chapter 7: Strange Love

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced herself to stay strong.

"All my life, people have only used me, scared me, misunderstood me. And now you're saying… there's something inside me that's dangerous?"

Kian replied calmly,

"No. I'm saying… there's something powerful inside you. But if you don't understand it, if you don't control it—it will destroy you."

Ela stood up.

"You have no idea what I've lost… My family, my peace, my dreams—everything! And now you say the danger is within me?"

Her eyes burned with fire, and her trembling hands clutched the table for support.

"Then tell me, Kian… What should I do? Run? Or fight my own shadow?"

Kian stepped closer, speaking slowly,

"You can't run. You have to fight… But I don't want you to fight alone. I'm here, Elina. I promised you—"

Ela listened in silence.

In the distance, thunder rolled—

a sign that the shadows of future battles were already looming.

Suddenly, Kian grabbed Ela by the shoulders and shoved her against the wall.

There was a strange glint in his eyes and an unfamiliar, cruel smile on his lips.

"You have no idea, Elina… I'm not who I used to be," he whispered.

Ela's eyes widened in shock. She tried to escape, but her body froze in fear.

Kian leaned into her neck—

his breath was hot and restless.

Ela raised a shaking hand to push him away, but before she could, Kian sank his teeth lightly into her neck.

She tried to scream—but a hand gripped her throat.

Her heart pounded, eyes filled with tears.

"You've belonged to me for a long time," his voice turned dark and mysterious.

Ela's heart thudded violently.

Was this love, or fear? Or both?

Kian suddenly gripped her wrists and pinned them against the wall.

Ela whispered, trembling,

"Let me go…"

Kian paused, staring deep into her eyes.

There was something strange in his gaze—an emotion she couldn't name.

"I will never let you go," he said.

Ela's heart was pounding in both fear and anticipation.

She wanted to flee—but his grip held her in place.

She opened her eyes wide—and the person in front of her wasn't Kian.

As the mask was removed, the face slowly revealed itself—

It was Adriss.

A jolt of shock struck her.

"You... Why?" she asked, her voice heavy with disbelief.

A twisted smile curled on Adriss's lips.

"I wanted you to see… I was always right here."

Pain mixed with fear flickered in Ela's eyes.

Adriss suddenly pulled out a knife and held it close to her cheek.

Then came a dangerous kiss—like it was his final wish.

The knife's cold edge brushed against her soft skin, making her flinch in pain.

Adriss drew her closer, his eyes sparkling like a madman.

"You are mine, Ela," he whispered, "no one can take you away from me."

Then, Adriss slowly began pulling down Ela's dress.

There was madness flickering in his eyes.

Ela tried to scream, but his hand silenced her throat.

"Be quiet, Ela… No one must hear," Adriss whispered.

Ela tried to step back, heart racing wildly.

Adriss then hissed in Korean:

"Geunyang gidaehae, mueosdo hal su eopseo."

"Just wait. You can't do anything."

Then in German:

"Du hast keine Wahl, also sei still."

"You have no choice. So stay quiet."

Ela's mind reeled.

Who are these people? Speaking Korean and German? This isn't random—this is organized… planned.

Terror crept in deeper, but she summoned whatever courage she could muster.

Adriss slowly began unbuttoning her shirt. Ela, crying, whispered:

"Please don't do this to me. I didn't do anything. What did I ever do to you?"

Tears streamed down her cheeks, her face pale with fear.

But she bravely asked,

"What was my fault? Why are you hurting me like this?"

Adriss paused for a moment, but rage still burned in his eyes.

The tension grew unbearable.

He looked straight into her face and said—

"You always run away, always forget. But I can't, Ela. I never forgot… You, that night, that betrayal."

Ela's voice shook as she held back her tears.

"I didn't betray you… I just wanted peace."

Adriss fell silent. His eyes hesitated.

Then slowly, he stepped back. But he said—

"You think you can escape all this? No, Ela… this is just the beginning."

Ela collapsed by the wall, hands trembling.

She knew—behind this game, there were deeper shadows waiting.

Adriss suddenly came close again.

Staring intensely into her eyes, he said—

"You have no idea, Ela… how broken I became."

Ela's breath trembled.

"Adriss, please…" her voice pleaded.

Adriss grabbed her hand, then hesitated.

His eyes showed an inner battle—desire and restraint clashing.

He slowly touched her forehead with his lips and whispered, voice trembling—

"I just want the truth. Why did you leave… why did you run away from me?"

Ela's tears fell.

"Because I was scared…

Of your love… and your darkness."

A grand apartment, in one of the tallest towers of the city.

Curtains half drawn, moonlight spills across the floor.

Two figures sleep on the bed—Ela and Adriss.

They lie under a soft white blanket.

Ela sleeps on one side, her hair scattered across the sheets, a childlike peace on her face.

Adriss is beside her, one arm unconsciously draped toward her—as if even in sleep, he can't let her go.

The room is silent.

Only the faint sound of distant traffic and soft breathing remains.

Nothing is clearly explained—only a quiet sense remains,

That perhaps, in this silent night, two broken souls have found a sliver of peace.

Night deepens.

The city is quiet. The moonlight touches the bed through the open window.

Adriss suddenly wakes.

He stares into the shadows for a while.

Then he looks at Ela's face beside him.

She sleeps like an angel—eyes closed, breath calm, strands of hair resting on her cheek.

Adriss slowly moves.

He gently wraps his arm around her.

Then he kisses her forehead—

a soft kiss filled with silent, unspoken love.

His eyes hold a shadow, full of unsaid words.

But he stays quiet.

He only stares at her—

As if he wants to hold this moment forever.