Chapter 2 — The Stranger

I hope this chapter is worth your time. Happy reading! 🌙

Aria didn't dare turn around.

The silence was louder than her heartbeat.

The voice behind her was calm, almost bored, as if this impossible night had happened a thousand times before.

"You're not supposed to be awake."

She slowly faced him.

A boy.

Around her age.

Dressed in a black hoodie with his hands tucked into the pockets. Rain hung motionless around him like tiny stars, yet not a single drop touched him.

His eyes met hers.

Dark.

Unreadable.

And strangely... familiar.

"You can move?" she whispered.

"I was about to ask you the same thing."

Neither of them blinked.

Neither looked away.

For a moment, the frozen city disappeared. There was only the distance between them.

He sighed first.

"So... I'm not alone anymore."

"You knew this would happen?"

"I knew someone would wake up eventually."

Aria frowned. "What is this?"

He glanced at the frozen street.

"No idea."

"You're joking."

"I wish I was."

He walked past her, brushing close enough that the sleeve of his hoodie lightly grazed her hand.

Just one touch.

Barely anything.

Yet it sent an unexpected warmth through her fingers.

He didn't react.

Or maybe...

He simply hid it better.

"This happens every night," he said. "Eleven forty-three. Everything freezes for exactly seventeen minutes."

"And then?"

"Time starts again."

"Why?"

"No one knows."

"Since when?"

"I stopped counting."

She followed him through the silent streets.

A woman smiled forever while holding a bouquet.

A taxi remained frozen in the middle of a turn.

A paper airplane floated in the air, refusing to fall.

Everything felt unreal.

Everything...

Except him.

"You've never met anyone else?" Aria asked.

He shook his head.

"Until tonight."

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"I guess we're both unlucky."

"Or lucky."

Their eyes met again.

His expression softened for the briefest second.

Then he looked away.

"Don't get attached."

She laughed quietly.

"We've known each other for... what? Five minutes?"

"That's enough."

"For what?"

"To make leaving difficult."

The words lingered between them.

Before she could answer, a distant bell echoed through the frozen city.

He checked the digital watch on his wrist.

"Two minutes."

"Two minutes until what?"

"Until this ends."

Panic settled in her chest.

"Wait... I'll see you tomorrow, right?"

"If we're both awake."

She took a step closer.

"Then tell me your name."

He smiled for the first time.

It wasn't warm.

It wasn't cold.

It was the kind of smile that carried a secret.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because that's the first rule."

"What rule?"

He looked straight into her eyes.

"Never ask each other's real names."

Before she could argue, he stepped backward into a narrow alley.

"Hey!"

She hurried after him.

The alley...

Was empty.

No footsteps.

No shadow.

Nothing.

A second later—

The rain crashed onto the streets.

Cars roared back to life.

The cat landed safely and sprinted away.

The city breathed again.

Aria stood alone, her heart racing.

Then she noticed something lying at her feet.

A black hoodie string.

Still warm.

As if he'd left only a second ago.

The story continues...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***