The rain came down in sheets that night, drenching the streets and making the city glow with blurred lights. Elena pulled her jacket tighter, cursing under her breath. She had promised herself she wouldn’t stay late at the art gallery again, but deadlines and demanding clients never seemed to care about promises. The streets were nearly empty, the kind of silence that made every footstep echo louder than it should. Elena’s heels clicked quickly against the pavement, her breath misting in the cold. That’s when she saw him. A man leaned casually against a lamppost at the corner—dark hair slicked back by the rain, a sharp jawline half-hidden in shadow. His posture was relaxed, but there was something watchful in the way his eyes followed her. He wasn’t just standing there. He was waiting. Her heart skipped. She told herself to look away, to keep walking, but her gaze lingered longer than it should. The stranger pushed himself off the lamppost and stepped forward. His movements were smooth, almost deliberate, and the rain seemed to part around him as if he owned the night. “Long night?” His voice was low, edged with a faint accent she couldn’t quite place. Elena hesitated. “Something like that.” A smile ghosted across his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You shouldn’t be walking alone this late. Dangerous things lurk in the dark.” Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. “And what are you? A warning sign?” He chuckled softly, the sound unsettlingly warm. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m the one keeping the dangers away.” For reasons she couldn’t explain, Elena laughed—a short, nervous sound that surprised her. She should have been cautious. He was a stranger, after all, but there was something magnetic about him, something that drew her in despite the warning bells in her head. “Lucas,” he said suddenly, extending his hand as though this were the most natural introduction in the world. “Elena,” she replied, her voice betraying her curiosity. She didn’t take his hand, but the name tasted sharp in her mouth, like wine she wasn’t sure she wanted to drink. A rumble of thunder broke the silence, and before she could react, a car sped by, splashing a wave of water toward her. She flinched back, but Lucas stepped forward, grabbing her arm, pulling her against him. The water sprayed harmlessly against his back, leaving her pressed to his chest, close enough to feel the steady rhythm of his heart. The world seemed to still for a moment. The rain, the thunder, even her own racing thoughts—all drowned beneath the intensity of his gaze. His hand lingered on her arm longer than necessary, and when he finally let go, her skin burned where he had touched her. “You should be more careful,” he said softly. Elena swallowed. “And you should mind your own business.” His lips curved in amusement. “Maybe your business just became mine.” Before she could respond, a noise echoed from the alley beside them—a sharp crash, like glass breaking. Elena turned instinctively, but Lucas’s hand brushed her wrist lightly, stopping her. “Don’t,” he whispered. His tone was no longer playful; it was sharp, commanding. A shadow darted past the alley’s opening, too quick for her to make out clearly. Her breath caught. She wanted to ask questions, to demand why he looked so tense, but the words stuck in her throat. Lucas watched the alley for another long moment, then relaxed, as if whatever danger had been there had passed. He turned back to her with a disarming smile. “You should go home, Elena.” The sound of her name on his lips startled her. She was certain she hadn’t told him her full name, yet he spoke it with unsettling ease. “How do you—” “Goodnight,” he cut her off smoothly, stepping back into the rain. His figure blurred in the mist, swallowed by shadows before she could finish her question. Elena stood there, heart pounding, soaked from the rain but burning with an inexplicable heat. Who was he? A stranger with piercing eyes and secrets in his voice? Or something darker? As she finally forced her legs to move and walked toward home, she knew one thing for certain: this was not the last time she would see Lucas. And whether it led to love, betrayal, or something far more dangerous—she was already caught in his orbit. Elena's apartment was only a few blocks away, but the walk felt longer that night. Her mind refused to quiet, replaying the way Lucas had looked at her, the unsettling way he'd spoken her name. When she finally reached her building, she hesitated before unlocking the door. A prickle ran down her spine, the kind of instinct she couldn't explain. she glanced behind her, the street was empty and the rain had slowed to drizzle, the silence pressed heavy against her ears. she shook her head, you're imagining things, Elena. He's just a stranger Nothing more. Still, when she closed the door behind her and locked it twice, the sound of the bolt sliding into place brought a flicker of relief. Inside , the small apartment felt colder.