"I don't think you should blame them," she said, her voice a soft murmur. "I think they see things in me, things that make them think I'm against you. They see my flaws, they hear the things I say, and they jump to conclusions. But trust me, they're just seeing things from their own perspective. They don't understand."
Daniel was struggling to make sense of her words. He could hear her, but her meaning was lost in a fog of confusion.
"I still don't understand what you're trying to say," he admitted.
She reached out, her fingers gently tracing the lines of his hand. Their eyes met, a spark igniting in the depths of their gaze.
"When you look into someone's eyes," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "you can see the truth. You can see the pain, the fear, the desperation. Even when they're insulting you, mocking you, or pushing you away, you can see the truth in their eyes. You can see that they need help, that they're just hurting and lashing out. Look into my eyes, Daniel, and tell me if I really meant the things I said earlier."
Daniel stared at her, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew she was right. He'd seen it in the eyes of countless people he'd tried to help. He'd seen the pain, the fear, the desperation. He'd seen the truth. And he'd walked away. He'd abandoned them, all because he was afraid of the pain they inflicted. He was afraid of their words, their accusations, their anger.
"You're right," he finally whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I've been wrong. I've been blind."
"You see," she continued, her voice gaining strength, "when you were trying to help me back there at the street, when Mark was pushing me around, I actually did support him. I had to. But there's something you need to know about these guys. They're dangerous. I'm still at risk. Every time I'm here, I'm putting myself in danger. But I'm grateful for people like you, people who see the truth."
She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with the effort. "You see, Daniel, sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do. We have to say things we don't mean. We have to protect ourselves, even if it means hurting others. But deep down, we all need help. We all need someone to see the truth, someone to understand, and people like you are the only ones who could understand."
"What am I even saying?" she murmured, her voice filled with a strange mix of confusion and conviction. "People like you? No, there's nobody like you anywhere else in this city. It feels like everyone is corrupted, like people don't help each other anymore. But I believe with your help, our society could be better. And again..."
Her gaze locked onto his, a plea in her eyes. Then, with a soft sigh, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.
The kiss was gentle, a whisper of desire and gratitude. Daniel hesitated, caught off guard by the sudden intimacy. He pulled back, his heart pounding in his chest.
"I... I think you really need to eat your food," he said, his voice a little shaky. "You need to get some rest. You're weak. Let's see how you feel in the morning. Don't worry about anything else. I'm here for you, okay?"
Kate nodded, her eyes filled with a quiet understanding.
"My name is Kate, by the way," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"I'm Daniel," he replied, a warmth spreading through him.
He continued to feed her, watching as she ate with a ravenous hunger. Once she finished, he led her to the bedroom, the only room in his small, self-contained house. It was a simple place, a sanctuary in the heart of the woods. He had once dreamed of a bigge⁷r, better apartment, a life filled with luxury and comfort. But those dreams had been stolen from him, stripped away by the forces that sought to destroy him.
He held onto this place, this tiny haven, with fierce determination. It was hidden deep within the woods, a secret refuge from the darkness that hunted him. He'd outsmarted his enemies, evaded their traps, and managed to keep this place safe. It was his last stand, his last bastion of hope.
The woods were his sanctuary, a place where he could breathe, where he could feel safe, where he could be himself. He knew he couldn't stay here forever, but for now, it was his home, a place where he could heal, a place where he could find solace, a place where he could finally find peace, he could have lived in the city but the city, with its bustling crowds and watchful eyes, might have seemed like the safest option. After all, everyone would know where to find him. But the truth was, the city was also a place of danger. Anyone could attack him, anyone could break into his home, and the police, with their own corrupt ways, could easily turn against him. It was a risk he wasn't willing to take. He needed to be hidden, out of sight, and that's why he had chosen to stay in this secluded cabin. He knew the real enemy was aware of his location, but he hoped they wouldn't find him here.
So, while Kate slept peacefully in her room, he stayed vigilant, guarding the house from the outside. He couldn't sleep knowing that he was a double target – both for the people who wanted to harm him and for those who sought to capture Kate. He was the only one who could protect her, and he wouldn't let her down. All night, he kept watch, pacing the grounds, his senses on high alert. The first rays of dawn finally broke, and he allowed himself to drift into a deep sleep. He knew that the danger was greatest at night, when the shadows hid the attackers' intentions. While they might come for him in the morning, it was far less likely than under the cover of darkness.
He had only slept for a few hours when he woke up, feeling refreshed but still weary. He knew he needed to be alert and prepared for whatever the day might bring. He had a visitor, and he wondered if she was awake yet. He could hear no sound from her room, so he assumed she was still sleeping. He decided to rest a little longer, just an hour or two, before he started his day.
He sank onto the couch, his body immediately surrendering to the comfort of sleep. He had been so exhausted from the night's vigil that he drifted off almost instantly, his mind fading into the depths of unconsciousness. He was a man who had been through a lot, and he deserved a little peace. He was sure that when he woke up, he would be ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
He had only been asleep for a short while, maybe not even thirty minutes, when a sharp knock on the door jolted him awake. He was a light sleeper, always alert, and he sprang up instantly, though his eyes were still heavy with sleep. He stumbled to the door and flung it open, blinking against the sudden light. He saw a group of policemen standing there, and to his surprise, Mark was with them.
Daniel was stunned. Mark was the one who had committed domestic violence against Kate, yet here he was, calling the police on him. How did he even know Kate was here? It seemed impossible, but then again, Mark had always been a cunning manipulator. Could this be a trap? Was this all part of some elaborate plan to get him arrested?
He looked at Mark, searching for any sign of guilt or remorse, but all he saw was a smug smile. Daniel knew Mark was capable of anything, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
"Sorry, why the surprise visit?" Daniel asked, his voice laced with suspicion. "What's going on?"