Stranger that I Know: The Forgotten Promise

urnin

stalking me

grip tightening around

tain of hair, as he struggled to free himself, but

eone's gaze lingering on him

ght a glimpse of a figure reflected on his phone screen. It wa

evident strength, he was visibly larger and more powerful than Ilya, but

l motion, he pushed the stranger onto the bed, pinning him down. Straddling his w

ly revealed. With his free hand, Ilya brushed aside the long, dark hair obsc

es, honey-colored eyes, and smooth, sun-kissed skin were mesmerizing. Ilya found himself

he rhythmic thudding of their hearts. Ilya swallowed hard, a dryness clawing at his throat.

s dange

ying to regain

tranger's muscular chest and broad shoulders. Unlike the artificially toned physiques of actors and models, his stren

quickly shook off the thought

d why have you b

, his intense eyes fixed on

mute? Dea

ence surprisingly intact d

nized him more closely, noting his lack of proper clothing for the cold

the tribe? Were yo

ll, there was no reply, the stranger just lo

animals or somethi

action. But the stranger remained

rther, a knock at the door

, Ilya ignored him, knowing Leo would g

w you're awa

sighed in frustration, recognizing Arya's persistence. R

e, don't even think

im on the bed and opened the door. Arya stood there,

ual friendly, easy-going demeanor. But it t

t as intense as Ilya's. What always unsettled Ilya, though, was the way Arya looked at hi

bed. To his surprise, the stranger was still lying th

e reason, seeing the stranger's discomfort a

have a plac

one had softened, though his expre

s flickered briefly but r

e nightwear, he had nothing that could fit the stranger's tall, broad fram

e, but this will do. Cover yoursel

ice tinged with r

word, wrapped himself in the blanket with surprising efficiency.

ge enough, the stranger's sheer size made it feel cramped. Lying on

blinking eyes had an inexplicable pull, and before he knew it, Ilya's exhaustion ove

ized he felt strangely refreshed after sleeping throughout the night. A rare occurre

peared, taking the

days

e hands of her brother, but they're changing it for

while meticulously applying Ilya's ma

re, finally, no more surviving wi

phone in frustration as h

ar signal near

thought of the stranger

ared. Not a shadow, not a presence, not ev

e shoo

d out, pulling Ily

o dwell on the sadness t

rned to death, a symbolic end to the dark past, paving the w

, playing her brother, who would then light the pyre. The villain's figure had been rep

the dummy and the surrounding fake trees i

aahhh

the air, so raw and visc

re emerged. He ran directly into the

top him, but the figure of the person was taller, wi

nd trying to pull him back, dragging several peop

to the blazing inferno. Flames lic

ken piece of the dummy. The object was unrecognizable, nothing more than bl

aaahh

th their feet. It was unlike anything anyone had ever heard, his grief,

charred remains in trembling hands. He let out another guttural