The Silver-Haired Shadow
The rain continued to fall outside, drumming against the windows with a soothing regularity. Yet inside the house, Bella had no mind to appreciate its melancholic rhythm. She had just finished gathering her belongings into a small travel bag—nothing unnecessary, only the essentials. Traveling light would allow her to leave quickly, without being burdened by the superfluous.
As she descended into the living room, an overwhelming emptiness greeted her. Only a few scattered pieces of furniture remained, silent witnesses to her imminent departure. The couches and several other items were gone. Bella had hastily sold them, negotiating with an eager buyer. She had even left some furniture with neighbors, too impatient to wait for better offers. This once warm and welcoming living room was now merely a passing place, an empty shell devoid of its soul.
She approached the fireplace and lit a fire. In the flickering flames, she tossed in papers, letters, memories she no longer wished to carry with her. Then came the photographs. With each picture she let burn, she relived the moments captured in them—fragments of life, smiles, bursts of laughter…
When she reached the last photo, her heart clenched. It was an image of her and Caden, taken during an outing. She gripped the photo in her trembling fingers, her gaze misting over. She wanted to throw it into the fire, but her hand hovered, unable to complete the action. Finally, she knelt, staring at the picture as if she could relive those moments within it. A tear rolled down her cheek before splashing onto the glossy paper, slightly blurring the image.
A noise behind her made her startle. A shadow formed in the doorway.
— "You thought you could leave without telling me?"
The voice was soft, almost mocking, yet carried an implicit threat. Bella quickly lifted her head, her gaze freezing. A woman with silver hair stood there, a malicious smile on her lips. She recognized her immediately.
— "You…" Bella murmured, her muscles instinctively tensing.
It was the same woman who had attacked her near the restaurant.
Without waiting for a response, the intruder launched a rapid attack, her figure nearly vanishing due to her speed. Bella barely had time to dodge, propelling herself backward with a gust of wind.
The silver-haired woman reappeared just in front of Bella, an amused smirk on her face.
— "Still quick… But not quick enough."
She extended her hand, and suddenly, Bella felt a crushing pressure on her mind. A wave of anxiety washed over her, intrusive thoughts clouding her senses. She clenched her teeth, trying to resist the mental attack, but her opponent took advantage of the distraction to strike.
With a fluid motion, Bella created a blast of wind to push her back, but the woman moved with supernatural agility, evading the attack effortlessly. A fist shot forward, striking Bella in the stomach and knocking the air from her lungs. She staggered backward but forced herself to remain standing.
She focused her energy, raising a trembling hand. A whirlwind of air swirled around her, lifting scattered papers and still-warm ashes.
— "You're persistent, I'll give you that," the woman murmured with a predatory smile.
She disappeared again. Bella spun around, trying to anticipate her next move, but a sharp pain exploded in her shoulder. Propelled backward, she crashed into the wall with force. A groan of pain escaped her, but she had no time to recover before her opponent was already upon her.
— "Let's finish this," the stranger whispered, her gaze gleaming with cruel intent.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Caden lay in bed, unable to find sleep. He kept shifting positions, restless, troubled by an unshakable feeling that refused to let him be. Something was wrong.
He sat up abruptly, inhaling deeply.
— "There's no way I'm abandoning you."
Without hesitation, he grabbed his coat and left his apartment. Outside, the rain still poured over the city, but he paid it no mind. He walked quickly, his heart pounding in sync with a single certainty—Bella needed him.