HELLBOUND

Cherry's POV

There were three things I hated about Ravencrest University.The first was the money.The second was the people who had too much of it.And the third was the fact that, somehow, I had ended up surrounded by both.I stood outside the main entrance with one hand gripping the strap of my backpack and the other holding the admission letter I'd printed three times because I still couldn't believe it was real.RAVENCREST UNIVERSITYThe words were carved into an enormous black stone wall beneath the university crest.The gates behind it looked like they belonged to a castle.Gothic buildings rose beyond the courtyard, their dark roofs disappearing into the morning mist. Students crossed the enormous lawn carrying coffee cups that probably cost more than my breakfast.A black limousine stopped near the entrance.Two girls stepped out.One of them was complaining about her father's driver being five minutes late.I looked down at my shoes.One of the soles was beginning to separate.Perfect.I was going to fit in beautifully."Cherry!"I turned.Anitra came running toward me.She nearly crashed into me before grabbing both my shoulders."You actually came!""I told you I was coming.""I know, but this place is terrifying."I looked around."It is."She stared at the buildings."Do you know how much tuition is here?""Don't remind me.""You got a scholarship.""I know.""That's basically winning the lottery."She went quiet.I smiled."Exactly."Anitra knew.She knew about my dads.She knew how hard they'd worked to get me here.She knew that I couldn't afford to waste this opportunity.And she knew that every time I looked at the tuition bill, my stomach twisted.My family wasn't poor enough for people to pity us.We were just poor enough to struggle.There was a difference.My two dads had raised me with everything they could give.Love.Arguments.Bad jokes.Burnt dinners.Too many lectures.And a home that never felt empty.I would do anything to keep them from worrying about money.Anything."Come on," Anitra said."Where?""Orientation.""I know where orientation is.""You've been staring at that wall for five minutes.""I was admiring the architecture.""You were having an existential crisis.""I can do both."She laughed.We walked through the gates.And that was when I heard it.A motorcycle.The sound ripped through the quiet morning.Everyone stopped.Students turned.Even the security guard looked toward the road.A black motorcycle entered through the side gate.It wasn't the loudest motorcycle I'd ever heard.It didn't need to be.The rider knew exactly what kind of attention he was getting.He stopped beside the fountain.For a moment, he didn't move.Then he removed his helmet.Dark hair fell messily across his forehead.Black leather jacket.Black jeans.Silver rings.A chain around his neck.He looked like he had stepped out of some stupidly expensive magazine designed to make girls forget how to think.Anitra grabbed my sleeve."Don't.""Don't what?""Look at him."I looked at her."Why?""Because that's Austin Blackwood."I looked back."Oh."I'd heard the name.Everybody had.Austin Blackwood.Fourth-year Business student.Blackwood heir.Motorcycle.Money.Influence.A reputation that people whispered about and immediately denied knowing anything about.He was surrounded by three guys.Charlie was one of them.I recognized Charlie from orientation.The other one was Lorenzo.The third guy—I didn't know.Austin said something.They laughed.Then his eyes moved across the courtyard.And stopped.On me.I looked away.I wasn't interested.At least that's what I told myself."Cherry.""What?""He's looking at you.""I noticed.""Then stop looking back.""I wasn't.""You literally just looked back."I sighed."Anitra.""What?""Relax."She shook her head."You don't understand.""No, I understand perfectly.""Do you?""Yes."I looked across the courtyard again.Austin was still watching me.This time, I didn't look away.Neither did he.Then he smiled.Not warmly.Not kindly.It was the kind of smile that made you feel like you'd just stepped onto someone's private territory without permission.I hated it.So I smiled back.His smile disappeared.Good.I turned away."Problem solved."Anitra stared at me."What did you just do?""Nothing.""You smiled at Austin Blackwood.""Yes.""Why?""Because apparently I have terrible survival instincts."She groaned."Cherry!"I laughed.But the joke didn't last long.Because someone suddenly bumped into me.My sketchbook fell.Pages scattered across the pavement."Sorry."I crouched immediately.Another hand reached for one of the pages.I grabbed it first."Don't."The voice came from above me.I looked up.Austin.Of course.He was holding another page.A drawing.One of my fashion sketches.He studied it.Then looked at me."You drew this?""Give it back."He didn't.I stood."That's mine.""I know.""Then give it back."His eyes dropped to the drawing again."You have talent."I blinked.That wasn't what I expected."Thanks."He handed it to me.But before I could take it, his fingers tightened around the edge."You're in Fashion Design?""Yes.""Scholarship?"My expression changed."Why?"He shrugged."Just asking.""You don't ask everyone that.""No."His eyes stayed on mine."Just you."Something about the way he said it made my skin crawl.I pulled the paper from his hand."Then stop."Austin smiled again."Interesting.""What?""You don't scare easily.""I don't know you.""You should."Then he walked away.I watched him leave.Anitra came beside me."I warned you."I shoved the sketchbook into my bag."He's arrogant.""Yes.""Annoying.""Yes.""Insufferable.""Definitely.""Then we're finished."Anitra stared at me."That's what you think."By noon, I had already learned three things.One: Ravencrest students loved gossip.Two: Austin Blackwood was apparently involved in half of it.Three: rich people had problems I couldn't even imagine.I sat in the cafeteria with Anitra, Charlie and Lorenzo.Charlie was eating like he'd been starving for three days."You guys seriously don't know anything about Austin?" he asked.I looked up."Why would I?"Charlie laughed."Because he noticed you."Anitra nearly choked on her drink."Charlie!""What?""Stop."Lorenzo leaned back."He's right."I frowned."Can everyone stop talking like I'm being hunted?"Charlie looked at me."You're new.""So?""Austin doesn't usually notice new people.""Maybe he noticed my drawing.""Maybe.""Why do you sound like you don't believe that?"Charlie shrugged."I don't know."Lorenzo looked toward the cafeteria entrance.Then his expression changed.Austin had entered.The room seemed to shift around him.People made space.He didn't ask for it.They simply gave it.He walked past tables without acknowledging anyone.Until he reached ours.He stopped."Move."Charlie immediately moved over.Austin sat beside him.I stared.There were hundreds of seats."You know," I said, "there are other tables."Austin looked at me."I know.""Then why here?""Because I wanted this one."I laughed once."You really are spoiled."The entire table went silent.Charlie looked like he'd just watched someone walk willingly into traffic.Austin's eyebrows lifted."What did you call me?""Nothing.""You definitely called me something.""Then you heard it."Lorenzo covered his mouth.Anitra kicked me under the table.Austin leaned back.He wasn't angry.That somehow made it worse."What are you studying?""Fashion.""Second year?"I frowned."How do you know?"He smiled."I know things.""That's creepy.""Maybe."He stood.Before leaving, he looked at my backpack.There was a tiny cherry keychain hanging from the zipper."Nice.""What?""The cherry."I touched it."My name is Cherry.""I know."He walked away.I watched him go.Anitra whispered:"You're in trouble."I sighed."I haven't even done anything.""Exactly."That evening, I left campus after my last class.The sky was already dark.Ravencrest looked completely different at night.The beautiful old buildings became shadows.The windows glowed yellow.The courtyard emptied.And the wealthy students disappeared into their cars.I couldn't.I had work.I pulled my jacket tighter around myself and started walking toward the bus stop.Halfway there, my phone vibrated.Dad: Are you coming home tonight?I smiled.Me: yes. Don't wait for me.Another message appeared.Dad: Be careful.I typed:Always.I stared at the word.Then deleted it.I typed:I will. Love you.I sent it.My phone went into my pocket.I kept walking.I didn't notice the motorcycle behind me until it slowed.I stopped.The engine stopped too.I turned.Austin.He removed his helmet."Need a ride?""No.""Didn't ask where you're going.""I don't need a ride anywhere.""You're walking alone.""I've survived nineteen years."He laughed quietly."You're stubborn.""And you're following me.""I happened to be going this way.""Sure."I walked away.The motorcycle started again.He passed me.Then stopped farther ahead.I stopped too.He looked back."Get on.""No.""Fine."He drove away.I watched the red taillight disappear.Then continued walking.Ten minutes later, I heard the motorcycle again.He was behind me.I turned."You've got to be kidding me."Austin stopped."Get on.""No.""Why?""Because I don't know you."He stared at me.Then he said quietly:"That's probably the smartest thing you've said all day."I frowned."What?"But he had already driven away.The next morning, something was waiting inside my locker.A black envelope.No name.No explanation.Just one sentence written across the front.WELCOME TO RAVENCREST, CHERRY.My heart stopped.I opened it.Inside was a cherry penAustin.

I knew the envelope has to do with him

He is too persistent

And dangerous decisionI stared at it.Then heard footsteps behind me.I turned.Austin stood at the end of the hallway.His eyes moved from me to the envelope in my hand.For the first time since I'd met him—he smirk at me.He walked toward me.Slowly."You've gotten it pretty boy?"I held the envelope tighter."Why?""Cherry."His voice had changed."What?""Give it to me.""No."He stopped directly in front of me."That's not a game.""I didn't say it was."His eyes hardened.

"Cherry""I don't know."He took another step.I stepped back.For a second, neither of us spoke.Then the university bell rang.Students began filling the hallway.Austin looked over my shoulder.His expression became unreadable.Then he leaned closer—not touching me, just low enough that only I could hear him."Whatever you think you know about me..."He paused."You're wrong."Then he walked away.I looked down at the photograph again.And suddenly I noticed something I'd missed.The person standing beside Austin was wearing a Ravencrest jacket.On the sleeve was the university crest.And beneath it—a name.BLACKWOOD.I had no idea what it meant.Not yet.But I would.Because Ravencrest had just stopped being a university.It had become a trap.And Austin Blackwood—was the first person inside it who knew my name.

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