Chapter Two – Who are you?

The sky had deepened into shades of blue and violet, the last traces of sunlight slipping beneath the horizon. The air carried a crisp, unfamiliar chill, and every rustling leaf sent a shiver down her spine.

After what felt like hours of running, exhaustion finally won.

Taliya stumbled into an open clearing, her legs giving out beneath her as she collapsed onto the soft grass. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her lungs burning, her limbs trembling. She had no idea how far she’d run, only that she had to keep going—away from it.

Her eyes darted around frantically, scanning the thick treeline for any sign of movement. But nothing came. No growling. No heavy footsteps.

Nothing.

A breath of relief left her lips, her head falling back as she stared at the darkening sky. The waterfall ahead shimmered in the fading light, cascading into a clear, glittering pool. It looked... peaceful. A stark contrast to the chaos she’d just survived.

For the first time since she’d woken up in this nightmare, she felt the smallest sliver of safety.

But the moment she tried to move—

Pain.

A sharp, searing ache shot through her ankle, forcing a cry from her throat as she collapsed back onto the grass. She clutched at her leg, her breath hitching.

“Oh God,” she whispered, wincing. “That was terrifying. What the hell was that thing?!”

Her hands trembled as she glanced down. Her ankle was swollen, smeared with dirt and streaked with thin scratches. More scratches covered her legs, a cruel reminder of her reckless escape through the forest.

Tears welled in her eyes, frustration bubbling up alongside the pain.

Where the hell am I?!

The words tore from her throat, echoing into the open air as she whipped her head around, drinking in the surreal scenery—the waterfall, the thick trees, the endless stretch of unfamiliar land.

She swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat.

“This doesn’t make any sense,” she muttered, her voice shaky. “I was at the beach... with my boyfriend. With our friends. I went to the bathroom. I saw—”

Her breath hitched.

That thing. That strange, black object she’d touched.

And now... now she was here.

Her fingers curled into the grass beneath her, frustration twisting in her gut.

“I don’t know what the fuck that was or where the fuck I am,” she hissed. “But I need to get back. I have to get back.”

Determination flared inside her, cutting through the panic. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself upright, biting back another pained hiss as she tested her weight on her injured ankle.

Slowly, she limped toward the water, its surface rippling under the cool night air. She crouched down, cupping her hands to splash the icy liquid against her burning skin, trying to soothe the ache in her body—and the storm raging in her mind.

But as she did, something prickled at the back of her neck.

That eerie, crawling sensation.

Like she was being watched.

The cool water rippled beneath her fingers as Taliya cupped her hands again, ready to splash her face. But then—

A shadow.

It loomed in the reflection, dark and imposing.

Her heart slammed against her ribs. A strangled gasp left her lips as she jolted upright, panic seizing her body. But in her frantic movements, she forgot—her ankle.

Pain shot through her leg, sharp and unforgiving.

She staggered.

And then—

She fell.

The icy water swallowed her whole.

Taliya flailed, the sudden chill shocking her system as she struggled to regain balance. Her head broke the surface, her breath coming in ragged gasps, soaked hair clinging to her face.

And that’s when she saw him.

A tall figure stood at the water’s edge, his dark eyes locked onto her with an unreadable expression. His face was sharp—chiseled, almost too perfect—yet there was something distant about him, something unnerving.

Her lips parted in confusion.

Who was he?

Before she could form a thought, a voice broke through the tense silence.

“Javen!”

Taliya turned sharply at the sound of the name.

A young woman hurried toward them, her wide eyes flickering between Taliya and the man standing at the shore. Her expression quickly twisted into panic.

“Oh my God! Javen!” she shouted, her voice rising in alarm. “Why didn’t you help her?!”

Javen—if that was really his name—remained motionless, his posture rigid, his stare unwavering.

The girl, however, didn’t hesitate. She rushed forward, her hand outstretched.

“Here, hold my hand! I’ll pull you up.”

Taliya hesitated.

Her gaze flickered back to Javen—still standing eerily still, his face unreadable, as if he were analyzing her, studying her.

Something about him unsettled her.

Still, she had no choice. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached out, grasping the girl’s hand.

With a firm tug, she was lifted from the water, but the moment she found her footing, her injured ankle gave out beneath her.

She let out a sharp gasp as she stumbled—

Only to be caught.

A strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her tightly against a solid chest.

For a split second, she stilled.

His touch was firm, warm, too warm. His breathing—harsh and uneven, as if he were struggling to control something.

But what sent a shiver down her spine was the rapid pounding of his heart against her palm.

Too fast. Too strong.

Like he was restraining something dark, something violent.

Taliya swallowed, her body tensing.

“C-Can you let me go?” she muttered, her voice uncertain.

For a moment, he didn’t react.

Then—

As if snapping out of a trance, his grip abruptly loosened.

And he shoved her away.

Hard.

Taliya stumbled backward, hitting the grass with a thud. She winced, barely able to register the shock of his reaction.

“What the hell?!” she snapped.

The girl let out an exasperated sigh, glaring at Javen.

“Gosh! You don’t have to be such a jerk!”