Hazel didn't sleep well.
It wasn't unusual her life had never really allowed peaceful nights but this time, it was different.
Every time she closed her eyes, she felt it.
A presence.
Not threatening but not safe either.
Her body remained tense beneath the thin blanket, her senses sharper than usual. It was as though something in her instinct refused to fully rest Or maybe someone. Having someone else in the house other than Cecillia is making her a bit uncomfortable.
She turned in bed, staring at the cracked ceiling.
"It's just a stranger in your house, she told herself.Someone you dragged in from the rain." She thought to herself. But even that thought didn't sit right.
Richard didn't feel like just a stranger.
He felt like— Hazel shut her eyes tightly trying to find an excuse for herself.
"Stop overthinking," she whispered to herself.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
Sleep eventually came… but lightly.
⸻
Hazel heardd a soft creak and her eyes snapped open, Her heart started racing immediately.Someone was awake, She hurriedly sat up slowly holding her breath.The door to her room was slightly open now.She was sure she had closed it.A chill ran down her spine.
"Hello…?" she called out softly but received no response.
For a moment, she considered staying where she was.Safe and Hidden.
But that wasn't who she was.
Hazel slid out of bed and stepped quietly toward the door.Each step felt louder than it should.
The dim light from the living room spilled into the hallway, casting long shadows across the walls.
She pushed the door open. And froze when she saw Richard he was standing by the window wide awake and still watching the rain.
But something was off.The air around him felt heavy like the entire room was bending toward him.
Hazel swallowed. "You're not asleep." She gently asked masking her previous fear.
He didn't turn and just said"I told you," he said calmly, "I don't need it."
Hazel frowned slightly, stepping closer. "Who the hell doesnt sleep at this hour"She thought to herself.
"Normal people do thou." She answered out loud
That sparked his attention as he turned slowly and for a split second Hazel's breath caught.His eyes they weren't the same,they were darker not just in color but in depth like something endless lived inside them.Then, just as quickly It was gone, back to normal Hazel blinked.
"Did I imagine that?" Hazel thought.
"You should go back to sleep," Richard said, his voice quieter now.
Hazel crossed her arms. "Not when you're acting like a horror movie character in my living room."
That earned a faint smirk.
"And you're not afraid of this horror movie character ?" Richard smirked
Hazel knew It wasn't a question but yet she still hesitated.
"…Should I be?" She asked
"Yes." His voice followed quickly and landed softly but it carried weight Hazel felt it.
Still she didn't move, Instead she stepped closer closer to him and tapped him.
"I don't get scared that easily," she said Richard watched her approach him and something unreadable flickering across his face.
"That's not bravery," he replied. "That's ignorance." He stated and Hazel stopped just a few feet away from him now.
"Or maybe," she said quietly, "I just don't think you'll hurt me." She said and that made something shift.
Richard's jaw tightened slightly.
"You're very sure of someone you just met." He chuckled
Hazel shrugged lightly. "You came with me. That says something."
Richard let out a low breath, almost like a quiet laugh but without humor.
"You have no idea what that says."
Hazel tilted her head. "Then tell me."
He didn't answer.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Now they were standing too close.
Close enough for Hazel to notice everything, The faint scent of rain still clinging to him the sharpness of his features the intensity in his gaze made her heartbeat picked up.
"You ask too many questions," he murmured.
"And you give too few answers," she shot back, though her voice was softer now.
Another step.
Now there was barely space between them.
The tension shifted not just strange anymore.Something warmer and dangerous lingered in a different way.
Richard's eyes dropped briefly to her lips.
Hazel noticed but didn't step back.
Bad idea.
Very bad idea.
"You should stay away from me," he said quietly.
Hazel's breath hitched slightly. "You're in my house." She answered
That almost made him smile.
"Then maybe," he said, voice low, "you should have left me in the rain."
Hazel shook her head. "Not happening."
Their eyes locked again.
And this time neither of them looked away.
Seconds passed.
But it felt longer.
Then suddenly a sharp knock echoed through the apartment door.
Hazel jumped slightly, breaking the moment.
"What—who's that at this hour?" she muttered.
Richard's expression changed instantly.
Back to cold.
Alert.
Dangerous.
"Don't open it," he said firmly.
Hazel frowned. "It could be Ce—"
"It's not."
The certainty in his voice made her pause.
Another knock.
Louder this time.
Hazel hesitated.
Then moved anyway.
"Hazel."
His voice stopped her mid-step.
She turned.
And for the first time—
She saw it clearly.
Not just intensity.
Not just mystery.
But warning.
Real warning.
"Who are you?" she asked quietly.
Richard didn't answer immediately.
The knocking continued relentless.
"I won't open the door if I were you," he said slowly.
Hazel's chest tightened, that didn't sound like a joke at all.
Another knock brought her attention back to the door.
"Hazel! Open the door!"
Her eyes widened.
That voice, she recognized it, it was her best friend she glanced at Richard before storming to the door.
"Ce?" she whispered.
Relief flooded her instantly.
She rushed to the door without thinking and pulled it open.
Cecilia stood there looking worried Breathing, eyes scanning her terrified.
"Zel," she said urgently, grabbing her arm. "You got me worried, what in…."She stopped, when her gaze landed on the figure.
Cecillia walked Past Hazel before pulling her away to close the door.
The dimm light couldn't make her see who it was but she know from his dressing and posture he must be an elegant man.
"Zel, what is that man doing here ?" Cecillia asked still prying but Hazel just dragged her along and in just that moment everything changed.
Cecilia's expression drained of color.
Pure fear replaced it.
"No…" she whispered.
Hazel frowned, confused. "Ce? What's wrong?"
But Cecilia wasn't looking at her anymore.
Her grip tightened painfully.
"Hazel…" she said, her voice shaking now.
"Do you know who that is?"
Hazel turned slowly.
Back toward Richard.
He hadn't moved.
But his eyes—
Were locked on Cecilia now.
Sharp.
Calculating.
And something else.
Something dark.
Very dark.
Hazel's heart started pounding again.
Because suddenly—
She wasn't so sure anymore.