Bound by Obsession

chapter 1: When Shadows Touch

Night,

City lights glowing,

Distant hum of traffic.

Alana The manager

Where are you?

Eric Blackwood

(Walking)

Eric Blackwood

Don’t freak out,

Eric Blackwood

I’m almost home.

Alana The manager

You’ve got a shoot tomorrow.

Alana The manager

Get some rest.

Alana The manager

And, Kai… keep the mask on.

Alana The manager

You can’t risk the paparazzi finding you.

Eric Blackwood

Please.

Eric Blackwood

Who’d even recognize me in this mask?

Alana The manager

You say that every time.

Eric Blackwood

No one’s going to recognize me.

Eric Blackwood

Not tonight.

Alana The manager

Just text me when you’re home, okay?

Eric Blackwood

Fine, Mom. 🙄

Alana The manager

(cuts the call)

Eric Blackwood

(slips his phone into his pocket)

Eric Blackwood

(Adjusts his cap and black mask)

Eric Blackwood

(Strolling casually)

Eric Blackwood

(hands in his pockets)

The streets are quiet,

only the hum of

a distant train

And the faint buzz of

Flickering street lamps

Keeping him company.

Eric Blackwood

(likes nights like this empty, quiet, his world not crowded by flashing cameras and screaming fans)

The sharp screech of tires

cuts through the stillness.

Eric Blackwood

(head snaps up)

Headlights blinding.

A truck is coming too fast,

Too close.

Eric Blackwood

(under his breath)

Eric Blackwood

Sh...

Eric Blackwood

(A rough hand grabs his wrist)

Eric Blackwood

(yanking him hard)

Eric Blackwood

(His body collides with a solid chest as he’s pulled into the shadows of a narrow alley)

The truck roars past,

Leaving only the sharp

Scent of burnt rubber

In the air.

Eric Blackwood

(gasping)

Eric Blackwood

What the...

Eric Blackwood

(looks up, eyes wide)

Eric Blackwood

(breathing hard)

Rin Takeda

(towers over him)

Rin Takeda

(his presence cold, suffocating)

Rin Takeda

(A hood casts his face in shadows)

Rin Takeda

(but sharp eyes glint under the dim streetlight)

Voice low but cold.

Rin Takeda

Watch where you walk.

Rin Takeda

Not every night ends with someone saving you.

Eric Blackwood

(Before he can respond)

Rin Takeda

(steps back)

boots echoing against

Wet pavement,

And

Disappears into the darkness.

Not a name.

Not a glance back.

Rin Takeda

(leaving only the echo of his words)

Eric Blackwood

Who the hell was that…?

Eric Blackwood

Strong… fast…

Eric Blackwood

But…

Eric Blackwood

Why does my chest feel like it’s going to explode?

Somewhere in the city,

A pair of sharp eyes

Watches Eric walk away,

A faint smirk curling

At the corner of his lips.

To be continue.

Chapter 2 : Whispers in the Dark

[Eric’s Apartment — Night]

The city is quiet,

Eric Blackwood

(But his mind isn’t)

Eric Blackwood

(lies on his back)

Eric Blackwood

(one arm draped over his forehead)

Eric Blackwood

(The other clutching his phone)

It’s past 3 AM,

But sleep won’t come.

Eric Blackwood

(softly, to himself)

Eric Blackwood

Who… are you?

Eric Blackwood

(remembers the alley)

Eric Blackwood

(The sudden force yanking him away)

Eric Blackwood

(The heat of a hand gripping his wrist)

Eric Blackwood

(the way his pulse had gone wild)

It wasn’t fear.

Not exactly.

Something darker…

Deeper.

Eric Blackwood

(exhales sharply)

Eric Blackwood

(restless)

Eric Blackwood

(His phone buzzes)

A message from his manager,

Probably another reminder

About his early morning shoot.

Eric Blackwood

(ignores it)

Instead,

Eric Blackwood

(His sketchbook lies open on the nightstand)

A rough drawing of

Broad shoulders

And

An unreadable silhouette.

No face.

Just that presence

Dangerous, magnetic.

Eric Blackwood

(whispering)

Eric Blackwood

Why can’t I stop thinking about you…

The seconds stretch,

Thick with a strange ache.

Eric Blackwood

(His chest tightens)

It feels irrational,

Almost sick,

Eric Blackwood

(But every time he closes his eyes)

Eric Blackwood

(he’s back there)

The smell of smoke,

The sharp adrenaline spike,

The whisper of danger that

Clung to him like static.

Somewhere in the city,

Rin Takeda

(leans casually against his motorcycle in an unlit alley)

Rin Takeda

(The cigarette between his fingers burns low)

The ember glowing

against the dark.

Rin Takeda

(His gaze flicks upward, toward a certain apartment window in the distance)

Rin Takeda

(He doesn’t smile)

Rin Takeda

(He doesn’t need to)

The pull is already there.

Rin Takeda

(low, dark, almost a growl)

Rin Takeda

You can’t run from me, Eric.

Rin Takeda

Not then.

Rin Takeda

Not now.

Rin Takeda

Not ever.

To be continue

Chapter 3: Restless

Eric’s Apartment,

Morning.

Sunlight cuts through the blinds,

Painting stripes of gold

Across the messy sheets.

Eric Blackwood

(he hasn’t slept)

Eric Blackwood

(His pillow is damp from sweat)

Eric Blackwood

(his eyes red from the endless replay of that night)

Eric Blackwood

(whispering to himself)

Eric Blackwood

(Hand pressed against his chest)

Eric Blackwood

Why… won’t you leave my head?

Every time Eric blinks,

The image flashes

Sharp jawline, dark hair,

That deep,

Commanding voice.

Eric Blackwood

(His heart pounds like it’s trying to break out of his ribs)

Eric Blackwood

(a fever building in his veins)

Eric Blackwood

(He feels sick)

Addicted.

Like that man poisoned

Him with just a look.

The door creaks open.

Alana The manager

(strides in, balancing a tray of breakfast)

Black coffee, toast, fruit.

Alana The manager

(her expression darkens the moment her eyes land on Kai)

Eric Blackwood

(Still in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling)

Alana The manager

(sharp)

Alana The manager

Are you kidding me, Kai?

Alana The manager

It’s already nine.

Alana The manager

You’ve got a shoot in an hour.

Eric Blackwood

(he doesn’t move)

Alana The manager

(sighs)

Alana The manager

(Puts the tray on the nightstand)

Alana The manager

(snaps his fingers in front of Eric’s face)

Alana The manager

Get up. Now.

Eric Blackwood

(drags himself out of bed)

Eric Blackwood

(Showering and changing on autopilot)

By the time

They’re in the car headed

To the studio,

Eric's body is present

But his mind is

Somewhere else.

Somewhere dark.

Somewhere where he is.

At the studio,

Bright lights,

Cameras flashing,

Stylists chattering.

Eric Blackwood

(stands in front of the backdrop, perfectly styled)

But something is off.

Eric Blackwood

(His eyes are too distant, his smile forced)

The photographer

(lowers the camera, brows knitting.)

The photographer

Kai, loosen up.

The photographer

Be yourself.

Eric Blackwood

(tries, but he can’t. His mind is stuck in a loop)

That man. That voice.

That night.

Eric Blackwood

(He can’t breathe)

Eric Blackwood

(steps closer)

Eric Blackwood

(studying him)

Alana The manager

You okay?

Eric Blackwood

(forcing a smile)

Eric Blackwood

Yeah…

Eric Blackwood

Just feeling a little under the weather.

Alana The manager

(narrows her eyes)

Alana The manager

(unconvinced)

Alana The manager

(waves the photographer off)

Alana The manager

That’s enough for today.

Alana The manager

Let’s go home.

To be continue,

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