The sun had set, leaving the city wrapped in the cool embrace of twilight. From the small, shuttered window of Kailen's apartment, only the faintest glow of streetlights filtered through, casting long, eerie shadows across the room. Kailen sat on the edge of his bed, still holding Elara's hand, the weight of everything they had shared hanging between them.
Elara had made herself as comfortable as she could, seated on a chair beside him, the blindfold still securely in place. Despite the darkness surrounding them, her presence was a beacon of warmth in the cold reality of his life. But as much as he wanted to bask in her closeness, there was an urgency gnawing at him, a sense that time was running out.
"Elara," Kailen began, his voice a strained whisper, "there's something else. I feel like… like someone's watching me. I've had this sense, ever since the curse started. And now that you're here, it's stronger."
Elara turned her head slightly in his direction, though she couldn't see him. "Watching you? What do you mean?"
"I don't know exactly," he admitted, rubbing a hand over his face. "It's like a shadow that's always just out of sight. At first, I thought it was just paranoia, but now… I'm not so sure."
Elara's brow furrowed under the blindfold. "You think someone's after you? Because of the curse?"
Kailen nodded, then realized she couldn't see the gesture. "Yes. I don't know who or what, but it's like they're waiting for something. And if they're dangerous, I can't let them hurt you too."
She squeezed his hand reassuringly. "Then we need to find out who's behind it. If there's someone or something trying to use this curse, we need to stop them before it's too late."
Kailen's heart twisted at the thought of dragging her further into this nightmare, but he knew she was right. They couldn't just hide forever, hoping the problem would go away. If they didn't act, the curse would consume him—and possibly her—completely.
"I don't want to put you in danger," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "But I can't do this alone."
Elara smiled softly, though he could only see it in his mind's eye. "You don't have to. We'll face this together, Kailen. No matter what."
Kailen felt a surge of gratitude and affection for her, mixed with the ever-present fear of what might happen. But before he could respond, there was a sudden, sharp knock on the door. Both of them tensed, the sound slicing through the silence like a blade.
Kailen shot to his feet, instinctively moving to block Elara from whoever might be on the other side. He held his breath, listening intently. Another knock followed, harder this time, as if whoever was outside knew exactly where they were and wasn't planning to leave.
"Kailen," a deep, resonant voice called from beyond the door. "I know you're in there. Open up."
Kailen's blood ran cold. The voice was unfamiliar, but it carried a weight of authority, a sense of danger that made his skin crawl. He exchanged a glance with Elara, who had also risen to her feet, her expression hidden behind the blindfold but her posture tense.
"Who are you?" Kailen demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.
A low chuckle came from the other side. "A friend, perhaps. Or an enemy, depending on how you choose to see it. My name is Dorian. I believe you and I share a… common interest."
Kailen's heart sank. Dorian. The name sent a chill down his spine. This was the shadow he had felt, the presence lurking just beyond the edges of his awareness. And now, it had come knocking on his door.
"I'm not interested in whatever you want," Kailen called back, trying to mask the fear in his voice.
"Oh, but I think you are," Dorian replied, his tone smooth and taunting. "You see, I've been watching you for some time, Kailen. You possess something truly extraordinary—something I've sought for years. And I'm here to make you an offer."
Kailen's mind raced, panic rising in his chest. This was the man who had been pursuing him, the one who wanted his curse. And if Dorian had gone through all this trouble to find him, there was no telling what lengths he would go to in order to get what he wanted.
"I don't want anything from you," Kailen snapped, taking a step back from the door. "Just leave us alone."
Dorian's laughter was low and menacing. "Oh, Kailen. I'm afraid it's far too late for that. You see, the curse you carry—Medusa's power—it belongs to me. Or at least, it should. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to claim it."
Kailen's breath caught in his throat. The threat in Dorian's words was clear. He wasn't here to negotiate—he was here to take what he believed was his.
"You'll never get it," Kailen spat, his voice trembling with anger. "I won't let you."
Dorian's voice dropped to a whisper, but it carried through the door with chilling clarity. "We'll see about that. But know this: the longer you resist, the more people will suffer. Starting with the ones you care about."
Kailen's blood boiled with fury and fear. Dorian was threatening Elara, threatening everyone he held dear. He couldn't let that happen—he had to protect them, no matter the cost.
He turned to Elara, his voice urgent. "We need to get out of here. Now."
Elara nodded, already moving towards the back door of the apartment. But before they could reach it, the front door exploded inward with a deafening crash, the force of it sending splinters of wood flying through the room.
Kailen shielded his eyes, the fear of accidentally petrifying Elara making his heart race. When the dust settled, Dorian stood in the doorway, tall and imposing, his dark eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. He was dressed in a long, black coat, his presence commanding the room as if it were his own.
"Going somewhere?" Dorian asked, a cruel smile playing on his lips.
Kailen's heart pounded in his chest as he backed away, his hand still gripping Elara's. He had no idea how to fight someone like Dorian, someone who clearly had powers of his own. But he knew one thing—he couldn't let Dorian win.
"Stay back," Kailen warned, though he knew the words were futile. Dorian was here to take the curse by force, and there was nothing Kailen could do to stop him—at least not without risking everything.
But just as Dorian took a step forward, a blinding flash of light erupted from behind him, and he was thrown back, crashing into the wall with a thunderous impact. Kailen blinked in shock, his mind struggling to process what had just happened.
Elara stepped forward, her hand outstretched, her blindfold slightly askew but still covering her eyes. A faint, golden light shimmered around her fingers, and Kailen realized with a jolt that she had somehow repelled Dorian's attack.
"Go," she urged him, her voice firm. "We need to leave now."
Kailen didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed her hand, leading her towards the back door as Dorian struggled to regain his footing. They burst out into the alley, the cool night air hitting them like a wave of relief. But Kailen knew they weren't safe yet—Dorian wouldn't give up that easily.
As they ran through the darkened streets, Kailen's mind whirled with questions. What had Elara just done? How had she been able to protect them from Dorian's attack? And most importantly, what was Dorian willing to do to get what he wanted?
But there was no time to find answers now. All that mattered was getting as far away from Dorian as possible—before he caught up with them again.