Attracting the Devil
1446 Words
“How peaceful the moon looks tonight.”
Alina stood on the balcony, gazing at the moon hanging in the dark sky.
It looked unusually large and close, almost as if it were within reach. Silver moonlight spread across the city, making everything below look calm and beautiful.
A small smile appeared on Alina’s face.
She raised her camera and adjusted the lens.
Click!
The photograph was captured.
But the moment she looked at the screen, her smile disappeared.
Her eyes widened.
Across the road, in the building opposite the hotel, something horrifying had been captured through her camera lens.
A man was standing near a window.
Another figure stood behind him.
The next second—
Bang!
The man was shot.
Alina froze.
Through the camera lens, she watched his body jerk violently before he collapsed onto the floor.
Her fingers went numb.
The camera almost slipped from her hands.
“What...?”
Her lips trembled.
She stared at the screen in disbelief.
Then the person standing behind the fallen man slowly turned.
A pair of cold, sharp eyes looked directly toward her.
Alina’s breathing stopped.
For a moment, it felt as if those eyes had crossed the impossible distance between the two buildings and locked onto her.
Her heart pounded violently.
Impossible.
The buildings were too far apart.
He couldn't have seen her.
Could he?
Alina instinctively took two steps backward.
“No...”
She gripped her camera tightly and hurried inside.
Her entire body was shaking.
She dropped into a nearby chair and tried to steady her breathing.
*Did he see me?*
She swallowed hard.
*No. That's impossible.*
But the image of those cold eyes refused to leave her mind.
The way he had turned.
The way he had looked directly toward her.
It was as if he knew she was watching.
Alina wiped her sweaty palms against her dress.
Just then, a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder.
“Ah!”
Alina screamed and jumped out of her seat.
She immediately covered her mouth.
“Hey! What's wrong with you?”
A familiar female voice came from behind.
Alina turned.
Her colleague, Elsa, was staring at her in confusion.
“Alina, are you okay?”
Alina quickly nodded.
“Y-Yes.”
Elsa frowned but didn't press further.
Instead, she grabbed Alina's wrist.
“Hurry up. The Prime Minister is about to arrive.”
“What?”
Alina blinked.
“We've been waiting here for so long. If we're late, you won't get a good spot.”
Elsa pulled her toward the hall.
“And if you don't get a good spot, forget about getting good pictures.”
Alina forced a smile.
“Right.”
The two girls hurried toward the media section prepared for photographers.
The grand hall was already packed.
Business tycoons, celebrities, politicians, and members of the country's most powerful families filled the room.
Everyone important seemed to be there.
After all, this was the year's most prestigious charity gala, held at the most luxurious hotel in the country.
Only the rich and powerful had received invitations.
Alina took her assigned position and raised her camera.
But the moment she looked through the lens—
The image of the dead man flashed through her mind.
Bang!
The gunshot echoed inside her head.
The man's body collapsing.
The blood.
And those terrifying eyes staring directly at her.
Her fingers trembled.
A cold sweat formed on her forehead.
She quickly wiped it away and took a deep breath.
*Calm down.*
*You're working.*
*Focus.*
She forced herself to push the memory aside and adjusted her camera.
At that exact moment, the entrance doors of the grand hall opened.
The Prime Minister entered, surrounded by security personnel.
Instantly, camera flashes exploded throughout the room.
Click!
Click!
Click!
Every photographer raised their cameras, desperately trying to capture the moment.
Alina did the same.
She took photograph after photograph.
But deep inside, she knew one thing.
Tonight, she had witnessed something she was never supposed to see.
And those cold eyes from the opposite building had left her with a terrifying feeling.
Whoever that man was...
He knew she was there.
---
The charity gala finally ended around midnight.
By the time Alina stepped out of the grand hotel, her feet were aching badly.
She had been wearing heels for hours and had spent most of the evening standing while covering the event.
Only after midnight did the usually chaotic city become quiet.
The traffic had almost disappeared.
The noise had faded.
A cool breeze brushed against Alina's face as she adjusted the camera hanging from her shoulder and began walking toward the subway station.
“Hey, Alina.”
Nancy's cheerful voice came from beside her.
Alina turned slightly.
Nancy smiled brightly.
“It looks like by the end of this year, we'll finally get promoted.”
Alina forced a small smile.
“Maybe.”
Nancy laughed.
“And you know what? The pictures you took today were amazing.”
She lightly bumped her shoulder against Alina's.
“I'm telling you, you'll definitely win Employee of the Year again.”
Alina nodded.
“Thank you.”
Usually, she would have joked back.
Tonight, however, her mind was somewhere else.
Again and again, the image of that man being shot appeared in her mind.
The falling body.
The blood.
Those cold eyes.
A shiver ran down her spine.
Nancy noticed.
“Alina?”
“Hm?”
“What's wrong with you today?”
Nancy looked at her suspiciously.
“You've been absent-minded ever since the gala ended.”
Alina quickly looked away.
“Nothing.”
“Really?”
Nancy clearly didn't believe her.
Alina forced a yawn.
“I'm just really sleepy.”
She gave her a tired smile.
“I don't even have the energy to talk.”
Nancy immediately nodded.
“That's understandable. I'm exhausted too.”
She stretched her arms.
“Today was brutal.”
Alina smiled faintly but said nothing.
She couldn't tell Nancy what she had seen.
Soon, they reached the station.
Since they lived in different directions, they separated there.
“See you tomorrow!”
Nancy waved.
“See you.”
Alina waved back.
A few minutes later, she was alone.
She continued toward her apartment building.
But suddenly, an uncomfortable feeling crept into her heart.
Alina slowed down.
For some reason...
She felt as if someone was following her.
Her steps became slower.
She turned around.
The street behind her was empty.
Only a few streetlights illuminated the deserted road.
Alina frowned.
*Maybe I'm overthinking.*
She turned back and continued walking.
A few moments later, the strange feeling returned.
Stronger this time.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She turned around again.
Still no one.
The road was completely deserted.
Yet the feeling refused to disappear.
It was as if a pair of eyes were locked onto her back.
Watching.
Following.
Alina subconsciously tightened her grip on her camera.
Cold sweat formed on her forehead.
She didn't waste another second.
She hurried toward her apartment building.
The moment she entered the lobby, she rushed toward the elevator.
Ding!
The elevator doors opened.
Alina quickly stepped inside and pressed the button for her floor.
The doors slowly began to close.
She stared at the narrowing gap.
Nothing.
No one entered.
No one appeared.
Only after the doors completely shut did she finally release the breath she had been holding.
But her nervousness didn't disappear.
If anything, it became worse.
The elevator slowly moved upward.
Every second felt like a minute.
Finally—
Ding!
Her floor.
The doors opened.
Alina immediately rushed out.
Normally, the walk from the elevator to her apartment took nearly two minutes.
Tonight, she covered the distance in less than thirty seconds.
Her heels clicked rapidly against the floor as she practically ran.
Her hands trembled while she searched for her keys.
“Hurry... hurry...”
Finally, she found them.
The key turned.
Click.
The door unlocked.
Alina pushed it open and stepped inside.
Bang!
She immediately shut the door behind her.
Click.
Only then did she breathe properly.
“Finally...”
Alina leaned her back against the door.
Her legs gave out beneath her.
She slowly slid down until she was sitting on the floor.
For several seconds, she simply sat there, trying to calm her racing heart.
She was home.
She was safe.
At least...
That's what she thought.
Then—
**Click.**
A faint sound came from somewhere inside the apartment.
Alina's eyes widened.
She slowly lifted her head.
The apartment was completely dark.
Her breathing stopped.
She was certain she had turned off all the lights before leaving.
Another sound came from the living room.
**Footsteps.**
Someone was inside.
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