Girls' Dorm Intruder at Night

Victoria Lowell brought us milk for the evening—a sweet gesture, or so it seemed.

But I was sure it was poisoned.

She watched me with unnerving intensity as the others drank theirs without hesitation. I faked a sip, letting the liquid pool in my mouth instead of swallowing.

Then, the horror began. Late that night, a shadow slipped into our room and attacked one of my roommates—who lay motionless, as if already dead.

My blood turned to ice. What was happening?

That's when Victoria rose silently from her bed and crept toward the intruder.

Earlier, she had handed out seven bottles of milk—one for each of us.

I didn't dare touch mine. I knew it was tainted.

Because when I'd gone to the bathroom earlier, I caught her at the sink, methodically uncapping each bottle and dropping small pills inside before resealing them.

By the time I returned, she'd already passed them out.

I was last. The second she pressed the bottle into my hands, her gaze locked onto me, waiting.

"Go on," she urged. "Why aren't you drinking?"

Her unblinking stare made my skin crawl.

I had every reason to refuse. Not just because I'd seen her tamper with the milk—but because Victoria hadn't been right for weeks.

Not since her boyfriend cheated on her.

I was the only one in the room when she found out.

I watched her shred her pillow with her nails, then slash the potted plant he'd given her—over and over—until the leaves were ribbons.

"He deserves to die!" Her scream had frozen me in place.

The air itself felt heavy with rage. I couldn't take it—I fled to the bathroom, but even through the door, I heard her muttering, "They all deserve to die."

For two weeks after that, she barely spoke. She vanished before dawn, slinking back long after we were asleep. When we crossed paths, she ignored me, skirting the walls like a phantom.

Then tonight—out of nowhere—she reappeared, smiling, handing out milk like some twisted peace offering.

After what I'd seen? No way was I drinking that.

But what could I do?

Victoria leaned in so close I could smell her breath. When I looked down, she ducked her head to meet my eyes again.

"Why won't you drink?" she whispered.

"I'll have it in the morning," I lied.

Her face twisted. "You don't want to, do you?" Her voice cracked. "You're betraying me too. Your body's here, but your heart's next door with Emily."

She was spiraling—just like before. Hands flailing, she ranted, "I know you want to move! You think you're too good for us now!"

The others stirred, watching.