Chapter 3: He Protected Me

The shadow moved closer.

Dragging itself across the floor like it didn’t belong to this world.

Its shape twisted unnaturally—stretching, shrinking, breaking apart and forming again.

And those eyes—

They weren’t human.

They glowed.

Faint.

Hungry.

Locked on me.

---

My fingers tightened around his hand without thinking.

“I-it’s coming closer…” I whispered, my voice shaking.

“I know,” he said calmly.

Too calmly.

Like this was normal for him.

Like this thing—

Wasn’t a threat.

---

But it was.

I could feel it.

Something deep inside me reacted to its presence.

Not just fear.

Something darker.

Something that made my chest tighten painfully.

“Stay behind me,” he said suddenly.

Before I could respond, he stepped forward—

Pulling me slightly behind him.

Placing himself between me and the shadow.

---

My breath caught.

“Wait—what are you doing?” I said, panic rising again.

He didn’t look back.

Didn’t answer.

His entire focus was on the thing in front of us.

And for the first time…

I noticed the change.

---

The air around him shifted.

Darkened.

Like the shadows themselves were responding to him.

His presence felt different.

Heavier.

Dangerous.

---

The creature stopped moving.

As if it sensed it too.

A low, distorted sound came from it—

Somewhere between a growl and a whisper.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said quietly.

Not to me.

To it.

---

The shadow flickered violently.

Then lunged.

---

I screamed.

---

But before it could reach us—

Everything went still.

---

He moved.

So fast I didn’t even see it happen.

One second he was standing in front of me—

The next, he was inside the darkness.

---

A sharp, unnatural sound tore through the hallway.

Like something breaking.

Like something… burning.

The shadow twisted violently, its form glitching, breaking apart like it couldn’t hold itself together.

Dark smoke spread across the walls.

The lights flickered wildly.

---

“Stop—!” I cried out, not even sure who I was shouting at.

But he didn’t stop.

---

His hand was wrapped around the creature—

Not touching it.

But controlling it.

Like he was holding something invisible.

Something powerful.

---

“Leave,” he said coldly.

The word wasn’t loud.

But it carried something terrifying.

Something that made the air vibrate.

---

The shadow let out a piercing, distorted screech.

And then—

It vanished.

---

Just like that.

Gone.

---

Silence fell instantly.

Heavy.

Unreal.

---

I stood there, frozen, trying to process what just happened.

My heart was still racing.

My body still trembling.

---

Slowly…

He turned back to me.

---

For a second—

I couldn’t recognize him.

---

His eyes were different.

Darker than before.

Not just empty—

But dangerous.

Alive in a way that made my chest tighten.

---

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

His voice was softer now.

Controlled.

Like nothing had happened.

---

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Trying to find my voice.

“You… you just—what was that?” I stammered.

He didn’t answer immediately.

His gaze stayed on me.

Scanning.

Checking.

---

“I asked if you’re hurt.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, though my voice was still shaking. “But that thing—what was it?!”

---

He looked away.

Just for a second.

And that small movement told me something was wrong.

---

“It shouldn’t have found you this soon,” he murmured.

My stomach dropped.

“Found me?” I repeated. “What do you mean found me?!”

---

His eyes returned to mine.

And this time—

There was no hiding it.

---

“They’re coming,” he said quietly.

---

A cold wave of fear crashed over me.

“Who is they?” I whispered.

---

He stepped closer again.

Not threatening.

Not forceful.

But close enough to make my breath hitch.

---

“The ones who have been waiting for you,” he said.

---

My mind spun.

“This doesn’t make any sense—why me? I didn’t do anything!”

---

“You exist,” he replied.

---

That answer scared me more than anything else.

---

Before I could say anything else—

He reached for my wrist again.

But this time—

His touch was different.

Gentler.

Almost careful.

---

“You can’t stay here anymore,” he said.

---

“What?” I pulled back slightly. “What are you talking about? This is my house—”

---

“It’s not safe,” he cut in.

“For you.”

---

My chest tightened.

“And with you, it is?” I challenged, though my voice wasn’t as strong as I wanted it to be.

---

For a moment—

He didn’t answer.

---

Then, slowly…

He leaned closer.

His face inches from mine.

His voice low.

Almost a whisper.

---

“You’re safer with me… than you are without me.”

---

Silence.

---

I should have pulled away.

Should have refused.

Should have run.

---

But I didn’t.

---

Because deep down…

I knew he was telling the truth.

---

And that terrified me.

---

Because the moment I hesitated… I realized—

I wasn’t just afraid of the darkness anymore.

I was starting to trust it.

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