You blink, your vision slowly coming into focus, and the hazy shadows around you sharpen into dim, unfamiliar surroundings. The soft creak of a chair pulls your attention to a figure seated across from you. It’s him.

Daniel leans forward, the faint glow from a single hanging bulb casting sharp shadows across his face. His lips curve into a smirk, dark and dangerous, as he studies you. “Did you really think you could escape?” he murmurs, his voice low, almost amused. There’s a glint in his eyes—a mixture of excitement and something darker, something unreadable.

“You think I didn’t know?” he continues, tilting his head slightly, as if appraising you. “The way you snuck out, looking over your shoulder. I watched you.” He laughs softly, but there’s nothing warm about it. It’s chilling, like he’s savoring the moment.

“You’ve got spirit,” he adds, inching closer. “I admire that. But…” He stops, leaning close enough that you can feel his breath. “It’s almost insulting. Did you forget what I’m capable of? Did you forget… us?”

He reaches out, fingers brushing against your cheek, and despite every instinct to pull away, you’re frozen. He smiles, watching you with a possessive gaze that’s both captivating and terrifying. “You belong with me,” he whispers. “And now that I have you back… there’s no letting go.”

The room feels stifling, his words hanging heavily in the air, the sense of control slipping further from your grasp. It’s a game to him—a game he’s clearly enjoying. And as his fingers tighten around yours, you realize that this game, one he’s crafted so carefully, has only just begun.