That night, the city that once felt like a safe haven seemed to take on a darker edge. The news about a serial killer on the loose had unsettled everyone, including you. Though your quiet little town seemed far removed from such danger.

To distract yourself, you curled up on the couch, letting the soft glow of the TV and the sound of rain against the windows fill the silence.

Then, a soft knock broke the quiet.
you froze, your heart skipping as your gaze darted toward the door. The warnings from the news crept into your thoughts, but you shook them off, telling yourself it was probably nothing.

you opened the door cautiously, and peeked out. a handsome young man stood in the doorway, rain cascading off his damp hair and soaking his clothes. His sharp features softened as his gaze met yours.

“Hi,” he said, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of hesitation. “I’m sorry to bother you, but my car broke down just down the road. Could I... stay here for the night? Just until the rain stops.”

you blinked, taken aback by his request. He looked harmless enough—almost out of place in the storm, like someone who belonged in a magazine rather than standing soaked on your porch.

“Come in,” you said, stepping aside. “You’ll catch a cold out there.”

Riki nodded gratefully, stepping into your warm home as he ran a hand through his wet hair.

“Thanks, It sure is awful out there.”

He gave you a small smile, polite and harmless, but the moment your eyes met his, something felt... off. It wasn’t anything obvious—just a subtle shift, a feeling you couldn’t quite place. The warmth of the room suddenly felt heavy, a strange unease settled in the back of your mind.