A changed bird

Kai’s heartbeat roared in his ears as he ran. His breath came in ragged gasps, the cold air slicing through his lungs like a blade. The city blurred past him—dark alleys twisting like veins, shadows clawing at his feet.

He didn’t dare look back.

But he could feel it. The presence. The burning red eyes carved into his memory like a curse.

Then—arms.

Strong. Unyielding. They wrapped around his waist from behind, locking him in place.

Thick. Overwhelming.

His struggles weakened. The world tilted, colors fading into smears of darkness. His limbs felt heavy, useless.

His vision blurred, and the last thing he felt was the warmth of the person holding him—steady, possessive—before everything turned black.

2 hours later

And then

A soft, silken warmth pressed against Kai’s skin. The scent of roses and something faintly sweet hung in the air, unlike anything he had ever known. It was comforting—yet suffocating.

His eyelids fluttered open.

For a moment, his mind was blank. No cold. No hunger. No wet cobblestones beneath him. Only warmth.

The bed beneath him was enormous, covered in black silk sheets that shimmered under the soft glow of a chandelier. Gold-trimmed walls towered around him, adorned with delicate carvings of dragons woven into the design. Heavy velvet curtains draped over tall windows, blocking out the outside world.

Kai’s fingers dug into the fabric of his clothes. His rags were gone. In their place, he wore an expensive black tunic with silver embroidery and fitted pants that felt too smooth against his skin.

Then—panic.

He swung his legs off the bed, his bare feet sinking into the thick carpet. Everything felt too soft. Too perfect. Too unreal.

"What the hell…?"

He swung his legs off the bed, his bare feet sinking into the thick carpet. Everything felt too soft. Too perfect. Too unreal.

"This has to be a dream."

But the sting of cold metal against his wrist told him otherwise.

Kai’s breath hitched as he noticed it—a thin, silver bracelet locked around his wrist. The metal was smooth, engraved with strange symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light.

A shiver crawled down his spine. This wasn’t just jewelry. This was a cage.

"No, no, no—"

He rushed to the door and gripped the handle. Twisted. Pulled.

Locked.

His stomach twisted. A caged bird in a gilded room.

Then—a noise.

Soft footsteps echoed beyond the door. Slow. Measured.

Someone was coming.

Kai backed away, his breath shallow, his pulse roaring in his ears. Every instinct screamed at him to run.

But he was about to find out who had taken him. And why.

Kai's heart raced as the footsteps grew louder. His body tensed, muscles coiling with the instinct to flee. His mind was a whirlwind of questions, but no answers came. Who was this person? Why had they brought him here?

To be continued.

Hope you guys like the story

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***