I know that going out with this stranger is not the right thing to do, but I don't have the courage to walk away. I can't go back to that club, Steven will surely humiliate me.
I slid inside the car when he opened the door of his black Audi for me. He then took the driver's seat and started the engine. The car roared to life and smoothly pulled us away from the club.
I cleared my throat. "Are we... going to do this in the car?"
He chuckled softly, a teasing smile on his lips. "You're the one who invited me. I thought you'd have a plan."
I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "I don't really know what I'm doing."
Wow. You're such a pathetic mess, Auri.
"If you're a bit shy, this Mr. Knight is more than willing to make the first move."
I could feel my ears and face heating up more. I probably look like a tomato right now. "I... I've never done anything like this before."
He reached out for my hand. "I'm just kidding, Aurora," he said with a playful smile. "You don't have to force yourself to do something you're not comfortable with."
The warmth of his hand was unexpectedly comforting. I finally managed to smile. "Thank you. I umm... I'm just not in my right mind right now."
He nodded his head. "We can just drive around the city all night, if you want." He glanced at me before he added, "It might clear your head a bit. If we get lost, that's just more adventure, right?"
I laughed and nodded. "That sounds nice."
He drove us through the city streets, the conversation was light and engaging. Without realizing it, I began to relax. I just found myself laughing at his jokes and sharing my boring stories with him. He's surprisingly a good listener. It was odd how easy it was to open up to him, considering that we had only just met.
He pulled into a quiet, secluded spot overlooking the city. With the city lights sparkling like stars, the night seemed alive. He turned off the engine, and we sat in the stillness, taking the scenery.
"Do you feel better now?" He broke the silence.
I nodded my head, feeling more at ease. "Yes, much better. Thank you." Meeting his eyes, I added, "You know what? I'd like to get to know you a little better."
He leaned back with a sly smile. "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you. There's a reason they say curiosity killed the cat."
I tilted my head, smirking. "Lucky for me, I've got nine lives to spare."
His eyes narrowed with amusement. "Nine lives, huh? Perfect. I've got few secrets that might just keep you busy for all of them."
As we sat there, talking and laughing, I realized that I was enjoying this moment more than I had anticipated. What had started as an impulsive, reckless decision was now the only thing that seemed to matter. The world outside felt distant, like it didn't exist.
I hadn't realized how tired I was until the weight of sleep slowly crept in. My eyes grew heavier, and before I knew it, I was barely holding onto the moment. The last thing I heard before I drifted off was his voice, soft and warm.
"Goodnight, Aurora."
And with that, I let the darkness take over, the steady rhythm of his voice lulling me into sleep.
I suddenly woke up when my phone's alarm clock blared. The car was still and quiet. A man's coat was draped over me, providing me enough warmth. I looked outside and saw the city enveloped in thick fog, hinting that it's probably around five in the morning.
I removed the coat and stepped outside of the car. My breath forming a small clouds in the chilling air. I spotted the man standing a few feet away, gazing out over the city.
I walked toward him, trying to shake off the lingering haze of sleep. "Good morning."
He turned to face me. His eyes softening as he took in my appearance. "Good morning, Aurora. How was your sleep?"
I smiled. "It was good, but I should get going. My grandfather will be worried. But, um, I'd like to see you again sometime. May I know your name?"
He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'll tell you my name soon."
"When exactly is 'soon'?" I can't believe he's trying to play hard-to-get!
He chuckled softly. "I promise I won't make you wait long. For now, could you do me a favor?"
I looked at him, still curious. "What kind of favor?"
He took a step closer, his gaze locking onto mine. "Forget everything that happened last night, forget that you ever loved your ex, and forget about me."
My heart raced, and I felt a strange pull in his eyes. His blue irises began to swirl and darken, the color shifting to an unsettling, glowing red. It was as if his eyes were drawing me in, pulling at the very core of my being. What the hell is happening?
"Forget? Why should I?"
He extended his hand, gently cupping my cheek. "Because you don't need to remember this. Trust me."
His eyes, now a deep, vivid red, seemed to pierce through my soul. The intensity of his gaze made it increasingly difficult to think clearly. My mind felt like it was being submerged in a fog, my thoughts slipping away with each passing second.
"Please," I tried to resist the hypnotic pull but failed. "I don't understand. Why are you doing this?"
He continued to hold my gaze. "Don't worry, Aurora. We'll meet again."
The hypnotic effect of his gaze was overpowering, and I felt my memories of the night slowly erasing, like sand slipping through my fingers.
As the last fragments of my recollection faded, I felt a profound sense of loss and confusion.
"I'll come back for you," he whispered once more. His eyes slowly returning to their normal blue hue.
I felt my will crumble and the weight of the night slipped away, leaving only a vague and unsettling emptiness.
When I arrived home, the first thing I noticed was my grandfather standing outside, his face etched with concern. He walked towards me, his gaze full of worry.
"Aurora, where have you been?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but the words wouldn't come. I couldn't even remember where I had been or why I hadn't come home last night. I glanced at him, feeling a mix of confusion and unease.
My grandfather's expression softened slightly, though he still looked worried. "Are you okay? Are you hungry?"
I felt a wave of exhaustion hit me. "I'm fine. I'm a little hungry."
He guided me inside, and I sat at the dining table as the maids prepared a quick meal. The warm food was comforting, but my mind was still reeling from the night's events-or rather, the lack of clear recollection of them.
As I finished eating, the sound of the doorbell broke the silence. Yue burst into the house with an eager expression. She looked around before spotting me and rushing over.
"Auri! Where have you been? What happened after you left the club?"
I rubbed my temples, trying to recall the details, but the memories were frustratingly elusive. "I... I don't remember much, Yue. I was with someone, but I can't remember who or how I got home."
Yue's eyes widened. "What do you mean you don't remember? You were with that guy, the one who was so mysterious. Did you go somewhere with him? Tell me everything!"
I shook my head. "I can't. I remember being at the club, and then... it's like everything just fades away. I don't even know how I got home." This is frustrating.
Yue looked puzzled and a bit concerned. "That's so weird. You were fine when you left the club, so what happened after?"
"I really wish I knew,"
She took a deep breath, trying to piece together what she knew. "So, you don't remember anything about him? Not even his name?"
"No, nothing. It's like the whole night is missing from my memory."
"This is bizarre, Auri. I hope everything is alright."
The only explanation I could think of for the gaps in my memory was the alcohol. I had never drunk so much before, and the effects of the liquor must have been stronger than I thought. It was the first time I had indulged in such heavy drinking. The rich, dark liquor at the club was something I wasn't used to, and it had hit me harder than I expected. Maybe that's why the events of the night were so hazy and why my memory was a blur. I rubbed my temples, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts.
"You know, Yue, I think it might be because of the alcohol. I had never had that kind of drink before, and I guess it really affected me."
She looked at me sympathetically. "That could be it. Alcohol can definitely mess with your memory, especially if you're not used to drinking. It's pretty common for people to forget things if they've had too much."
I sighed, feeling a bit of relief at having a plausible explanation, even though it didn't fully ease my unease. "Yeah, it makes sense. I guess I must have just had too much and that's why everything feels so fuzzy."
"Just try not to worry too much. It happens to the best of us. Let's just focus on today and move forward."
I just nodded, too tired to say more. I need to be more cautious in the future.