4. Stranger in the house!

Aurora's POV

Night wasn't showing any mercy. It was like the sky was crying its heart out with the mourn for someone beloved. 

The wind was angry, slapping and breaking everything which comes in its way. 

Many predicted that the town was going to flood that day because streets were looking like small rivers. 

I had left the library early that night because I knew I won't get a cab if I leave at the usual time. The senior allowed and I booked a cab. 

"Looks like something bad is going to happen..."

The driver said while driving through the busy street. 

Roads were jammed due to heavy rain and everyone was eager to go home safely. I had never seen such traffic for a long time. 

I love dark rainy nights, they are fascinating and I feel that they hold something mysterious in them. They are saga!

But that night was a nightmare for everyone. It didn't start the saga but the misery for me.

My cab finally made its way out of the busy streets and got on the way to my home which is isolated.

The driver suddenly stopped and I frowned.

"The fallen tree has blocked the road. I can't go ahead"

He informed me and I looked out of the window.

The tree was huge and had covered the whole street, there wasn't any way to go ahead.

"I'll walk from here, it's not far"

I got out and opened my umbrella.

I paid him and he kept looking at my face while I was making payment. It's not new, people stare at me. I used to feel awkward when I was a teenager. but as I grew up I realised that they only see outer beauty and nothing else. 

My mother had an incredible beauty which was passed down to me. It's not like I didn't enjoy it, who doesn't like being beautiful but little did I know that my beauty was going to be a big enemy of mine.

"I am probably the same age as your daughter, don't look at me like that"

I said and he looked away embarrassed.

He reversed the car and disappeared into the rain again. 

I sighed and turned around, my umbrella wasn't doing a good job to protect me from the rain, it wasn't its fault either as the storm was strong. 

I looked at the fallen tree, It was huge with a straight stem. How tragic it is to see that no matter how strong you are, you can't survive all storms. 

My house was five minutes away from there, I started walking but I was completely drenched. I finally saw my house and sighed in relief that I'll be saved from the harsh rain. 

But my legs halted in place when I saw a stranger at the gate of my house. Chills ran down my spine thinking that he was trying to break in but then I noticed that he was struggling to stand. 

His one hand was on his stomach while with another he was trying to open the gate. He was injured. He didn't look like a thief either. His clothes were drenched but didn't give up the expensive look. He was tall even if his legs were not supporting him. 

I rushed towards him.

"Excuse me!"

I yelled as the rain weakened my voice. 

He stopped and tried to look at me but couldn't. He was weak and on the verge of passing out. Rain was slapping his face and stopping him from looking at my face. 

I looked at his hand which was on his stomach and my eyes widened when I saw blood mixing with the rain drops. 

"What happened to you?"

It was stupid of me to expect any answer from him when he couldn't even stand properly. 

I thought maybe he got into the accident because of the rain, he was looking for help near my house because there was no one else till you go ahead the miles. 

"Let's get you inside, you don't look good"

I tried to get hold of his arm and his body fell on mine. He was heavy and could have passed out at any time. I needed to get in  before he falls unconscious because it would have been difficult to carry a huge man like him. 

I grabbed him with both hands and my umbrella flew away, I let it go errands because I was drenched anyway and the storm had broken it. 

I placed his arm on my shoulder and led him inside. It wasn't easy. I finally managed to drop him on the couch and he passed out. 

His head hung back as his heavy body creaked my old couch. Thankfully it was leather so it didn't soak water. 

I tapped on his cheek but he didn't wake up. His wound was bleeding or it was water with mixed blood, I didn't understand because his shirt wasn't torn. Which means he didn't get injured now. It was an old wound.

I hesitated before touching a stranger and lifting his shirt up but I had to do it. It was an already stitched wound which was bleeding. Maybe he put pressure on it or stressed it which made it bleed. There won't be any doctors coming here at this time so I had to take the call.

Thankfully the stitches weren't ripped. I hurriedly grabbed the medical kit and blocked the bleeding.

Removed his shirt and with much difficulty I laid him on the couch which wasn't of his size but for the time being it was the best option. 

His pants were also wet but I had no courage to take off the pants of a stranger even if it meant to help him. I just grabbed my dryer and tried to dry his pants to some extent so at least he won't get pneumonia.

I was stupid to help him, a fool to bring him into my house and dumb to save his life. That night I saved his life to destroy mine. Only if I knew.

I went to my room leaving the unconscious stranger in the living room with the thought of what if he died there. What if he doesn't wake up in the morning. What if he gets medically serious. 

I should have let him die that day. He wasn't just an innocent passerby who was the victim of the storm. He was the storm himself.

I slept with all those thoughts and when I woke up the morning was calm. All the sunshine, like the morning after the storm should look like. 

I freshened up and went out to check on the man lying in my living room. He was still asleep. His clothes were dried. My eyes wandered on his face, thought that God had definitely graced him with the beauty but I was wrong. God can't make a human like him, he is actually not a human but the devil who has fallen straight from hell. This beauty is just a mask because the inside is more ugliest than the screeching creature of the dark night. 

I couldn't find it out that morning, for me it was just a normal morning with the injured stranger in my house. I checked his fever and he was normal.

I decided to let him sleep until I make breakfast and then wake him. I wanted to know who he was and how he ended up in front of my house.

I was almost done with breakfast, I placed the juice glass on the tray and turned around to grab a napkin. I gasped loudly and flinched back when I saw him standing close behind me.

His eyes were grey with the hint of silver, staring straight into my soul. He stood like a rock, unfazed by the wound on his stomach. So tall that I hardly reach his chest.

"You are up?"

I smiled at him and his eyes refused to leave my face. He wasn't the first one to freeze on my face but his eyes gave me real chills. My insides shook with just one look, his eyes held that power. 

"Are you feeling good now?"

I stepped aside to maintain some distance.

He was still staring at me. Like he has seen something incredible. That look was something which we gave when we finally found the thing we were looking for a long time but couldn't find it. 

"Who are you?"

His voice was heavier than his body.

I turned around to grab a tray. 

"I should ask you that..."

I turned around with a smile and went to the dining table.

"You were trying to break into my house when I came back from work... You were injured and almost unconscious so I decided to help you..."

"Why?"

His face was straight and sceptical like he didn't want to believe that we can help someone without reason. 

"Because that's humanity"

I shrugged.

His eyes finally left my face and wandered on my body. I was wearing a skirt and blouse. 

He pulled out the cigarette from his pocket and placed it on his lips. I didn't like it. 

"You shouldn't smoke when you are injured..."

I said and he stopped midway before lighting it.

He smirked while tossing it in the bin and looked at me amused.

I frowned when he walked towards me. He came close enough to push me against the table and it made me uncomfortable.

His sceptical eyes turned amused as he leaned to my level. 

"Name?"

He demanded. 

I coward back with his demanding tone, it was the first realisation that I brought a problem into my house. 

"Aurora"

I gulped while trying to grab the butter knife which was lying just behind me. 

He smirked and placed a strawberry on my lips which he picked up from the breakfast plate. My mouth subconsciously opened and let him feed it to me. He watched me fascinatingly as my lips took the fruit in. 

"Butter knife is not the right weapon. find something stronger, You are going to need it."

He plopped another strawberry in his mouth and pushed his body away from mine.

I was in shock, and didn't understand what to do until I heard him closing the main door.

He left for that day but he came back with darkness which consumed me.