"I dare you."

Three short, but powerful words have frozen every single particle in the hall. It felt like the oxygen vanished too, leaving us breathless. With my eyes still fixed on the dark painting, I can sense the guards' fear. They haven't moved for minutes, and I start to think they are lifeless.

Their hands have left my body as if it's toxic, and somehow, I wish it were for that reason. However, the reality is always different from my wishes. I desperately want to turn around towards that voice, but my whole body is fighting back my brain.

I manage to move my eyes to the guards, and what I see paralyzes me even more: their lips shake frantically and their wide eyes are aimed at someone on my left. Their skin shone because of the sweat, and it starts to trickle down, wetting the black uniform.

"We.. we..", one tries to talk, but fails because of the tremble, "we.. Lord-"

An inhuman and heavy breath like an angry animal fills my ears, making my heart explode from fear.

"Leave. Now." They don't hesitate at running away, obeying his request.

I close my eyes at the hearing of low and heavy steps moving toward me, and the instinct of knowing who is threatening my space invades me. But I stand still with my eyes shut tight, afraid of knowing who it is. I open my mouth, trying to say something, but no word leave it. I'd love to ask who he is, why everyone fears him, and many other infinite questions. Maybe I could start with a "hi", but he doesn't seem in the mood of having a normal conversation. What about "I'm Avelyn, nice to meet you"? Mmh, no. That sounds too childish. Or-

"Open your eyes," His voice interrups my thoughts.

I'm about to open them, but my brain has the magnicant idea of disobeying. However, I'm not surprised at all, I'm quite used to breaking rules, so this little and insignificant disobedience won't hurt anybody.

Or will it?

"Do as I say." I jump up at his voice being so near my ear.

"I will give you three seconds. If you don't open them, you'll regret not having obeyed me." I start shaking like a trapped rat.

"One." His low voice makes it even worse. What will he do to me? Will he kill me if I don't.. open my eyes? I find it kind of a silly idea. I mean, the are so many other possible th-

"Two". His counting brings me back to reality, "Thr-", now I'm the one interrupting him, opening my eyes.

I turn my head quickly to the left, and my eyes almost roll out of my sockets. A black, well-dressed and wonderfully handsome slender and muscular figure stands tall in front of my minuscule body.

Unconsciously, I start to analyze all his perfect features: a clean, defined and expressionless face, black messy hair back that suits his dark eyes as if they were puzzle pieces. The more I stare at his eyes, the more I feel my knees weak, because of their intensity; they seem to tell of many secrets, but he holds them so locked and tight in a strongbox, that they are unreadable.

He doesn't blink, his eyes never leaving mine. His linear, perfect sharp nose looks painted just like any other body part, and his bight skin enlightens his features even more.

"See? It wasn't that difficult." He bends his head, scanning my face, intriguingly.

I try to say a word, but again, I'm speechless. His dark figure hypnotizes every thought and action, as if just by locking his eyes with yours, he gains complete control of you.

"Talk. I won't bite you, unless you give me a good reason to do it."

I take a deep and long breath, before letting my words leave my dry lips, "I.. I.."

He seems sick of me, so I try to get back his attention, "Thank you for.. saving me."

His black eyes meet mine again, and my whole body seems unable to resist his gaze.

"I haven't saved you." What?

"You.. Yes, you.. they.." I start to blabber, gesticulating with my hands.

He gives me a last look, before turning his back and walking away from me. Suddenly, he stops his steps saying, "Just a warning: if I see you here again, I won't hesitate", before leaving disappearing from my sight.

He won't hesitate doing what?

*

I've spent the rest of the evening questioning myself about him. I couldn't stop thinking about what happened, and I've tried to figure it out, but without any result. Working hasnn't helped much either, and my lack of concentration has been noticed by the girls, but they let questions for later.

As we get to our building, they surround me, blocking my path to the bedroom. "Now you tell us." Claire's tone of voice makes me shiver.

I stare at them innocently, "tell you what?"

Oh, don't play games with us. Something must have happened, otherwise why would you be so distracted." Lucy continues.

"Well, maybe nothing happened and I'm just tired and-" I get interrupted by Anne.

"Oh, please. Split it out, Avelyn."

I widen my eyes, as Claire and Lucy. We've never seen Anne so curious, since all she has ever done is minding her business and work.

"If something really happened, you may kill me." I utter.

"So, you're saying that something actually happened, right?" Lucy insists.

"I'm saying that if-"

Anne interrupts me, again, "we won't kill you, tell us."

"Actually, It was addressed to you, Anne. You may kill me. No, you will surely kill me."

She furrows her brows at my comment. I stare at her, hoping she gets a signal from my eyes. I let her think, still with that confused expression depicted on her face, until it gets replaced with a frightened one. Now, I'm pretty sure she's got it loud and clear.

"NO FRICKING WAY!"

The girls get even more anxious and excited once they see that Anne knows what I'm talking about. "What? We want to know it, too." Anne keeps staring at me, still shocked. "Okay, then keep your secrets to yourselves."

Finally, Anne turns toward the girls, "she has seen him!"

The girls keep staring at us confused, not understanding who that 'him' is.

"Actually, I.." I utter, afraid of saying more. God only knows how Anne will react.

"You what, Avelyn?" She stares at me with a deadpan expression.

"I've.. talked to him, too."