His Innocent Sera novel Chapter 18

"The fuck is this?" Dave muttered, frowning at the assortment of used products scattered on his bed. Crumpled tissues with faint stains of pink, a couple of empty perfume bottles, Used lips balms, bandages, hair strands, several used disposable coffee cups, and broken accessories sat among other trivial things. And they weren't just some random objects, they belonged to someone. A girl.

He is collecting a girl's used products? The realisation hit like a wave, sending chills down his spine.

He had come to pick him up for their soccer practice, but instead he walked in on this- strange, intimate objects strewn across his bed. Nate was in the bathroom, unaware of his discovery.

He picked up one broken earring to examine.

"Why are you here?" Nate's annoyed voice cut through the air. Dave turned to look at him.

Holding up the cheap earring, he asked, "Whose stuff is this?" His voice held curiosity.

A flicker of something dangerous crossed Nate's face as he noticed the earring between his fingers. His jaw tightened with tension. Expression darkening.

"Put it down," he warned, dark and cold.

As Dave set the earring back down, his gaze caught an old school ID nestled amongst the clutter. It was of a little girl, but the face on it felt oddly familiar. Realisation sank in for Dave as he recognised those blue eyes, an unsettling feeling following hot on the heels.

Shocked, he shifted his attention to Nate and asked apprehensively, "Do they belong to Seraphina?"

The question hung between them, only seeming to fuel his irritation. His fists clenched tight while his eyes narrowed at him.

"Why are you here?" he demanded, voice edged with grit. He very clearly wasn't pleased to see him.

Dave couldn't help but worry for his friend.

"Your fixation with her is turning fatal, Nate.." after saying that, he shot a weary glance at her belongings placed all over his bed, and continued, "this is scary. You need to stop."

"Get out," Nate growled, having had enough of his shit. Dave exhaled a heavy sigh, knowing very well just how much of a stubborn Nate was. His friend was off to some scary shit. And this was disturbing as fuck.

He approached Nate, hoping to make him see the gravity of the situation. This wasn't something normal that could be brushed off. He started gently, "Listen, Nate, this has gone on for too long now. Do you even realise what would happen if your parents found out? Hell will break loose. You need to let her go.."