In to the abyss

*Chapter 4: Into the Abyss*

Sophia couldn’t move. Her mind raced, her heart hammered in her chest. *A vampire?* The words reverberated in her head, mocking her disbelief. Everything she thought she knew, everything that had felt real, was now shattered in an instant.

Damian’s eyes never left hers, his expression unreadable, but there was an undeniable urgency in his gaze. His presence was overwhelming, like the world around them was shrinking, and only he existed.

“You’re not lying,” Sophia said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. She wasn’t sure why she said it, but somehow, she believed him. Deep down, something inside her told her he was telling the truth, even though her rational mind screamed that it was impossible.

Damian’s grip on her wrist loosened, but he didn’t step back. Instead, he took a deep breath, his eyes softening. “I’ve been trying to protect you from this world, from *them*. But it’s too late now. They know about you.”

Sophia shook her head, still trying to process everything. *They know about her?* Who was he talking about? “Who? Who knows about me?”

“The other vampires,” he said, his tone darker now. “The ones who don’t care about the rules. The ones who will stop at nothing to get what they want. And what they want... is you.”

A chill ran down her spine. “Why me?”

Damian took a step closer, his voice low and serious. “Because you’re special, Sophia. I don’t fully understand it, but there’s something about you. Something... different. I can feel it. They can, too.”

Sophia’s breath quickened. “What does that mean? What do you want from me?”

“I don’t want anything from you,” he said urgently, his eyes filled with a mix of pain and resolve. “I just need to keep you safe. If they find out what you are, what you could be, they’ll use you. They’ll *destroy* you.”

Sophia recoiled at his words. “What *could* I be?” she whispered, barely able to breathe.

Damian’s gaze flickered with something unreadable, but it was quickly replaced by a protective fierceness. “I don’t have all the answers, but I know you’re in danger. That’s why I’ve kept my distance—because I knew they were watching you, waiting for the right moment to strike.”

Her mind was a whirlwind of questions, none of them making sense. Vampires? Danger? *Her?*

“I don’t understand,” she whispered. “What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to survive this?”

Damian stepped closer again, and this time, there was a warmth to his touch when he reached for her hand. “You don’t have to do anything, Sophia. You just need to trust me. I’ll protect you, but we can’t stay here. We need to leave the city—*now*.”

Sophia’s heart raced again, but this time, there was no hesitation. Deep down, she knew that she couldn’t ignore the pull between them. There was something undeniable about Damian. Something that called to her, no matter how dangerous he might be.

But before she could respond, a loud crash echoed from the front of the store, making both of them freeze. Damian’s expression darkened instantly, his body going rigid as he pulled her toward the back door.

“*They* found us,” he said through clenched teeth. “We have to go. Now.”

Sophia didn’t have time to process what was happening before Damian took her hand and led her out the back, his steps swift and purposeful. Her mind was a blur, a thousand thoughts racing through her head, but one thing was clear: her life was no longer her own.

She was trapped in a world she didn’t understand, with a vampire who claimed to protect her. But even as the panic started to rise in her chest, she couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of calm in his presence. She had no idea where they were going or what came next, but she knew that she couldn’t run anymore. The danger was real, and she was already too deep into this new reality to turn back.

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