Unsettling Feeling.
1162 Words
Aurora barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw glimpses of something in the dark—flashes of glowing eyes, the eerie sensation of something watching her. But the details were always just out of reach, slipping through her grasp like sand.
When morning arrived, it felt like she had just blinked. But strangely, the weight of fear she expected wasn’t there. She felt…normal. Tired, yes, but not terrified. As if nothing had happened.
Dragging herself out of bed, she moved through her morning routine in a daze. The warm water from the shower did little to wake her up, and the coffee she sipped tasted dull. Something felt off, but she couldn’t place it.
Had she really been attacked last night? If so, why couldn’t she remember it clearly?
She frowned, pressing a hand to her temple. “Maybe I just had a bad dream.”
Shaking the strange thoughts away, she reminded herself she had plans with Zoe. Maybe some time with her friend would clear her head.
---
Killian leaned against the brick wall of a dimly lit alley, his gaze sharp as he observed the streets. He had done what needed to be done. The girl wouldn’t remember. At least, not in a way that would put her in danger.
Jaxon strolled up beside him, hands shoved into his pockets. “You wiped her memory, didn’t you?”
Killian didn’t answer immediately. His jaw tightened. “She wouldn’t have been able to handle the truth.”
Jaxon smirked. “Soft spot for humans now?”
Killian shot him a sharp look. “No. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Jaxon raised a brow but didn’t push further. “So, what’s next?”
Killian’s eyes flickered to the café across the street. Through the window, Aurora sat with her friend, looking…normal. No signs of distress. No panic.
Good. That was how it needed to be.
“The rogue won’t attack her again,” he muttered. “There’s no reason for me to watch over her anymore.”
Jaxon hummed in agreement but then glanced at Killian with mild concern. “You do know the rules, right?”
Killian frowned. “What rules?”
Jaxon sighed. “You can only wipe her memory twice before it becomes unstable. A third time… could cause serious damage.”
Killian’s expression darkened. He hadn’t thought that far ahead. Not that it mattered. He didn’t plan on seeing her again.
“Not an issue,” he said shortly. “I won’t need to do it again.”
Jaxon didn’t look convinced, but he let it go.
---
Aurora entered the café, spotting Zoe immediately. Her friend was waving her over, already halfway through a latte.
“You look exhausted,” Zoe said as Aurora sat down.
“I didn’t sleep well,” Aurora admitted, rubbing her temples. “I think I had some weird nightmare, but I can’t remember it.”
Zoe sipped her drink, raising an eyebrow. “Like, sleep paralysis?”
Aurora frowned. “No… more like… I feel like something happened last night, but it’s all fuzzy.”
Zoe tilted her head. “You don’t remember what you told me?”
Aurora blinked. “Told you?”
Zoe set her cup down and leaned forward. “Yeah. You called me last night, freaking out about being attacked. You said something about glowing eyes and a huge animal—”
Aurora laughed, shaking her head. “That sounds ridiculous. I must have just been paranoid walking home. Maybe I imagined it.”
Zoe gave her a skeptical look. “You sounded pretty convinced.”
“I probably just let my imagination get the best of me,” Aurora insisted. “You know how dark alleys can mess with your head.”
Zoe shrugged. “If you say so.”
They moved on to other topics, talking about work, the latest movies, and Zoe’s never-ending dating dramas. Aurora listened, trying to lose herself in the conversation, but there was still an unsettling feeling in the back of her mind. Like she had lost something important, but couldn’t remember what.
---
That evening, Aurora took a different route home, her nerves surprisingly calm. It was strange—she had spent the entire day feeling like something had slipped through her fingers, like she had forgotten something important, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t grasp it.
As she walked, the city lights flickered, casting long shadows across the pavement. The air was crisp, carrying a slight chill, but nothing unusual.
Just as she reached her apartment building, a shiver ran down her spine. She paused, glancing over her shoulder.
The street was empty.
Aurora let out a breath. She was being ridiculous. There was nothing there.
Then she heard it.
A low growl. Deep. Menacing.
Her body froze. Her heart pounded in her chest as she turned slowly.
A figure stood at the end of the alley, watching her.
For a split second, a sense of familiarity struck her. Something deep inside whispered that she had seen him before. But how?
He stepped forward, his eyes sharp and unreadable. “Go inside,” he ordered, his voice low and firm.
Aurora swallowed hard. “Who—?”
The wind picked up, carrying the distant sound of something moving in the shadows.
The stranger’s expression darkened. “Now.”
Aurora didn’t need to be told twice. Her pulse racing, she fumbled for her keys and rushed inside, slamming the door behind her.
As she pressed her back against the wood, trying to calm her breathing, one thought echoed in her mind.
Who was he?
And why did she feel like she should remember him?
---
Killian stood in the shadows, watching the door Aurora had just disappeared behind. His fists clenched at his sides.
Jaxon sighed beside him. “You’re making this complicated.”
Killian exhaled sharply. “She shouldn’t remember. I need to be sure.”
Without another word, he closed his eyes, focusing his energy once more. A pulse of power surged through him, targeting Aurora’s mind, erasing the lingering traces of recognition.
Inside her apartment, Aurora’s restless thoughts stilled. Whatever had just been bothering her faded away like mist under the morning sun. She let out a deep sigh and climbed into bed, closing her eyes. When she woke up, it was just another normal morning.
Jaxon crossed his arms. “There. Happy?”
Killian didn’t answer. He turned away.
“You do realize that was the second time?” Jaxon reminded him. “One more wipe and she won’t just forget a single night—her mind might break.”
Killian’s jaw tightened. He knew that. And he hated that he cared enough for it to bother him.
“She won’t remember me now,” he muttered under his breath. “And that’s how it should be.”
- Writer
