Chapter 1: The Locked Gaze

(Rhea's POV)

For some people, a painting is just art. But for me, it's peace—at least until an old painting arrived at the gallery this morning.

I stared at it—“The Moon Painting”—now laid out on the restoration table. The canvas was aged, the colors dull, and some corners were starting to peel. But what had me frozen wasn't just its physical state. There was something about this painting that made me... feel strange. Like my heart would beat faster every time I gently brushed its surface.

I’m Rhea Hale. A painting restorer. And since I was a kid, I’ve always had a sensitivity to old things. Some people call it intuition. My mom said I was “different.” But to me, it just means I often end up emotionally drained after working.

Today I was alone in the restoration studio at Elaria Gallery. The afternoon light streamed in through the large windows, catching dust particles dancing in the air. “The Moon Painting” was set to be displayed at a charity event tomorrow at two. I was almost done restoring it.

“You look completely lost in that painting,” said Mrs. Elka, the gallery owner, pulling me out of my thoughts. She stood in the doorway with a cup of tea in her hands.

I turned to her. “I don’t know, Mrs. Elka. It feels like... I’ve seen this painting before. But I’m sure I haven’t.”

She walked over and examined the painting, brows furrowed. “That’s how I felt when I first saw it too. It was found in storage at one of our old gallery branches. There’s no record of the artist, but somehow... the vibe is strong.”

I nodded slowly. “You’re right, Mrs. Elka. Look at the eyes... They look alive.”

“The eyes?” she asked with a chuckle.

I shook my head quickly. “I mean, they look like... they’re following us.”

She laughed. “That’s just because you’re exhausted from working on it.”

Before the conversation could go on, the studio door swung open. Lina—my fellow restorer—walked in with a huge smile and two tickets in her hand.

“Rhea! Guess what I’ve got!” she said excitedly.

I grinned. “With that look on your face, I know it’s not just good news—it’s amazing news.”

She waved two metallic blue tickets. “Exclusive tickets to tonight’s hockey game! Front row seats! My friend works at the arena and just gave these to me!”

I raised an eyebrow. “Tonight? But we’ve got that charity event tomorrow at two.”

Mrs. Elka cut in, “Relax. The painting’s almost done, right? You can head home early—as long as your work’s completely finished.”

Lina nodded eagerly. “Besides, you’ll totally regret it if you don’t come. Because... Kaelan’s playing tonight.”

I rolled my eyes. “Kaelan Viero?”

“Yes! That’s why you have to come! Come on. When else will we get to see him play live?”

After thinking it over for a bit, I nodded. “Alright. But we’ll leave after I’ve cleaned everything up.”

We chatted for a little while longer before Lina left to get ready, and Mrs. Elka said goodbye to take care of tomorrow’s event. I turned back to The Moon Painting. The mist between the trees looked like it was almost moving. And... two faint golden eyes were hidden among the shadows.

I reached for the switch to turn off the main lights. But right before the room went dark—I saw it.

Those two golden eyes glowed.

I froze. Leaned in closer. But the light was too dim now.

“Maybe it’s just a reflection,” I whispered. “Or I’m just tired.”

I decided not to think too much of it. Locked the studio and went to catch up with Lina.

***

The hockey arena was packed. Cheers from the crowd, the sound of bells, spinning lights—everything made the atmosphere electric. Lina and I sat in the front row, the perfect spot to watch the match. And honestly... it was my first time watching a national hockey game live.

“This is insane,” I murmured. “I’ve never been this close to the rink before.”

“Wait ‘til Kaelan comes out,” Lina said with a knowing smile.

A few minutes later, music blasted and the players started skating onto the ice. The cheers got louder. And then, Kaelan Viero appeared.

He looked different than he did on TV. Taller. Sexier. More real. And... more dangerous.

Kaelan skated to the center of the rink with his team. But somehow, before the game even started, he turned toward the crowd. And his eyes—those sharp golden eyes—landed right on me.

I froze. It felt like being caught on camera—but deeper. Like he could see through me.

“He’s looking at you,” Lina whispered, eyes wide.

I shook my head. “No... He’s probably just looking toward the general crowd. Not directly at me, Lina.”

Lina eventually nodded, agreeing with me.

Just then, the game started.

It was intense right from the start. The scraping skates on the ice, body checks, and the sound of sticks hitting the puck made my chest tighten. Kaelan’s team dominated from the first minute. He moved fast, sharp, calculated—like a predator who knew exactly when to strike.

A few times, he weaved past opponents with jaw-dropping moves, making the crowd scream. But I barely cheered. My eyes were stuck on him. Not as the national team captain... but as someone whose presence made my body react in ways I couldn’t explain.

Why did seeing him in person mess with my emotions like this?

Kaelan scored the winning goal in the final minute. The entire arena exploded in celebration.

But what made my heart race... was the fact that right after the goal, he looked at me again.

Again. Directly at me.

That gaze hit me hard, like something stirred in my chest. It wasn’t love, it wasn’t admiration. It was... something I couldn’t explain. Like my body knew him, more than just a famous hockey player.

The match ended with a massive win for Elaria Northern Blades. The whole arena was buzzing with energy, cheers for Kaelan, the other players, and the team echoing everywhere.

Honestly, for an introvert like me, this kind of atmosphere made my chest tight—until I got a headache and felt a little sick.

“Rhea, I’m gonna run to the restroom,” Lina said.

I instantly smiled, relieved—this was my chance to escape the chaos. “I’ll come with you.”

Lina chuckled. “I knew you’d want to get out of this crowd.”

“I’ll wait in the side hallway by the stands,” I said as I stood up.

We squeezed past other fans who were still busy celebrating the win. And just as I turned to find the exit, someone suddenly grabbed my wrist.

“Lina, why are you dragging me this wa—”

My sentence stopped.

The person holding my wrist... wasn’t Lina.

His hand was still wrapped around mine.

I looked up—and the world seemed to stop.

Kaelan Viero.

He was standing right in front of me. Way too close. Way too real.

“Sorry, I thought you were my friend,” I said awkwardly.

“We need to talk,” Kaelan said.

He stared at me. His golden eyes glowed faintly.

“Do you know me?” I asked without meaning to.

“Not yet. But... I think you’re about to find out a lot more than that.”

I wanted to ask him more. But something in his gaze—and the way he spoke—made my body freeze.

“Will you come with me?”

***