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Chapter 3

Ella Whitmore

My hands trembled as I locked every lock in my apartment, the image of the strange man and memories of everything that happened back there still clung to my head.

Cold goosebumps washed over me as I sat before my laptop at 3AM, the image of those golden eyes, and his impossible speed flooded my mind.

My fingers clicked over the keyboard as I made research, typing everything crazy that I could think of.

‘Can humans have glowy golden eyes?’

‘Can a human move like a flash?’

The results didn't make sense. They were pointing at supernatural beings… Something that doesn't exist.

It's not possible. They only exist in fiction and myths. It's not real. I told myself, trying to brush it off, but I was sure of what I saw. I couldn't deny it… not even to myself.

‘Always trust your instinct, Ella’

My finger froze across the keyboard as my mom's last words echoed in my head, as if she was here with me.

She died fifteen years ago when I was just eight, and I've held on to that all these years, and right now, my instinct is screaming that the stranger was dangerous, and I should run from him, but a part of me wanted to see him again.

I wanted to satisfy this curiosity brewing inside me. I needed to confirm who he really was.

Time slipped by fast, and soon, it was morning.

I rolled out of the bed and into the bathroom the moment my alarm rang.

As I got ready for my part-time job, my phone chimed with a text.

Jasper;

‘I'm sorry about last night. Let's meet. I'll explain everything that happened. Merry Christmas, baby’

I scoffed at the end of the text, my grip tightening on the phone.

Explain everything? He must be insane to think that I'll listen to his lies.

With a loud hiss and a deep sigh, I tossed my phone on the bed.

I was supposed to stay back home today being Christmas… I had taken days off from work to spend Christmas with Jasper, and since he decided to betray me, there was no point staying back home.

My hand stilled over my hair as I brushed it, a strange cold washing over me as memories of last night replayed in my head again.

Sighs. Don't think about it, Ella. You need to stay focused.

I told myself, sliding into my boot, wore my hand gloves, and grabbed my car keys from the nightstand.

Cold bit into my skin, the moment I stepped out of my apartment. My car was almost covered with snow, but thankfully, it wasn't much.

Just as I approached my car, a loud sound of car engine revving pulled my attention, and as I lifted my gaze, a familiar car pulled over in front of my gate.

Jasper stepped out of the car, cladded in gray pants and a white sweatshirt. A gray neck warmer tied round his neck.

My gaze dropped to his hand as he approached me. His fingers were clutching tightly around a bouquet of my favourite flowers… red roses.

My chest burned, fingers tightened at my sides. He dares show his face to me after what he did?

“Ella…” he said with a shaky voice as he stood before me, “I'm sorry about everything. Yeah, I messed up… I shouldn't have done that. I didn't know what came over me… I was just…”

His voice faded into a soft sigh.

Did he run out of lies?

I stared silently. Back then, I would be all excited having him around… my heart would pound hard, but looking at him now, I felt nothing… just emptiness and a numb heart.

“I won't ever hurt you…” The rest of his words faded as my eyes flicked past him to the person standing across the street, eyes on us… no, on me.

Something snapped inside me. A familiar cold washed over me. The same one I felt last night.

I didn't see his face… but I recognised him right away. His height and body sold him out.

The stranger from last night.

My heart stilled, fingers slowly curling into fists beside me as I took a step back. How did he know here? Did he stalk me?

Just the thought gave me chills… but strangely, I wasn't so scared like I was supposed to.

Then he started crossing the road.

My breath hitched.

Before I could react, Jasper's voice snapped me back as he grabbed my hand roughly, “are you even listening to me, Ella?”

His voice was full of rage.

“Yeah, I cheated… But at least I'm sorry about it. How could you ignore me like that?” His voice was full of rage.

“Let me go!” I cried out, but my voice stilled when I lifted my gaze and was welcomed by those pairs of golden eyes.

They were unmistakably the same eyes from last night.

The stranger was standing right behind Jasper now.

My breath caught in my throat, knees buckled beneath me.

My lips parted, but no words came out. My heart was pounding in my throat.

Before I could react, he grabbed Jasper's hand and pulled him back roughly, twisting his wrist.

I heard the cracking of Jasper's bone as he yelped in pain…