Rose walked briskly down the hallway, her pulse racing as she replayed the conversation with Sylus. She had been reckless. Letting him see even a glimpse of her inner turmoil was dangerous.
She gripped the strap of her bag tightly as she stepped out into the cool night air. The streets were quiet, but her mind was anything but. The streetlights flickered above her, casting long shadows on the pavement. Every step felt heavier, as though the world itself was pulling her deeper into something she couldn't control.
He can't know, she reminded herself, her breath fogging in the air. No one can.
---
The following day, Rose resolved to put more distance between them. She entered the office early, hoping to avoid Sylus. But as fate would have it, he was already there, waiting by her desk with a cup of coffee in hand.
"Morning, kitten," he said, his tone light but his eyes searching hers.
"Morning," she replied stiffly, sitting down and pretending to focus on her computer.
Sylus set the coffee down beside her. "Figured you could use this. You've been working late."
"Thanks," she said without looking up.
He lingered for a moment, and Rose could feel his gaze on her. She willed herself to appear calm, composed, though her heart was pounding in her chest. Her mind kept flashing to the night before, to his dark eyes and the way he'd pulled her toward him with nothing but a look.
"Are we going to talk about the other night?" he asked finally.
"There's nothing to talk about," she said, keeping her voice steady, her fingers tightening around the mug as if it could ground her.
Sylus let out a quiet sigh, but he didn't push further. "Alright," he said after a moment. "I'll let it go. For now."
---
As the days went on, Rose threw herself into her work, doing everything she could to avoid Sylus. But it wasn't enough.
Every time she saw him, every time he smiled at her or called her kitten, her resolve wavered. Her chest tightened with the conflicting feelings that gnawed at her. She couldn't breathe in his presence, yet she couldn't escape it either. Each moment spent in his company felt like a subtle shift—a pull that wasn't just emotional but… real.
---
One evening, Rose found herself sitting alone in her apartment, her journal open in front of her. She stared at the familiar words, the rules she had scribbled down so many times:
1. If I fall for him = I stay here.
2. If he falls for me = I might go back.
3. BUT: Both can't happen at the same time.
Her chest tightened as she thought about the implications. If she wanted to go back to her world, she had to keep her heart guarded. She couldn't let herself feel anything for Sylus. Not after everything she'd been through.
But the thought of him falling for her—of using his feelings as a way out—made her stomach twist with guilt. It's not fair to him. She closed the journal with a snap, her heart heavier than before. But I don't have a choice.
---
The next day, Sylus cornered her in the break room. He was standing by the coffee machine, his eyes never leaving her as she entered.
"You've been avoiding me," he said, his tone matter-of-fact, like he had expected it all along.
"No, I haven't," she said quickly, avoiding his gaze. Her hands shook as she reached for the mug on the counter, the ceramic cool against her fingertips.
"Yes, you have," he countered, stepping closer. "And I want to know why."
Rose's heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't let him get too close. Not again. The walls she'd been building felt like they were crumbling with every second he stood there.
"I'm just… busy," she said, brushing past him, her voice shaking even as she tried to sound indifferent.
But Sylus wasn't letting her off the hook that easily. He grabbed her wrist gently, stopping her in her tracks. His fingers were warm against her skin, and her breath hitched at the contact.
"Rose," he said, his voice softer now, more insistent. "Talk to me."
She froze. I can't. Her chest tightened with the weight of her emotions. The sensation of his touch was like a pull—like being caught between two worlds.
"I can't," she whispered, pulling her hand free from his grip, her pulse rushing in her ears. "I can't let myself care about you. If I do… I'll be stuck here. And I can't stay."
Before he could say anything else, she walked away, her heart aching with every step.
---
That night, Rose sat by her window, staring out at the city lights. The sky stretched endlessly above her, but she felt more trapped than ever. Her thoughts swirled like the traffic below, too fast, too chaotic.
She couldn't let herself fall for Sylus, but she couldn't seem to stay away from him either. The pull between them was undeniable, like gravity, making her feel like she was caught in the middle of something impossible.
I have to be stronger, she thought, clenching her fists. I can't let this game win. I have to find a way out.
But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was already losing.
Outside, the world was still—quiet, cold. But inside, the game felt more alive than ever, as if every flicker of light in the city below was a reminder of the impossible choice ahead. Her heart twisted at the thought of leaving, but she knew—if I leave him behind, will I be able to live with myself?