Rain didn’t just fall that night—it pressed against the world.

Like something outside was trying to get in.

⸻

Cristina Grande lay still on her bed, eyes closed… but sleep never came gently to her.

It never had.

⸻

Cristina (murmuring):

“No… not again…”

⸻

Because for her, dreams weren’t dreams.

They were warnings.

⸻

Darkness swallowed everything.

Not the soft kind. Not empty.

This one felt… alive.

Heavy. Breathing. Watching.

⸻

Cristina stood barefoot on cold ground. She didn’t remember falling asleep, didn’t remember coming here—but she knew one thing immediately:

This wasn’t new.

⸻

Cristina (whispers):

“…It’s him again.”

⸻

A slow sound echoed.

Footsteps.

Measured. Calm. Unhurried.

Not chasing her.

Never chasing.

Because whatever this was… it already knew she wouldn’t run far.

⸻

Her chest tightened.

Not from fear alone.

From recognition.

⸻

Cristina:

“Show yourself.”

⸻

The words came out stronger than she felt.

Silence answered first.

Then—

A figure emerged from the shadows.

⸻

Tall.

Still.

Controlled.

⸻

He didn’t rush forward. Didn’t need to.

The darkness moved with him… like it belonged to him.

⸻

Cristina’s breath hitched.

⸻

Cristina (shaking slightly):

“You’ve been in my dreams for weeks.”

⸻

The man tilted his head slightly, observing her—not like a stranger.

Like someone studying something he already owns.

⸻

Leo:

“And you keep coming back.”

⸻

His voice was low.

Calm.

Dangerously certain.

⸻

Cristina:

“This is my mind.”

⸻

Leo (quietly):

“No.”

⸻

He stepped closer.

The distance between them shrank—but the air grew heavier.

⸻

Leo:

“It’s ours.”

⸻

Her heartbeat slammed against her ribs.

⸻

Cristina:

“That’s not possible.”

⸻

Leo:

“You see things before they happen.”

⸻

She froze completely.

⸻

Cristina:

“…How do you know that?”

⸻

For a moment, he said nothing.

Just watched her.

Like the answer was obvious.

⸻

Leo:

“Because I’m always there.”

⸻

Her stomach dropped.

⸻

Cristina:

“No.”

⸻

She stepped back instinctively—but her foot didn’t move.

⸻

Cristina:

“Why can’t I move?”

⸻

He took another step forward.

Now he was close enough that she could finally see him clearly.

Sharp features.

Dark eyes.

Not empty—but intense in a way that felt dangerous.

⸻

Leo:

“Because you don’t want to leave.”

⸻

Cristina:

“I do.”

⸻

Leo:

“Then go.”

⸻

She tried.

Her body refused.

⸻

Her breathing became uneven.

⸻

Cristina:

“What are you?”

⸻

He didn’t answer that.

Instead—

He reached for her.

⸻

Slowly.

Deliberately.

⸻

Cristina’s pulse spiked.

⸻

Cristina:

“Don’t—”

⸻

His fingers wrapped around her wrist.

⸻

The moment he touched her—

Everything shattered.

⸻

Her vision exploded into fragments—

A hallway drenched in red.

A gun trembling in her hand.

A body collapsing.

His voice behind her—

⸻

Leo (echoing in vision):

“Don’t run.”

⸻

She gasped violently.

⸻

Cristina:

“I saw—”

⸻

Leo:

“I know.”

⸻

His grip tightened just enough to remind her she couldn’t pull away.

⸻

Cristina:

“Why are you in every vision?”

⸻

Silence.

Then—

⸻

Leo (low, certain):

“Because every future you see…”

⸻

He leaned closer.

Too close.

⸻

Leo:

“…ends with me.”

⸻

Her breathing stopped.

⸻

Cristina:

“That’s not true.”

⸻

But her voice lacked certainty.

Because deep down—

She had seen it too.

⸻

Again.

And again.

And again.

⸻

Different places.

Different outcomes.

Same ending.

⸻

Him.

⸻

Thunder cracked violently.

The dream trembled.

⸻

Reality pushing back.

⸻

Cristina:

“Wait—!”

⸻

She tried to pull her hand away.

This time—it worked.

Barely.

⸻

But before everything collapsed—

He spoke again.

⸻

Leo (whisper, close to her ear):

“Wake up.”

⸻

⸻

Cristina’s eyes snapped open.

⸻

Her room.

Dark.

Silent.

Real.

⸻

Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she sat up.

⸻

Cristina (breathing hard):

“…Just a dream.”

⸻

But even as she said it—

She knew it wasn’t true.

⸻

Her hand slowly lifted.

Her wrist—

⸻

A faint red mark.

Exactly where he held her.

⸻

Her fingers trembled.

⸻

Cristina (whispers):

“…No.”

⸻

Her phone buzzed.

⸻

The sound cut through the silence like a blade.

⸻

She stared at it.

Didn’t move at first.

⸻

Then slowly—

Picked it up.

⸻

Unknown Number.

⸻

A message.

⸻

Unknown:

“Did you see it clearly this time?”

⸻

Her heart dropped.

⸻

Cristina:

“…Who is this?”

⸻

Typing.

Instant.

⸻

Unknown:

“You always ask that.”

⸻

Her breath caught.

⸻

Cristina:

“How do you know me?”

⸻

Pause.

⸻

Then—

⸻

Unknown:

“Better than you know yourself.”

⸻

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

⸻

Cristina:

“Stop this.”

⸻

Another message.

⸻

Unknown:

“Lock your windows.”

⸻

Her body went cold.

⸻

Cristina:

“Why?”

⸻

Seen.

⸻

No reply.

⸻

Silence returned.

But it wasn’t empty anymore.

⸻

It felt…

watched.

⸻

Slowly—

Very slowly—

Cristina turned her head toward the window.

⸻

The curtains moved slightly.

⸻

The window was open.

⸻

She knew she had closed it.

⸻

Her heart started racing again.

⸻

She stood up, legs unsteady.

Walked toward it.

Each step heavier than the last.

⸻

Then—

She looked outside.

⸻

Across the street.

On the rooftop.

⸻

A figure stood there.

⸻

Still.

Watching.

⸻

Her breath hitched.

⸻

Before she could react—

Her phone buzzed again.

⸻

Unknown:

“Don’t look at me like that.”

⸻

Her entire body froze.

⸻

Unknown:

“You’ll get used to it.”

⸻

Her hands started shaking.

⸻

Cristina:

“…You’re outside.”

⸻

Unknown:

“Yes.”

⸻

Her heart pounded violently.

⸻

Cristina:

“Why are you doing this?”

⸻

Pause.

⸻

Then—

⸻

Unknown:

“Because I’ve been waiting for you to see me.”

⸻

Across the street—

The figure didn’t move.

⸻

But she felt it.

⸻

That gaze.

⸻

Heavy.

Possessive.

Unavoidable.

⸻

Her phone lit one last time.

⸻

Unknown:

“Run if you want.”

⸻

A second message followed.

⸻

Unknown:

“You’ll still end up with me.”

⸻

⸻

Across the city—

Leo Davis lowered his phone slowly.

⸻

His eyes never leaving her.

⸻

Leo (quiet, controlled):

“There you are…”

⸻

A faint smile formed.

Not warm.

Not kind.

⸻

Possessive.

⸻

Leo:

“I told you…”

⸻

His voice dropped.

⸻

Leo:

“You always come back to me.”

⸻

⸻

End Of Chapter1

The silence didn’t feel like silence anymore.

It felt like something was waiting.

⸻

Cristina stood frozen near the window, her fingers still gripping her phone. Her breathing was shallow, uneven, like her body already knew something her mind hadn’t fully processed yet.

⸻

Cristina (whispering):

“This isn’t real… this isn’t real…”

⸻

But denial didn’t change facts.

The window was open.

She hadn’t opened it.

⸻

Her eyes flicked outside again—

The rooftop.

Empty.

⸻

Her chest tightened.

⸻

Cristina:

“He was just there…”

⸻

Her phone remained still now. No new messages. No typing bubble.

Nothing.

⸻

That was worse.

⸻

Slowly, she stepped back from the window and shut it firmly, locking it with shaking hands.

⸻

Click.

⸻

The sound echoed louder than it should have.

⸻

Cristina (thinking):

Okay. Think. You’re safe.

⸻

She turned toward the door.

Still locked.

She had locked it earlier.

She remembered that clearly.

⸻

But something felt wrong.

Not visible.

Not obvious.

Just—

Wrong.

⸻

The air felt heavier.

Like someone else was breathing in the room.

⸻

Cristina:

“…Hello?”

⸻

No answer.

⸻

She swallowed hard and forced herself to move, step by step, checking every corner of the room.

Closet.

Empty.

Bathroom.

Empty.

Under the bed—

Nothing.

⸻

Cristina (exhales):

“You’re losing it…”

⸻

Her shoulders dropped slightly.

Relief tried to settle—

⸻

Knock.

⸻

Her entire body jerked.

⸻

The sound came from the door.

Slow.

Controlled.

⸻

Not rushed.

Not aggressive.

⸻

Just… deliberate.

⸻

Cristina:

“…Who is it?”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

Her throat tightened.

⸻

Cristina (louder):

“Who’s there?”

⸻

Another knock.

Same rhythm.

Same calm.

⸻

Her heart began pounding violently again.

⸻

Cristina (thinking):

Don’t open it.

⸻

Her hand moved toward the handle anyway.

⸻

She stopped herself.

⸻

Cristina (whispers):

“No.”

⸻

Her phone buzzed suddenly in her hand.

⸻

She flinched.

⸻

Unknown:

“Don’t open the door.”

⸻

Her breath caught.

⸻

Cristina:

“…You’re outside. How do you—”

⸻

Another message.

⸻

Unknown:

“Because that’s not me.”

⸻

Everything inside her went cold.

⸻

Her eyes snapped to the door.

⸻

The knocking stopped.

⸻

Silence.

⸻

But now it wasn’t calm.

It was suffocating.

⸻

Cristina:

“…Then who is it?”

⸻

No reply.

⸻

Her fingers trembled as she slowly stepped back from the door.

⸻

Then—

The handle moved.

⸻

Slowly.

⸻

Click.

⸻

Her stomach dropped.

⸻

Cristina:

“No… no no—”

⸻

The door creaked open.

⸻

Darkness filled the hallway beyond.

No lights.

No sound.

⸻

But something was there.

She could feel it.

⸻

A shape shifted just beyond the frame.

⸻

Too tall.

Too still.

⸻

Not human.

⸻

Cristina stumbled back, her breathing breaking completely.

⸻

Cristina (whispers):

“Stay away…”

⸻

The figure didn’t rush her.

Didn’t lunge.

⸻

It stepped in.

⸻

Slow.

Dragging.

⸻

Like it had all the time in the world.

⸻

Her vision flickered—

⸻

A flash.

⸻

The same hallway.

Blood on the walls.

Her screaming.

That thing—

closer.

⸻

Cristina (gasping):

“No—this is happening—this is happening now—”

⸻

Her legs gave out slightly as she backed into the table behind her.

⸻

The figure tilted its head.

⸻

Then—

It moved faster.

⸻

Too fast.

⸻

Cristina screamed.

⸻

And suddenly—

Everything stopped.

⸻

The air snapped.

⸻

Like tension being cut.

⸻

The figure froze mid-step.

⸻

Then—

A voice.

Cold.

Controlled.

Dangerous.

⸻

Leo:

“You shouldn’t touch what’s mine.”

⸻

Cristina’s heart slammed against her ribs.

⸻

The shadow near the door trembled.

⸻

Then slowly—

It began to distort.

⸻

Like it didn’t belong here.

⸻

Cristina (breathing hard):

“Leo…?”

⸻

He stepped into the room.

This time—

Not a dream.

⸻

Real.

⸻

Dark clothes.

Sharp gaze.

Presence that filled the entire space instantly.

⸻

The shadow recoiled.

⸻

Leo (quiet, lethal):

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

⸻

The thing made a low, unnatural sound.

⸻

Cristina:

“What… is that?”

⸻

Leo didn’t look at her.

⸻

His focus remained locked on it.

⸻

Leo:

“A mistake.”

⸻

The word wasn’t loud.

But it carried something heavy.

Final.

⸻

He took a step forward.

⸻

The shadow jerked back violently—

⸻

And vanished.

⸻

Gone.

⸻

Just like that.

⸻

Silence returned.

⸻

Cristina’s legs gave out completely this time.

She sank to the floor, shaking.

⸻

Cristina:

“…That wasn’t human.”

⸻

Leo finally looked at her.

⸻

And for the first time—

There was something darker in his expression.

⸻

Not anger.

Not concern.

⸻

Ownership.

⸻

He walked toward her slowly.

⸻

Cristina tried to move back.

Her body refused again.

⸻

Cristina:

“You said that wasn’t you…”

⸻

Leo:

“It wasn’t.”

⸻

He crouched in front of her.

Too close.

Again.

⸻

Cristina:

“Then what was it?”

⸻

A pause.

⸻

Then—

⸻

Leo (quietly):

“Something that shouldn’t have found you this early.”

⸻

Her breathing became uneven again.

⸻

Cristina:

“Early…?”

⸻

His gaze dropped briefly to her wrist.

The mark.

Still there.

⸻

He reached for it again.

⸻

This time—

She didn’t pull away.

⸻

His fingers brushed over the mark lightly.

⸻

Her entire body reacted instantly.

⸻

Cristina (shaky):

“…You’re real.”

⸻

Leo:

“I’ve always been.”

⸻

Silence stretched between them.

Heavy.

Charged.

⸻

Cristina:

“You’re in my dreams… my visions… and now here?”

⸻

Leo:

“Yes.”

⸻

No hesitation.

No denial.

⸻

Cristina:

“Why me?”

⸻

His thumb pressed slightly against her wrist.

Not painful.

But firm.

⸻

Leo (low voice):

“Because you were never supposed to be unprotected.”

⸻

Her breath caught.

⸻

Cristina:

“Protected…?”

⸻

He leaned closer.

His voice dropping just enough—

⸻

Leo:

“From me.”

⸻

Her heart stopped.

⸻

Cristina:

“…What?”

⸻

A faint smile appeared.

Dangerous.

Controlled.

⸻

Leo:

“You’re not afraid of the right thing yet.”

⸻

Her chest tightened.

⸻

Cristina:

“And what is that?”

⸻

His eyes locked into hers.

Unblinking.

Unwavering.

⸻

Leo (soft, final):

“Me.”

⸻

⸻

The room felt smaller now.

Colder.

⸻

Because the truth settled in slowly—

⸻

That thing came for her.

⸻

But Leo didn’t just stop it.

⸻

He claimed her.

⸻

And somehow—

That was worse.

⸻

End Of Chapter 2

The room should have felt safer after the shadow disappeared.

It didn’t.

⸻

Cristina was still on the floor, her back pressed against the cold surface behind her, her breathing uneven, her pulse refusing to calm down.

But it wasn’t because of what had come through the door.

⸻

It was because of who was still in the room.

⸻

Leo Davis.

⸻

Standing there like he had every right to be.

⸻

Watching her.

⸻

Not like a stranger.

Not like a savior.

⸻

Like something that had already decided she belonged to him.

⸻

Cristina (quiet, shaken):

“You need to leave.”

⸻

The words came out weaker than she intended.

⸻

Leo didn’t move.

⸻

Leo:

“No.”

⸻

A simple answer.

Calm.

Final.

⸻

Her fingers curled slightly against the floor.

⸻

Cristina:

“You broke into my apartment.”

⸻

Leo:

“You were in danger.”

⸻

Cristina:

“That doesn’t give you the right—”

⸻

Leo (cutting in):

“It does.”

⸻

Silence hit the room again.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

⸻

Cristina forced herself to stand up, even though her legs still felt unstable.

She needed distance.

Space.

Something.

⸻

She took a step back.

He took one forward.

⸻

Her breath caught.

⸻

Cristina:

“Stop doing that.”

⸻

Leo:

“Doing what?”

⸻

Cristina:

“Closing the distance like I don’t have a choice.”

⸻

A faint shift in his expression.

Almost amusement.

⸻

Leo:

“You don’t.”

⸻

Her chest tightened.

⸻

Cristina:

“I do.”

⸻

She moved again—this time toward the side of the room, trying to create space between them.

⸻

He didn’t follow immediately.

But his eyes never left her.

⸻

Tracking.

Measuring.

⸻

Leo:

“Then try.”

⸻

Something about the way he said it—

Not challenging.

Not mocking.

⸻

Certain.

⸻

It made her stomach twist.

⸻

Cristina:

“I don’t even know who you are.”

⸻

Leo:

“You know enough.”

⸻

Cristina:

“I know you’re in my dreams.”

⸻

Leo:

“Yes.”

⸻

Cristina:

“I know you knew about my visions.”

⸻

Leo:

“Yes.”

⸻

Cristina:

“And I know something came for me—and you weren’t surprised.”

⸻

He didn’t answer this time.

⸻

That silence said more than words.

⸻

Cristina swallowed hard.

⸻

Cristina:

“…How long have you been watching me?”

⸻

A pause.

⸻

Then—

⸻

Leo (quietly):

“Long enough to know when you stopped locking your windows properly.”

⸻

Her entire body went still.

⸻

Cristina:

“…What?”

⸻

He stepped closer again.

Slow.

Controlled.

⸻

Leo:

“You forget things when you’re distracted.”

⸻

Her heart started racing again.

⸻

Cristina:

“You’ve been in my house before.”

⸻

It wasn’t a question.

⸻

He didn’t deny it.

⸻

Leo:

“Yes.”

⸻

Her breath hitched.

⸻

Cristina:

“That’s not normal.”

⸻

Leo:

“Neither are your dreams.”

⸻

That shut her up.

⸻

Because he was right.

⸻

But that didn’t make this okay.

⸻

Cristina:

“You don’t get to just walk into my life like this.”

⸻

Leo:

“I didn’t walk in.”

⸻

A step closer.

⸻

Leo:

“I’ve always been here.”

⸻

Her back hit the wall.

⸻

She hadn’t even realized she’d been retreating.

⸻

Now there was nowhere left to go.

⸻

Her breathing became uneven again.

⸻

Cristina:

“That doesn’t make sense.”

⸻

Leo:

“It will.”

⸻

His hand lifted slowly.

⸻

She tensed instantly.

⸻

But he didn’t grab her this time.

⸻

He placed his palm against the wall beside her head instead.

Trapping her in place without touching her.

⸻

Close.

Too close.

⸻

Cristina (whispers):

“You’re doing it again.”

⸻

Leo:

“Keeping you where I can see you?”

⸻

Her pulse spiked.

⸻

Cristina:

“No… controlling me.”

⸻

A pause.

⸻

Then—

⸻

Leo (low, steady):

“Protecting you.”

⸻

Cristina:

“That thing—what was it?”

⸻

His jaw tightened slightly.

⸻

Leo:

“Something that followed your ability.”

⸻

Her chest tightened.

⸻

Cristina:

“My… ability?”

⸻

Leo:

“You see the future.”

⸻

Cristina:

“I see fragments.”

⸻

Leo:

“That’s enough.”

⸻

Silence stretched.

⸻

Cristina:

“Enough for what?”

⸻

His gaze darkened slightly.

⸻

Leo:

“To make you valuable.”

⸻

That word hit wrong.

⸻

Valuable.

Not safe.

Not special.

⸻

Something to be used.

⸻

Her stomach twisted.

⸻

Cristina:

“By who?”

⸻

His eyes didn’t leave hers.

⸻

Leo:

“People worse than me.”

⸻

Her breath caught.

⸻

Cristina:

“…That’s not reassuring.”

⸻

A faint shift in his expression again.

Not quite a smile.

But something close.

⸻

Leo:

“It’s not supposed to be.”

⸻

Her mind was spinning now.

Too many things.

Too fast.

⸻

Cristina:

“Then why are you here?”

⸻

A pause.

Longer this time.

⸻

Then—

⸻

Leo:

“Because they’re getting closer.”

⸻

Her heart dropped.

⸻

Cristina:

“…They?”

⸻

Before he could answer—

⸻

Her vision snapped.

⸻

Sudden.

Violent.

⸻

A flash—

⸻

A man smiling.

Warm eyes.

Safe.

⸻

Then—

Blood.

⸻

A knife.

⸻

His body collapsing.

⸻

And behind him—

⸻

Leo.

Watching.

⸻

Unmoving.

⸻

Cristina gasped sharply.

⸻

Her knees almost gave out again.

⸻

Leo:

“What did you see?”

⸻

Her breathing became erratic.

⸻

Cristina:

“…Someone is going to die.”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

Leo:

“Who?”

⸻

She looked up at him.

Her eyes filled with something new.

Not just fear.

⸻

Confusion.

⸻

Cristina (shaky):

“I don’t know him yet…”

⸻

A pause.

⸻

Cristina:

“But I will.”

⸻

Her voice dropped slightly.

⸻

Cristina:

“And when I do…”

⸻

Her chest tightened.

⸻

Cristina:

“…you’ll be there too.”

⸻

For the first time—

Leo didn’t respond immediately.

⸻

His expression didn’t change much.

But something in his eyes did.

⸻

Something darker.

⸻

More dangerous.

⸻

Leo (quietly):

“Then stay away from him.”

⸻

Her breath caught.

⸻

Cristina:

“You’re already deciding that?”

⸻

Leo:

“Yes.”

⸻

No hesitation.

⸻

Her heart pounded again.

⸻

Cristina:

“What if I don’t listen?”

⸻

A step closer.

Now barely inches between them.

⸻

His voice dropped.

⸻

Leo:

“You will.”

⸻

Her pulse spiked.

⸻

Cristina:

“And if I don’t?”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

Then—

⸻

Leo (low, controlled):

“I’ll make sure you regret it.”

⸻

⸻

The words settled heavily between them.

⸻

Not loud.

Not threatening in tone.

⸻

But absolute.

⸻

Cristina realized something in that moment—

⸻

The shadow wasn’t the real danger.

⸻

The visions weren’t the real danger.

⸻

Even the unknown people hunting her—

⸻

Not the worst part.

⸻

The worst part was standing right in front of her.

⸻

Calm.

Patient.

⸻

Already inside her life.

⸻

And not planning to leave.

⸻

⸻

The End of Chapter 3