In the Arms of the Unknown

The Voice

Anya POV

The days were blurring together for Anya Lupin as the quiet rhythm of her life on the streets continued. Every morning, she woke up to the same emptiness, the same hunger gnawing at her stomach, the same dull ache in her chest. But there were nights when she felt something else—something darker, yet strangely comforting. Those dreams.

She didn’t understand them; couldn’t explain the connection she felt with the figure in her dreams. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that it meant something. That somehow, in a way she couldn’t grasp, the man in the shadows was tied to her. His voice—strong, deep—called to her, and for a brief moment, it felt like she wasn’t alone. That someone cared.

Each night, the dreams grew more intense. The figure would stretch out a hand to her, always just beyond her reach, but she couldn’t move. His voice echoed in her ears, like a distant melody she longed to understand.

And in the silence of the alley, as the city slept around her, Anya would question everything she thought she knew about herself.

Quinlan POV

Quinlan Collins had spent most of his life with everything at his fingertips. Born into a wealthy family, he had never known true struggle. His father, David Collins, was a powerful man in business, his empire sprawling across continents. His mother, Elena, was the epitome of grace and kindness, a loving presence who kept the family grounded. Quinlan had grown up with all the luxuries one could imagine, and yet, he had never felt truly fulfilled.

The dreams had started shortly after his twenty-first birthday, when he began to feel restless, as if something was missing from his life.

He had dreams of a girl, though her face was always hidden by shadows. She never spoke much, but he could feel her presence in every dream, in every fleeting moment. He was drawn to her, as if his soul recognized hers, but he couldn’t understand why. It was maddening. He had searched for her in the waking world, hoping to find someone—anyone—who could explain the strange connection, but no one knew who she was.

One night, Quinlan’s mother had asked him a question that stuck with him.

"Do you ever feel like you’re waiting for someone, Quinlan?" Elena had asked, her eyes kind but perceptive.

He had stared at her for a long time before answering. "I don’t know. But I think... I think I am."

And so, the search continued. He had spent hours in art galleries, hoping to catch a glimpse of the face of the girl in his dreams, searching the streets for someone who resembled her, but it was all in vain. He had no idea who she was, or why he felt this inexplicable pull toward her.

Anya POV

Anya sat on the rooftop of an old building, her legs dangling over the edge as she stared out at the city. The lights were a blur of color, and the sound of traffic echoed in the distance. It was quiet here—peaceful. The roof had become her sanctuary, the one place where she could escape the world below.

She didn’t know why she came here so often. Maybe it was because she felt closer to the dreams she had been having. Maybe because she could feel the pull of something she couldn’t name. The man in her dreams... he was real, wasn’t he? He had to be.

Her fingers brushed the edge of the roof, the cool stone grounding her as she closed her eyes. The wind tousled her long black hair, and for a moment, she felt as though she were in the dream again—surrounded by shadows, waiting for him to call her name.

"Anya..."

She froze, her heart pounding in her chest. The voice. It was real. She had heard it, even though it wasn’t a dream this time. It was faint, but unmistakable.

"Anya, you have to come."

The voice was warm, soothing, yet urgent. She couldn’t explain why, but she felt a sudden rush of panic flood her chest.

Who was this? What was happening?

The world around her seemed to shift, the sounds of the city fading into nothingness. The shadows on the rooftop seemed to grow longer, stretching toward her. And then, before she could move, everything went dark.

When Anya opened her eyes again, she found herself standing in a vast, unfamiliar place. The ground beneath her feet was soft, like velvet, and the air smelled faintly of roses. It was beautiful—almost ethereal—but there was something unsettling about it.

She spun around, searching for something, anything that could explain what was happening. She was still in her ragged clothes, but the world around her felt different. This wasn’t the city.

The shadows in the distance shifted, and Anya’s breath caught in her throat. The figure was there—tall, imposing, yet strangely comforting. His silhouette was obscured by the mist, but she could feel his presence all around her, drawing her in.

"Anya..."

The voice again. It was so close now. She didn’t know what to do, how to respond, but her feet began to move, as if they were no longer her own.

Conri POV

Back in the waking world, Conri Hemming paced the streets, his mind racing with worry. Anya had disappeared again, and he had no idea where she could be. He had searched the usual places, but she was nowhere to be found.

He knew she was struggling—he had seen it in her eyes. She was a shell of the girl he had once known, burdened by something he couldn’t understand. The dreams, the sadness, the longing—he had always been there for her, but it wasn’t enough anymore.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, glancing at the screen. It was a message from the orphanage.

"Anya’s gone again. We’re worried about her."

Anya and Conri POV

"Who are you?" she called out, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and curiosity.

The man didn’t answer immediately. He stepped forward, and as he did, the mist seemed to part, revealing his features.

Anya’s heart skipped a beat.

His eyes were piercing, a deep shade of green that seemed to hold a thousand secrets. His jaw was strong, his hair dark and windswept, but it was his presence that struck her most. He was magnetic, like a force of nature, and she couldn’t look away.

"You don’t know me hahaha?" The man’s voice was low and steady, as though he already knew the answer.

Anya shook her head, her throat tightening. "No. I don’t understand. Who are you?"

The man smiled, though it wasn’t a comforting smile. It was full of something—regret, sadness, and perhaps a touch of hope.

"It’s Conri open your eyes! hahaha".

Conri Hemming can’t stop himself laughing when she saw Anya talking while her eyes closed and burst out with loud laughter because of what happen, it happened many times, he had seen Anya seem out of the world and shifted like she just wake up from a dream when every time he approached her.

“ Let’s go home now Anya, Mother Agnes and Mother Theresa are looking for you.” Conri said with a smile on his face. “Next time you want to view the sunrise, you should invite me.” he added.

Quinlan POV

In the stillness of the dawn, Quinlan Collins found himself standing at the edge of the city, his heart racing. He didn’t know why he had come here, but he knew one thing for certain: something was pulling him, drawing him to this place.

As the city lights shimmered below him, he closed his eyes, his mind drifting to Anya. The girl in his dreams. The girl who was now standing in the shadows of his life, waiting to be found.

"I can feel you ….i can fell that you are near but why can’t I see you.” he whispered.

And somewhere in the distance, he heard a familiar voice, like a faint echo across time and space.

“ Sir wake up! Sir David and ma’am Elena is waiting for you.” the maid voice woke up Quinlan from his dream, he can’t imagine he woke up so early but fell asleep again.