The howling of the wind was the only thing that helped to keep her exhausted eyes open.

Focusing in the dark night, she tried to drag her exhausted body as ahead as she could. Distant landscapes of dry and worn rocks surrounded her, as beneath her bare foot she could only feel the sticky mud caught between her toes.

She was surrounded by these dense woods and yet she tried to scan a route of escape from this desolate area, it seemed never ending. The need to move ahead was so strong that her body was trying to fight against all the pain she was going through now.

She could feel his presence. Not chasing her, no, observing her.

Amused to see how she thought she would be successful in getting away. She didn't even realized when her foot got entangled and she tripped on the ground. Her heart began pounding fast in her chest as she heard shuffling of feet behind.

Panic. Her eyes huge and watering. Turning sharp on her heel , she let out a blood curling scream as she came face to face with the man who horrified her the most .

Was it real or a figment of her abused mind ? Did he really find her so soon ? A sob escaped her lips as she couldn't take it anymore . Defeated , she pushed herself against a tree while he stood towering over her trembling figure .

" Are you already tired?" After a little lull, the dark voice spoke up.

" P-Please just let me go ." She muttered.

" Love, where would you go? Hmm ? You have no place to flee. I'm all you've got."

He mused as he approached her, apparently delighted by the circumstance. The mocking smirk on his face clearly an indication of how much he enjoyed the chase.

"There isn't a single place in the world where I can't find you. Understand, I am not a prince charming like my father. I'll hunt you down from any corner of the universe and drag you back to me , screaming and sobbing if I have to " He exhaled deeply.

" Well, I'm not going to let you take a step away from me in the first place. " he grinned, yanking at the strand of hair that was shielding the terrified girl from his penetrating eyes.

Piya snapped awake, her breath ragged and her body slick with sweat, the remnants of the haunting nightmare clinging to her.

It took a moment for her to realize she was in her own bed, secure from the scary man of her fantasies. She lazily stumbled out of the cozy bed, blaming the significance of her bizarre nightmare on the spooky Agatha Christie novel she had binge-read until late at night.

"Rise and Shine!" she chirped, her voice a sweet melody as she greeted the potted plants in her kitchen.

Her fingers took hold of the refrigerator's door. Hunting out two eggs, a couple slices of multigrain bread, and a large jar of peanut butter and strawberry jelly, she set about constructing a perfect breakfast sandwich to satisfy her stomach's insatiable appetite.

Dancing her way to the marble slab, she connected her Airpods with her playlist, and almost immediately the lyrics to Britney Spears' "Toxic" resonated in her ears. There was nothing like music to cook by. Music was blaring into the kitchen, and she was swaying her hips to the beat while whisking the egg batter.

She turned on her heel to find Kate, her flatmate and only bestfriend, sitting on one of the wooden stools, leaning on it, her emerald eyes gawking at the buttery eggs simmering on the frypan.

The dark circles sagging under her eyes were an indication of her exhaustion from her night shift at the local hospital. Started by the sudden presence of her roommate, Piya shrieked and hastily took off the earplugs, concentrating on flipping the omelette.

"From where did you gather the energy to dance your ass off at seven in the morning?" Kate inquired dryly, her eyes giving in to the amusement she felt witnessing Piya's enthusiastic dance.

"Good Morning to you too, Miss Kate Kinsley Kennedy," Piya giggled, well-versed with Kate's grumpy nature in the morning.

Without any further delay, Kate grabbed the sandwich from Piya's hold and gobbled it down in three massive bites, still complaining about the gross combination of ingredients used in the dish.

"Eggs with peanut butter and jam? Seriously? Were you trying to torture yourself or just everyone else around you?" Kate scoffed, rolling her eyes at Piya's bizarre food choices.

Piya shrugged, undeterred by Kate's rudeness. "Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it. You might be missing out on a culinary masterpiece."

Kate snorted. "Yeah, sure. Next, you'll be telling me to try hot Cheetos on my morning cereal. Pass."

This was one of Piya Singh's signature traits, her weird eating habits. She loved experimenting and intermingling with random food items, some turned out to be edible and some not.

Popcorns with frozen honey, omelettes with fruit jams, limes with tahini seasoning, potato fries with vanilla ice cream, and her best invention so far: hot Cheetos with pineapple pizza with a drizzle of hot sauce on top. A few times the combinations went so bizarre that people sitting around her would stare at her in wonder, internally gagging at the food she was devouring.

Ignoring Kate, who was still ranting in the background, Piya recalled her schedule for the day in mind.

She had nothing but lectures to attend at the University, a shift at the manes beauty studio, and maybe if she was able to steal some time out of her hectic schedule, manage a dinner with Kate and Adrien at a nice Indian restaurant. The thought of a good spicy lamb gravy with buttery garlic naan bread made her stomach rumble in hunger already.

After gobbling down her bizarre breakfast sandwich, Piya rushed to her room to get ready for the day.

Her wardrobe, though humble, was a treasure trove of mismatched pieces, each holding a story of its own. Among the faded t-shirts and worn-out jeans, Piya had managed to find a few hidden gems—a thrifted cherry red top with delicate lace trimmings, rescued from the depths of a second-hand store, and a pair of wide-leg jeans, lovingly patched up with colorful fabric swatches.

"These will do just fine," Piya whispered to herself, her heart swelling with pride at the thought of her carefully curated collection.

With a playful twirl, she slipped into her outfit, reveling in the way the fabric swished around her legs. She paused to adjust the fit, bouncing on her toes with a grin as she found the perfect balance between comfort and style.

Satisfied with her choice of outfit and fragrance, Piya turned her attention to her hair. She hastily gathered her chestnut locks into a high ponytail, securing it with a cherry-print scrunchie that added a playful touch to her look.

Next came the finishing touches. Piya reached for her favorite perfume. It was a simple glass bottle, its contents a pale amber hue that caught the light in the most enchanting way.

With a delicate label bearing the words "Vanilla Coco," it held a special place in Piya's heart. The fragrance, a delicate blend of vanilla and coconut, enveloped her in a warm embrace, teasing her senses with its sweet and sensual notes. Closing her eyes, Piya lifted the bottle to her neck and wrists, allowing the mist to caress her skin with its velvety touch.

"There! Now I'm ready to take on the day!" Piya announced to her reflection in the mirror, a radiant smile gracing her lips. With her backpack slung over her shoulder, Piya skipped out of her room, her heart brimming with excitement for the day that lay ahead.

~~~~~~

As Piya hurried along the sidewalk toward the university, her heart pounded with anxiety as she approached the busy intersection. Crossing the road was always a nerve-wracking experience for her, especially with the chaotic traffic buzzing around her. The honking of horns and the revving of engines filled the air, adding to her anxiety.

But today, she was determined to face her fear head-on.

Summoning every ounce of bravery she had, Piya approached the crosswalk, her hands clammy with nervousness as she waited for the traffic light to change.

Each passing second felt like an eternity as she stood there, her heart pounding in her chest. Finally, with a deep breath, she stepped onto the road, her eyes glued to the other side, willing herself to move forward.

"You can do this, Piya," she whispered to herself, trying to drown out the noise of the bustling street.

Her legs felt heavy, but she forced herself to take one step at a time, ignoring the chaos of the busy street around her. "Just a little further," she urged herself, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Just as she reached the middle of the road, a black Range Rover came barreling towards her, its tires screeching against the pavement .

Piya's heart leaped into her throat as she froze in place, her whole body tensing with fear. With a rush of adrenaline, she felt the wind of the car as it swerved past her, missing her by mere inches.

She let out a shaky breath, her heart still racing from the close call. Breathless and shaken, Piya stood rooted to the spot, her legs trembling beneath her.

The world seemed to spin around her as she tried to make sense of what had just happened.

"Th-that was too close," Piya muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as she clutched onto her backpack for support.

As the car screeched to a halt, Piya's heart skipped a beat.

With a loud bang, the driver flung open the door, and her doe eyes widened in shock as she looked up at him, feeling like a tiny mouse caught in the gaze of a hawk.

Her breath caught in her throat. The driver emerged from the car with an air of menace, his towering figure casting a shadow over her.

His silhouette seemed to loom larger than life, eclipsing the world around her in darkness. As he approached, Piya felt a wave of fear wash over her, like a cold breeze cutting through the warmth of the day.

His presence was overwhelming, dominating the space around her and leaving her feeling small and insignificant in comparison.

The driver's features were shrouded in the early morning shadow, his face obscured by the dim light of the street lamps. But even in the darkness, Piya could sense the intensity of his gaze, piercing through her with an unnerving intensity.

"You nearly got yourself killed, you foolish girl !" he thundered, his voice booming with anger as he loomed over the timid scared girl.