Lena had always been content with the simplicity of her life. The hum of the city streets outside her apartment, the endless rows of books she could never seem to finish, and the quiet hum of her daily routine. She wasn't a dreamer. She didn't chase after fairy tales. Her life was ordinary, and for once, that was exactly how she liked it.
That was until today.
The sun had barely risen, casting a soft, golden glow through the sheer curtains of her bedroom. Lena rubbed her eyes and sat up, the warmth of the blanket still clinging to her. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from her best friend, Zara, popped up:
Zara: "Are you still planning on going to the park later? I'll bring the coffee. We need to talk about your 'mysterious' mood this week. 😏"
Lena sighed, chuckling softly to herself. She tapped a quick reply and headed to the kitchen. As the coffee brewed, she couldn't shake the sense of unease that had been nagging at her for the past few days. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt like someone—or something—was watching her. The dreams were getting worse, too. They were always the same: flashes of silver, a dark figure with glowing eyes, and whispers she couldn't quite understand.
Shaking the thoughts away, Lena grabbed her coffee and stepped outside, ready to get some fresh air. The streets were still quiet at this early hour, the kind of silence that only the city before sunrise could offer. She slipped her earbuds in, the soft music filling her ears, and began walking toward the park.
But as she passed a narrow alley, something caught her attention. A glimmer of light, just for a second, reflected off the alley's brick walls. It wasn't the usual sunlight. No, this was different. Her feet paused, heart beating a little faster. The light was… unnatural. She turned her head, scanning the alley, but there was nothing there. Just the usual discarded newspapers and old crates.
Yet the feeling lingered.
As if something had been waiting.
Lena shook her head and kept walking, telling herself it was nothing. But her mind wouldn't let it go.
The park was still a few blocks away when it happened. The air grew heavier, thick with an unexplainable tension, as though the world was holding its breath. Lena stopped in her tracks. She felt it, then—something tugging at the back of her mind, a presence drawing near.
Her hand instinctively went to the pendant around her neck, a silver chain with an intricate design. It had been her mother's, passed down to her when she was little. Lena had always found comfort in it, but now, it felt different—warmer, as if it were alive, responding to whatever was happening around her.
That's when she saw him.
A man, standing at the edge of the park, just outside her line of sight. His features were sharp, like something out of a dream, yet his presence was undeniable. His dark hair was tousled, and his clothes—a black jacket and dark jeans—looked out of place for such a calm morning. But it wasn't his appearance that made Lena's breath catch in her throat. It was the way his eyes glowed—a faint golden hue, like the first rays of the sun.
Before Lena could take another step, their eyes met.
Her heart skipped a beat.
There was an intensity in his gaze, as though he knew her—like he'd been waiting for her. A flicker of recognition passed between them, but it was gone before she could fully grasp it.
He started walking toward her, each step measured, like he was crossing a distance she couldn't see. Lena took a step back, her mind racing. She should turn around. She should leave. But something about him—about this moment—kept her rooted to the spot.
"You don't remember me, do you?" he said, his voice deep and smooth, with an edge of something ancient, like it had traveled through time to reach her.
Lena's pulse quickened, her instincts screaming to run. But all she could manage was a shaky breath.
"No," she whispered, her throat dry. "Who are you?"
The man smiled, though it was more of a sad expression than anything else. "I've been waiting a long time for you, Lena."
Her knees felt weak. The world seemed to tilt for a moment, her surroundings blurring as if reality itself was bending.
"What do you mean?" Her voice came out quieter than she intended. "Who are you?"
"I'm someone who's been… looking for you," he said. "You're not just ordinary, Lena. You've always known there was something more, haven't you?"
Lena took a step back, confusion and fear mixing in her chest. "I don't understand. What are you talking about?"
He took another step forward, his gaze never leaving hers. "You've felt it, haven't you? The pull, the magic, the ancient bond. It's time for you to remember."
Before she could respond, the air around them shifted. The warmth of the morning seemed to evaporate, replaced by an almost tangible pressure in the air. A soft hum, like the sound of distant thunder, filled her ears.
Lena's pendant grew unbearably warm, and for the first time in years, she felt the overwhelming sensation of home.
But it was a home that didn't exist.
Not in the way she thought.