3RD PERSON'S POV
Zen sat in the dimly lit room, her eyes fixed on Noah. He was undeniably beautiful, a towering figure with a presence that could not be ignored. His hair, long and unkempt, framed a face that was both rugged and handsome, his beard thick and wild, adding to his almost feral appearance. Yet, his very presence was terrifying, an ominous shadow looming over her, exuding an air of danger and unpredictability.
The room seemed to shrink around them, the silence heavy and oppressive. Noah sat silently, his eyes vacant yet piercing, as if he didn't care about where he was or what was happening around him. His sheer size and the aura of raw power he emitted made Zen feel small and vulnerable.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. Memories of Noah as a violent child surged back, memories she had tried to bury but now resurfaced with brutal clarity. She remembered Aunt Sarisa—Noah's mother—and the sorrow that had haunted her. Aunt Sarisa had tried to love and guide Noah, despite his darkness. And now, as Zen looked at him, she wondered how much of that darkness still lingered within him.
Noah's silence was unnerving, his stillness almost predatory. Zen felt a shiver run down her spine as she stood up, deciding to give Noah a bath. She hoped that by cleaning him up, she might be able to reach the person beneath the grime and wild exterior. She filled the tub with warm water, the steam rising and mingling with the cool air of the bathroom, creating an ethereal mist.
"Noah," she called softly, guiding him to the bathroom. He moved as if in a daze, his steps slow and deliberate. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was leading a wild animal, one that could lash out at any moment. Her hands trembled slightly as she began to undress him, her eyes catching glimpses of the taut muscles beneath his dirty clothes. He was undeniably strong, his body a testament to years of physical labor or perhaps something more primal.
As she scrubbed the dirt from his skin, Zen's mind wandered to Aunt Sarisa. Why had she hanged herself? Aunt Sarisa had always seemed strong, a pillar of support despite the chaos around her. Zen couldn't reconcile the image of the loving woman who had taken her in with the tragic end she had met. The water turned murky as the dirt and grime washed away, revealing Noah's skin, marred with scars and old wounds.
"Why did you do it, Aunt Sarisa?" Zen whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the sound of the water. "What pushed you to that point?"
Noah remained silent, his eyes closed as if he were asleep. But Zen knew better. She could feel the tension in his muscles, the restrained energy that seemed to hum just beneath the surface. She finished washing him and helped him out of the tub, wrapping him in a towel. As she led him back to the room and dressed him in clean clothes, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was dressing a wolf in sheep's clothing.
After settling Noah into a chair, Zen sat across from him, studying his face. He was a grown man now, but the traces of the boy he had been were still there, hidden beneath the layers of time and hardship. She wondered if he remembered her, if he remembered the cruelty he had inflicted on others, including herself.
"Noah," she said softly, trying to reach him. "Do you know where you are? Do you remember me?"
His eyes flickered open, and for a moment, Zen thought she saw a spark of recognition. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by the same vacant stare. The silence between them was thick with unspoken words, the air heavy with the weight of their shared past.
Zen sighed, feeling a wave of frustration and sadness wash over her. She didn't know what to do, how to help him. But she couldn't abandon him. Not now, not after everything that had happened. As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, a sudden realization struck her. Maybe the answers she sought about Aunt Sarisa's death were tied to Noah. Maybe understanding him would help her understand the woman who had loved them both.
The night deepened, shadows creeping across the room as the hours ticked by. Noah's presence was a constant reminder of the past, of the darkness that had overshadowed their lives. Zen couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his story, that beneath the wild exterior lay secrets that could unlock the mysteries surrounding Aunt Sarisa's death.
"Noah," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What happened to you? What happened to Aunt Sarisa?"
For the first time, Noah's eyes seemed to focus on her, the vacant stare replaced by something deeper, something darker. Zen felt her breath catch in her throat as he leaned forward, his sheer size and presence overwhelming. He was like a force of nature, beautiful and terrifying all at once. But he remained silent, his lips tightly sealed as if he couldn't find the words or simply chose not to speak.
The silence between them stretched on, growing more oppressive by the second. Zen felt her frustration mounting. She needed answers, needed to understand the darkness that had consumed their lives. But Noah's silence was an impenetrable barrier, one that she didn't know how to breach.
"Please, Noah," she begged, her voice breaking. "I need to understand."
Noah's gaze softened, a flicker of the boy he once was shining through. He raised a hand slowly, pointing to his throat, and then shook his head. Zen's eyes widened in realization. He couldn't speak. The darkness he carried was not just within his mind but had also taken his voice.
Zen felt tears prick her eyes, the frustration and fear overwhelming. She had come so far, endured so much, and now she was faced with the one person who could give her the answers she sought. But he was a riddle wrapped in an enigma, a terrifyingly beautiful puzzle she couldn't solve.
As the night wore on, Zen found herself drawn deeper into Noah's world, a world shrouded in mystery and darkness. She couldn't shake the feeling that the answers she sought were just out of reach, tantalizingly close yet impossibly distant.
"Noah," she whispered, her voice a plea. "Help me."
Noah's eyes bore into hers, a storm of emotions swirling within them. For a moment, Zen thought he might break, might finally reveal the secrets he held so tightly. But then, just as quickly, the storm passed, and the vacant stare returned.
Zen felt a wave of despair wash over her, the hope she had clung to slipping away. But she couldn't give up, not now. She would find the answers she sought, no matter how deep she had to dig, no matter how dark the path became.
As the first light of dawn began to filter through the curtains, Zen made a silent vow. She would uncover the truth, would piece together the puzzle of Aunt Sarisa's death and Noah's darkness. And in doing so, she hoped to find some measure of peace, some way to heal the wounds that had scarred their lives.
Noah watched her silently, his presence a constant reminder of the darkness that lay ahead. Zen knew the journey would not be easy, knew that the answers she sought might bring more pain than relief. But she was determined, her resolve stronger than ever.
"One way or another," she whispered to herself, "I'll find the truth."
And with that, she rose from her chair, ready to face whatever lay ahead. Noah's eyes followed her, a silent promise of the challenges to come. Zen felt a shiver run down her spine, but she squared her shoulders, ready to confront the darkness that had haunted them for so long.
The room was bathed in the pale light of dawn, the shadows retreating as a new day began. Zen knew the journey would be long, the path fraught with danger and uncertainty. But she was ready, her heart steeled against the challenges that lay ahead.
As she looked at Noah one last time, she felt a spark of hope ignite within her. She would find the answers she sought, would unravel the mystery that had consumed their lives. And in doing so, she hoped to find some measure of redemption, some way to heal the wounds that had scarred them both.
Noah's presence was a constant reminder of the darkness that lay ahead, but Zen was no longer afraid. She was ready to face the truth, no matter how terrifying it might be. And with that, she stepped into the light, ready to confront the shadows that had haunted her for so long.
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