Kailen spent days hiding in his apartment, shrouded in darkness. The blinds were drawn, and every reflective surface had been covered or shattered to avoid the risk of accidentally catching his own gaze. The once-cozy space felt more like a tomb, silent and suffocating, filled with the heavy weight of guilt and despair.
But it wasn't the silence that haunted him most—it was the memories. He could still see the faces of those he had turned to stone, their last moments frozen in expressions of terror. Among them was the image of a woman with striking green eyes, her expression forever etched into his mind.
Elara.
Kailen's heart tightened as he thought of her. They had been close once, maybe closer than either of them had admitted. She had been the one person who understood his love for ancient myths and legends, sharing his fascination with stories of gods, monsters, and curses. They had spent countless nights poring over dusty books, discussing the fantastical as though it could be real.
He had been drawn to her warmth, her passion for the unknown, and the way she made him feel like he belonged somewhere. But now, the curse had severed that connection. He had pushed her away, disappearing without a word to protect her from the horror he had become.
Kailen's fingers dug into the fabric of the couch as he thought of the last time they had spoken. He had wanted to tell her everything, to explain why he had to leave. But how could he? How could he burden her with the knowledge that his very existence had become a weapon of destruction?
A sharp knock on the door jolted Kailen from his thoughts. He froze, his heart pounding. No one should have known he was here—he had made sure of it. Another knock, more insistent this time, echoed through the small apartment.
"Go away," Kailen whispered to himself, fear gripping his chest. But the knocking persisted, followed by a familiar voice.
"Kailen? It's Elara. Please, I know you're in there. Let me in."
His breath caught in his throat. Elara. How had she found him? Why was she here? Panic surged through him—if she saw him, if their eyes met…
"I—I can't," Kailen stammered, his voice barely audible. "You have to leave, Elara. It's not safe."
"Kailen, please," she pleaded, her voice muffled by the door but filled with worry. "I don't care what's happened—I'm not leaving you alone. Please, let me in."
He squeezed his eyes shut, torn between the overwhelming desire to see her and the fear of what might happen if he did. He couldn't risk it—he couldn't hurt her.
"Elara, please, you have to go," he insisted, louder this time. "You don't understand. I can't see you. I can't see anyone."
There was a long pause, and Kailen feared she might actually leave. But then, her voice came again, soft and resolute. "I've been looking for you, Kailen. I know something terrible has happened, and I want to help you. You don't have to face this alone."
Her words were like a knife to his heart. The thought of her out there, searching for him, worried and scared, was unbearable. But so was the thought of her turning to stone because of him. He had to keep her safe, even if it meant pushing her away.
"Elara… I'm cursed," he admitted, his voice breaking. "I can't control it. If you look at me—if I look at you—I'll turn you to stone."
A stunned silence followed, and Kailen could almost hear the wheels turning in her mind as she processed what he had said.
"Then we won't look at each other," Elara finally replied, her tone firm and determined. "I have something for that."
Before Kailen could respond, he heard the rustling of fabric, followed by a click. The door opened slowly, and Kailen instinctively turned away, his back pressed against the wall.
"Don't look," he warned, his voice trembling. "Please, don't look."
"I'm not," she assured him. He heard the door close behind her, and then her voice came closer, soft and comforting. "I'm wearing a blindfold, Kailen. I can't see anything."
Kailen's heart ached as he imagined her standing there, blindfolded, in the darkness. He wanted nothing more than to turn around, to pull her into his arms, but he knew he couldn't.
"Elara… why did you come?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Because I care about you, Kailen," she replied, without hesitation. "And because I know you're in pain. You've always been there for me—now let me be here for you."
A tear slid down Kailen's cheek. He wanted to argue, to tell her that she was better off without him, but he couldn't. The truth was, he didn't want to be alone. He was terrified, lost, and the idea of facing this curse without her seemed impossible.
"Elara… I don't know what to do," he confessed, his voice cracking. "I've hurt so many people. I'm a monster."
"No," she said firmly. "You're not a monster, Kailen. This curse, whatever it is, doesn't define you. We'll find a way to control it, to fix it. But first, you have to let me in."
Kailen hesitated, then slowly turned his head just enough to see her out of the corner of his eye. True to her word, she was standing there, a dark cloth tied around her eyes, her hands outstretched as if reaching for him.
Taking a deep breath, he reached out and took her hand, his heart pounding in his chest. Her touch was warm, grounding him in the midst of his chaos.
"We'll figure this out together," she whispered, squeezing his hand. "You're not alone."
For the first time since the curse had taken hold, Kailen felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, with Elara by his side, he could find a way to survive this nightmare.
But even as he held her hand, another shadow loomed in the back of his mind—a presence he couldn't quite place, but one that filled him with a sense of dread. Someone—or something—was watching him, waiting in the darkness.
And Kailen knew that whatever it was, it wouldn't be long before it made its move.