Chapter 7 The First Meeting – A Kiss in the Dark

Loving Her Darkness

Chapter 7: The First Kiss in Chains

Liang Wei sat alone in his hotel suite in Delhi. The city pulsed with lights outside, yet he couldn't feel their warmth. His fingers trembled as they touched the silver chain around his neck—Aditi's chain.

He had worn it for years, unable to let go of the girl who vanished in the fire.

But tonight... tonight had shaken him. He had seen her. Or someone who looked so much like her, it cracked open a memory he had tried to bury deep inside.

He closed his eyes. And the memory came rushing back like floodwater.

Years Ago - The Room

Darkness.

Liang's senses were muffled. His wrists were tied behind his back with coarse rope that dug into his skin. A blindfold covered his eyes, damp and reeking of sweat. He could taste blood—iron and salt clinging to his tongue.

The air was thick and cold, tinged with something rotten. The ground beneath him was solid, but gritty. Cement maybe, or damp tiles. A leaking pipe dripped steadily nearby, counting seconds like a broken metronome.

His breath came ragged, shallow.

Where am I? Who brought me here? What do they want?

He shifted slightly. His left shoulder throbbed with pain from a blow he had taken earlier. His body screamed in protest.

Then he heard it—a voice.

Soft. Frightened. Female.

"I don't want to die here..."

His ears perked up. Was he hallucinating?

"I haven't even kissed anyone..."

He blinked under the blindfold, confused.

"At least let me have my first kiss before I die," the voice whispered with a nervous laugh that almost broke.

Liang's throat burned. He coughed lightly.

"Hello? Are you real?" he croaked.

There was a pause.

"You heard me?"

"Yes... where are you?"

The girl whimpered. "I don't know... I can't see... ."

She started crawling toward him. He heard the rustle of cloth, the scrape of bound ankles, and the trembling of her breath.

She's scared. Just like me.

His heart beat faster. Not just because of fear now, but something else. Connection. A thread in the dark.

"My name's Liang," he whispered. "Yours?"

"Aditi..." she said after a pause.

Something about the way she said it made his chest tighten.

Her voice... there's something familiar about it.

She was near him now. Her hands were tied behind her, too. But she leaned forward until he could feel her warm breath against his face.

"You're real..." she breathed.

"So are you," he said, trying to smile, though she couldn't see it.

"You sound calm," she said. "Are you not scared?"

"Terrified," he replied. "But you talking to me... is helping."

She laughed softly, nervously.

"Me too."

Then she shifted again.

"Your blindfold... can I try to remove it? My hands are useless but maybe..."

"Try," he said. "I trust you."

She moved closer, leaning awkwardly. Her chin pressed against his face, her lips brushing his cheek as she tried to hook the edge of the cloth with her teeth.

It sent shivers down his spine.

Her breath... it smells like mint and vanilla... how? In this place?

He froze as her lips pressed near his nose.

She pulled again.

And the cloth slipped off.

His eyes adjusted to the dim, flickering light from a cracked bulb overhead.

She was beautiful. Even in fear. Her long, messy hair framed wide eyes and trembling lips.

She stared at him too.

"You... you're handsome..." she whispered.

He blinked.

"You said you'd never had your first kiss, right?"

She nodded slowly.

"Would you like to?"

Her voice was barely audible. "Yes..."

He leaned in. Their foreheads touched first. Then noses. Then...

Their lips met.

A soft kiss. Tender. Shy.

He could feel her trembling.

When they pulled apart, she gasped.

"That was it? That was my first kiss?"

"Didn't feel like much?" he teased.

"Not really..." she smirked.

Then she leaned forward and kissed him again. Deeper.

This time, they forgot about ropes. About danger.

They kissed like they had nothing else to lose.

Then she pulled back, breathless.

"Okay... now I'm ready to die."

"No," Liang said firmly. "We're getting out of here. Together."

They looked at each other.

What if she doesn't make it? What if this is the last good thing I ever feel?

He started trying to untie her wrists with his fingers.

It was hard. They laughed nervously as they failed.

"Worst escape duo ever," she joked.

"I'm a rockstar, not a magician," he said.

"You sing?"

"Yeah... I write songs too. Maybe I'll write one about this. About you."

"Just don't call it 'Kiss in the Dungeon,' please."

They both laughed, tears in their eyes.

Then, suddenly, a bang outside.

Footsteps. Shouts.

Light burst into the room. Men. Guns. Chaos.

Everything faded.

Present Day

Liang opened his eyes, breathing hard. His cheeks were wet.

He touched the chain again.

That kiss saved me once. And now... maybe you're still alive.

His phone buzzed.

A new message. A blurry image.

It was her. In Delhi. In the crowd.

And she was smiling.