He Exits Before Reality Does

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

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