*~Mirabelle's POV~*
My grandma and best friends haven't left my side ever since they took me home. I have been shivering, still stunned. Lisa and Stacy put on my favorite TV show as one of them massaged my legs with a towel and warm water—anything to keep me comfortable and my head light—but nothing could keep him out of my head.
Every turn—every turn—I keep seeing him.
My stomach twisted in pain, and I couldn't stop it.
My grandma entered, reaching into her pocket and dropping something while opening my window. I immediately jumped.
"No, please—close the windows!" I screamed. Who knows if he's outside? Because I can totally feel his presence here… his moxie… his scent all around.
"Why is it so dark in here?" my grandma complained.
Then Lisa turned to her and did something—
"Reach me now, and then close the windows."
"Thank you," I muttered as I lay back on my bed.
"You still haven't told us what happened, my dear," my grandma said, and I almost choked on my spit.
Then Stacy turned to her. "Haven't the police said anything?"
"She's not saying anything," Lisa sighed, already sounding tired.
"Haven't the police said anything?" Anna asked.
I immediately stood up. "Is the police saying anything? Are they on my case already?"
"Will you relax? You went missing for a whole day, and you're acting like a psycho. Of course the police are on your case. You haven't been saying anything."
Lisa, who looked like she had already had enough of my bullshit, finally snapped.
"No, they can't know," I immediately snapped, turning.
"Know what?" Lisa said.
"Nothing," I replied as I immediately lay back down.
"Fine. You can keep to yourself, because clearly we're trying our best, but it looks like you don't want us. Say something."
Then Lisa suddenly stood up and stormed out, while Aunt Stacy immediately stood up with her and gave me a worried look.
"We'll be back tomorrow, and you better tell us what happened," she said. Then she hugged me.
She left, leaving just me and my grandma.
My grandma sat at the edge of the bed, gazing at me like I was about to die. Then she squeezed my hand.
"I'll also be back, Moonpie," she said, and she got up. As she got up, I watched her leave. She paused at the door, then blew me a kiss.
"Goodbye," she said, and then she left my room.
I had a moment to myself—finally. I paused, my heart still beating.
No way I can tell them. I can't tell them now.
Then, all of a sudden, wind blew into my room, and the window opened by itself.
What the—?
I immediately jumped up, and before I could scream, I heard a voice—his voice.
"Scream, and you'll have to explain why you did that. You already have enough trouble explaining why you disappeared."
I immediately covered my mouth, biting down on my hand.
"Hello, stranger."
A figure stepped out from the corner of my room. The familiar smell, the familiar marks, the familiar everything.
I immediately picked up the lantern and stretched it toward the figure.
"You're cute," he chuckled. Then he took off his mask and sat on my bed.
My gaze met his handsome—overly perfect, gorgeous face.
"W-what are you doing here?" I stammered.
He smiled. "I'm here to make you a deal. But first, you need to drop that," he said, nodding at the lantern in my hand.
"I will kill you with this if you don't leave now," I threatened.
He only stepped closer and closer until there was barely any space between us.
I swallowed hard.
He easily took the lantern from my hand, then reached for my shoulder. His fingers trailed from my neck down to my shoulder, as if checking for something.
When he didn't find it, he lifted his gaze to mine.
I tried to fight, but his yellow eyes had me trapped. I couldn't even move a finger.
Then he snapped his fingers right in front of me and smirked.
"So… you're really not stone-hearted."
"Who are you, and why are you calling me that? And what are you doing here?" I asked. "How did you get here?"
Overwhelmed by his presence, I closed my eyes and wished he would just disappear.
"What's your name?" he asked out of nowhere.
I blinked. His voice was relaxed and steady.
"Your name, little lamb?" he repeated.
"Mirabelle ," I muttered.
He took a step back and glanced around my room. "So this is your place, huh?" he said, a hint of something flickering in his eyes.
Then his gaze landed on the family picture on my mirror.
"You have a beautiful smile," he said softly. "Full of light."
He said that while brushing his fingers over my face in the picture—the last one I took with my parents.
"Get away from that!" I yelled, rushing toward him.
I covered his mouth, my eyes locking with his. The distance between us was so close, there was no space to breathe—only to feel.
The memory of the last time he held me like this rushed into my head. The way his hands traveled down my body… the way I gave in to him.
I couldn't help it—I glanced downward, checking, just like before.
Then he snapped his fingers.
"My eyes are up here, little lamb," he said.
I swallowed hard.
"What are you doing here? Why are you doing this? Why are you following me? You've caused enough trouble. You've made my grandma and my best friends worried sick, and you're still here. Can you please leave?"
"I'm not here to hurt you," he muttered. "I'm here to make you a deal. I already told you that."
His voice stirred something deep inside me, making my thoughts spiral. I bit my lip, trying to snap out of it.
I hate this feeling. I hate the way he's making me feel. A total stranger I had a one-night stand with… now suddenly in my room, making me feel this way again.
"What kind of deal would you want to make with me? Can you just leave?"
"I won't leave," he said calmly. "Because I know you're the one who will benefit from this deal the most. Would you like to hear it before you completely shut me out?"
I paused, forcing myself to calm down.
"What deal?" I asked, the moment he stepped back and gave me space to breathe.
"I'd love to know you first," he said with tha annoying smirk on my face.
"I'm not telling you anything!" I spat out loud and he smirked again.. "I'm not the one who has a year to live." He said and my heart skipped my beat.