Kian stood at the threshold of the house he had once called home, the place he had shared with his ex. His heart pounded in his chest, but it wasn't just from nerves. The air seemed thicker now, as though the walls themselves were pressing in on him, reminding him of the life he'd once lived and what was at stake now.
Everything looked the same, and yet, nothing felt familiar anymore. His breath caught as he turned the key, the door creaking open, a sound that echoed in the stillness of the empty rooms.
The silence inside the house mirrored the silence in his heart, the same emptiness that had settled into his chest ever since the vampire's queen ultimatum.
Kian's thoughts were a storm, crashing against each other with no clear direction. Viktor had promised to turn him, and in doing so, save him from the dangerous world they were entangled in. But what would that mean for him? To give up his humanity, to live forever as a vampire, tied to Viktor in ways he couldn't yet comprehend, it felt impossible to grasp.
As he walked through the house, his mind wandered to the life he would be leaving behind, and the memories hit him like a tidal wave.
He could still see the faint indentations on the couch where he and his ex used to sit, watching movies late into the night.
There had been laughter, shared dreams, plans for the future. Kian ran his fingers along the fabric, feeling the weight of those memories settle in his bones. They had been so close to forever, or at least, he had thought so.
Now, that version of forever had dissolved, replaced by a darker one. One where time stretched on without end, with no possibility of returning to the life he had known. His humanity, the messy, painful, beautiful parts of it, was on the line, and he didn't know if he was ready to give it all up.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him back to the present. He pulled it out to see a string of missed messages from his best friend, Scott. The texts were frantic:
"Where are you, Kian?"
"It's been weeks, man. I'm worried."
"Call me, please. This isn't like you."
Kian sighed, running a hand through his hair. It had been three weeks since he'd disappeared into Viktor's world, three weeks since he had left everything behind.
He hadn't meant to vanish, but Viktor's world demanded it. Now, back in the house, surrounded by his old life, the gap between who he was and who he was becoming felt insurmountable.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Kian's heart skipped a beat. Who could it be? He hadn't told anyone he was back.
"Kian?" A familiar voice came from the other side, and Kian's stomach sank.
Scott.
Kian opened the door slowly, and there stood his best friend, looking exhausted and frantic, his face a mixture of relief and frustration.
"Where the hell have you been?" Scott burst out, stepping into the house without waiting for an invitation. "I've been calling, texting, three weeks, Kian. Three! You didn't tell anyone where you went. I thought something happened to you."
Kian closed the door behind Scott, the guilt already creeping into his chest. He didn't know how to explain. How could he? The truth was too wild to share.
How could he tell Scott that he had been hiding in the shadows of the vampire world, trying to decide if he should surrender his humanity for love?
"I just... I needed to clear my head," Kian finally said, his voice softer than he intended. "After the breakup... I just needed some time away from everything."
Scott looked at him incredulously. "For three weeks? You disappeared without a word, Kian. You can't just vanish like that. People care about you, I care about you man."
Scott didn't comment on the breakup part, as if he was the least surprise about it.
Kian nodded, his throat tight. "I know, and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."
Scott's eyes softened slightly, the anger ebbing away, replaced by concern. "Look, I get it. Breakups suck, and you needed space. But something's off, man. You're not telling me everything, are you?"
Kian could feel the weight of the truth pressing down on him, but he couldn't let it out. He couldn't drag Scott into this dark world. The fewer people who knew, the safer they would be. But hiding the truth felt wrong too, especially when Scott had always been there for him.
He sighed heavily, his voice trembling. "I wish I could tell you everything, but... you wouldn't understand. Not yet."
Scott's brow furrowed, confusion written all over his face. "Kian, what's going on? You're scaring me."
Kian ran a hand through his hair, turning away, trying to gather his thoughts. He wished he could unload everything, spill the truth about Viktor, about vampires, about the impossible choice hanging over his head. But he couldn't, he wouldn't. Instead, he focused on the part that felt safe, the part Scott would understand.
"I... I'm in a really complicated situation right now," Kian began slowly. "Someone... came into my life, and it's been intense. It's made me question everything about myself and my future."
Scott's expression softened, but his confusion remained. "Someone? Is this why you've been gone? Some guy? Already?"
Kian nodded, biting his lip. "Yeah. It's not what you think, though. This is... bigger. I have to make a choice, Scott, and it's not one I'm ready for. I don't even know if I'll ever be ready for it."
Scott stared at him for a moment, trying to read between the lines. "Are you in some kind of trouble? Do you need help?"
Kian swallowed hard, the weight of the decision pressing on him once again. "I don't know. Maybe I do." His voice broke, the frustration and fear bubbling to the surface. "I don't know what to do, Scott. I just know that whatever happens next, my life is never going to be the same. And I'm terrified."
Scott stepped closer, placing a hand on Kian's shoulder. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together. You're not alone in this. I'm here for you, no matter what."
Kian blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. "I don't think this is something you can help with," he said quietly. "But thank you."
Scott nodded, though he still looked unconvinced. "If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."