When Protection Turns Into
733 Words
The sound of the crash echoed through the mansion like a warning.
Reya stood frozen for a second.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
For the first time…
She didn’t feel annoyed.
She felt scared.
Without thinking twice, she rushed toward the stairs.
“Aarav!” she called out.
No response.
The house felt too quiet.
Too… wrong.
She reached the staircase and looked down.
The main hall was dimly lit.
Shadows danced across the walls.
And then—
She saw him.
Aarav.
Standing in the middle of the hall.
Motionless.
Alert.
His eyes locked onto something in front of him.
Reya slowly descended the stairs.
“Aarav… what’s happening?”
He didn’t turn around.
“Stay upstairs,” he said calmly.
His voice… controlled.
But not normal.
Reya frowned.
“I said I’m not staying—”
Before she could finish—
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
A man.
Tall.
Dressed in dark clothes.
His face partially hidden.
Reya immediately froze.
Her instincts screamed.
Something was wrong.
Aarav’s entire body stiffened.
His voice dropped dangerously low.
“Why are you here?”
The man chuckled.
A slow, chilling sound.
“To meet her,” he said.
And then—
His gaze shifted.
To Reya.
Reya’s stomach dropped.
“Me?” she whispered.
Aarav stepped forward instantly.
“No.”
One word.
Final.
Commanding.
The man tilted his head slightly.
“Interesting… she doesn’t even know, does she?”
Reya’s brows furrowed.
“Know what?” she demanded.
Aarav’s jaw tightened.
“Don’t answer him,” he said without looking back.
But it was too late.
The man smirked.
“You’re the reason he’s so… protective.”
Reya blinked.
“What are you talking about?”
Aarav moved again—this time, faster.
But the man raised his hand.
“Relax… I’m not here to harm her.”
A pause.
Then—
“I’m here to take her.”
Silence.
Dead silence.
Reya’s breath hitched.
“…Take me?”
Aarav didn’t move.
But the atmosphere shifted.
Dark.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
“No one is taking her anywhere,” Aarav said.
His voice was calm.
But something in it… wasn’t.
The man smiled wider.
“Even if it means you breaking your rules?”
Aarav didn’t reply.
He just stared.
Reya looked between them.
“What rules?” she asked.
Neither of them answered her.
The man took a step forward.
Aarav moved instantly.
Blocking him.
“Don’t.”
That one word…
It wasn’t just a warning.
It was a threat.
Reya noticed it.
For the first time…
She saw something in Aarav’s eyes.
Something deeper than protection.
Something dangerous.
The man laughed lightly.
“You’ve changed, Aarav.”
Reya’s eyes widened.
They knew each other?
Aarav’s expression hardened.
“Leave.”
The command was sharp.
Final.
But the man didn’t look afraid.
Instead, he smiled… slowly.
“I’ll come back.”
Then his gaze shifted to Reya again.
“And next time… I won’t ask.”
Before anyone could react—
He stepped back into the shadows.
And disappeared.
Silence returned.
But it wasn’t peace.
It was tension.
Reya turned toward Aarav.
“What the hell was that?”
Aarav didn’t answer immediately.
His jaw was tight.
His eyes still scanning the room.
“Answer me!” she snapped.
Aarav finally turned toward her.
His expression… unreadable.
“You shouldn’t have come down,” he said.
Reya scoffed.
“Seriously? That’s what you’re worried about?”
She stepped closer.
“That man literally said he came for me!”
Aarav looked at her.
Really looked.
And for a moment—
Something flickered in his eyes.
Something almost…
Protective.
And something more.
“You don’t need to know everything,” he said.
Reya’s eyes narrowed.
“I deserve to know when someone wants to ‘take’ me!”
Aarav stepped closer.
This time… slower.
More controlled.
“You’re already in danger,” he said quietly.
Reya didn’t move.
Neither did he.
“And you’re the reason I’m still safe,” she replied.
Aarav’s gaze deepened.
For a second…
The world seemed to pause.
But then—
His voice dropped.
Lower.
Colder.
More intense than before.
“Not safe.”
A pause.
Then—
“Protected.”
Reya felt her breath catch again.
This time…
Not from fear.
But from something else.
Something she didn’t understand yet.
And neither did he.
To be continued…
- Writer
