Anna had always considered the bookstore her sanctuary. The smell of aging paper and the faint whispers of pages turning were a balm to her restless thoughts. That evening, after another long shift, she lingered longer than usual, running her fingers along the spines of books as she wandered through the aisles.
The world outside had become stranger since her encounter with Luka, and she sought comfort in the familiar. It was in the quiet corner of the fiction section that she saw him. Luka sat at one of the small wooden tables, his long fingers gracefully holding a paperback copy of The Shawshank Redemption. He was engrossed in the book, his amber eyes scanning the pages with an intensity that made Anna pause. He looked different in the warm, golden light of the bookstore. Less otherworldly, more human. But the strange pull she felt toward him was just as strong. Her heart raced as she debated whether to approach him.
She wanted answers, not just about who he was but also about the way he made her feel. It was as though he carried some unspoken truth, something that both frightened and fascinated her. Gathering her courage, Anna crossed the room and sat down at his table. Luka didn't look up, but she could tell he had noticed her. His grip on the book tightened slightly, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Do you remember me?" she asked, her voice steady despite the nerves twisting in her stomach. Luka finally looked up, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "Yes," he said, his voice as smooth and melodic as she remembered. "The brave girl who likes walking alone in alleyways." Anna felt a flush creep up her neck. His words were simple, but they carried an intimacy that made her cheeks warm. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and managed a small smile. "Why are you following me?" she asked, cutting straight to the point. Luka closed the book and set it down on the table, his expression unreadable. "Ma'am, I'm not a stalker," he said calmly, his tone almost amused. "As a responsible citizen, I thought it wise to give you some advice that night. Nothing more." Anna narrowed her eyes, her curiosity only deepening. "But who are you? And why do I always feel… strange when I see you?" For the first time, a flicker of uncertainty crossed Luka's face. He leaned back in his chair, studying her as though weighing how much to reveal. "I'm just like you," he said finally, his voice softer now, almost reluctant. "A person trying to navigate this chaotic world." Anna wasn't satisfied with his answer, but before she could press him further, Luka stood abruptly. "It was nice seeing you again," he said, his lips curling into a faint smile. Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked toward the exit. Anna watched him go, frustration bubbling in her chest. "Weird," she muttered under her breath, though the word didn't quite capture the mix of intrigue and unease she felt. Luka was unlike anyone she'd ever met, and though his answers had only raised more questions, she couldn't deny that there was something undeniably special about him. She stayed at the bookstore long after Luka left, replaying their conversation in her mind. The way he looked at her, the subtle tension in his voice—it all felt significant, though she couldn't explain why. Meanwhile, Luka walked briskly through the city streets, his expression unreadable. He avoided the glow of the streetlights, sticking to the shadows where he felt more at ease. When he reached the edge of town, he slipped through a rusted gate and into a desolate clearing surrounded by tall, skeletal trees. The moonlight filtered through the bare branches, casting eerie patterns on the ground. He stopped in the center of the clearing, exhaling a slow, measured breath. His encounter with Anna replayed in his mind, and he cursed himself for letting it happen. He had always been careful to keep his distance from humans, to avoid forming connections that could lead to complications. Yet something about Anna had drawn him in, breaking through his carefully constructed barriers. "She's just a human," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his dark hair. "What am I doing?" But even as he said the words, he knew they weren't entirely true. Anna wasn't like the others. There was a spark in her, a defiance that intrigued him. He had seen it in her eyes the night they met, and he had felt it again today in the bookstore. She was unafraid to question him, to challenge him in a way that no one else had dared. Luka shook his head, frustration and admiration warring within him. "Stupid," he muttered. "Stupid to interact, stupid to care." He paced the clearing, the weight of his own thoughts pressing down on him. His kind weren't meant to interfere with humans. They were watchers, not participants. Every time he let himself get too close, it ended in pain—for him and for them. He had learned that lesson the hard way, and he had vowed never to repeat it. And yet, there was something about Anna he couldn't ignore. "No," he said firmly, his voice echoing in the still night. "This ends here. No more interactions." But even as he made the vow, he couldn't shake the memory of her smile, the way her voice had trembled with both curiosity and determination. Luka sighed, his resolve wavering for a moment before he steeled himself. Luka was aware that his interaction with humans would definitely be going to bring trouble for his clan and, as a loyal, obedient member of the clan, he needed to be very practical when it came to things that were dangerous for his clan. "This is for the best," he said, more to convince himself than anything else. He turned and disappeared into the shadows, the clearing falling silent once more. Deep down, though, he knew it wouldn't be that easy.