Standing before her apartment door, Elara felt the cold air and the darkening sky looming over her shivering frame while she fumbled with her keys.

Once she held the correct key between her fingers, the young woman paused, her eyes fixed on the front door. The darkness that awaited her on the other side... she could almost feel it looking down at her. Yet she had to enter.

Sucking in a deep breath, the college student jammed her key into the lock before allowing the door to slide open. Entering her apartment, Elara dumped her heavy bag on the floor and took her shoes off, a relieved sigh escaping her lips as the physical weight lifted from her shoulders and her toes were freed from their constraints.

She flipped the switch, the light blinding her for a moment as it chased the darkness away.

Without much thought, the young woman walked over, grabbed the remote, and switched the television on, flipping through a few channels until it landed on the overall news station.

The soft sounds of the news reporter filled the otherwise quiet living room. She tossed the remote onto the couch and walked to the kitchen table.

She dug into her pants pocket to check her phone again; she still hadn't heard from Becky, and she was really starting to worry.

The moment her reflection met the black phone screen, however, she felt that all-too-familiar knot forming in her stomach.

The light above her flickered once.

Then twice.

Her breath hitched as the television lost its signal, and white noise static became the only sound that echoed, drowned out only by the sound of her own heartbeat drumming in her ears.

And just like that, the light went out, leaving her apartment in an abyss save for the flickering glow of the television screen.

Elara didn't move. She couldn't. It was like her feet were glued to the floor while her eyes darted around, scanning every shadow.

Her body tensed as a familiar floral scent filled the room. Her phone shook in her trembling hands; she gripped the device hard enough that her knuckles turned white.

"It's fascinating how loudly people speak without saying a word." His deep, purring voice made Elara snap her head toward where it came from.

There he was, dimly illuminated by the static TV.

He was tall-too tall for a normal man. The wide-brimmed hat he wore nearly touched the ceiling. Small bits of light danced off his sharp jawline, revealing a wide grin with teeth sharper than her kitchen knives.

The student felt her knees shaking, her breaths short and ragged.

He wasn't really looking at her, though; his attention was fixed on an object he held in his hands. His fingers were long and thin as they wrapped around a small picture frame he had apparently plucked off the wall.

"Aren't you a beautiful flower, smiling so brightly~" he purred, his voice smooth, as she watched his shadow turn to face her directly, placing the picture back where he had found it. "Yet here you are... wilting away by the people you hold dear."

"W-what do you want from me..?" Elara whispered, almost choking on her words. Her eyes were fixed on the tall figure.

She felt his gaze on her, captivating and full of power.
A shiver ran down her spine as a deep chuckle came from the intruder, quickly escalating into a full laugh-a sound that felt so soothing to hear, yet so wrong.

"Oh darling~" he purred. "The first time I hear that beautiful voice, and that's what you ask me? Tsk tsk..." Shaking his head, the man took a step forward, causing Elara to instantly take a step back. "So tense too... hmm... perhaps I should've made you moan for me instead~ you know... loosen you up a bit..."

The young woman couldn't help but grimace at the stranger's words, the implication filling her with disgust. Almost every part of her told her to run, to get as far away from him as physically possible.

Yet there was a small part of her-a sinking feeling in her chest she could only describe as rage.

How dare this man enter her home, talking to her like she was another whore on the street. Elara could tolerate a lot of things, but she refused to let this intruder walk over her.

"How dare you!" she growled, taking a step forward, ready to kick this guy out. His grin faded; the television static seemed to spike for just a moment, and she could swear the room dropped a few degrees.

Before she could even react, she suddenly felt the floor disappear beneath her feet and the wind knocked out of her as her back hit the wall behind her. A large, thin, bony hand caged her in on either side.

Her anger washed away just as quickly as it came, her breathing now closer to hyperventilation. She felt his breath mere inches from her skin; he was leaning down over her, but she couldn't bring herself to look up at him.

"How dare I?" His voice was low, the charismatic lust long gone, leaving it cold, harsh, and full of jealousy.

"Let me make one thing clear, sweetheart." She could almost hear the grin forming on his lips. He leaned in closer, his mouth inches from her ear. "I don't like sharing what's mine."