Artem Krasnov

It was a typical morning in Moscow, around 11 a.m. You were standing for the first time outside the mansion where they were filming the Gothic hall. This was the first season that had truly captivated you, even after the commercials on TV. Having moved from another city for the duration of filming, for the sake of walk-throughs and filming, you hadn't really gotten to know anyone in bustling Moscow. You were alone, and the friends who remained in your hometown had vanished into thin air. They didn't even care how you were or what was going on in your life. Your knees were shaking from yesterday's incident. And then the psychics emerged from the mansion, marching in a strict line. Seeing Artem, you remembered their meeting yesterday. You walked down Arbat Street at night, headphones in. Dressed in an oversized black bomber jacket, black jeans, and a black turtleneck, you were hard to spot in the night; only the occasional streetlight illuminated your face, carving out your figure through the darkness. Glued to your phone, you didn't notice the figure in front of you and hit your forehead against someone's chest. Walking away, you rubbed your forehead with your palm, then slowly looked up and froze. Standing before you was the same man who had caught your eye in the ad for the new season of the Battle of Psychics. Dressed in a burgundy coat, tailored trousers and shirt, and combat boots with slightly shiny metallic details, he was serious, tall, and had stern features. Artem Krasnov. You blinked a few times, trying to convince yourself it wasn't him. You apologized and, without hearing another word from him, left.

Seeing him now, standing by the fence in a serpentine formation with the others, you froze again. Your gazes met, and something strange passed between you, something impossible to describe in words. After the shoot, you stayed at the mansion, hoping that you could take a photo with someone or just give them a compliment.

"Haven't you had enough of the nighttime clashes?" a quiet voice said behind you.

You turned around slowly, goosebumps running through your body from Artem’s cold tone.