. My breath caught in my throat.

A second message came through almost instantly.

Youshouldbemorecareful. Youneverknowwhomightbewatching.

A chill ran through me, cold and sharp. My grip tightened around the phone as my vision blurred with panic.

And then, one last message.

An image.

I hesitated before tapping it open, my blood running ice-cold when I saw what it was.

A picture of me.

Sitting on my bed. Hands in my hair. Looking terrified.

It had been taken just seconds ago.

From the balcony.

My lungs locked up. I shot to my feet, whirling toward the door, toward the windows, scanning every dark corner of my room.

Nothing.

But I knew.

They were still out there. Watching. Waiting.

A sick sense of dread settled in my stomach as I backed away from the window, my hands shaking so badly I almost dropped my phone.

I needed to tell someone. I needed to—

I needed to do nothing.

Because if I did, Alex would find out.

And if Alex found out, it wouldn’t just be Kathrine who suffered.

It would be me.

————

The moment we stepped onto campus, I knew something was off. There was an unusual buzz in the air—students whispering, laughing, pointing at something up ahead.

Alex strode forward with his usual arrogance, completely unaware, but I felt a sick kind of tension creeping up my spine.

And then I saw it.

His locker.

Spray-painted in bold, dripping red letters were the words: "Closet Case."

Gasps rippled through the hallway. Phones were out, capturing his stunned expression as he froze in place, his jaw clenching so tight I thought his teeth might crack.

For the first time since I’d known him, Alex looked... vulnerable.

His hands curled into fists at his sides, his face paling before it flushed with rage. "Who the fuck did this?"

Laughter erupted from a group nearby. Someone whistled. A guy I vaguely recognized snickered, "Looks like someone’s got secrets."

Alex whipped around, his glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Shut the fuck up."

But the damage was done. The rumor mill was already turning.

Kathrine.

I didn’t have to turn to know she was watching. I could feel her.

And when I finally glanced her way, my breath caught.

She was leaning against her locker, arms crossed, face unreadable—but her eyes... her eyes burned with something almost victorious.

She had done this.

I knew it.

And the worst part?

I wasn’t even mad.

I should have been.

Alex was furious, pacing like a caged animal, throwing accusations left and right. His pride was in shambles, and I could already see the wheels in his head turning, planning his next move.

But all I could do was watch Kathrine.

She didn’t smirk. She didn’t gloat. She simply held my gaze, as if daring me to react.

My stomach twisted.

I was in deep. Too deep.

And for the first time, I wondered if there was any way out.

I barely slept that night. Every creak of the house, every whisper of wind against the window had my heart lurching into my throat. I kept my phone in my hand, staring at the screen, expecting another message. Another picture. Another reminder that she and the stalker were watching.

But nothing came.

By the time morning arrived, I felt like I’d lived through a nightmare that never ended. My body ached with exhaustion, but my mind refused to shut off.

Kathrine had been in my room.

She had touched me.

It was so good.

And I had let it happen.

I wasn’t just afraid of her anymore.

I was afraid of myself.

I dragged myself through my morning routine, my reflection in the mirror looking hollow-eyed and pale. Alex would notice if I showed up like this, and I couldn’t afford to make him suspicious.

So I forced myself to shower, letting the scalding water burn away the feeling of Kathrine’s hands on my skin. I scrubbed hard, harder than necessary like I could erase the way she had whispered against my ear, the way she had made me shiver despite myself.

I hated her. I had to hate her.

But my body told a different story.

I dressed quickly, opting for something simple our school uniform, and a sweater, my usual boots. Something normal. Something safe.

By the time I made it downstairs, Carla had already set the table for breakfast. The scent of coffee and fresh toast filled the air, but my stomach churned too much to eat.

"Good morning, Miss Glyndon." Carla smiled warmly as she poured me a cup of coffee. "You look tired. Did you not sleep well?"

I forced a small smile. "Just a rough night."

She frowned, but before she could pry any further, a familiar honk came from outside.

Alex.

I swallowed down the anxiety rising in my throat, grabbed my bag, and hurried out the door.

The moment I slid into the passenger seat, Alex’s sharp eyes flicked over me. "You look like shit."

"Good morning to you too," I muttered, buckling my seatbelt.

He chuckled, pulling out of my driveway. "Bad dreams?"

I hesitated. "Something like that."

He hummed, but I could tell he wasn’t convinced.

A few moments of silence passed before he spoke again, his tone lighter, but with an edge I recognized too well.

"So, I was thinking... after what happened yesterday, I don’t think we’ve humiliated Kathrine enough."

My fingers curled into my lap. "Alex..."

"Come on," he drawled, smirking. "It’s fun, isn’t it? Watching her squirm? You saw her face yesterday. She’s breaking, Glyn. And I think I know exactly how to push her over the edge."

My heart slammed against my ribs. "What are you planning?"

His grip tightened on the steering wheel, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "You’ll see."

I wanted to be sick.

I should have stopped him. I should have said something.

But all I could think about was Kathrine.

The way she had looked at me.

The way she had touched me.

And I knew—deep in my bones—I wasn’t just afraid of her anymore.

I was afraid of what I was becoming.

——-

Alex exhaled sharply through his nose before twisting the lock with more force than necessary. The door swung open, and I barely had time to glance inside before he tensed beside me.

A flicker of motion—his hands moving fast—snatching something from the inside of his locker before I could fully see.

But I had seen.

Just for a second.

A photograph.

Alex.

And someone else.

The image was slightly blurred, but I caught enough to know it wasn’t just some random picture.

The way Alex was leaning, the proximity, the way his body angled toward the other figure—there was an intimacy there, something changed, something... real.

And Alex had hidden it like his life depended on it.

My heart pounded. I tried to keep my expression neutral, but my mind was already spinning, piecing together moments, hints, and things that suddenly made too much sense.

Alex slammed his locker shut, his face unreadable, but his movements were rigid.

"What was that?" I asked, my voice as casual as I could make it.

"Nothing," he muttered, stuffing the picture deep into his bag.

A lie.

I could feel the weight of it between us, thick and suffocating. But I didn’t press. Not now.

Instead, I gave him a slow, measured look before shrugging. "If you say so."

He scoffed. "Don’t start, Glyndon."

"I’m not starting anything." I tucked my books under my arm, pretending not to notice the way his hand was still clenched into a fist around the strap of his bag. "You’re the one acting weird."

"I’m not acting weird," he snapped, too fast.

I just hummed, letting silence settle between us.

For the first time since I met him, Alex King looked rattled.

And I wasn’t sure if I wanted to dig deeper into what I had just seen because....I’m afraid to admit that I don’t care even if I’m being cheated on—