The rain had grown harsher, slicing down from the sky in icy sheets. Seraphina’s breath trembled as she pressed her hand against her ribs, the bruise burning beneath her clothes. Her vision blurred—not just from the storm, but from the sting of betrayal echoing in her chest.
Her heels slipped on the wet pavement as she stumbled under the dim streetlight, her entire body swaying like a dying flame.
She didn’t notice the black motorcycle slowing.
She didn’t notice the tall figure watching her carefully from behind the visor.
But he noticed everything about her.
Caelum’s breath hitched when he saw her collapse to her knees, her hands sinking into the floodwater pooling around her.
His instincts ignited.
He pulled off his helmet, revealing storm-dampened dark hair and sharp, searching eyes.
"Hey," he called out over the rain. "Are you alright?"
No response.
Just trembling shoulders.
Just soft, broken gasps.
He approached carefully—dangerously aware that a frightened person might shrink back from help.
But when he came closer… he froze.
Her face.
Those teary eyes fighting to stay open.
The way she clutched her side like she was shielding pain she didn’t want others to see.
Something inside him snapped.
This wasn’t someone who merely fell in the rain.
This was someone who had been running.
From something.
Or someone.
Caelum crouched down slightly. "You’re hurt.”
Seraphina’s head jerked up, her expression filled with fear, like a hunted animal expecting the final blow.
“Don’t—” her voice cracked. “Don’t come closer.”
Caelum lifted both hands in surrender, voice steady and low.
“Okay. I’m not touching you. I won’t. I promise.”
The sincerity in his tone startled her.
Not commanding. Not threatening.
Just… gentle.
A kind of gentle Seraphina wasn’t used to anymore.
“I…” She swallowed hard. “I just need… a minute.”
“You’re freezing.”
The rain trickled down her face, mixing with the tears she tried to hide.
“I’m fine,” she lied.
Her legs shook violently.
She wasn’t fine.
She was breaking right in front of him.
Caelum shrugged off his jacket—thick, warm, dry on the inside—and laid it over her shoulders. Not touching her, not even brushing her skin.
Just placing it like a shield between her and the storm.
Seraphina’s breath hitched at the warmth.
“Why… why are you helping me?” she whispered.
He met her eyes.
Calm. Steady. Anchored.
“Because you look like no one else has.”
Her lips parted, trembling.
Her chest tightened painfully.
No one had said something like that to her in years.
She lowered her gaze, voice cracking. “You should walk away.”
“Maybe.” Caelum stood, rain soaking his shirt. “But I’m not going to.”
A car passed, splashing water, almost hitting her legs. Caelum reacted instantly—blocking the wave with his body, shielding her without hesitation.
Her breath caught.
He didn’t know her.
Yet he protected her as if he did.
“Can you stand?” he asked softly.
She nodded and tried—but her knees buckled.
Caelum moved like lightning, catching her without grabbing. His arm simply slid beneath her upper back, keeping her from hitting the ground.
Even then, he kept his touch light, letting her pull away if she wanted.
She didn’t.
For a single fragile moment, she let herself lean into him.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured.
Those three words made her eyes burn again.
He helped her to a nearby bench under a canopy, still soaked himself. He didn’t sit too close, leaving space between them.
“What happened?” he asked gently.
Seraphina stiffened. “I can’t… I don’t want to talk about it.”
“That’s alright.” His voice held no pressure. “You don’t have to.”
Her breath faltered again. Why was he being like this? Why wasn’t he pushing or prying?
Why did that make her want to cry harder?
Caelum studied the bruise peeking past her soaked blouse—dark, angry purple.
“Did someone do that to you?” he asked quietly.
Seraphina’s eyes widened in panic. “Please—don’t—don’t get involved.”
His jaw tightened.
He stayed silent for a long moment, battling the instinct to find whoever hurt her.
Then—
“I’m involved the moment someone is hurting you,” he said, voice firm but soft.
Her lips trembled. The fear in her eyes flickered—just for a moment—into something warm. Something confused. Something like hope she didn’t trust yet.
A sudden flash of lightning made her flinch violently.
Caelum immediately angled his body toward her, like a shield.
He didn’t touch her.
He didn’t force comfort.
He just made himself a barrier—close enough to protect, far enough to respect.
Her breathing slowly steadied from gasps to shaky exhales.
“Look,” he said softly, “I can take you to a hospital, or somewhere warm. You don’t have to stay out here.”
Seraphina shook her head weakly. “No hospitals.”
Of course.
People with secrets often avoided hospitals.
People with abusers avoided them too.
“How about somewhere safe?” he offered.
Her eyes lifted slowly. “Safe?”
He nodded once. “Safe. No questions asked.”
The words hit her harder than any wound.
She swallowed, voice barely there.
“Why do you care?”
His answer came in the quietest tone possible:
“No one deserves to face a storm alone.”
Her chest shuddered.
Her eyes burned again.
Her heart cracked open just a little.
Lightning flashed again.
She flinched again.
That decided it.
Caelum stood and extended a hand—not touching her, just offering.
“Come with me,” he said softly. “Just out of the rain.”
Seraphina stared at his hand, her heart pounding.
Her mind screamed not to trust anyone ever again.
But her body… her trembling body…
leaned toward the one place that felt safe tonight.
Her fingers brushed his palm.
Caelum gently closed his hand around hers—warm, steady, protective.
For the first time that night, she didn’t feel like she was drowning.
And as he led her toward the dimly lit street, Seraphina didn’t know one thing:
This man she met by chance… would soon become the very storm she wasn’t allowed to love.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments