The night felt heavier than before.
Lily sat by the balcony, knees pulled close, staring out at the endless stretch of the estate. The lights shimmered in the distance, soft and beautiful—almost peaceful.
Almost.
But nothing about this place was peaceful.
Not anymore.
His words echoed in her mind.
"Every time you try… you come back to me."
She clenched her fists.
"No," she whispered. "That's not true."
But doubt crept in.
Because something was changing.
And she hated it.
A memory flickered.
Faint.
Blurry.
Gone before she could catch it.
Lily frowned.
"What… was that?"
Her hand instinctively moved to her chest again—the same place it had, back on campus. That strange, familiar feeling.
Like something buried deep inside her was trying to surface.
The door opened quietly.
She didn't turn this time.
"I was wondering when you'd stop pretending to sleep," his voice came from behind her.
Calm.
Always calm.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice tired now—not just afraid, but exhausted.
"The truth."
She let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "You? Talking about truth?"
"I don't lie to you."
She turned sharply. "You kidnapped me."
"I brought you where you were always meant to be."
"Stop saying that!" she snapped. "I don't even know you!"
Silence.
For the first time—
He didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"That's the problem."
Her anger faltered.
"What?"
He stepped closer, slower this time. Not controlling. Not forcing.
Almost… careful.
"You don't remember."
Her heart skipped.
"Remember what?"
His gaze locked onto hers.
"Me."
The word hit harder than it should have.
Lily shook her head immediately. "No. I would remember you."
"Would you?"
"Yes!"
"Even if you were made to forget?"
Her breath caught.
"What are you talking about?"
He stopped in front of her—but didn't touch her this time.
"You've felt it, haven't you?" he said quietly. "That familiarity. That pull."
She didn't respond.
Because she had.
And that scared her.
"I've seen you before," he continued. "Long before that campus. Long before yesterday."
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "That's not possible."
"It is."
Her thoughts raced.
"No… no, you're lying. This is some kind of trick."
"Then why does it feel real?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"Tell me," he said softly. "When I touched you… why didn't you pull away?"
Her breath became uneven.
"I—I was just shocked."
"Not enough."
Her chest tightened.
"Why does my voice feel familiar to you?" he asked.
She didn't answer.
Because she didn't have one.
"Why does that ring mean something to you?"
Her eyes widened slightly.
"How do you—"
"I know everything about you," he interrupted. "Not just now."
A pause.
"But before."
Her head spun.
"This doesn't make any sense…"
"It will."
Another flicker.
Stronger this time.
A voice.
Not his—
But familiar.
Calling her name.
Softly.
"Lily…"
She gasped, gripping her head.
"What—what is happening to me?"
He stepped forward instinctively—but stopped himself.
Watching.
Waiting.
"You're remembering," he said quietly.
"No!" she snapped, backing away. "Stop saying that! You're messing with my head!"
"If I was," he said calmly, "you wouldn't feel it this deeply."
Her breathing became uneven.
Fragments.
That's all it was.
Fragments of something she couldn't fully see.
"I don't know you," she said again—but this time, her voice was softer. Less certain.
He studied her.
And for the first time—
There was something else in his expression.
Not just obsession.
Not just control.
Something deeper.
Something almost…
Painful.
"You did," he said quietly.
Silence filled the room again.
But this time—
It wasn't just tension.
It was history.
Unspoken.
Unfinished.
"What happened?" she asked finally.
The question came out before she could stop it.
And once it did—
There was no taking it back.
His gaze darkened slightly.
"Someone took you away."
Her heart skipped.
"What?"
"From me."
"That doesn't—"
"They erased it," he continued, his voice quieter now. "Everything."
Her chest tightened.
"Why would anyone do that?"
A pause.
Then—
"Because of what I am."
Fear crept back in.
Stronger.
"What are you?"
He didn't answer.
Not directly.
"Someone who doesn't let go," he said instead.
Her breath caught again.
"I looked for you," he continued. "For a long time."
His voice didn't shake.
But something in it had changed.
Something deeper.
"And when I found you…"
A pause.
His eyes locked onto hers.
"…you didn't remember me."
Lily felt something twist inside her chest.
Pain.
Confusion.
And something else she didn't want to admit.
"I don't believe you," she whispered.
But it didn't sound convincing anymore.
"You will," he said.
Another silence.
But this one—
Was different.
Because now…
It wasn't just fear between them.
It was something unfinished.
Something buried.
Something that refused to stay forgotten.
Lily looked at him—really looked this time.
And for a brief moment—
Something inside her shifted.
Not trust.
Not acceptance.
But recognition.
Faint.
Fleeting.
Dangerous.
She stepped back slightly.
"I need time," she said quietly.
He nodded once.
"Take it."
And just like that—
He turned and walked away.
Leaving her alone with thoughts that no longer felt like her own.
Lily sank onto the bed, her mind spinning.
Her world had already been turned upside down.
But now—
Now it was worse.
Because what if he was telling the truth?
What if she really had known him?
What if…
She had once been his?
Her heart raced at the thought.
"No," she whispered.
But this time—
She wasn't sure anymore.