A Dark Love |Under Construction|

Chapter 1

On a chilly, rain-soaked Saturday evening in November, the city bustled with people and traffic despite the downpour. I breathed warm air into my icy hands before tucking them into my jacket pockets, releasing a shivering sigh as I walked through the slick, glistening streets. As I neared Mallory's apartment building, I lifted my head, catching a glimpse of its towering silhouette against the stormy sky.

The apartment building, though old, stood with a reassuring sturdiness. Rising four stories high, Mallory's apartment was perched at the very top. I pushed open the black metal gate and stepped inside, passing two staircases-one to my left, the other to my right. I turned to the second staircase on the right and began the climb, each step echoing in the quiet of the entryway.

"Mallory, why couldn't you live on the first floor?!"

I muttered to myself as I climbed, feeling painfully out of shape. I tried to look unfazed, forcing myself to breathe calmly through my nose, but the huffing and puffing was impossible to ignore. By the time I reached her floor, I was practically gasping for air, breathing deeply through my mouth. My legs were burning, and I slowed my pace, straightening up as I turned to the second red door on the right. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I knocked, and after a brief pause, I heard the latch and saw the doorknob turning. Mallory opened the door, giving me a small wave.

"Kota! Come on in. Is it really that cold out there?" she asked, stepping aside to let me in.

I shrugged as I walked past her. "Eh, just a bit," I replied, peeling off my damp jacket.

I slipped off my black Vans, carefully placing them in the designated area with the rest of her shoes. Mallory was a bit of a neat freak.

Heading toward her beige couch, I rubbed my hands together, trying to bring some warmth back to them, then flopped down, arms and legs sprawled out, sighing with exhaustion. "Mallory... Why the hell did you pick the fourth floor? I'm completely beat."

She laughed. "Because I love the city view at night. It's so pretty! You just need to hit the gym more."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, waving her off. "Anyway, what are you up to?" I asked, lifting my head curiously.

She raised her eyebrows, her fingers tapping together as she tilted her head. "Weeeell... I discovered something recently. One of my coworkers told me about it, and... it could be good or bad, I guess."

"Alright... so what is it?"

"The dark web. Have you ever heard of it?" she whispered, glancing around like someone might be listening.

"Yeah, but I've never actually been interested in going on there."

She clasped her hands together, eyes shining with excitement. "Well, I got curious and actually managed to get on it. It took me four days, but I did it! And... I think it might help with your little problem."

I shot up, eyes wide. "Are you serious?! Do you really think it could help?"

She shrugged. "It's worth a shot. People say you can find all kinds of stuff on the dark web. Stuff you wouldn't even want to find."

I stood, hands on my cheeks, my mind racing. Could this actually lead me to what I'd been searching for? The one lover who could fill my masochistic lifestyle?