Episode 3 – The Night He Followed Her
1253 Words
Alexander did not sleep that night.
He stayed in his small room inside the hotel staff building, sitting on the bed, staring at the wall.
One thought kept repeating in his mind.
How did she know my name?
He never told her.
Nobody in this city knew who he really was.
He had changed everything.
His clothes.
His job.
His phone.
His address.
Even his closest business partners didn’t know where he was.
Yet Elena looked into his eyes and said it like she had always known.
“You are not the only one pretending, Alexander.”
He stood up and walked to the window.
Outside, the street was dark and empty.
Something about her felt wrong…
But at the same time, it felt right.
Too right.
He had met many women before.
Attraction was normal.
Desire was normal.
But this…
This felt like she was pulling him without touching him.
Like something inside him wanted to go to her.
He ran his hand through his hair.
“This is crazy…”
He tried to lie down again, but after a few minutes he stood up.
He couldn’t stay there.
He needed to see her.
The Hallway
It was past midnight.
The hotel was quiet.
Alexander walked slowly through the hallway toward Room 207.
He told himself he was just checking the lights.
Just working.
Just doing his job.
But he knew the truth.
He stopped in front of her door.
Silence.
No sound inside.
He raised his hand… then stopped.
“What am I doing…”
He turned to leave.
At that moment, the door opened.
Elena stood there.
Like she knew he would come.
She was wearing a long black dress this time.
Her hair was down.
Her eyes looked darker than before.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then she smiled slightly.
“I was wondering how long it would take.”
Alexander frowned.
“You knew I was here?”
She stepped outside.
“I felt you.”
“Felt me?”
“Yes.”
He crossed his arms.
“You keep talking like this… like everything is magic.”
She looked at him carefully.
“What if it is?”
He laughed softly.
“Then you are the first witch I ever met.”
She didn’t laugh.
She just looked at him.
Long.
Serious.
Too serious.
His smile slowly disappeared.
“You’re joking… right?”
She turned and started walking down the hallway.
“Come with me.”
He hesitated.
“Where?”
“You wanted answers.”
He followed her.
They walked out of the hotel and into the cold night.
The street lights were dim.
The city felt different at this hour.
Quieter.
Slower.
Elena walked like she knew exactly where she was going.
Alexander stayed close behind her.
After a few minutes, he spoke.
“You still didn’t tell me how you know my name.”
She didn’t stop walking.
“I know many things.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“You wouldn’t believe the answer.”
“Try me.”
She stopped.
They were standing near an old park.
Trees everywhere.
Almost no light.
She turned to him slowly.
Her eyes looked deeper in the dark.
“You are not poor.”
He didn’t react.
“You are not a worker.”
Silence.
“You are not even from this city.”
He looked at her carefully.
“Who told you that?”
She stepped closer.
“No one.”
“Then how—”
She raised her hand and placed it near his chest without touching him.
The air felt warm again.
The same strange feeling from before.
“I can feel what people hide.”
His heart beat faster.
“You’re guessing.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Her fingers moved slightly in the air.
Like she was touching something invisible.
“You carry power… money… control… fear…”
He grabbed her wrist again.
“Stop.”
The moment he touched her, the wind around them moved suddenly.
Leaves flew across the ground.
Both of them froze.
Elena looked at his hand on her wrist.
Then into his eyes.
Her voice became lower.
“You see… this is why I told you to stay away.”
He didn’t let go.
“What are you?”
She whispered,
“You really want to know?”
“Yes.”
She slowly moved closer.
Now their faces were very close.
He could feel her breath.
Warm.
Slow.
Dangerous.
“If I tell you… you won’t be able to forget me.”
He smiled slightly.
“I already can’t.”
For the first time, she looked nervous.
Just for a second.
Then she whispered,
“I am not normal, Alexander.”
“I noticed.”
“I don’t belong to your world.”
“Then where do you belong?”
She looked up at the sky.
Then back at him.
“Some people call it magic.”
He laughed softly.
“You’re serious?”
She didn’t laugh.
“I was born with something… people are afraid of.”
“What?”
She looked at his hand still holding her wrist.
“Power.”
Silence.
He searched her eyes.
He wanted to see a lie.
A joke.
Something normal.
But there was nothing normal there.
Only truth.
And something dark.
He let go slowly.
“You expect me to believe you’re a witch?”
She smiled.
“Do you want proof?”
He hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Yes.”
She looked around the empty park.
Then she closed her eyes.
The wind stopped.
The air became heavy.
Alexander felt his heart beating louder.
Elena raised her hand slowly.
The small street light behind them flickered…
Then went off.
Completely.
Darkness.
Alexander stepped back.
“What the—”
The light turned on again.
Elena opened her eyes.
He stared at her.
Speechless.
She whispered,
“Now you know why I said you should stay away.”
He should have left.
He should have walked away.
He should have ended the test.
But instead…
He stepped closer.
Closer than before.
“So that’s your secret…”
She looked confused.
“You’re not scared?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
He smiled slowly.
“Because I think I like dangerous women.”
For the first time…
Elena laughed.
A real laugh.
Soft.
Warm.
Beautiful.
She looked at him like she was seeing him differently now.
“You really are strange, Alexander.”
He leaned closer.
“And you’re really a witch.”
They stood there in the dark, only inches apart.
Neither moving.
Neither speaking.
The tension between them felt stronger than anything he ever felt before.
Elena whispered,
“If you stay near me… you will fall.”
He answered quietly,
“Then don’t push me away.”
Her lips almost touched his…
Then suddenly she stepped back.
Her face changed.
Serious again.
“Someone is coming.”
Alexander looked around.
“Who?”
She grabbed his hand.
Her grip was strong.
Stronger than it should be.
“You’re in danger now… because they know I found you.”
His eyes narrowed.
“They?”
She looked into the darkness of the park.
Her voice low.
“The ones who don’t want me to love anyone.”
The wind started blowing again.
Harder this time.
Alexander felt something for the first time in years.
Not fear.
Not excitement.
Something deeper.
Like his life was about to change forever.
- Writer
