Arabella stumbled into the cobblestone square, her legs trembling beneath her. The strange architecture, the eerie twilight sky—it all felt surreal, like she'd fallen into the pages of some dark fantasy. People walked by in silence, their gazes heavy as they glanced at her. Their faces were pale, their clothes foreign and old-fashioned, as if pulled from another century.Their stares were sharp and unrelenting, like she was some kind of outsider—a foreigner in their midst. Arabella instinctively took a few steps back, her chest tightening with panic."Why are they looking at me like that?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling.As she retreated, she didn't notice the thunder of hooves until it was almost too late. A massive black horse galloped toward her, its rider shouting in a language she couldn't understand. Arabella's eyes widened in horror, her feet frozen as the animal charged closer.At the last second, she managed to leap back, her heart racing. But as she stumbled, she collided into something—or rather, someone—solid and unyielding."Watch where you're going!" a gruff, deep voice growled.Arabella turned, only to come face-to-face with a large, burly man. His face was round and scarred, his eyes glinting with malice as he glared down at her."I—I'm sorry," she stammered, stepping back, but his meaty hand shot out to grab her wrist."What's this? A lost little lamb?" the man sneered, his breath reeking of alcohol. "You look too clean to be from around here. Where'd you come from, girl?"Arabella yanked her arm free, her panic bubbling over. "Let me go!" she shouted, shoving past him.The man laughed darkly, but Arabella didn't stay to hear more. She broke into a run, her pulse pounding in her ears.As she sprinted, the cobblestone streets gave way to the edge of a forest. Without thinking, she dashed into the woods, the shadows of the towering trees swallowing her whole.Her breathing came in ragged gasps as she pushed deeper into the forest. Every step felt heavier, the weight of the unfamiliar world pressing down on her. The trees loomed above, their branches stretching out like clawed hands, swaying unnaturally.Arabella's mind began to spiral. She swore she heard the trees laughing at her, their whispers mocking her fear. The shadows seemed alive, closing in around her."Stop it," she muttered, clutching her head. "This isn't real. This isn't real."But the oppressive feeling didn't go away. Tears streamed down her face as she stumbled over roots and rocks, her chest heaving. She felt so small, so lost, in this vast, menacing world.Finally, she collapsed to her knees in a small clearing, sobbing uncontrollably. "What is happening to me?" she cried out, her voice cracking.Her despair was interrupted by strong hands gripping her shoulders. Arabella screamed, thrashing against the hold."L—Let go of me!" she shrieked, clawing at the hands that held her."Hey, calm down," a low, icy voice commanded. "Or I will break your neck."The words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her. Arabella froze, her sobs hitching as her panic gave way to terror. Slowly, she turned her head to see who had grabbed her.Her breath caught in her throat.Standing before her was a man, his tall, lean frame cloaked in the shadows of the trees. His face was pale, but not sickly—his features were sharp, refined, like they had been sculpted from marble. But it was his eyes that captivated her. They were a deep, molten gold, their intensity freezing her in place.Her lips trembled as she tried to speak. "W—Who..."Her words faltered as she gazed at him. He was the most breathtaking man she had ever seen, his beauty almost unreal. But there was something dangerous about him, a coldness that sent a shiver down her spine.He stared at her in return, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. Neither of them moved, the air between them charged with something unspoken. Arabella's heart thudded painfully in her chest, and she had no idea if it was from fear or... something else.The man finally broke the silence. "Relax." His voice was low and smooth, but it carried an edge that warned against defiance. He released her shoulders, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I'm not going to eat you."Arabella blinked, confused by his strange words. She scrambled to her feet, brushing dirt off her skirt, but kept her distance."I'm Damian," he said coldly, his expression unreadable. "Who are you, and why are you here?"Arabella hesitated. "I... I don't know. I was just walking home, and then I... I got lost."Damian tilted his head, studying her intently. His gaze made her feel exposed, as if he could see through her every word."You don't belong here," he said finally, his tone carrying a faint hint of suspicion.Arabella frowned, crossing her arms defensively. "No kidding. I don't even know where 'here' is."Damian's lips curved into a faint smirk, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Interesting."Arabella's unease deepened. There was something about him—his cold demeanor, his unsettling confidence—that made her instinctively wary."Look," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I don't know who you are or what this place is, but I need to find a way back home."Damian raised an eyebrow. "Home? Wherever you came from, it's not close. If you wander around here alone, you'll be dead before sunrise."Arabella stiffened. "What do you mean?"His smirk faded, replaced by a grim seriousness. "This place isn't safe. The woods, the town... You don't understand the dangers here."Her fear deepened. "Then what am I supposed to do? Just stay here and wait for whatever's out there to find me?"Damian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if dealing with her was an inconvenience. "Follow me," he said curtly. "You can stay with me until we figure out what to do with you."Arabella's eyes widened. "Stay with you? I don't even know you!"Damian shot her a sharp look. "You don't have much of a choice. Either you come with me, or you take your chances out here. Your call."She hesitated, her mind racing. Every instinct told her not to trust him, but the alternative was unthinkable. Alone in a place she didn't understand, surrounded by unknown dangers... She had no other options."Fine," she said reluctantly. "But if you try anything—"He cut her off with a dry chuckle. "Don't flatter yourself. I have no interest in hurting you."Despite his reassurance, Arabella couldn't shake the feeling that Damian was far more dangerous than he let on.They walked in silence, Damian leading the way through the dense forest with an ease that suggested he knew every inch of it. Arabella followed a few steps behind, her arms crossed tightly over her chest."Where are we going?" she asked, breaking the silence."To my house," Damian replied without looking back.She frowned. "You mean a cabin or something?"Damian glanced over his shoulder, his golden eyes glinting with amusement. "Something like that."When they finally emerged from the woods, Arabella's breath caught. Before them stood a massive castle, its dark spires reaching toward the twilight sky. The stone walls were covered in ivy, and the windows glowed faintly with warm light."That's... your house?" Arabella asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Damian smirked. "Welcome to my humble abode."Arabella's unease grew as she followed him inside. The castle's interior was just as imposing as its exterior, with high ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and grand staircases.As Damian led her deeper into the castle, Arabella couldn't shake the feeling that she had just walked into a trap.