"You want to fight it, but every part of you is screaming for me."
At Ravenstone University, Charlotte Collins, an average student, struggles to keep up with the intense academic demands while grappling with the dark mysteries of the institution. Wi...
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Charlotte sat alone in the cafeteria, her geography notes scattered in front of her. The confrontation from the previous night had left her shaken, and every time she tried to focus on her work, her thoughts spiraled back to Lizzie's threats. Her hands trembled as she attempted to jot down a few notes, but the words blurred together. Her lunch remained untouched-she couldn't bring herself to eat.
From across the cafeteria, Cillian stood by the large windows, his deep brown eyes fixed on Charlotte. He observed her with an intensity that revealed his inner turmoil. Cillian, who was always adept at controlling his emotions, now found his usual composure slipping away. The sight of her struggle stirred a profound ache within him.
He admired Charlotte's strength-stronger than most people realized-but it was this very strength that kept him at a distance. He wanted her to fight her own battles, to grow into the formidable person he knew she could be. Yet, there was a darker reason for his restraint, a mystery that whispered in the recesses of his mind, cautioning him that getting too close to Charlotte could be perilous-for both of them.
He yearned to go to her, to hold her close and shield her from all the pain she was enduring. He imagined what it would be like to comfort her, to make her feel safe and cocooned in his embrace, where no harm could reach her. The thought of it nearly shattered his resolve. But he forced himself to remain at a distance, knowing that intervening too soon might only exacerbate the situation. Still, the urge to protect her gnawed at him, and it took every ounce of his willpower to restrain himself from crossing the room and pulling her close.
David entered the cafeteria, his sharp black eyes immediately locking onto Cillian. He noticed the way Cillian's gaze lingered on Charlotte, the tension in his posture, the unspoken pain etched across his face. David knew Cillian well and recognized the internal battle raging within him. But David's own feelings for Charlotte were just as intense, if not more so.
David's love for Charlotte was all-consuming, fierce, and burning with a ferocity that bordered on obsession. He longed to protect her, to whisk her away from the harsh realities of the world and keep her safe from every danger. If only she would let him, he'd take her to a place far removed from everything, where it would be just the two of them. The thought of her suffering was unbearable to him. He wanted to be her hero, the one she turned to when the world became too overwhelming.
But as he watched Cillian, David's frustration surged. He could see the way Cillian looked at Charlotte, the way he restrained himself, and it infuriated him. If Cillian cared so much, why wasn't he doing anything? Why wasn't he going to her, comforting her, being there for her? David's instinct was to act, to be there for Charlotte in every conceivable way. Yet here was Cillian, standing back, observing as if paralyzed by indecision.
David approached Cillian, his steps deliberate, a challenge gleaming in his eyes. He stood beside him, gazing at Charlotte, who was still grappling with her notes, her hands trembling. David's protective instincts flared, and he struggled to resist the urge to march over to her, to whisk her away from this torment.
