Kelly trembled, nerves buzzing like static under her skin. "How could I be so careless?" she said in her mind, fighting the urge to panic. Why did I even come here?
The air inside the hut felt thick, pressing down on her as she huddled in the closet, her mind racing. She tried to stay perfectly still, barely daring to breathe. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realized the clutter around her was a pile of children's toys shoved to the back as if they'd been forgotten or hidden away. But this was no time to wonder about toys; she just had to stay out of sight.
I'll slip out once he's asleep, she thought, clinging to the hope. Please don't open this closet. She silently begged, each second feeling like an eternity.
Meanwhile, the man's search grew more frantic. His footsteps pounded as he tore through the hut, checking every corner and room. His voice, laced with frustration, echoed through the walls. "Come out! I know you're in here!"
Kelly's heart thundered as he moved closer, his shadow stretching just beyond the closet door. She held her breath, praying he wouldn't hear the rapid beat of her heart. He glanced around suspiciously, his face twisted in anger. Suddenly, she felt a thud against the back of her leg. Something had fallen. It was a shadowy figure that resembled a hand.
"Oh my God," Kelly whispered, a shaky sound escaping her lips.
As the words left her, she caught sight of him. His eyes narrowed, settling on the closet.
He realized he hadn't searched there yet, and her soft squeak only made matters worse. Panic surged through her as the weight of that realization hit her. Each slow step he took toward the door amplified the pounding of her heart, the silence thick with tension. She could almost feel him closing in, a dark presence threatening to expose her hiding place.
Grabbing a knife from the kitchen, the man marched toward the closet.
"He is going to kill me!" Kelly thought to herself. Kelly's breath caught in her throat as the seconds dragged on. With a slow, creaking sound, the closet door swung open, light spilling into her hiding spot. She sat there, wide-eyed and trembling, staring at the man.
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Their eyes met in complete silence. The man's expression shifted from anger to confusion, as if he was expecting someone else or something else. For a moment, the air felt heavy with uncertainty.
Caught in the unknown man's home, Kelly stammered, "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... I was just—"
"Come out," the man muttered, his voice gruff. Kelly's eyes flicked to the knife in his hand. Noticing her stare, the man put the knife down on the table.
"Look, I wasn't trying to scare you; just come on out. I won't hurt you," he said, still sounding harsh but slightly less threatening.
Slowly, Kelly emerged from the closet and stood against a bookshelf she hadn't noticed before. Looking back at the closet, she realized that the shadow resembling a hand belonged to a doll. Her thoughts of him possibly being a serial killer quickly shifted. Snapping back to reality, she saw the man still pressing for answers, demanding to know why she was there.
"Well, who are you, and what are you doing in my home? Are you some kind of thief?" the man demanded, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"I... I don't know," Kelly stammered, her voice barely a whisper.
The man's eyes widened with disbelief. "You don't know? You don't know if you're a thief?" he scoffed, taking a step closer. "If you break into someone's house, you'd better at least have a name and a reason! I'm trying to be patient here, girl!" he snapped, his voice laced with barely contained anger.
Kelly paused, "I don't remember my name."
In that instant, Kelly realized she couldn't remember anything from before her escape—her mind was a complete blank.
The man's brow furrowed, his confusion deepening. "What do you mean you don't know your name? How is that possible?" he demanded, his voice sharp.
Kelly swallowed hard, trying to find the words. "I don't know, sir. I don't even remember how I got to this beach."
The man laughed harshly, "Ha! Look, girl, I'm too old for games. What are you doing here?"
"Sir, I honestly don't know!" Kelly cried, her desperation showing in her voice.
A strange energy pulsed through her, a warm, electric current building in her stomach. Suddenly, as her voice reached a fevered pitch, a cup on the nearby table shattered into pieces, sending shards flying.
Both of them jumped, eyes widening in shock.
"What the hell—!" the man shouted, his voice laced with fear and disbelief. His gaze darted from the broken cup to Kelly, suspicion and caution flickering across his face. "What... did you just do?" he demanded, taking a wary step back, his eyes never leaving her.
Kelly's heart raced as she stared at the broken glass on the floor, her hands trembling. She didn't know how or why, but she could feel something powerful.
The man stared in disbelief, first at her and then at the broken cup. "No... it can't be happening again," he muttered under his breath.
"What do you mean by 'again'?" Kelly asked, her curiosity displaying on her face.
The man didn't respond immediately. Instead, he eyed her carefully as if he was piecing something together. "Tell me what you know about these powers," he said, his tone serious.
"What...what do you mean?!" Kelly questioned
As she looked at the man, she could tell that whatever lie she could come up with for the reason for this cup-shattering would not convince him. It was exposed.
Kelly hesitated. "I... I don't know much. I escaped from a building where I assumed I was being held captive, but I don't remember anything before that. I have super speed and night vision powers but can't control them."
His eyes widened in shock and fear, and something like recognition flickered across his face. A heavy silence settled between them, and they were unsure what to say next. The man, clearly shaken, finally spoke, his voice low and filled with fear yet understanding.
"You're not the first," he said quietly. "There are others like you."
Others like me, Kelly thought, hope flickering inside her. I might not be alone after all.
The man nodded solemnly, his gaze dark and steady. "Yes, but powers like yours aren't always a blessing. Sometimes... they're a curse."
"Curse?" Kelly whispered, confusion knotting her brow. "Wait, I don't understand—"
Before she could press him, a sudden noise froze her words. Footsteps echoed in the stillness, their steady rhythm growing louder, each step sending chills down her spine. The man's eyes widened, his demeanor shifting in an instant. "We need to go. Now," he said, his voice sharp with urgency. "Follow me."
Without a second thought, Kelly obeyed, her pulse racing as they slipped into the shadows. Every instinct told her this was only the beginning, the start of something darker and more dangerous than she could grasp. But as long as he guided her, they'd be safe... or so she hoped.
