Elegbede_Habeeb

The first time they met, it felt like fate. The second time, it felt like a warning.

She was running from a past that refused to die. He was chasing a future that seemed just out of reach. When their worlds collided, it was more than just love—it was an obsession, a wildfire that threatened to burn them both alive.

But love isn’t always salvation. Sometimes, it’s destruction in disguise.

Bound by Fire: Ashes of Desire

The iron gate groaned as Luca pushed it open, the rusted metal protesting against the intrusion. Beyond it, the narrow path stretched into darkness, swallowed by towering trees that whispered with the wind.

Every instinct screamed at her to turn around, to run, to do anything but step back into this place.

But Luca didn't wait. He grabbed her hand, his grip firm, unyielding. "No more running, bambina."

Her breath hitched at the warmth of his touch, but she yanked her hand free, straightening her spine. "I'm not running."

He stepped forward, and reluctantly, she followed.

The further they walked, the heavier the air became—thick with memories she had spent years trying to forget.

Then, finally, the path opened up, revealing the old mansion.

It was still the same. A massive stone structure, cold and looming, its windows like hollow eyes staring into the night.

Luca glanced at her. "This is it, isn't it?"

She didn't answer. She didn't have to.

He pulled the key from his pocket and twirled it between his fingers. "Care to do the honors?"

He stepped forward and inserted the key into the rusted lock. It clicked open with unsettling ease.

The door creaked as it swung inward, revealing the dust-covered remnants of a past she never wanted to face.

Luca stepped inside first, his sharp gaze scanning the space. "Looks abandoned."

Elena let out a bitter laugh. "Because it is."

A whisper of movement in the dark.

Luca noticed it too. He turned sharply, his body tense. "We're not alone."

Before Elena could react, a shadow moved at the top of the staircase.

But as the figure stepped into the dim light, her heart slammed against her ribs.

Because standing at the top of the stairs—

Was the one person she thought was dead.

Next Chapter: The Ghost of the Past—The truth is darker than Elena ever imagined, and the past she tried to bury is no longer willing to stay hidden.

Skeletons in the Dark