Under the Mask

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Aaira's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the cut and the eyes that had haunted her nightmares. His presence sent a wave of fear through her, yet she stood her ground, her fingers trembling slightly as the butterfly remained perched on her finger. The serene beauty of the night now felt like a thin veil over a darker reality, where danger lurked in the form of this mysterious figure.

 The serene beauty of the night now felt like a thin veil over a darker reality, where danger lurked in the form of this mysterious figure

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She didn't dare move, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for him to speak or make another move. The silence between them was thick with tension, the only sound the gentle rustling of leaves and the soft murmur of the river below the bridge.

Aaira instinctively began to move backward, her steps unsteady as the stalker advanced towards her. The bridge seemed to narrow with each step she took, her fear making the world around her shrink. She could feel the rough texture of the wooden planks beneath her feet, a stark contrast to the smooth, cold metal of the bridge's railing she brushed against as she retreated.

Suddenly, her heel slipped off the edge of the bridge, and she felt herself teetering over the dark, shallow waters below. Her heart leaped into her throat as she braced for the fall, but a firm grip caught her wrist just in time.

She looked up, meeting the intense gaze of her stalker. His brown eyes, visible through the mask, were filled with a mixture of emotions: anger, hate, love, obsession. His pupils dilated, turning almost manic as he tightened his grip on her wrist. For a moment, they were locked in a silent struggle, the world around them fading into the background.

 For a moment, they were locked in a silent struggle, the world around them fading into the background

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The stalker's expression was a chaotic blend of fury and something else, something darker. His grip was painfully tight, and Aaira could feel the heat of his hand searing into her skin. Despite the mask obscuring most of his face, his eyes conveyed a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

With a sudden, powerful tug, he pulled Aaira back onto the bridge. She stumbled into him, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. They were close enough that she could see the fine details of his mask and feel the coldness radiating from it. The butterfly that had been resting on her finger flew away, disappearing into the night.

The stalker didn't release her hand. Instead, he tightened his grip, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her blood run cold. The raw power in his gaze held her captive, a chilling reminder of the danger she was in.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙺𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝙽𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚃𝚘 𝙼𝚎...Where stories live. Discover now