Chapter 1: The Night That Changed Everything
Rhea ran through the rain, water soaking her hair and dripping down her back. Great. Another day, another empty wallet, she thought, hugging her thin jacket tighter.
A shout made her freeze. Turning a corner, she saw a man struggling with a heavy bag, two others on him, shoving and pulling.
Her heart pounded. Stay back… stay back… But her feet moved anyway.
"Hey! Stop!" she yelled, her voice cracking.
One of the attackers turned toward her, eyes dark. "Get outta here, girl," he growled.
"I'm not leaving!" Rhea shouted, swinging her bag like a weapon.
Time slowed. The man they were attacking—tall, sharp-featured, impossibly calm—moved like a shadow. A flash of metal in his hand, a quick step, and the attackers stumbled back, startled. Then, just like that, they ran.
Rhea stumbled forward, drenched, shaking. "Are… are you hurt?"
He straightened, water running off his coat. His eyes met hers—calm, sharp, unnervingly steady.
She blinked, trying to process what she'd just seen. How… how did he do that?
"You… you're… really fast… and… I've never seen anyone fight like that," she said, words tumbling out.
He smirked faintly. "Experience," he said quietly, almost like he was talking to himself.
Rhea swallowed, shivering from the cold and the adrenaline. "Who… who are you?"
He tilted his head, studying her like she was a puzzle. "Someone who doesn't like being attacked."
Rhea laughed nervously, though it sounded hollow in the rain. "Yeah… I guess that makes sense."
There was a long silence. She wanted to ask more—so many questions—but he just stared ahead, unreadable. Something about him made her chest tighten. She didn't know fear or curiosity felt this way, all at once.
Finally, he spoke again, low, quiet. "You shouldn't wander alone at night."
Rhea shivered, not sure if it was from the rain or from him. "I… I'll be careful next time," she whispered.
Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving only the sound of the rain and the echo of her racing heartbeat.
Rhea sank against the wall, drenched and trembling. What just happened? Who… who was that?
The rain ran down her face, and she whispered to herself, barely audible over the storm:
"Nothing… nothing in my life will ever be normal again."
Something tells me this isn't over…