A Fated Meet?

Scarlett accepted her defeat at the hands of the universe and she knew there was no escape anymore, she approached Dante memorizing the words that were to come out of her mouth.

Scarlett tried to remain calm but then she saw the book that he was reading and her calm demeanor broke almost instantly.

"IS THAT AN ORIGINAL COPY OF HEART OF DARKNESS!?" Scarlett geeked out, startling Dante.

Dante raised his eyes from the book and looked at an excited Scarlett before muttering.

"Who the hell are you?" He tried his hardest to mimic the tone in which Scarlett delivered the message but he failed horrendously.

"Hahaha! Very funny!" Scarlett fired back as Dante chuckled.

"I see you're a fan of literature?" Dante questioned, tapping the space beside him, telling her it is okay to sit and Scarlett did just that.

"Yes! I love this book but I could only get my hands on digital copies!!" Scarlett nagged.

"Tell me, what is your favorite quote?" Dante's voice was soft and welcoming, Scarlett instinctively felt like she could be herself around him without restraint but she knew what might happen if her radar was off.

"We live as we dream, alone…" Scarlett said with a satisfied look on her face but Dante clasped his book shut gently as he tilted his head towards the sun, the rays engaging his hypnotic eyes as Scarlett only now realized just how handsome Dante truly was.

"Do we really dream and die alone?" Dante asked Scarlett, he wanted to know her take on what she had just quoted.

"I don't think I agree, it is morbid to say the least because I know my family is what keeps me going, I'm not alone and even though I will lose them one day, the experience we shared will live on in me," Scarlett was surprised she had met a man that actually wanted to listen to her opinion.

The kind of men she was used to typically confessed their "love" after seven days without knowing a single thing about her but this man felt different, there was something refined about him.

Dante smiled, this answer clearly pleased him.

"It was written I should be loyal to the nightmare of my choice," Dante blurted out, tilting his head to look Scarlett right in the eyes. This time, she held his gaze but she could feel her heart pounding for some reason as Dante didn't say another word for a good five seconds until Scarlett inevitably looked away.

"Do you suppose that nightmare was a woman he fancied?" Dante asked, but Scarlett's defensive mechanism had kicked in.

Scarlett felt something on her chin, it was Dante's hand tilting her head in his direction.

"I think he was talking about a woman, he knew she wasn't good for him but he wanted her all the same. Have you ever wanted someone that intensely?" Dante asked, his red eyes looking even more hypnotic than they did moments ago.

Scarlett became flustered because she couldn't explain whatever it was she was feeling at that moment but this was a little more intense than she would have liked.

"H-hahaha!" Scarlett awkwardly laughed, Dante's hand was still on her face and Scarlett backed away.

She tried to douse the fire that was about to start because she didn't know what territory she was about to enter.

"I'm Dante," Dante officially introduced himself to Scarlett who reciprocated.

"I'm Scarlett, it's been nice meeting you.." Scarlett said; she didn't expect him to be this charming.

Attractive people didn't need to work on a personality to be liked or get sexual partners so Dante being as good-looking as he was with a strong and charismatic personality to boot, caught her off-guard.

Scarlett tried to peel away but Dante handed her the book in his left hand, the book was clearly vintage but the condition was impeccable.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS!?" Scarlett once again threw away her composed facade and excitedly took the book from Dante's hand.

"THANK YOU SO MUCH DANTE!" Scarlett thanked him, she was giddy and in this century he has lived in, this was the first time he has seen someone so happy to receive a book.

"I enjoyed talking to you Scarlett, I'm certain we will meet again soon," Dante said as he slowly got up from the bench and walked away.

Scarlett was frozen in place, holding the book like it was a breakable object before she knew Dante was out of sight.

"Crap! I didn't ask for his number!" Scarlett had forgotten to ask him for it but would he have mistaken it as her coming onto him if she did?

Giving it a second thought, she was glad she didn't because she came to college to focus on her studies.

She has read enough novels and watched even more movies to know what heartbreak does to a person.

She wasn't ready to sacrifice her grades for this, she survived in high school without a romantic partner, and she was certain she could survive in college.

"Did he really give me the book?" Scarlett thought, she flipped through the pages and she grunted the moment she saw the page.

"That crafty man," Scarlett smiled to herself, if this was his way of picking up ladies then he nailed it.

Dante had written his phone number in the book and Scarlett understood what he meant when he said he was certain they would meet again.

This little conversation held more meaning than most conversations she has had since enrolling in this school but now, it was time for her to rest up.

Scarlett returned to her dorm.

-

In the hospital that the student of the attack was taken to, the individual didn't make it and as a matter of fact, died from the wound he had gotten.

The doctors had called in his time of death and had already transported his body to the morgue on the lower floor.

But was he truly dead?