Faceless Instincts

The Stranger

I was face to face with a dark figure who happens to be in my office. The dread crept into my bones. The feeling of being all alone with a stranger chilled my entire body.

"I can explain." his voice was calm, almost hauntingly calm and mellifluous. "just give me a chance," he said, holding his hands up.

"To hell with your chances, the cops are on their way, and don't you dare come near me." the words left my mouth without any prior filtration in my brain. I didn't know what to do, I was facing a man in the dark, figuring out where he was by his silhouette.

"Please," his voice dropped, almost pleadingly, "just listen to me once, I was not here to steal or anything."

"yeah? then why were you here, to adore the interiors?" I moved my hand over the table, trying to find the concrete block that I'd picked up earlier, I couldn't fall for this man's words.

"I need your help." his voice was almost a soft pained whisper. I closed my eyes for a good second and when I opened them, I felt him closer to me.

"Who do you think I am? Some kind of a saint? Stay where you are or I swear whatever happens will be your fault." I was losing my confidence and it was getting dangerous to stand there with every passing moment.

The air felt denser and cold.
"I mean no harm, I promise, I know the way things are going you will not believe me-"

"Oh..! You bet" I interjected

"But please, just hear me out."

"What?" I snapped, my body was tired and my brain was dizzy from all the drinks that I had earlier

This time his voice came from just behind me, I turned around sharply, and within seconds I was trapped in his grip, "What the- Leave me." I wriggled in his grip as tears started to form in my eyes but his hold was strong.

"I am sorry, I know I am making this situation worse but I need your help."

"This is how you ask for help?" I shouted, my efforts of freeing myself went in vain.

"I know this is the most terrible way but I need to understand what's happening with me."

"I am very sorry to be saying this but with what I am seeing it's nothing good." I was struggling around his grasp but he was too strong, "you think you can get my help like this?" his grip on my wrists weakened but he didn't let go, such proximity was playing tricks with my dizzy mind.

"Just help me, please." something in his voice was sincere, he seemed defeated, but not weak. I knew, for instance, he was not just another wounded person, he was a wounded Lion, in pain but still capable of destroying you if you tried to cross him.

However, it was not just this, I knew he wasn't lying and I knew but I didn't know if wanted to help him. I knew I had all those drinks to blame that were now playing tricks on my brain and I was going to regret it in future but here I was.

Before I could even respond, our heads shot towards the sound of the door bursting open and several footsteps rushing in our direction, I looked up at the man, or what I must say, his dark figure, water from his wet hair splashed on my neck as he looked back at me "Cops" I whispered

"Help me" he pleaded, as he gently squeezed my palm, his face was just centimetres apart and I was feeling myself giving in.

I sprung away from him and hurried through the door, coming face to face with a cop. I was relieved to see him, and I was also debating if I wanted to tell them about the man or not.

"Was that you who called us?" he asked, and I nodded. He looked down at me like he saw a whimpering puppy. "you should go and sit in your car, you don't look very good, we will do a thorough search of the building." I nodded again and rushed back to the car, locking myself in.