𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓰𝓾𝓮

Prologue

The night was silent-too silent for the city.

Adhira's heels clicked against the pavement as she turned the corner to her street. One hand gripped her phone; the other tugged her coat tighter against the chill. She didn't know why her skin prickled, why the shadows behind her felt... heavier. Hungrier.

She didn't know he was watching.

From across the street, he stood just out of reach of the streetlight's glare. Motionless. Eyes locked on her like a predator waiting for the perfect moment.

She didn't know she was already his.

She reached her doorstep, fingers fumbling with the keys.

"Forget something?"

His voice was a whisper behind her-too close.

She spun, eyes wide. But he was already there, stepping from the darkness with slow, measured confidence. No mask. No disguise, but only darkness.

Just that face which was hide in darkness-a stranger and yet hauntingly familiar, as if she should have remembered him from some long-forgotten nightmare.

"Who-" she started, but he cut her off.

A gloved hand slammed against the door beside her head, caging her in. The key dropped from her shaking fingers.

"I've watched you," he said softly, almost lovingly. "Every step. Every smile. Every lie."

Adhira's breath caught. Her body screamed to run, but her legs refused.

"You think you're safe here?" he whispered, nose brushing her temple. "You have no idea how long I've waited to stand this close."

She lashed out-her palm striking his cheek with every ounce of fury she had left.

He didn't flinch.

Instead, he smiled.

"Good," he murmured, grabbing her wrist. "I like when you fight. Makes breaking you so much sweeter."

His other hand slid to her throat-not tight, not choking-just enough pressure to remind her who held control. The intimacy of it made her stomach twist.

She struggled. He leaned in, his breath hot on her lips.

"You won't scream," he said. "Not yet. You'll wait. You'll wonder. You'll beg."

And then-just as fast-he released her, stepping back into the darkness with a cruel, quiet chuckle.

"I'm not here to take you," he called over his shoulder. "Not tonight."

He disappeared.

She collapsed.

But in the silence that followed, Adhira understood one thing with bone-deep certainty.

The nightmare hadn't started yet. But it was coming.

And he'd made sure she'd never sleep again.

Who Is he ?