The first encounter

*Chapter 1: The First Encounter*

The cold wind rustled the autumn leaves, scattering them across the sidewalk. The air smelled of rain and earth, a prelude to the storm that was about to break over the city. Sophia Williams pulled her jacket tighter around her, her breath visible in the evening air as she stepped out of the local bookstore. The soft chime of the bell above the door echoed in the quiet street, marking the end of another long day.

Her shift at the café had ended just a few minutes ago, and now all she wanted was to get home and unwind with a cup of tea and a good book. The street was mostly deserted, the only sound the occasional car passing by and the wind whispering between the buildings.

As she walked down the narrow alley next to the bookstore, her mind wandered, distracted by the mundane thoughts of tomorrow’s responsibilities. But that was when she felt it.

A presence.

At first, it was just a chill down her spine, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. She paused, glancing around, but the street was still empty. Yet, something in the air felt... *different*.

Then, she saw him.

A tall figure, standing under the dim light of a flickering streetlamp. His dark hair fell in soft waves, and his gaze seemed to pierce through the shadows, his eyes reflecting an intensity she couldn’t explain. He was impossibly still, as though he didn’t belong to the world around him, as if the night itself had wrapped him in its cloak.

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat.

The man stepped forward, his movement almost too smooth, like a shadow gliding effortlessly through the darkness. He wasn’t dressed like anyone she knew—his black coat appeared timeless, and his posture held an air of something ancient, something she couldn’t quite place.

“Are you lost, Miss Williams?” His voice was deep, smooth, and oddly comforting, yet there was an edge to it, a tone that didn’t quite match the warmth of his words.

Sophia took a cautious step back, her heart racing. “How do you know my name?”

He smiled, a small, mysterious curve of his lips that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’ve lived in this city your whole life. People know you. I’ve been watching you for some time now.”

A chill ran down her spine again, but it wasn’t fear—it was something else, something dangerous yet intriguing. The way he looked at her made her feel like he knew her more than she knew herself, like he could see into the depths of her soul.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around before,” Sophia replied, trying to mask the unease that suddenly crept into her chest. Her instincts told her to walk away, but something about him kept her rooted to the spot.

“I prefer to stay hidden,” he said, his voice lower now, almost a whisper. “I tend to keep to the shadows.”

Sophia frowned, her curiosity piqued. “And why is that?”

He stepped closer, closing the distance between them in a way that was both unsettling and magnetic. His eyes glinted in the dim light, catching hers and holding them in place. “Because sometimes, it’s better not to be seen. The night hides things… things that are better left in the dark.”

Sophia’s pulse quickened as he reached out, his hand brushing a strand of hair from her face. She flinched, but the moment his fingers touched her skin, a warmth flooded her chest, replacing the chill of the night air.

Before she could say anything else, a loud crash echoed in the distance, and the moment was broken. She looked away, startled, but when she turned back to the stranger, he was already gone.

The street was empty. No sign of him.

Her breath came in quick bursts, the feeling of his touch still lingering on her skin. Was it all a dream? Had she imagined it?

Shaking her head, Sophia took a deep breath and started walking toward home again, but this time, she couldn’t shake the thought of the man—his mysterious presence, his eyes, the way he seemed so… out of place in the world around her.

It was only when she reached her door that she realized she’d never told him her name.

But somehow, he had known it.

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