The wolf emerged from the shadows, its eyes glinting a feral yellow in the fading dusk. its teeth bared in silent, menacing snarls as it prowled closer. it moved with a quiet, deadly grace that froze Aditi on the spot, her heart hammering wildly as she took in the scene.

She forced a shaky smile, her voice barely above a whisper. "N-Nice... dogs?" she stammered, taking a small, cautious step back, even though she knew it wasn't a dog. And then, with a sudden jolt of instinct, she turned and bolted, her feet pounding the forest floor as she fled.

She didn't dare look back. She knew she could never outrun the wolf, but her body moved on pure adrenaline. Branches scratched her arms and face as she ran, her breaths ragged and gasping. But then, in one terrible moment, her foot slipped on a patch of moss, and she tumbled hard onto the forest floor. Her hands and knees scraped against the rough earth, sending jolts of pain through her limbs.

Panic gripped her as she watched the wolf approaching, its eyes fixed on her, moving with the smooth, lethal patience of predators. She was trapped.

Aditi stood up, heart racing as she scanned her surroundings, desperate for a way out. But the trees loomed silently, and shadows pooled around her, thick and foreboding. Her pulse hammered in her ears as she braced herself. The wolf tensed, ready to lunge.

She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the impact—

A rough hand grabbed her arm, yanking her sideways with surprising strength. She stumbled, and they both fell to the ground, landing in a tangled heap. Dazed and confused, Aditi blinked. When her vision cleared, she found herself staring into the eyes of a boy. His dark hair framed his face, and his intense, storm-gray eyes held hers with a look so familiar it left her speechless.

There was a strange sense of recognition, a memory flickering just out of reach. But before she could place it, the wolf growled again, snapping her back to the present. The boy's gaze shifted to the wolf, his expression hardening as he rose smoothly to his feet.

"Stay behind me," he said in a low, calm voice, never taking his eyes off the wolf.

Aditi watched as the boy drew a dagger from his belt—a sleek, silver blade. He held it with confidence, the point aimed at the wolf. The wolf snarled, its eyes narrowing in defiance.

The boy took a step forward, his posture unyielding as he murmured something under his breath, words too soft for Aditi to hear. For a moment, the wolf hesitated, its menacing growls quieting, as if it understood him. The wolf's gaze flickered from the dagger back to the boy, and with a reluctant, final snarl, it turned, slinking back into the forest.

Aditi let out a shaky breath, barely aware of the damp earth beneath her palms. She looked up at the boy, her body still tense from the close call. His expression had softened, but his eyes remained intense as he studied her. After a beat, he extended a hand.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low but steady.

Aditi took his hand, her fingers trembling as he pulled her to her feet. She could see him clearly now—a little older than her, perhaps, with a face that was striking, almost... otherworldly. His dark hair fell in a way that softened the sharp angles of his face, but his eyes—those storm-gray eyes—seemed ancient and knowing.

She found herself staring, a chill trickling down her spine as a memory surfaced. She had seen him before—in a dream. She couldn't recall the details, only vague images of mist and shadow, but his face was unmistakable. A strange shiver ran through her. Or maybe she was overthinking. She cleared her head and looked at the boy.

"Thank you," Aditi said.

The boy gave a small nod. Then his gaze flicked down to her arm, and he pointed. "You should treat that," he said.

Aditi followed his eyes and noticed the bruise on her arm. She winced, pressing her scarf against it. "Oh, it's nothing," she said. She glanced back at him. "Are you all, right?"

He nodded, slipping his dagger back into its sheath at his belt. His expression remained unreadable, but he glanced at the darkening sky and frowned. "You shouldn't be out here alone," he said. "It's dangerous."

"I... I thought wolves didn't usually attack people," Aditi said.

He studied her for a moment, his gray eyes narrowing slightly. "Most don't. But some..." He paused, his gaze hardening. "Some are different."

A shiver ran down Aditi's spine. There was something in his tone, an unspoken knowledge that made her feel even more vulnerable in the deepening dusk. She couldn't shake the sense that he knew more about this forest—and its hidden dangers—than he was letting on. The silence pressed around them, thicker and heavier than before.

"It's getting late," he continued, his voice softer now, yet commanding. "You shouldn't be here when the sun goes down."

Aditi nodded quickly, glancing around at the creeping shadows. She fumbled for her phone, hoping to pull up directions home, but the screen showed only a faint signal, her map app refusing to load. "I... I think I lost my way," she admitted, her voice small. "I didn't mean to wander this far."

The boy's gaze lingered on her as if he could see something beyond her words, something she couldn't name. "I'll show you the way back," he said finally. He turned and started walking, gesturing for her to follow.

"Thank you," she murmured, quickening her steps to keep up. "I live near the edge of the woods, in Madhav Colony."

He gave a small nod and kept walking. Aditi followed, her eyes darting between him and the path ahead. The forest around them felt less menacing with him leading the way, though a prickling unease lingered, settling over her like a shadow.

They walked in silence, the only sounds the crunch of leaves underfoot and the occasional rustling of branches. Aditi studied his profile out of the corner of her eye. There was something about him—something intense and slightly unsettling, as though he didn't quite belong in this world.

After a few moments, she couldn't help herself. "So... do you live around here?"

His gaze remained fixed ahead, his tone clipped. "Nearby."

She felt his reluctance and hesitated, trying to find a question he might actually answer. "You seem to know this forest well."

He glanced at her, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes before he looked back to the path. "I know it better than most."

There was an edge to his voice, a sense of guardedness that made Aditi's curiosity burn even brighter. She wanted to ask him more, to understand who he was and why he'd been out here, armed, and alone, seemingly waiting for something—or someone. But he seemed so distant, so unreachable, that she bit her lip and stayed quiet.

As they neared the edge of the forest, the shadows lightened. The familiar outlines of buildings peeked through the gaps in the branches.

She turned to thank him. "Thank you... again," she said softly. "If you hadn't come along... I don't know what would've happened."

He looked at her then, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that left her breathless. "Just be careful next time," he said. "This place... it's not always what it seems."

Aditi felt a chill at his words, an echo of something unspoken, something dark and mysterious that lingered in the depths of the forest. She shivered, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag.

He paused at the forest's edge, his gaze shifting past her, his face suddenly tightening as if he'd seen a ghost. A shadow of worry flickered across his face. "I have to go," he said abruptly, his voice taut.

Aditi took a step forward, surprised. "Wait! I didn't even get your—"

But he was already turning away, backing into the trees. And with that, he melted into the shadows, his form vanishing into the darkening woods, leaving her standing at the edge of the forest, her heart pounding with a blend of gratitude, fear, and a strange sense of... longing.

She stayed there for a moment, her gaze lingering on the place where he'd disappeared, his words echoing in her mind.

As the last light of day faded, she turned and began walking back toward her house. The forest behind her was silent now, holding its secrets close. And though she couldn't explain it, she had a strange feeling that she hadn't seen the last of him—that somehow, in ways she didn't yet understand, their paths were intertwined.

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