Whispers of desires

chapter 16 - An isolated meeting.

Scene: An Isolated Meeting Spot in the Dead of Night

The air was thick and chilling as Yuvika stepped onto the dimly lit path. She hadn't realized how eerie the surroundings would be until she arrived. Shadows sprawled over the ground, cast by distant, faltering lights. Her heart beat faster as she squinted into the darkness, trying to make out shapes.

Then, she saw him-Aarush, standing still with his back turned. He was holding something in his hands, but she couldn't quite see what it was from where she stood. As she approached him, her phone buzzed repeatedly in her pocket, the screen lighting up with notifications. It was from the stalker.

"Don't go there, Yuvika," read the first message.

"Turn back now."

"Trust me, for once."

But Yuvika ignored the texts. She wanted answers and thought maybe Aarush was in some trouble himself. Her gaze fell back on him, and then she noticed something glinting-a knife, sharp and gleaming in his hand. The second object, a hammer, rested heavily in his grip.

"Aarush?" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper, her throat dry with unease. "Are you...okay?"

Aarush's head tilted slightly, his figure still half-hidden in the shadows, the dim light casting an unsettling gleam on the knife. His eyes, unblinking and hollow, fixed on her, his expression disturbingly calm. The faintest of smirks played at his lips.

She took a hesitant step forward, her feet dragging. The more she looked, the more she sensed something was terribly wrong.

Then, somewhere nearby, she heard voices-muffled, low laughs, and crude jokes being exchanged about her. Panic surged through her, but before she could react, the voices silenced abruptly. In a flash, a figure emerged from the darkness.

It was him. Her stalker.

He wore a hood and kept his face obscured, shadows deepening his form, but she recognized the stance, the aura of danger mingled with a twisted sort of protectiveness. The men barely had a chance to react before he lunged at them. In swift, brutal movements, he took them down one by one, his fists landing hard, precise blows. Each thud echoed in the silence, each impact followed by a grunt or gasp as they crumpled to the ground.

One of the men tried to fight back, swinging wildly, but the stalker ducked, his voice dripping with mockery. "Really? You thought you could lay a finger on her?"

With another fierce strike, he sent the man sprawling, his laughter low and dangerous. He moved like a shadow, seamless and deadly, until the final man hit the ground, groaning in defeat.

Then, he turned to Yuvika. The moonlight glinted in his eyes as he walked toward her, slowly, deliberately. He stopped inches behind her, his breath warm against her neck.

"Hey, my Yuvi..." he murmured, his voice soft yet chilling, like a whisper in the dark.

Yuvika stiffened, heart racing, her voice a shaky whisper. "Wh-who...who are you?"

"Oh, come on, Yuvi," he said, almost playfully. "You really haven't figured it out yet?" He chuckled, the sound soft but dangerous. "Still in your little bubble, hmm?"

Her heart skipped a beat as realization crept in. "Stalker...?"

"I told you not to call me that," he replied, feigning hurt. "I'm here to protect you, Yuvi. To watch over you." He stepped closer, his tone softening with an unsettling affection. "I love you, remember? Don't make me sound like some stranger."