EVIL MONSTER | LOVLESS LOVER | STORY IN ENGLISH

The Edge of Darkness

The rain has been falling for hours, flooding the streets with a steady rhythm that feels almost hypnotic. The city is alive with the sound of distant car horns, the occasional murmur of conversations slipping from dim-lit windows, and the low hum of electricity running through neon signs. Every surface is slick with rainwater, shimmering under the light of the streetlamps.

At the end of an alleyway, tucked behind old brick buildings, sits a club known to those who need an escape-"Midnight's Echo." The sign outside flickers with a cold blue light, casting long shadows across the alley. The heavy beat of the bass inside leaks through the walls, vibrating into the stormy night like a heartbeat. This is not a place for the faint-hearted; it's a refuge for the broken, the lost, and the forgotten.

---

Aarav stands in the rain, leaning against the side of a building, the hood of his jacket pulled over his head, shielding him from the downpour. Water drips steadily from his hood and slides down his face, blending with the rain-soaked air around him. His eyes, dark and filled with a quiet torment, scan the dimly lit alleyway leading to the club. He's not here for pleasure-he's here because the outside world has nothing left for him.

The last few years have left their mark on Aarav-he's a man shaped by betrayal, loss, and a loneliness that cuts deeper than any wound. He's learned to live in the shadows, where no one can see the weight he carries. The world beyond the rain is too bright, too full of people pretending to be happy. Here, in the rain and the darkness, he feels almost invisible, and that's just how he likes it.

He takes a deep breath and pushes himself off the wall, walking toward the entrance of the club. The bouncer, a large man with tattoos running down his arms, barely gives him a glance before stepping aside. Aarav slips into the darkness, the heavy thud of the music enveloping him as the door closes behind him.

---

Inside the club, the air is thick with the smell of sweat, alcohol, and cigarette smoke. The lights are dim, casting everything in a haze of blues and purples. People move on the dance floor like shadows, their bodies swaying to the rhythm of the music, lost in the beat. It's easy to disappear here, to become just another face in the crowd, and that's exactly why Aarav keeps coming back.

He moves through the crowd with practiced ease, his eyes scanning the room for an empty spot at the bar. His body feels heavy, his mind clouded by memories he'd rather forget. Tonight, he isn't looking for conversation. He just wants to drown in the noise and lose himself for a few hours.

But then, out of the corner of his eye, he sees her.

Sana sits at the far end of the bar, alone, her back to the crowd. Her long, dark hair falls over her shoulders, wet from the rain that still clings to her skin. She's staring down at a glass of whiskey, but it's clear she hasn't touched it. Her posture is tense, her fingers tapping restlessly against the rim of the glass, as if she's trying to decide whether to stay or leave.

There's something about her that catches Aarav's attention. Maybe it's the way she holds herself-like she's trying to hide from the world, just like him. Or maybe it's the look in her eyes when she glances up, a flash of pain and vulnerability that she quickly tries to mask. Whatever it is, he finds himself drawn to her, as if their shared darkness is pulling them together.

---

Aarav doesn't hesitate. He makes his way to the bar and sits down a few seats away from her, close enough to feel her presence but far enough to give her space. He orders a drink-a simple whiskey, neat-and lets the silence between them hang in the air for a moment.

Sana glances at him, her eyes briefly meeting his before she quickly looks away. She's not used to people noticing her. She's learned to keep her head down, to avoid drawing attention. But there's something about this man, something about the way he's watching her, that makes her feel... seen.

Aarav takes a sip of his drink and leans back in his seat, his gaze steady on her. "Rough night?" he asks, his voice low and quiet, almost drowned out by the music.

Sana lets out a soft, bitter laugh. "Rough life," she replies, not bothering to hide the exhaustion in her voice. She's too tired to pretend anymore.

Aarav nods, understanding all too well. "I know the feeling."

For a moment, they sit in silence, the noise of the club fading into the background as they both retreat into their own thoughts. There's a weight to the air between them, a shared understanding that doesn't need to be spoken aloud.

---

Sana stands abruptly, the legs of her chair scraping against the floor. She throws some bills on the bar and grabs her purse, her movements quick and restless. "I need to get out of here," she mutters, more to herself than to Aarav.

Without thinking, Aarav gets up and follows her. He doesn't know why, but something about her compels him to stay close, to not let her disappear into the night alone. Maybe it's the pain in her eyes, or maybe it's the fact that she reminds him too much of himself. Either way, he finds himself following her out into the storm.

The rain is still falling hard, soaking them both the moment they step outside. Sana stops under the awning, her arms wrapped around herself as if trying to hold herself together. Aarav stands beside her, silent, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket.

For a long moment, neither of them says anything. The rain beats down around them, a constant, unrelenting noise that fills the empty space between their words.

Finally, Sana speaks. "Why did you follow me?" she asks, her voice barely audible over the storm.

Aarav looks at her, his dark eyes searching her face. "I don't know," he admits. "Maybe because you look like you're about to fall apart, and I know what that feels like."

Sana's breath hitches, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She's not used to people seeing her like this, vulnerable and exposed. She's spent so long pretending to be strong, to be okay, that she's forgotten what it feels like to let someone in.

"I don't need saving," she says, her voice trembling.

"I'm not trying to save you," Aarav replies softly. "I'm just here."

And in that moment, something shifts between them. It's not love, not yet, but it's the beginning of something-a connection forged in shared pain and understanding. For the first time in a long time, Sana doesn't feel so alone.

---

The rain falls harder, drenching them both as they stand under the awning, their breath visible in the cool night air. Aarav steps closer, his eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, the world outside the rain fades away. There's only the two of them, standing on the edge of something neither of them fully understands.

Sana's heart pounds in her chest as Aarav reaches out, his hand brushing against her cheek, wiping away the raindrops that cling to her skin. His touch is gentle, hesitant, as if he's afraid she might pull away. But she doesn't. Instead, she leans into him, her eyes fluttering shut as she lets herself feel something other than the pain she's carried for so long.

Aarav's lips find hers in the darkness, soft and warm despite the cold rain. The kiss is slow, tentative, filled with a quiet desperation that neither of them wants to acknowledge. It's not a kiss of passion, but of need-two broken souls seeking comfort in each other's arms.

For a moment, time stands still. The rain falls around them, the city hums in the distance, and in that single kiss, they find a brief reprieve from the weight of the world.

---

When they finally pull apart, both of them are breathless, their foreheads resting against each other. Aarav can feel the rapid beat of Sana's heart, and he knows that this moment-this fragile connection-won't last.