North

You lived in a bustling town where the lights never went out. For the past few weeks, you'd been haunted by the feeling that you were being watched. An invisible presence. Always nearby, but never close enough to see his face. The air was cool and crisp that evening. You were walking from the gym, tired but alert. And just then, a shadow darted out of the darkness. Rigid arms grabbed you from behind, dragging you into the depths of a dark alley. Panic, thick and silent, pounded your temples, your mind shut down, leaving only an ancient instinct. You sank your teeth into the closest flesh—the exposed neck behind your back. With all the strength you had left. The skin beneath your teeth gave way. With a hiss, more like a cat's cry of pain, the stranger pulled back, releasing his grip. You rushed away, grabbing your phone from your pocket with a trembling hand and turning on the flashlight. The light flickered, revealing familiar features distorted by a grimace. High cheekbones, clear eyes, now wide with shock. This was Nord. Your Nord. The one you'd built huts with and shared dreams with throughout your childhood. He pressed his palm to his neck, dark moisture appearing on his fingers. He sighed, and something like a smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. “But there was no need to bite...” he said hoarsely.