Chapter 1

"Stop!" Natasha's voice echoed through the dimly lit parking garage, sharp and clear like the blade of a knife.

The man didn't flinch. He turned his head, slow and deliberate, his hand still clamped around the throat of a young woman, pinning her against the cold, concrete wall. The woman hung limp, her head slumped to one side, her face now pale as she was unconscious.

Natasha mustered up courage as she took a cautious step forward, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it."What the hell are you doing?" she demanded, her voice trembling despite her best effort to sound steady.

The man tilted his head, as though the question amused him. He released his grip, and the woman crumpled to the ground like a broken doll.

"Are you talking to me?" he asked, his voice calm but edged with something dark—something that prickled against Natasha's skin.

"Who else would I be talking to?" she shot back, her fingers curling into fists. "You could've killed her!"

He stepped into the light, and the sight of him stole the breath from her lungs. He was tall, the kind of tall that made you feel small just by standing near him, and his black leather jacket caught the dim glow of the flickering fluorescent light above. His features were sharp and unnaturally perfect, as though sculpted by a hand that cared little for humanity and more for cruel beauty.

But it was his eyes that froze her—eyes like twin voids, devoid of warmth or empathy. They studied her, dissected her, as if deciding whether she was worth acknowledging.

"What's your name?" he asked, his tone casual, as though they were discussing the weather.

"That's none of your business," Natasha replied, her voice sharper now, fueled by a mixture of fear and anger. "Who are you, and why were you hurting her?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he glanced at a black ring on his finger, its embedded blue gem shimmering faintly like a pulse. A faint breeze stirred the stagnant air, and Natasha shivered.

"You shouldn't be able to see me," he murmured, almost to himself.

Natasha blinked. "What are you talking about? You're standing right in front of me."

A flicker of something crossed his face—surprise, perhaps, though it was gone too quickly to be certain. He stepped closer, his boots crunching against the concrete. "You should've kept walking," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "It would've been easier for you."

"And let you kill someone?" she retorted, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her fear. "Not a chance."

He stopped just a foot away from her, his presence suffocating. "Humans," he muttered, placing his hands in his pocket so casually. "Always so eager to throw themselves into the fire without thinking about the cost."

"Hey, what do you think you're doing. Don't come closer, stop right there" she screamed, backing away in hurried steps as he stalked closer, a mocking grin plastered on his face.

"If you hurt me, the police will find you" she added, her hands trembling from shear terror, she should have just minded her business and walked away. She was still too young to die, now she was going to get killed, all because she decided to save someone she didn't even know.

"Police you say?" He asked grinning "Wanna see something?"

Before Natasha could respond, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The overhead lights flickered wildly then sparked and fizzled out, plunging the garage into near darkness. Natasha spun around, her gaze darting to the security cameras. Sparks rained down from the ruined devices, their lenses shattered.

Her stomach dropped. "What… what did you just do?"

"Made it easier for you to disappear," he replied, his smirk returning.

Her instincts finally kicked in, this man was no human, hell no was she taking any chances. She turned and bolted toward the exit, her hills prevented her from running fast, so she flung them from her feet as she bolted. But just before she reached the door, he suddenly appeared there, blocking her path.

She screamed as she fell backwards on her ass "What the hell are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own heartbeat.

He leaned in close, his cold breath brushing against her cheek. "I am death" he said, his voice as smooth as a blade sliding through silk.

Her mind reeled. Death? This was insane. Yet the power radiating from him was undeniable, as though the air around him bent to his will.

"Look, I'm sorry for interrupting, please just let me go. I promise I won't tell anyone what I saw, I'm still too young to die damn it" Natasha pleaded, crying like a baby and screaming at him at the same time.

The man froze, not expecting her to have that reaction. He was just trying to scare her, not give her a heart attack which she was obviously about to have.

He straightened, clearing his throat awkwardly, still not willing to let her go yet. "Let you go?" He tapped the blue gem on his ring, its glow intensifying. "Perhaps… but only if you do one thing."

Natasha swallowed hard. "What? Tell me, I'll do anything "

"Kill me."

Her breath caught, her crying seazed instantly "What?"

"You heard me." He stepped back, spreading his arms as if inviting her to strike. "Kill me, and I'll let you walk away."

Wait , so all she needed to do was kill this man and she was free to go. That didn't sound like a bad deal, but it was also the most insane thing she'd ever heard. Even if she decided to kill him, could she even have the courage to pierce the knife through him effortlessly.

"I.....I can't. I .... won't" she stammered.

You're crazy Nat, just kill this man and get away from here, the security cameras have been destroyed, no one would know. She scolded herself inwardly but her body didn't move an inch.

"Then you've made your choice," he said, his tone cold and final.

Natasha stiffened, so was he going to kill her now. Without wasting a second, she hurriedly stood up, not bothering to grab her stuff and ran past him, expecting him to chase after her or something. But he didn't attack. Instead, he smirked.

"We'll meet again" his voice echoed but she didn't stop to look back and just ran into the building as fast as her legs could carry her.

By the time she reached her office, her hands were trembling so badly she could barely unlock the door. She sank into her chair, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She had sprinted through the stairs all the way to the 8th floor, not stopping for a second. Screw the elevator which decided no to open just when she needed it.

Several co_workers gave her weird glances, she had just arrived at work and she looked so haggard, no shoes, no bad, and her mascara had washed down her cheeks, making her look like a ghost.

Her friend Gracie hurried to her side, looking both worried and trying to hold in a laugh.

"Did you get chased by a ghost or something. Cause why do you look like one so early in the morning?"

Natasha who was still trying to catch her breath, gasped as she swallowed, trying to moisturize her dry throat.

"Water" she managed to say.

Gracie handed her a bottle of water which she gulped like her life depended on it.

"I'm never poking my nose in someone else's business from now on" Natasha managed to say, not willing to reveal anything more. If that man was really death as he claimed, then she was in big trouble.

She couldn't shake off his last words "we'll meet again" hell no, that man smelled danger, and she wasn't taking any chance, if she saw even his shadow, she was out of there.

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Later that evening after a long day at work, Natasha boarded the bus home, exhaustion weighing heavily on her. She sat down on the chair and rested her head against the window, staring blankly at the blurred lights of the city.

Her thoughts drifted back to the strange man. Was he really who—or what—he claimed to be? Or was she losing her mind? whatever he really was, she hoped never to see him again.

The bus jolted violently, snapping her from her thoughts. Tires screeched, and the vehicle swerved wildly. Natasha was thrown from her seat as the bus tipped, crashing onto its side with a deafening screech of metal.

Pain exploded through her body as she hit the floor, shards of glass raining around her. Her head throbbed, blood trickling down her temple. Was this it? So she was dying for real this time. Her life flashed before her eyes. I'm sorry Mom, for also leaving you behind.

Through the chaos, she saw a figure stepping through the wreckage and approaching her, her eyes fluttered, trying hard to remain open but her mind remained blank, her ears ringing as she succumbed to the pain.

Natasha's vision blurred, her consciousness slipping away. His voice was the last thing she heard, calm and chilling.

"I told you we'd meet again."

Then, darkness.