The faint thud of footsteps on my porch sent my heart racing. I could sense him—his energy was magnetic, unlike anything I'd known. It felt thick and tangled as if he were deliberately hiding his identity. A power that was strong enough to conceal or distort his energy radiated from him—an ability I'd never witnessed anyone manage before. Other than myself, of course. Despite being both impressed and frightened by this strength, I was unsettled knowing that he had the power to fool me.
I hear him stop. So, why am I not more afraid? Why does he make me feel like we know each other?
I stood with my ear against the door, listening for any sound on the other side. I couldn't make out anything, so I stepped back and peered through the peephole. The bright morning sun blurred my vision, but I could distinguish his outline in front of me. He had a tall, imposing frame draped in a hoodie that concealed his face. He didn't move an inch and seemed to stare directly at me as if he knew I was watching him. My heart began to race; could this be the same man who rescued me a few weeks ago? How was it possible for him to find me here?
Suddenly, he speaks, his voice low and welcoming as if he understood why I would be ready to defend myself.
"I won't hurt you."
I again pressed my ear against the door, straining to hear his breathing. It was shallow but steady. My heart raced with a desperate need to see and know him. Was this attraction? Obsession? I reached for the handle and twisted it slowly, but he slammed the door shut from the other side when I heard the latch click open. My hand recoiled as if burned by the door knob.
"Are you stupid!" He yelled.
I stumbled backward, my heart hammering in my chest. I was tempted to throw the door open to catch a glimpse of him, but I knew it could be catastrophic. I wanted to see him—no, I needed to know what his face looked like—so severely that I could feel its tug on my soul.
"Never open this door to strangers! I know you live alone. You may not need it, but I've left food here. There are hunters on your property. I'll get rid of them; they are drunk and not human. Dangerous for a young woman alone in the woods with your abilities. Please don't go out for a while. They may come back. Count to 120, then come out to get the food before the animals carry it away."
"Food? What? wait!"
My pulse raced, and my palms began to sweat as I heard his voice drift away. My body wanted to turn away from the door, but my desire to catch a glimpse of this mysterious stranger held me in place. I felt like an electrical current was coursing through me, so powerful that it almost made it difficult for me to breathe. His words filled me with a heady mix of fear and curiosity. Rich with inquisitiveness, I slowly stepped away from the door until my back settled against it. More than anything, all I wanted was to trust him, feel his presence, and see his face. But, more disturbing, I wanted desperately to hear his voice again.
Weighing out all the horror that could come from my nagging curiosity, I hesitated for only a moment, trying to quell the alarm bells ringing in my head. Despite the warning, I flung open the door, only to find that he had vanished.
"Do you know me?" I whispered.
"Not yet."
His voice echoed across the trees, and I couldn't help but wonder how he had heard me. It amazed me how a few whispered words could turn my world upside down in mere moments. My body felt electric—more alive than I had ever felt. How could this stranger stop my heart?