WHAT FOLLOWS
983 Words
Liora didn’t move.
Even after the silence settled… even after the shadows stilled… she just stood there, staring at him.
Her heart was still racing, but not just from fear.
From him.
From whatever he was.
From whatever had just happened.
“You should go.”
His voice broke through the stillness—low, controlled, distant again.
Like nothing had happened.
Like he hadn’t just fought off creatures that shouldn’t exist.
Liora blinked. “That’s it?”
He didn’t respond.
Didn’t explain.
Didn’t even look concerned.
Something about that irritated her.
“You’re just going to say that and expect me to leave?” she asked, her voice sharper now.
“Yes.”
Her brows pulled together. “I almost got attacked by… whatever those things were, and you’re acting like this is normal.”
“It is.”
That stopped her.
For a second, she just stared at him.
“You’re serious.”
He finally looked at her again. “More than you think.”
Liora shook her head slightly, trying to make sense of everything. “What were they?”
A pause.
Then, simply—“Hunters.”
Her stomach dropped. “Hunters? They didn’t look like they were hunting animals.”
“They weren’t.”
“Then what were they hunting?”
This time… he didn’t answer.
And that silence told her everything.
“Me?” she said quietly.
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
“That’s not possible,” she continued, her voice rising slightly. “I’m just—”
“Liora.”
She froze.
Her name.
Her heart skipped.
Slowly, her expression shifted from confusion to something more cautious.
“I didn’t tell you my name.”
For the first time, he hesitated.
It was small.
Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
“How do you know who I am?” she asked, her voice lower now.
More careful.
More aware.
His gaze held hers for a moment before he finally spoke.
“Because you’ve been watched longer than you realize.”
A chill ran through her.
“What does that mean?”
“It means this wasn’t random.”
The words hit harder than they should’ve.
Liora’s chest tightened. “So those things—”
“—were drawn to you.”
Her breath caught.
“Why?”
Another pause.
But this one felt heavier.
More deliberate.
“Because of what you are.”
Her mind spun. “I’m human.”
His expression didn’t change.
“That’s what you’ve been told.”
Silence.
Thick.
Unsettling.
Liora let out a small, disbelieving laugh. “Okay… no. No, I’m not doing this. I’m not standing here while you speak in riddles like I’m supposed to just accept it.”
“You don’t have to accept it,” he said calmly. “But it won’t change anything.”
Frustration flared in her chest. “Then explain it to me!”
“I can’t.”
“You won’t.”
Something in his eyes darkened slightly.
“For your sake,” he said, “there are things you’re better off not knowing.”
“That’s not your decision to make.”
“No,” he agreed quietly. “But it will become your problem.”
The way he said it made her chest tighten again.
Before she could respond—
A distant sound cut through the silence.
Sirens.
Faint.
But getting closer.
Liora turned her head instinctively. “Police?”
“They’re too late,” he said.
“For what?”
But he wasn’t listening anymore.
His attention had shifted—past her.
Into the darkness.
That same stillness returned to him.
Alert.
Focused.
Dangerous.
“They’re not finished,” he said.
Her stomach dropped. “What?”
“Those weren’t the only ones.”
Fear surged through her again, sharp and immediate.
“Okay, then we should leave,” she said quickly. “Both of us.”
He didn’t move.
Didn’t agree.
Instead, he stepped back.
Creating distance between them.
Intentional.
“You need to go,” he said.
Liora frowned. “I just said that—”
“Alone.”
The word hit harder than she expected.
Her chest tightened. “You’re not coming?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because staying near me,” he said, his voice lowering slightly, “is the worst place you could be right now.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It doesn’t have to.”
Before she could argue again, he turned slightly, his gaze scanning the shadows.
Waiting.
Listening.
Then, without looking at her, he spoke again.
“If you see me again,” he said, “walk the other way.”
Liora stared at him.
“You don’t actually expect me to do that.”
“No,” he said quietly. “I don’t.”
Something about that made her breath catch.
A beat of silence passed between them.
Then—
“What’s your name?” she asked.
He didn’t answer immediately.
But after a moment—
“Adrian.”
The name settled between them.
Real.
Dangerous.
“Adrian,” she repeated softly.
For a brief second, something shifted in his expression.
Then it was gone.
“Go home, Liora.”
This time… she listened.
She took a step back.
Then another.
Her eyes never leaving his.
“Am I going to see you again?” she asked.
A dangerous question.
One she wasn’t sure she wanted answered.
Adrian held her gaze.
And for the first time—
There was something almost human in it.
“Yes.”
Her breath caught.
“But next time,” he added, his voice darker now, “you might not be safe.”
A chill ran through her.
But even as she turned and walked away—
She knew one thing for certain.
This wasn’t over.
Not even close.
Because whatever had started tonight…
Had already begun to follow her.
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