He returned

That night, Himari barely slept.

She kept the lights on, a baseball bat near her bed, and her senses sharp—but no one came. The eerie calm of the apartment returned, though her thoughts swirled like a storm.

That man… Sebastian. Who even was he?

A demon, he claimed. But demons didn’t just show up in your living room, flash you a smirk, then vanish into nothing. Not without a trace. Not without a reason.

The next morning, she rubbed her eyes, tucked her long black hair into a messy ponytail, and decided to pretend it had been a vivid dream. Stress. Hallucination. Anything. He wasn’t real.

After breakfast, she scooped the soft little kitten she rescued into a warm blanket and walked it to a local pet store. The owners knew her well—they smiled and promised to take care of the creature until someone adopted it.

Two days passed.

School was the same. The sky stayed gray, the wind sharp. Himari kept to herself, walking home alone, following the same routine. Homework. Dinner. Shower. Sleep.

Everything was… normal.

But by the third day, that normality began to crack.

She returned home, dropped her bag by the door, and stretched with a yawn. “Finally,” she muttered to herself. Her muscles ached. Her eyes felt heavy. A hot shower and a quick nap sounded like paradise.

She walked to the bathroom, tied up her hair, and let the water steam the mirror. After her routine, she dried off and pulled on her favorite oversized hoodie. Everything was quiet.

Until it wasn’t.

A shift. A pull in the air.

The same eerie pressure she’d felt before.

Her steps slowed. Eyes narrowed. She scanned the hallway—nothing. Her kitchen—empty. Her bedroom? Untouched.

She stood outside the living room and took a slow, calming breath.

Please no.

Flick.

The light turned on.

And there he was.

Sitting on her couch again, legs crossed, dressed in that same tailored black suit like he never left.

Sebastian looked up from a book—her book—and gave her a calm, smug smile.

“You left the door unlocked.”

She blinked, stunned. “No. I didn’t.”

He gave her a look. “Oh, right. You think locks matter to me?”

Himari’s patience, already thin from school and the past few days of denial, snapped.

“What do you want? Seriously. You broke in again. Sat on my couch. Read my book. Who does that?!”

He closed the book gently, brushing off invisible dust. “Technically, I didn’t ‘break in.’ I simply… arrived. Again.”

“Same thing!”

He tilted his head. “You’re awfully hostile for someone who lives alone.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t pretend you know me.”

“I don’t. That’s why I’m here.” His eyes gleamed red again. “You're interesting.”

She crossed her arms. “Is that your thing? Stalking people you find interesting?”

“Only the rare ones,” he said with a crooked smile.

She walked forward, refusing to show fear. “Look, Sebastian or whoever you are—I don’t care what you are. Demon, spirit, ghost—just leave. I want nothing to do with you.”

He sighed, stretching lazily. “I’d love to. But you’re a bit hard to ignore.”

“And why’s that?” she asked bitterly.

“Because you shouldn’t exist.”

That made her freeze.

He stood, tall and elegant. No hint of aggression, but every inch of him radiated quiet danger. “You hide it well. Most wouldn’t see it. But I do.”

She kept her face neutral, voice calm. “See what?”

“You walk like a human, live like one. But you’re not just a girl, Himari.”

Her breath caught.

He knew her name.

“I—how do you know my—”

“I’m not just a demon. I’m thorough.”

She took a step back. He didn’t follow. Just watched.

“Why are you really here?”

Sebastian leaned against the wall, arms crossed, thoughtful. “I was sent to harvest a soul nearby. Nothing unusual. But then I felt you. Your energy. It’s… confusing. Chaotic. Divine. And something else.”

He paused, eyes locked on hers.

“You’re a contradiction.”

Himari didn’t reply. Her silence said enough.

“I’m not here to expose you,” he said after a long beat. “I haven’t told anyone. Not yet.”

“Why not?”

He hesitated. For the first time, his expression shifted—subtle. Conflicted. “Because I’m curious. And Hell? They want you destroyed. Heaven would do worse. But me?” He smiled faintly. “I haven’t decided yet.”

She stared at him, her heart thudding. He was serious. But there was no cruelty in his voice. No bloodlust.

Just… intrigue.

“So you’re just going to keep showing up until you figure me out?” she asked dryly.

He smiled. “That’s the plan.”

“Well, then you better get comfortable,” she said, grabbing her phone and walking away, “because you’ll be waiting a long damn time.”

He chuckled behind her. “Oh, I have time.”

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