As Evelyn walked away from the clearing, she thought she had finally found a moment of peace.
But fate had other plans. A chorus of cackles and snarls erupted from the underbrush, and a horde of goblins, orcs, and ogres emerged from the shadows.
Evelyn drew her blade, ready to face the new threat.
The creatures charged, their weapons at the ready.
Evelyn danced between them, her blade flashing in the moonlight as she struck down goblin after goblin.
But there were too many, and soon she found herself surrounded.
An orc swung its massive club, and Emily dodged just in time.
But an ogre caught her with a lucky blow, sending her crashing to the ground.
As she struggled to rise, a goblin kicked her in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her.
The creatures closed in, their weapons raised for the kill.
Evelyn raised her blade, ready to face her end with dignity. But it was too late. A club struck her head, and everything went black.
...
As she slowly opened her eyes, Evelyn found herself in an unfamiliar room, lying on a soft and comfortable bed.
She tried to sit up, but a wave of pain washed over her, forcing her back onto the pillows.
A figure approached her, and she flinched, ready to defend herself. But the figure's gentle voice calmed her nerves.
"Take it easy, you are safe now," he said, his ruby red eyes gleaming in the dim light of the room.
Evelyn's gaze narrowed, taking in the stranger's chiseled features and night black hair, which fell across his forehead in messy locks.
He was around her age, 16, with a strong jawline and a face so good-looking that it put the world's most handsome man to shame.
She felt a flutter in her chest, but her instincts screamed warning.
As he offered her food, Evelyn's initial reaction was to attack.
Her hand shot out, but the stranger deflected her blow with ease. "Hey, hey, it is okay. I am not going to hurt you," he said, his voice soothing.
Evelyn's anger dissipated, replaced by a wave of shame. She looked away, her eyes welling up with tears.
The stranger handed her a bowl of steaming soup and fried chicken, and she took it hesitantly.
As she ate, he asked her about her story, how she ended up in [The Dark Forest].
Evelyn's voice cracked as she recounted her tale, the memories flooding back.
Her family, her home, the creatures that destroyed everything.
The stranger listened intently, his ruby red eyes filled with compassion.
When she broke down, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
For the first time since the attack, Evelyn felt a sense of safety, of comfort.
She clung to the stranger, her tears soaking into his shirt.
As she pulled back, she saw the concern etched on his face, and her heart skipped a beat.
She felt a spark of attraction, a flutter in her chest that she could not ignore.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The stranger smiled, his ruby red eyes crinkling at the corners. "You are welcome, Evelyn. My name is Keith, by the way."
Evelyn's heart skipped another beat as their eyes met, a connection forming between them.
She knew in that moment that she was drawn to Keith, that she wanted to trust him, to be around him.
And as she smiled back, she felt a glimmer of hope, a sense that maybe, just maybe, she had found a new reason to keep going.
As they sat in silence, Evelyn could not help but steal glances at Keith.
His ruby red eyes seemed to see right through her, and his night black hair framed his face in a way that made her heart race.
She felt a flutter in her chest, a sense of excitement that she had not felt in a long time.
"Keith?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes?" he replied, his eyes locked on hers.
"Why did you help me?" Evelyn asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Keith's smile faltered for a moment, and Emily saw a glimmer of sadness in his eyes.
"I know what it is like to lose everything," he said, his voice low. "I know what it is like to feel alone. And I could not just leave you there, in the forest. You deserved better."
Evelyn's heart went out to him, and she felt a sense of connection that she could not ignore.
She reached out, her hand brushing against his, and Keith's ruby red eyes locked on hers.
For a moment, they just sat there, their hands touching, their eyes locked on each other.
And in that moment, Evelyn knew that she was falling for Keith, hard.
As the night wore on, Evelyn's eyelids grew heavy, her body still aching from the ordeal.
Keith noticed her struggling to stay awake and gently suggested they get some rest.
Evelyn nodded, her eyes already closing as he led her to a cozy room that belonged to his parents.
"This is where you will stay tonight," he said, his voice soft. "My room is just down the hall if you need me."
Evelyn murmured a thank you, her words slurred with exhaustion.
Keith smiled and tucked her in, his touch gentle as he pulled the blankets up to her chin.
As she drifted off to sleep, Evelyn felt a sense of peace wash over her, knowing she was safe with Keith.
She did not even flinch when he leaned down to whisper goodnight in her ear, his breath tickling her skin.
Keith retreated to his own room, his thoughts lingering on the mysterious girl who had stumbled into his life.
As he settled into bed, he could not help but smile and taunt the system.
'Ha ha ha, how about that fool. I hope you have my gift warm and ready', said Keith as a smug expression formed on his immaculate face.
[I do not know what you are so happy about host, she still has not fallen in love with you yet. So if I were you I would not be counting my eggs before they hatch and start celebrating like a fool, instead I would seal the deal and make it a sure thing, but I guess you are a fool] - said the system in an irritated tone.
"Yeah, yeah. She is already in the bag, so there is no early celebration in this case', said Keith as the smile on his face began to fade.
With a sigh, he closed his eyes, his mind whirling with possibilities as he drifted off to sleep.
...
The next morning, Keith woke up early, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
He got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to start his day with a refreshing shower.
Evelyn woke up feeling a bit disoriented, unsure of where she was or whose bed she was in.
As she sat up and looked around, memories of the previous night came flooding back.
She remembered Keith, the handsome stranger who had saved her from the creatures and taken her in.
She threw off the covers and got out of bed, her need for a shower overwhelming her.
She made her way to the bathroom, not realizing that Keith was already in there.
She opened the door without knocking, and her eyes widened as she took in the sight before her.
Keith was standing under the showerhead, his body partially visible through the foggy glass door.
Evelyn's face flushed bright red as she quickly averted her eyes, apologizing profusely. "I am so sorry, I did not mean to intrude!"
Keith laughed, his voice echoing off the bathroom tiles.
"It is okay, I am used to it," he said with a grin. "But maybe next time, you can knock, huh?"
Evelyn's face grew even redder as she quickly closed the door and backed away, her heart racing with embarrassment.
She could not believe her mistake, and she could not help but wonder what other surprises this day might hold.
As the figure of Keith appeared in her mind, she could not help but blush.
'It is so BIG!', she thought, her face getting hotter and hotter. 'And his abs are so firm.'
Evelyn's face was still red with embarrassment as she waited outside the bathroom door, listening to the sound of Keith's shower.
She could not believe she had just walked in on him like that, and she could not help but wonder what he must think of her.
When Keith emerged from the bathroom, dressed in a fresh set of clothes, Evelyn apologized again.
"I am so sorry about that," she said, her face still flushed. "I was not thinking."
Keith smiled and waved it off. "Like I said, it is no big deal," he said. "But next time, maybe knock first, huh?"
Evelyn nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Definitely," she said. "Thanks for understanding."
As they headed downstairs to the kitchen, Evelyn could not help but steal glances at Keith.
She had never met anyone like him before - kind, understanding, and handsome.
She felt a flutter in her chest as she realized she was starting to develop feelings for him.
What will happen next?