Lyra picked it up for him with shaky hands

"Who's 'Nightmare'?" she asked, her voice low now. No more teasing. Just concern.

Angelo froze, pulse pounding in his ears. The name alone was enough to send a chill down his spine. His hands trembled as he snatched the phone back.

"It's...no one. Just...a stupid nickname for my brother."

Lyra didn't buy it but she didn't press either. Her gaze lingered on him, soft but sharp. She could tell when someone was lying, but she knew better than to push too hard too soon.

"Okay, 'brother' it is," she said gently, looping her arm through his again.

"But if you ever need someone to talk to not text, not emoji, just talk... I'm good at that."

Angelo nodded slowly, unable to meet her eyes. "Thanks."

They walked in silence, but her presence felt steady beside him, like an anchor he didn't know he needed.

---

Later That Evening – Dorm Room

Adrien barged in first, tossing his hoodie to the floor. Angelo followed quietly, still shaken, He didn't even take off his clothes

"You good?" Adrien asked, flopping onto his bed without looking up.

"Yeah... just tired."

Adrien didn't believe was silence. Then-

"Who's 'Nightmare'?" Adrien asked suddenly, not even trying to be subtle.

Angelo's eyes widened. "You-you saw?"

"Your phone lit up when it fell from your hand in the hallway earlier. I didn't mean to look, but it's hard not to notice a contact named Nightmare."

Angelo sat on the edge of his bed, fists clenched. "It's someone from my past. Someone I escaped from. But they keep finding me."

Adrien sat up, his voice colder. "Do I need to deal with them?"

"No. Please. I don't want you involved."

Adrien scoffed. "I'm already involved, Angel. You're my roommate. You sleep next to me. You drool on my pillow. I'm practically in a K-drama at this point."

Angelo let out a shaky laugh. "Okay, yeah. That was kinda funny."

Adrien stood, walked over, and nudged him lightly on the shoulder.

"Look, just say the word. I've got your back. Even if it's just punching some toxic jerk in the face."

Angelo looked up, eyes glassy. "Thanks, senior."

"Don't mention it," Adrien replied, ruffling his hair. "Literally. Don't. You'll ruin my cold, broody reputation."

He said and went to his bed, before adding. "You need to sleep here again?"

But Angelo just nodded negatively with a smile that didn't reach his eye

"Nah.. I'll be fine you said it's the last time remember?"

"You sure?"

"Yeah" He quickly added and Adrien sighed before closing his eyes

Angelo waited a bit, sitting on the edge of his bed like his brain couldn't decide what to do. Adrien seemed asleep already, lying still, one arm over his face like he was done with the day.

He got up quietly, his feet made no sound as he walked to the door.

He glanced at Adrien one last time but didn't say anything. He didn't want to risk waking him. This wasn't something he could explain anyway.

His phone buzzed and he picked it up to check the hell sent message

"You're 5 hours late..and yunno what that means? Doom" The nightmare person sent to him and he groaned

Angelo skillfully opened the door and slipped out of the room.

The hallway was quiet Too quiet for his heartbeat that wouldn't calm down

He pulled his hoodie up and kept his head low, praying no one would spot him this late Especially not the gateman

He reached the gate and paused, hiding behind one of the tall iron beams as the flashlight swayed lazily

The gateman was half-asleep in his chair, head bobbing like he was dreaming of food Angelo exhaled slowly Maybe he could sneak past

But just as he stepped forward-

"Hey! You! Student!"

Angelo froze, heart dropping He turned slowly, flashing his ID like it would cover up the fact that he wasn't supposed to be out this late

"Where do you think you're going?" the man asked, standing up now and adjusting his belt like this was some military checkpoint

"I-I left my charger with a friend in his house and it's Off-campus," Angelo said quickly, "It's kinda urgent. My phone's almost dead and I have an assignment due-"

The gateman squinted at him "Off-Campus? At 7:45pm?"

Angelo gave a sheepish nod "Yes sir. Just thirty minutes. I swear."

The gateman sighed and scratched his head like he was deciding between letting him go or writing a report.

Angelo almost didn't breathe.

"Thirty minutes," the man finally said "You come back later than that, I'm locking this gate and reporting you to the admin tomorrow morning."

Angelo nodded fast, practically bowing "Yes sir thank you sir-"

"Go!"

He ran, not literally, but fast enough to feel the wind slice against his panic

He just kept moving like something was chasing him Because maybe it was

Angelo hailed a taxi, slipping into the backseat like a shadow. He barely spoke, only muttering the address as he tugged his hoodie lower over his face.

The driver glanced at him through the rearview but didn't say anything. Probably used to weird energy from stressed-out students.

They rode in silence. City lights blurred past the windows, cold and too bright.

When they reached the mansion-huge, towering, and way too dramatic for a man like Mr. Silver, Angelo's stomach twisted.

His feet felt like bricks as he stepped out after paying the driver

He didn't knock. He knew better.

The gate creaked open before he touched it, like the house was expecting him. And he walked slowly into the mansion

"You're late, 5 damn hours" came that voice. Rough. Tired. Still full of venom.

Angelo looked up, barely managing, "Traffic-"

CRACK.

The whip came out of nowhere, lashing across his back before he could even flinch. The sting lit up his spine like fire.

"Lame excuses," Mr. Silver said, stepping closer with a smirk. "You want energy for the camera, don't you? I'm just helping. And..seems you're now growing wings huh?"

Angelo didn't reply. He couldn't. He just bit down on his tongue until the metallic taste filled his mouth.

"Now go get ready. They're already waiting. This is the only thing you're useful for"

Angelo sighed heavily and started undressing.

His hoodie already on the floor. His chest bare. Only his black boxers and signature black mask remained.

That mask, plain, cold, and faceless was the only part of him he got to choose. The only thing separating Angelo from Nightmare's Doll.

But Mr. Silver wasn't satisfied yet.

"Turn around," he ordered, swirling his drink He turned slowly, bracing himself.

WHIP. Then came and another one till he lost counts

The sharp crack echoed through the living room.

He flinched, biting his lip hard. Not a sound. He couldn't give him that.

Mr. Silver laughed darkly. "Perfect. That'll wake you up."

The pink stripe bloomed across his back, thin and matching the ones that never fully healed.

"There we go. Now give them a show." He said finally clicking on the live button on his phone

The live had already begun.

Thousands watching.

Hearts flying up the screen like fireworks.

The chat was chaotic as always:

"HOLY F**K HE'S ON"

"This man's abs are illegal, I fear"

"THE MASK AGAIN?? bro I need to see that face I'm BEGGING"

"Wait did his shoulder just FLEX??"

Angelo stood still under the light, letting his chest rise and fall.

The comments blurred together. Some begging. Some simping. Some just... sick.

And all of them blind.

They didn't know the mask was hiding more than a face. They didn't know his silence was a scream.

But still, he moved Slow body rolls. Controlled. Sensual.

The kind of moves his father made him practice again and again.

"Use your hips like you mean it," he used to say. "Make them feel like they're touching you through the screen."

The comments got worse:

"I swear I'd sell my soul to see his d**k buried deep in me"

"I'd let him ruin my life. And say thank you"

Angelo's lip trembled for half a second but he masked it with a head tilt, playing into the "mystery" His own father carved.

No one saw the pain behind his back arch. The way he kept his spine straight so the pink lines wouldn't show.

To them, he was a fantasy, To himself, he was fading.

He smirked in pain as people sent money and gifts just to watch him dance

Then Mr Silver tapped something on his glittery tab, the music faded. The hearts slowed. The screen went black.

Live: Ended.

Angelo stood still for a second longer, the echo of the camera's click still ringing in his ears like it was part of his pulse.

He didn't move until Mr. Silver's voice cut through the silence like a knife.

"Good boy."

Angelo said nothing.

"You're getting better," his father continued, tossing a wad of cash toward him like it was meat for a dog. "I'd almost believe you enjoy it."

The bills bounced once, landing at Angelo's feet. Crumpled. Used. Just like he felt.

He bent down, grabbed the money without looking up, and turned away before more words could stain the air.

"You think you're too good for this now?" Mr. Silver called after him, swirling his half-empty glass.

"Keep acting like a saint, but you know exactly who you are underneath that mask. You wear it better than your mother ever did."

Angelo didn't respond.

He just dressed in silence

His skin still stung. But there was no time for pain.

Only escape.

---

The city was more quiet now

Angelo flagged down another taxi, slipping into the back seat like he'd done a thousand times. Like routine. Like survival.

He leaned his head against the window, eyes half-closed, replaying the last hour on loop.

The mask. The whip. The comments. The silence.

He gripped the cash tighter in his fist. Not because it meant anything. But because it reminded him he wasn't dreaming.

---

He reached Cremstone Campus just before the gate locked.

The same gateman stood there, flashlight in hand, brows already raised like he'd been waiting.

"You're back," the man said, slow and suspicious. "Barely on time."

Angelo forced a smile. "Told you it was urgent."

The gateman's eyes narrowed as they scanned him. "You look... different."

Angelo flinched slightly, tugging his hoodie closer around his neck. "Tired. That's all."

A pause. The man didn't fully believe him.

But he nodded anyway. "Next time, don't push your luck."

"Thanks," Angelo muttered, slipping past the gate with a grateful nod. "Really."

---

Dorm Hallway

He walked slower now. Each step heavier than the last. His dorm door was in sight.

Please be asleep. Please let me shower and crash in peace.

But the second he opened the door

Click.

The light was on. Adrien stood by the bunk with his arms crossed. Hands akimbo. Eyes not amused.

Angelo blinked. Froze.

"Oh," he said quietly. "Hey, you're awake?"

Adrien didn't blink. "Where were you?"

Angelo looked down. "I...went to return something."

Adrien raised a brow. "At this hour? You're not even a convincing liar."

He stepped forward, voice dropping.

"And what's with this..." He reached out suddenly and lightly tugged at Angelo's hoodie, revealing the faint pink slash across his collarbone. "This thing on your neck?"

Angelo flinched before he could stop himself. That was all Adrien needed to confirm what he already feared.

"What the hell happened to you, Little Angel?"

Angelo's breath caught.

He couldn't lie now.