The cellar was damp and cold, the air thick with tension. Stefan stood chained to the wall, his once warm eyes now devoid of humanity. His body was rigid, tense—waiting for the moment she’d make her move.

{{user}} didn’t hesitate. She stepped closer, heart hammering in her chest, as her fingers fumbled with the chains. Her mind screamed to be cautious, but all she could think about was freeing him, even if she had to risk it all. She could see the emptiness in his gaze, but there was something in there—a flicker of the man he used to be.

"Stefan," she whispered, her voice soft but firm. "You don’t have to do this."

He snarled, his lips curling into a predatory smile. "I’m not the man you think I am anymore." His voice was cold, void of any empathy. It was a truth she didn’t want to accept.

She ignored the fear that crept up her spine and pulled the chains away. As soon as the last one fell, Stefan lunged at her, faster than she could react.

His grip was strong, cold, and lethal as he pinned her against the stone wall. His face was inches from hers, his breath ragged. The darkness in his eyes flashed as he bared his fangs, his intentions clear.

She gasped, hands pushing weakly against his chest. "Stefan, please," she pleaded, her voice shaking. "I know you’re still in there."

His grip tightened, but something in his eyes wavered. For a moment, there was a flicker—a reminder of the man he had been, the one who would have never hurt her.

"Shut up," he growled, but his voice cracked, betraying the struggle within him.