Chapter 72 - chapter 69

"How to know if you're being too creepy on a date?

If even the candlelight wants to burn out and leave!" *_* *_*

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The girl burst open the doors, storming out of the internet cafe. No one even glance at the young woman darting out of the cafe, her breaths sharp and shallow.

Noone care to ask what's happening to her.

The streets outside the cafe are bustling with life. People moving about, heads buried in phones or conversations. A cyclist weaving through the crowd, barely avoiding a crash.

The girl throws a glance over her shoulder, clutching her bag tightly to her chest, panick all over her face.

Ren on the other hand is calm, standing at the gate, invisible in his shield, arms crossed and eyes fixed on her.

He tilts his head, amused by the panic radiating off her.

Finally, she can sense the danger, Good. A smirk curves his lips. He could take her right now—trap her in his shield and vanish—but watching her unravel is far more satisfying for his creepy, twisted desires.

But before Ren steps out of the doors, he thinks for a moment if he should go out. After all, he has never actually gone out in bright light.

"What if the shield somehow gets off and he gets exposed."

But he has to start from somewhere. And the desires bubbling inside him, he can't suppress them now, and why suppress them anyway.

.

The woman's steps are quick, rushing down the street. She sidesteps a man in a suit, muttering apologies under her breath. Her eyes keep darting around nervously, but there's no one to explain the uneasy weight pressing down on her.

Ren is flying just above her, following her, face red with creepy desires.

"Going somewhere, sweetheart?" A voice reach her ears, low and teasing.

For a moment, she freezes mid-step, her head snapping up, the source of the voice. Her wide eyes scan the space, but she sees only empty space. A tremor shakes her hands as she mutters to herself,

"Not real… this is not real, I'm imagining this."

Ren lets out a soft chuckle, his voice laced with mockery.

"Oh, you broke my heart. I'm very real. And I think you know that."

Her heart pounds even harder, and she forces herself to keep walking, her steps faster now.

"This is not real, this is not real, this can't be real." she keeps telling herself that, her voice barely audible.

"Please, leave me alone, please."

"Why would I do that?" he murmurs to her, floating lazily above her.

"I've only just started."

"Please," she says louder this time, her voice trembling. "I don't know who you are or what you want, but… just go!"

Ren laughs softly. "You know look adorable when you make that face. But don't worry—I'm just here for a little fun. I ain't gonna hurt you. You're the one making it so dramatic."

She stumbles, her panic mounting.

Even some people around glance at her, whispering to each other looking at the girl panicking.

A man at a hot dog stand ahead, frowns, watching her clutching her bag tightly and muttering under her breath, as if talking to someone.

"Look at you," Ren says, his tone dripping with amusement. "Talking to yourself in public. Even passerby are starting to stare."

Her head snaps toward the gawkers, her cheeks flushing red.

"Stop it," she hisses under her breath.

"I'm not crazy. It's you."

"Oh, I think they might disagree," Ren says, his smirk widening.

"You're not doing a great job convincing them. A young woman panicking, rushing somewhere, talking to herself. That's literally madness, right?"

"Please," she whispers again, her voice cracking. Her pace becomes erratic—half running, half stumbling—her shoes slapping the pavement in frantic rhythm.

"Aw, don't cry now," Ren says mockingly.

"We're just getting started. Besides…" His voice dips lower, chilling her.

"There's no escape."

She breaks into full sprint, weaving through the crowd. A woman yells as the she's shoved aside by bumping into her. But the sound barely registers in her ears, cause all she can hear is the pounding of her own heartbeat.

Ren trails her effortlessly, his invisible shield gliding over the crowd.

"Do you really think you can outrun me?" he taunts.

"How adorable."

She turns at the crossroads, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her hands fumble to pull out her phone.

"Help…" she whispers, dialing with trembling fingers.

"Someone, please…"

Before the call can go through, Ren flicks his wrist. The phone slips from her hands and clatters to the ground, the screen shattering.

"No!" she cries, her voice breaking. She drops to her knees, scrambling for the pieces.

Ren descends, leaning closer to her, standing inches behind her, his tone low and menacing.

"Tsk, tsk. Such a waste. You really should take better care of your things."

Hearing the voice from behind, her head whips around, but still there's no one there. Tears streak her cheeks as she stumbles back to her feet, her legs shaky.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she sobs.

Ren leans closer, his voice like a whisper in her ear. "Because... Hmm, yaa, because I can. And because you… caught my eye, small build, small holes and stuff. That's really turning, you know."

"I'll scream," she says, her voice trembling. "I'll—"

"Oh, please do." His laugh is soft, mocking.

"Let's see how that works out for you."

Her lips quiver, but she doesn't make a sound. Instead, she bolts toward the street again, her shoes slipping on the pavement.

She nearly collides with a man carrying groceries, who yells after her,

"Watch where you're going!"

Ren watches her desperation with dark delight.

"They're all looking at you, you know," he says, his tone conversational.

"Wondering what's wrong with the crazy lady running through the streets."

"Shut up!" she yells, her voice raw.

"Make me," he replies smoothly.

She rounds a corner and sees it—a police station. Relief floods her, and she stumbles toward it, her steps fueled by desperation, running even faster.

Ren notices the shift in her demeanor and frowns.

"Oh, come on, you really think you're safe now? How cute."

With a flick of his fingers, her body suddenly locks in place, frozen mid-step.

Her eyes widen in horror as she realizes she can't move.

"No… no, no, no…" she whispers, her voice trembling.

"Helppppppp..." She tries to scream but no words seem to come out of her mouth.

Ren floats down to her level, standing directly behind her now, his smirk sharp and predatory.

"You were doing so well. But you really thought you could escape me? How disappointing."

Her lips move, but no sound comes out. Tears streak her face as she struggles against this invisible hold, her body trembling violently, but unable to move.

Ren leans closer, sliding his hand over her belly to grab her, his voice soft but piercing.

"I think it's time we went somewhere quieter. Don't you agree?"

Her vision blurs with panic as her feet begin moving—against her will. Her body refuses to obey her commands, each step deliberate, controlled.

Her mind screams for help, but her mouth remains silent.

Ren's smirk widens as he guides her into the shadows of an alley, his amusement never fading.

"See? Much better already. Just you and me now… no one to interrupt. But still let's go somewhere even quieter."