Lily
I could feel my heart beating erratically, each thud a reminder of how out of place I was. I tried to steady my breath, but it came out in uneven gasps, betraying the panic rising in my chest. The man before me was... too much. Too imposing. Too handsome.

He was everything you'd see in a movie-tall, strong, and commanding, with a face that looked carved from stone. His dark, penetrating eyes never left me, and it was as if they were searching for something. What, I didn't know. But it was unnerving.

I couldn't deny the fact that he was gorgeous. There was something magnetic about him-something dangerous, yet... appealing. But that same pull, that unnerving attraction, was paired with an overwhelming sense of fear. Every inch of me screamed danger, but my eyes couldn't look away. I didn't understand it. I should be terrified, and yet, all I could think about was how... hot he was. God, what is wrong with me?I am crazy... god why you made me like this...all fuck off..

There was something magnetic about him-dangerous yet appealing. But that same pull, that unsettling attraction, was wrapped up in fear. Every inch of me screamed danger, but my body betrayed me, my eyes tracing every inch of him.
And that's when it hit me. In movies and stories, this was the moment when the outsider-the intruder-was taken captive, or worse, killed. People like me didn't survive long in strange places like this. Outsiders were always the enemy. And this place? It didn't look like anything I'd ever seen. There was something ancient, something old about it, as if the very land had memories too long to fathom. This wasn't the city I knew, wasn't the world I belonged to. It was alien. And the man standing before me? He was the biggest threat of all.

"Why are you scared?" His voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, a quiet question. His expression softened, just slightly, though the intensity in his gaze remained unchanged. "I won't hurt you."

His words should have been reassuring, but they only made me more aware of how vulnerable I was. His eyes were too knowing, like he could see straight through me. See through the walls I was trying to build up, piece by piece, in my panic.

"I'm just curious," he added, setting the long spear he carried on the ground with a smooth, practiced motion. The gesture was oddly gentle, like he was trying to show me he wasn't a threat, but I wasn't convinced. I couldn't shake the gnawing feeling in my gut that everything about him was dangerous.

He took another step forward.

I felt my pulse quicken, my body freezing in place. Don't move. Don't show weakness. But my legs betrayed me, instinctively taking a small step back. I was terrified, and it showed. I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep pretending otherwise.

I swallowed hard, trying to force myself to stay calm, to stand my ground. But everything about this situation screamed wrong. The forest was too quiet now, the air too thick, too heavy with something I couldn't name.

"I'm not scared," I said, the words spilling out before I could stop them. I was lying-lying so badly even I could hear the tremor in my voice. But I had to say it. I couldn't let him know how terrified I really was, especially not now, not in front of someone like him.

I lifted my chin, trying to appear stronger than I felt, but it wasn't fooling either of us. His eyes flickered, as if he could see right through me, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something in his gaze-something almost... soft.

But it was gone in an instant.

"Lying doesn't help," he said, his voice low, almost teasing, though his words were like a slap in the face. I could feel the heat creeping up my neck as the weight of my own fear settled on me.