(Rhea's POV)

I stayed still, staring at the phone screen that was still lit. The message was short, but it felt heavy.

"We're not done yet, Miss Hale."

I reread it over and over again, as if hoping the meaning would change. But it didn't. The words stuck in my head like paint that hadn't dried yet-fragile, but lingering.

"What does he even mean...?"

My hands trembled as I slipped my phone into my bag. The air inside the gallery hall felt colder than before, or maybe it was just my body being overly sensitive to everything tonight. I glanced back at the painting of the Moon. Those golden eyes... that shimmer I'd seen more than once, still danced in my mind, like it was alive behind layers of paint and time.

"Lina, what do you think... about that moon painting?" I asked without taking my eyes off it.

Lina turned to look at the painting too. "It's beautiful. Like a surrealist piece with a mysterious atmosphere. The loneliness in it feels so strong. Like you're standing alone in a fog."

I nodded in agreement. "This painting feels like a nightmare, but a beautiful one," I added.

"Rhea," Lina called.

I turned quickly. "Hmm?"

"Are you sure you're okay? You look really pale."

I nodded. "I'm just tired. You know how fast my energy drains when I'm in crowded places too long."

Lina gave me a sympathetic look and rubbed my arm. "Then go home. Get some rest early. I'll take care of everything here."

I nodded. "Thank you so much, Lina, for understanding."

"It's nothing."

I got up right away. "I'll stop by to see Mrs. Elka first to get permission to leave. Thanks again, Lina."

"Anytime, Rhea. Be careful on your way home. Call me if anything happens."

I tried to smile to reassure her, even though deep down, I wasn't sure myself.

There was something heavy sitting on my chest, and I wasn't even sure I could explain it. Not to anyone. Not even to myself.

***

The sky over Elaria was overcast that night. Streetlights reflected off the asphalt, still damp from the afternoon rain. The scent of wet earth filled the air, blending with the chill that nipped at my fingertips.

I walked quickly toward my car parked behind the gallery building. My shoes made soft tapping sounds on the pavement, but still... the silence of the night felt like it was creeping too deep into my skin. Like it was holding something in.

I opened the car door and got in. Just as I set my bag down on the passenger seat, my phone vibrated again.

A second message.

[No Name]

No Name: I know this is confusing. But I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk.

-K

I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then glanced at the rearview mirror. No one was there. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. Again.

My palms were sweaty, despite the cold air.

With hesitant fingers, I typed a reply.

Me: What is it you actually want?

The reply came fast. Way too fast. Like he had been waiting for me.

[No Name]

No Name: Just to talk. That's all. I can meet you tomorrow-wherever you choose-before I get busy again with match schedules.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a second.

Even without meeting him, just getting a message from him already made my body tense-like a violin string pulled too tight.

"Why do I react like this around this guy? Is it because he's famous? Or... is it something else that people don't know?"

It didn't feel like it was about fame. Not about the fact that he's Kaelan Viero. Maybe it was about something I couldn't see-something invisible, but deeply felt. Like a soft current of electricity running just beneath my skin.

I decided not to reply just yet.

Today had been too long. I needed sleep.

Or at least... I needed to try to sleep.

***

But of course, I didn't sleep tonight. Not even close.

I just lay there, staring at the ceiling of my apartment, listening to the sound of the rain that had started again, washing over the windows in a steady rhythm. Usually, the sound of rain calms me. But not tonight.

My thoughts kept racing-about Kaelan, about that painting, about the strange scent that felt oddly... familiar. About those golden eyes. About that brief touch in the stadium hallway. About the way he looked at me like I was some kind of puzzle he had to solve-and I didn't even know I was a puzzle.

I turned on the small bedside lamp and sat up. My chest felt tight. Not from fear. But from confusion. Because... this irrational feeling was getting harder and harder to shake.

I reached over to the table and picked up the piece of paper I'd found earlier that day, tucked behind the canvas of the Moon painting. Bits of dried paint still clung to its edges. The paper was blank-almost. But if you looked closely, there were faint markings... like a symbol. Like a carving, but not ink.

I'd tried searching for the shape in the restoration database. Nothing came up. I even checked through books of ancient symbols and artistic markings. Nothing. That symbol wasn't in any catalog I'd studied for years.

I gently ran my finger over it. And the moment my skin touched the surface, that pulsing ache in my head came back. Soft but piercing. Just like the first time I touched the painting.

There's something in that painting. Something no art theory or artifact history can explain.

And Kaelan... somehow, he's connected to it.

I know something in me has changed.

And Kaelan Viero... somehow, he's part of that change.

I was sure of it.

Until another message suddenly popped up on my phone.

I opened it right away. And again-it was from Kaelan.

[No Name]

No Name: Don't look into that painting on your own unless you're ready to dive much deeper.

I froze.

My eyes stayed fixed on the message. My fingers holding the phone began to tighten.

How does he know?

How does he know I'm looking into something?

How could he possibly know about the paper?

My heartbeat thundered in my ears. I hadn't told anyone about this. Not Lina. Not Kira. No one saw me slip that paper into my notebook. No one knew... unless someone already knew.

My hands began to shake. I put the phone down on the table and stared at my own reflection in the window glass.

Outside, the rain started falling harder, like it was trying to wash away all sound from the world.

But inside, my mind was loud.

"What do you mean, Kaelan? Are you warning me? Or... threatening me?" I whispered.

I didn't know whether to feel scared or trust him. But one thing I did know-I couldn't pretend like nothing was happening anymore.

That object, that painting, and that man... I was absolutely certain they were all connected, forming a thread that was slowly wrapping itself around me.

***

(Rhea's POV)

The rain hadn't stopped when I stepped out of my apartment the next morning.

Gray clouds hung low, pressing down on the rooftops. The cold air slipped through the gaps in the scarf wrapped around my neck, seeping all the way to my bones. My black umbrella blocked most of the downpour, but every splash bouncing off the street still managed to soak the hem of my pants and my shoes.

My steps matched the rhythm of raindrops on the canvas-tap, tap, tap-but instead of calming me, the sound made my heartbeat race faster. Normally, I'd love a morning like this; the city quiet, the air fresh, the scent of wet earth mixing with the smell of coffee from cafes just opening. But today... something felt different.

Something that had been sitting in my chest since last night.

The phone in my pocket stayed silent.

No message from Kaelan.

Weird.

Last night, he'd replied to my texts so fast, like he was just sitting there waiting for me to respond. Now, it's like he vanished. And the strange part was, instead of feeling relieved that this stranger had stopped contacting me... I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

I didn't know why his last message kept replaying in my head. The words felt heavier than they should-like a warning deliberately left hanging.

I took a deep breath and quickened my pace. A car engine roared somewhere, a horn blared faintly at the intersection, but here on the sidewalk, I was alone. Every so often, I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting to see a shadow at the far end of the street. But every time I turned, there was only the wet pavement and rows of still-closed shops.

***

The Elaria Gallery stood quietly at the corner. The old gray-stone building looked even gloomier under the cloudy sky. The porch light glowed dimly, reflecting off puddles in the rain.

The key turned in the front door, the old hinges creaked softly as I pushed it open. The gallery's familiar scent wrapped around me-aged wood, a faint trace of dust, and the lingering smell of oil paint in the air. Outside, the rain muffled the world, leaving a silence that felt... too thick.

I hung my jacket on the rack by the door, dropped my umbrella into the metal stand meant for visitors, then walked into the main hall. The wooden floor groaned quietly under my shoes. Ceiling track lights lit the artworks on the walls, casting soft shadows that shifted as I passed.

My eyes went straight to one spot.

The Moon Painting.

It was still there, behind its protective glass, surrounded by black velvet ropes. Even from here, I could feel the gaze inside the painting-like a predator waiting.

I moved closer, my pace slowing without me realizing. From a certain angle, the mist in the background looked alive. So soft, almost invisible, yet enough to trick my mind into thinking it moved. And within that mist... a pair of golden eyes peeked out from between the trees.

I swallowed hard.

A strange sensation prickled at the back of my neck-like someone was standing there, watching me. I could almost imagine warm breath brushing against my skin.

"So you're still standing in front of that painting."

I flinched.

The voice came from behind. Deep, low, and far too familiar.

I turned quickly.

Kaelan stood just a few steps away. No hockey uniform, no roaring crowd, no cameras chasing him. Just a tall man in a dark shirt, broad shoulders, hair slightly damp from the rain, and those eyes-just as piercing as they had been in the stadium hallway that night.

"I don't remember giving you permission to come in here," I said quietly, trying to sound firm even though my heart was starting to race.

He didn't answer right away. He walked slowly, his steps almost soundless on the wooden floor. The light above fell across his shoulders, making him look like he'd stepped out of a painting himself.

"I told you... we're not done yet, Miss Hale."

"We?" I repeated, my voice edged with sarcasm. "You mean you're not done. I don't even know what you want. And I definitely don't remember having any business with you."

He stopped right in front of me. Way too close.

"I want you safe," he said, his tone quiet but firm. "And you're standing in the middle of something you don't even understand."

I lifted my chin slightly. "You talk like I'm some clueless kid."

"Not like-" he cut in quickly. "You really don't know anything."

My eyes narrowed. "Then explain. What is it that I don't know?"

He was silent. His jaw tightened, his gaze heavy. "Not here. Not now."

"Why?" I challenged.

"Because there are people who want what's in that painting, and they'll come after you to get it. We need to talk somewhere else."

"I'm not-"

"Please."

Just that one word.

His tone shifted-not a command, not a threat, but a request that carried weight. And somehow, that was enough to make me hesitate.

I drew a slow breath. "Then just tell me... what do you know about this painting?"

Kaelan stared at me for a long time. Long enough that I could hear the ticking of the clock on the wall. Finally, he said, "Enough to know that if you stay alone, you won't last long."

Lightning flashed outside, its light glinting off the glass frame. Rain pounded harder against the roof.

And for the first time, I began to believe-maybe this man wasn't just here to bother me.

Maybe he was trying to save me.

But... from what?

I stepped back, putting some space between us. "If you really want me safe, stop talking in riddles."

He leaned in slightly, his voice almost a whisper. "That riddle... is the reason you're still alive right now."

I frowned, but before I could say anything, the front door creaked.

A man in a worn raincoat stood in the doorway. Half his face was hidden under his hat. He didn't come in-just glanced briefly in our direction, or more precisely, at the Moon Painting. Then he closed the door slowly and disappeared into the rain.

A chill ran down my spine. "Who was that?"

Kaelan looked at the door, his jaw tightening again. "Someone who's not supposed to know about this place."

(Rhea's POV)

The silence that lingered in the gallery after the man in the raincoat disappeared felt even more suffocating than his presence. I was still frozen in place, my eyes locked on the wooden door that had just closed with a soft yet chilling thud. It felt like that wall was now holding a massive secret behind it-and somehow, I was caught in it too.

Kaelan stood just a few steps away from me. His body was rigid, shoulders slightly raised, like he was ready to protect-or attack. His jaw tightened, his eyes sharp and fixed on the door as if he could pierce through the storm outside. The energy radiating off him reminded me of a wild predator-not just alert, but dangerous.

"Kaelan..." My voice cracked, barely audible. I swallowed before continuing. "What's really going on?"

He turned his head. For a second, his gaze softened, but the tension stayed carved on his face. "I told you, this isn't a safe place to talk."

I clenched my fingers, trying to steady the nervous tremor in my chest. "You can't keep talking like that," I shot back quickly, almost panicked. "I have a right to know. About the painting... about that mysterious man... about everything-"

"Rhea Hale."

Just those two words-quiet, but firm-were enough to cut me off. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried authority. Like if I kept pushing, he'd silence me in his own way.

I went quiet.

His gaze pinned me down. There was something in his eyes-not just hardness, but a warning. I could feel it in my pulse, that if I pushed too far, I'd be dragged into a current I couldn't even begin to understand.

Reluctantly, I nodded. "Fine. Where are we going to talk?"

"Somewhere safest, for now."

"Are we leaving now?"

Kaelan nodded. "Yeah. My car's parked across from this gallery. We'll head there."

***

The rain was still pouring when we stepped outside. The sound of it hammered against the tin roofs along the street, loud and chaotic, drowning out every thought swirling inside me. The wet pavement gleamed under the dim streetlights, puddles reflecting the shadows of two figures: me and Kaelan, walking side by side in silence.

Kaelan opened a large black umbrella he'd brought, and without asking, he tugged my hand lightly, pulling me under its shelter. The touch was brief, but enough to make my heart pound faster.

We walked close, close enough that I could catch the faint scent coming from him-a mix of rain, damp fabric, and warm masculine notes. Familiar. Somehow, that scent felt natural, binding me, calming yet unsettling all at once.

"Why were you there?" I finally asked softly, my voice almost lost to the rain. "I mean... in the gallery."

"To make sure you weren't alone," he replied flatly.

The words were simple, but each one struck deep. They should have comforted me. Instead, they stirred more questions in my head.

"Did you already know that man in the raincoat would show up at Elaria's gallery?" I asked curiously.

Kaelan shook his head. "Just a hunch."

I scoffed under my breath. "Your answers always leave me wanting more, Kaelan."

"Better that way."

Our steps carried us down the empty sidewalk. Once in a while, a car sped past, splashing water from the puddles. The flickering streetlights only deepened the sense of isolation, making the world feel like another realm.

My mind wandered again. The golden eyes from that painting staring back at me through the mist. The predator's gaze piercing my chest. The man in the raincoat standing silently at the gallery's doorway, threatening without a word. And Kaelan, with his riddled responses. It all tangled together, pressing hard against my head.

I didn't notice when my steps slowed, my thoughts blurring with the sound of rain. The world seemed to drift away, leaving only the ringing in my ears and the storm inside my mind.

Until a loud honk snapped me back.

A motorcycle shot past from the side, too close. Its headlights blinded me, water splashing up my legs. I staggered, my body swaying, too slow to pull back.

And in a split second-before my brain could even process it-a strong hand clamped onto my arm. A rough tug yanked me forward, straight into Kaelan's chest.

My body slammed against his, his chest warm despite the rain clinging to us. Just inches away from the rushing blur of the motorcycle.

I gasped, breath ragged. My heartbeat was a wild drum inside me. Kaelan, meanwhile, glared at the biker before shifting his focus back onto me.

"What were you-" My words died in my throat.

Kaelan's face was too close. Water dripped from his wet hair onto his temple, his eyes sharp, burning. That look set me on fire, making me forget how to breathe.

"Don't space out." His voice was low, deep, almost a growl. "Never space out when you're near me."

His words lit another flame inside me-a mix of anger, embarrassment, and something far more dangerous.

I couldn't answer. My voice was gone. All I could feel was his grip on my arm-tight, protective, yet making me tremble in ways I couldn't explain.

People walking by glanced briefly, but no one cared. We stayed there, trapped under the black umbrella he had lifted back up, surrounded by the pouring rain, as if the world had shrunk to just the two of us.

I tried to pull my hand free. "Please... let go of my hand," I whispered.

But Kaelan didn't. His gaze swept over my face slowly, intensely, like he was reading every line of my expression.

"I can't," he finally said, his rough voice hitting me harder than thunder. "Because every second, something out there tries to take you away from me. And I'm terrified of that."

I froze. His words pierced straight through my defenses, leaving my thoughts in shambles. Part of me wanted to laugh, call him dramatic-even insane. But another part... a deeper part... believed him. I didn't know why. All I knew was I stayed silent, my quiet the only answer I could give.

And that was far more terrifying.

***