"The

Thunder rumbled in the sky, and Thalassa jumped, landing on her butt and in total shock

She was at her old family home in the countryside, an old house surrounded by stacks of firewood and overgrown weeds. The room was pitch black, and she could hardly see a thing

Thalassa had been scared of the dark since she was a kid. Trying to keep her fear at bay, she fumbled her way towards the door, banging on it with all her might 1s anyone there? Open the door!"

All she could hear was the sound of the rain pouring down outside. No other sound. No response. She had come to fetch some firewood and had somehow ended up getting locked in!

The old house was completely sealed off with walls on all sides. The roof tiles were old and worn out, some even falling off from time to time. There was only one wooden door to get out, but try as she might, she just couldn't push it open.

"Kaboom. "Another clap of thunder, splitting the sky.

"Thud" Suddenly, something fell from above, crashing through the roof, causing a loud noise.

"Ahhi Thalassa screamed in fright.

The roof now had a gaping hole, and the rain was pouring in, lighting up the dark room with every flash of lightning.

Thalassa watched in horror as a man lay on the ground. It was him who had fallen through the roof! From the way he was curled up, it was clear he was in

pain

"Are you okay?" she asked, keeping her distance.

The man didn't respond. Had he died?

Thalassa's heart started to race. She slowly moved closer, trying to check if the man was breathing. All of a sudden, the man grabbed her hand.

Before she could scream, he had clamped his hand over her mouth. He held her from behind. The hand over her mouth felt a bit wet and smelled of blood

"Don't worry. I won't kill you" the man's voice was deep, filled with raw, primal power, and a hint of control he seemed to be losing. It even sounded a bit breathless.

Thalassa's eyes grew wide with fear. She nodded, signaling that she wouldn't scream. The man then moved his hand away from her mouth. The next thing she knew, he collapsed on the ground.

Thalassa acted quickly, catching him. But she also lost her balance and fell on top of him.

The next second-

Her lips accidentally brushed against his.

The man grunted, and his hot breath fanned her nose, filling the cold night with warmth.

"Save me, and I'll give you anything you want." The man's voice was rough, almost hoarse, as he whispered into Thalassa's ear.

1…uh…" Before Thalassa could respond, his lips were on hers

The sky was filled with flashes of lightning, illuminating their tangled bodies, casting shadows, and filling the air with raw passion.

After a while, Thalassa passed out

There was a loud noise from above. A helicopter was flying low. The man looked up at the sky. He knew the helicopter was here for him. Using the flash of lightning, he gently touched the woman's face next to him.

The light was weak, so he couldn't make out her face, but he could feel the warmth and softness of her skin. He took off the emerald pendant he was wearing around his neck and placed it in her hand. It was a family heirloom. "This is our token. You can find me with this."

He had to leave

Thalassa was still unconscious, and he was climbing up the ladder that dropped from the helicopter, leaving her behind.

When dawn broke. Thalassa woke up with a start. The events of the previous night flashed through her mind. The man's heavy, passionate breath echoed in her ears, making her cheeks burn.

Was she dreaming of such a risqué scenario?

She moved slightly, feeling sore all over. Looking at herself, her clothes were in disarray, barely covering her body.

That was when it hit her it wasn't a dream. It was real!

She looked around, but there was no one else. The man was gone!

She got up and dressed properly. There was a pool of blood on the straw floor; she wasn't sure if it was hers or his. The man had been hurt last night, and drugged. She could feel it. But she had lost her virginity in such a confusing and abrupt way.

She felt her eyes well up with tears. She looked up at the sky through the hole in the roof, trying to hold back her tears.

The sky was gradually getting brighter. The rain–washed sky was clear and cloudless, and the dawn was breaking, signaling a fresh start. But her mind was still stuck on the previous night, dark and stormy

She clenched her fist and felt something in her hand. It was an emerald pendant. Was this what the man left behind?

She threw the pendant on the ground angrily. He had taken her virginity and thought he could make up for it with a piece of jewelry?

A mix of anger and sadness filled her, giving her a sudden surge of strength. She picked up a large rock from the room and smashed the wooden door open. Her house was just a few meters away from the old house. She trudged through the muddy ground to get back home.

She pushed open the door, and what she saw made her head throb. Her boyfriend was in bed with her cousin!

Clothes were strewn all over the floor, and their arms were sticking out from under the covers. Her heart ached as if it had been sliced with a knife.

bleeding.

Her boyfriend, Leopold, whom she had been dating for two years in college, had suggested they visited her hometown during their summer break to meet her mother

She and Leopold were planning to get married, so she had agreed to bring him home. But she hadn't expected her mother would go visit a distant relative that very morning and wouldn't return until the next day. So, she had to entertain Leopold on her own. Her cousin had heard about Leopold's visit and had come over to help with the cooking.

After dinner, her cousin had insisted that she go fetch some firewood for a bath.

In the underdeveloped countryside, many families still used straw and firewood to heat water for bathing. She hadn't expected that the moment she stepped into the old house, where the firewood was stored, the door would be locked from the outside.

It was already dark, and she couldn't see anything after the door was closed. She also didn't have her phone with her. It started to rain heavily, and she couldn't get out

She had been mysteriously imprisoned, a stranger had taken her virginity, she was already physically and emotionally traumatized, and she had hoped to find consolation in Leopold's embrace. She might even cry a few tears. Who would've thought that he'd deal her a deathblow when she was at her most fragile!

Isabella was the first to wake up, screaming in surprise. "What the hell! Thalassa, let me explain. We got drunk last night, and I thought he was my boyfriend I just…"

Leopold was also jolted awake. He quickly took in the situation, seeing Thalassa in disarray next to him. He hurriedly threw on his clothes and stammered. Thalassa, I thought it was you last night…"

"Shut up!" Thalassa growled, tears streaming down her face like a faucet. "Let's break up!"

With that, she spun around and bolted out of the room. Leopold hastily got dressed and chased after her.

Thalassa ran towards the old house, intending to find the pendant and the man who needed to answer for this! But just as she entered the old house, which had been worn down by years of neglect and was washed out by last night's rain, it collapsed with a mighty "crash, bringing the neighboring old house down with it.

"Thalassa Leopold called out hoarsely.