The door swung open with a slow creak, the dim light from inside spilling out into the storm.

For a moment, all Natalya saw was the blinding sheet of rain, the swirling mist that made everything beyond the porch seem like a blurry dream. Then, as her eyes adjusted to the gloom, a figure stepped forward from the downpour.

A man.

Tall, drenched to the bone, his dark coat clinging to his frame like a second skin. His hair was soaked, hanging in wet strands around his face, and his breath came in ragged gasps, as if he'd been running, or struggling against the wind.

He wasn't carrying anything. No umbrella, no bag, just the desperate need for shelter that seemed to hang in the air around him.

He looked at her, his eyes wide with urgency, the kind of look that made her stomach twist. His eyes were dark brown in color.

"I—I'm sorry to bother you," his voice was hoarse, barely audible over the roar of the storm, but the words were clear enough. "My car... it broke down. Just a few yards away. I... I've been walking, and I couldn't get back to town. Please, I just need to get out of this weather." His voice cracked, the words desperate.

The man stepped closer, just barely within the threshold of the door, his presence pressing in.

Natalya hesitated, her heart hammering in her chest. He looked harmless enough, but there was something about him that set her on edge.

Something in the way he held himself, like he was waiting for something to happen, as if he was on the edge of something... darker.

She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat.

What was she supposed to say to him? She didn't know him. And yet, the storm, the pleading look in his eyes was hard to turn him away.

"Please, I—" He stopped as if suddenly realizing something, his gaze flicking nervously to the side, like he was afraid of being watched. "Can I just come in for a few minutes? Just until the storm calms down? I promise I will leave as soon as the storm calms down"

The cold wind gusted through the open door, sending a chill down her spine. She could almost feel the weight of the storm pressing in, both outside and inside her home.

With a breath that felt like it might be her last, she stepped aside, just a little. Enough to let him in.

The man stepped forward, his shoes squeaking on the wooden floor as he crossed the threshold, his wet clothes dripping onto the mat. Natalya closed the door behind him with a soft click, the sound unnervingly final.

He didn't immediately sit down or say anything further instead, he just stood there, taking deep, uneven breaths as if he couldn't quite shake the exhaustion from his body. The air between them felt thick with tension.

Natalya's mind raced as she observed him, trying to push past the discomfort building in her chest.

He wasn't dangerous, not on the surface at least, but there was something unsettling in the way he kept glancing over his shoulder, like he was expecting someone to follow him inside. His eyes, dark and intent, kept shifting nervously as though the storm outside wasn't the only threat he was worried about.

"Are you... are you alright?" she asked, her voice coming out quieter than she intended. She hadn't meant to sound so unsure, but his presence had an odd effect on her.

He nodded quickly, still catching his breath. "Yeah. I just... I just need to sit down for a minute," he murmured, his voice trembling. Then, as if remembering something, he glanced up, his gaze locking with hers. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."

"Natalya," she replied automatically, her instincts still pulling her back toward caution. "And you are...?"

The man hesitated, almost too long, before he gave a small nod. "Kane. Kane Stevens." He said it as if testing the name out on his own lips, then gave her a strained smile. "It's nice to meet you, under... well, these circumstances."

Natalya barely returned the smile, still unsure of what to make of him. She took a step back, folding her arms across her chest, trying to steady her racing thoughts. "You said your car broke down? Are you sure it's safe to be out there in this weather?"

"It's not." His voice was steady now, though still heavy with that undercurrent of urgency. "But it's... what else was I supposed to do? I couldn't just stay out there. The trees were swaying like crazy.." He trailed off, glancing down at his feet, then quickly back up at her.

Natalya's throat tightened. There was something in his tone, something she couldn't quite place.

"Where exactly was your car?" she asked, trying to keep her voice even.

Kane swallowed hard, his eyes darting toward the window, where the rain continued to lash against the glass.

"It's... just down the road. About a yard away, I think," he said, his voice becoming distant for a moment, like he was still lost in the memory of the storm's chaos.

A yard away?

He'd been walking through that storm for who knew how long. Her gaze flickered to the window again. The storm outside was relentless, the kind of tempest that could strip the bark off trees and turn roads into rivers.

There was no way he could have walked through that and survived without some kind of motivation or desperation.

But she couldn't ask any more questions. Not yet. She wasn't sure if she was ready to probe deeper.

"Alright," she said, her voice firmer than before. "You can sit down for a minute. I'll get you a towel."

Kane gave a slight nod, his eyes lingering on her, and before she could move, he spoke again.

"Would you, by any chance, have any clothes you could lend me?" His voice was hesitant, almost embarrassed, but the question hung in the air with unexpected weight. "Just something dry. I won't be long. Its fine if you don't have any"

Natalya hesitated, her hand resting on the doorframe.

Something in her twisted. Instinct or fear, she wasn't sure. The storm had brought him to her door, but now he was settling in, asking for clothes, warmth. It was all so... sudden.

Still, she nodded. "I might have something." Her voice was cautious, clipped. "My brother left some things upstairs."

Brother? The lie slipped out before she could think. She didn't have a brother. Maybe she did but who knows. But the words felt safer than the silence.

Kane offered a grateful smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thank you."

Natalya turned away, climbing the stairs with the weight of his gaze pressing between her shoulder blades. She didn't like it. She didn't like how quiet the house had become. Or how the wind outside seemed to scream louder now that he was inside.

Each step creaked underfoot, louder than it should have been. At the landing, she paused, listening just for a second. No movement below. No cough, no shuffling. Just silence and the soft hum of the storm clawing at the windows.

In the other room, she opened a drawer and pulled out a plain grey hoodie, a pair of old joggers and a towel. They belonged to no one in particular. Still, she folded them neatly, as if pretending they were her brother's made the lie more real.

She lingered a moment longer than she needed to.

When she descended the stairs, clothes in hand, the living room was empty.

The fire crackled. The door was still shut.

But Kane was gone.

"Kane?" she called out.

There was a beat of silence just long enough to settle unease in her chest before a sound came from the kitchen. The soft scrape of something against tile. Then footsteps.

He emerged from the doorway a moment later, his silhouette backlit by the dim light. His damp hair clung to his forehead, and his clothes looked heavier now, soaked through. In his hand, he held a half-empty glass of water.

"Sorry," he said, his voice low, almost sheepish. "I didn't mean to worry you. I was just... thirsty. Thought I'd help myself."

Natalya blinked. "Right. Of course."

He stepped closer, the glass making a soft clink as he set it on the table. "I hope that's okay."

She nodded slowly, forcing a tight smile. "Sure. Here." She extended the bundle of clothes, careful to keep a few feet of space between them. "These should fit."

Kane took them gently, his fingers brushing hers for a second too long. "Thank you," he said again, quieter this time. His gaze lingered, unreadable.

Then he stepped back, but didn't turn away.

"Your brother," he said after a pause. "He live nearby?"

Natalya's breath caught for just a fraction of a second.

"No," she said, quickly. "He's in the city. He said he will come as soon as the storm calms down."

Kane gave a slow nod, eyes still on her, as if weighing the words.

"The city," he echoed, like he was turning the idea over in his mind. "Must be hard. Being out here alone."

Natalya didn't answer right away. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly cold despite the fire behind her. "I manage."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The wind howled against the windows again, louder this time, angrier, almost. A tree branch scraped across the siding with a sound like nails on wood.

Kane finally looked away. "I'll go get changed," he said.

"Oh yeah sure.. bathroom's the second door to the left."

He turned, his footsteps retreating into the hall. She watched until he was out of sight, until the soft click of the door reached her ears.

Only then did she exhale, shaky and shallow.

Moving quickly, she crossed back into the living room, snatched up her phone from the table, and dialed Christian's number.

She pressed the phone to her ear, heart thudding but the line stayed silent.

Nothing.

Frowning, she glanced at the screen. The signal icon blinked, taunting her. No bars, no reception.

Of course. The storm.

She lowered the phone slowly, unease tightening around her like a noose.

Desperation flickered. She quickly typed a message to Christian, fingers trembling, hoping that somehow, someway, it would go through.

"Call me when you get this. Something's wrong. A man showed up in my porch asking for shelter."

But as soon as she hit send, the message failed to send. The little spinning icon disappeared, replaced by a cold, empty notification: Failed to send.

She cursed under her breath, frustration boiling over.

This storm was wrecking everything. Her connection to the outside world, her sense of control, her very reality. And this man, Kane, who had appeared out of nowhere, was still here, lingering in the shadows of her house, just as unpredictable as the storm outside.

She ran a hand through her hair, trying to steady herself, but her mind wouldn't stop spinning.

Something was off and she could feel it in her bones.

Word count- 1811