Out of the World

5. A perfect stranger

Nina

The first thing that came to my mind was to try to kick him in his babymakers, and run for my life. My eyes moved down to the place between his legs, seeing the outline of his member, I gulped hard. That was scary! But I knew I could kick that big thing. First of all, I was small like a minion in comparison to him, and my kick would only make him laugh or get aggressive. On top of that, for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to hurt him.

“Help! Please, someone help!!” I yelled, looking around.

I couldn’t understand myself. This guy was clearly nuts, completely crazy. Yet he didn’t scare me. Somewhere inside me, I knew that he was not dangerous, even though my mind told me to scream ‘bloody murder.’

He must be on drugs, he was not making any sense, this whole situation wasn’t making any sense. I felt quite bad for him, the feeling of sorrow and worry was creeping into my insides, making me feel something unfamiliar, which I couldn’t even name. That was a rather odd and strong reaction for someone like me, who is used to lots of sh.it happening.

Anyway, my heart ached for him. It was quite sad since he seemed to have it all: he was crazily gorgeous, polite, had this natural charm, the most beautiful and deep green eyes, that killer body with more muscles per square meter than I’ve seen in real life. But he was ruining his own life, so young! He could have such a bright future ahead; I think he still could if he went for help soon.

Poor Zorion… had no clue of what reality was anymore.

My heart was urging me to comfort him, help him myself. But my rational side obviously opposed it. I knew nothing about drug addicts, and I also knew nothing about Zorion.

It was all very sad. But also, very dangerous. Hell, who knew what he could do next? Get aggressive or try something?

Taking a few steps further, I snapped out of thoughts and looked around again. Luckily, I saw two police officers nearby. A deep sigh left my nose as relief washed over me. Dream-guy would find a way to deal with his nightmares, and I would be able to get back to my real life. “Help, police! Help!” I yelled again, running towards the officers.

“This man, this stranger is following, stalking me! Harassing me and saying a bunch of nonsense… I think he is under the influence of something…” I said between pants, my lungs exhausted and anxiety stretching my nerves thin.

“Ma’am, please calm down…” one of the officers started. A frown formed on my face, I hated it when they did this, and down talked you, dismissed your complaints. It was always like that when something happened in the orphanage — I had to calm down. And nothing ever happened.

“He is stalking me! He wants to take me somewhere! Kidnap me!” I told the guards. Zorion didn’t move, he didn’t try to run away or anything, he only looked at me with eyes wide open. Was that hurt in his eyes? Sorry, Buddy! But that would be best for you too, and you would get some treatment.

“Nina, please…”

“Do you know him, Ma’am?” the guard asked, narrowing his eyes at me and looking at me from head to toe as if I was the one doing something wrong.

“Yes, she does!” Zorion exclaimed, taking a few steps closer.

“No! I don’t! He is a stranger!” A perfect stranger who happened to be perfectly crazy.“He’s probably on drugs or something…” I added.

He was trouble. He might be dangerous. He was insane. Red flags everywhere. Yet something inside me didn’t believe any of that. Maybe his craziness was contagious.

“Hands up where we can see them,” One of the officers commanded Zorion and he did as he was told.

My jaw fell. How could he look this calm while being arrested? He was indeed a nutcase or maybe he had a lot of money and a very good lawyer. The guard handcuffed him and started tugging him away.

“Nina… I could easily vanish away from the dungeon or wherever they are taking me… but I won’t! I will wait for you there…until you believe me, until you come to talk to me…Nina…”

“He is truly crazy.” The officer that was escorting Zorion muttered with a sneer, shaking his head.

“He is high,” The other officer added.

Their comments made me feel… angry at them. Geez… I was beyond confused!

A sigh left my lungs as I sat on the stairs by the door of an apartment building, covering my face with my hands. When he touched my arm at the door of the café, I had a flashback of last night; of every time men in the club touched me. I hated being touched.

Although Zorion’s touch didn’t feel like anything else… It felt like magic, a connection. Exactly as he said, I felt it.

I felt the tingles. I felt the connection. I felt as if I had seen my home for the first time.

After a homeless life of loneliness.

A chuckle let me. Maybe I was insane too, we are two of a kind.

“Ma’am, please come with me. You have to go to the police station to formalise your complaint.” The guard's voice brought me back to reality and nodding, I stood up.

The officer led me to his car. I couldn’t stop thinking about Zorion’s words and the truth in them.

I felt the sparkles, the connection.

Something stirred inside me once I saw him, expanding even further when our skin touched.

I felt it all. But it was impossible, not to mention insane.

He said he would wait for me, wait to talk to me.

My breath caught in my throat. He was just manipulating me and only told me so I wouldn't press charges . That was it, right? That was what my rational side told me.

But now my emotional side, my intuition and illogical part, the part of me that normally only manifests itself in my paintings, my art, was screaming. It was telling me to believe him. It was begging me to talk to him, be close to him.

A deep exhale left me. We had already arrived at the police station and the officer escorted me inside.

“What will happen?” I asked nervously, fidgeting with a rogue lock of my hair that escaped my messy bun.

“You don’t have to be nervous, ma’am. We will hear your complaint and fill out the official report. It will only take a few minutes and then you’re free to go.”

It wasn’t what I meant. “What will happen to him? To Zorion?”

The officer narrowed his eyes at me, as he placed his hand under his chin. As if he was studying me. As if he was studying a suspect.

In what kind of mayhem I was placing myself now?

“You’re asking about the young man that allegedly stalked and assaulted you?” He sounded suspicious, but there was a note of humor in the undertone of his voice.

“He didn’t assault me! He only stalked me and told me he wanted to take me somewhere...” I caught myself saying. It would be hilarious if I was the one who ended up being arrested today. I sighed at this thought. That was all I didn't need!

“Yes... what will happen to him?” I asked.

“My colleague is currently listening to his version of the facts. Afterwards, he will decide what to do with him.”

“Will he be arrested?” The idea of it brought a strangling sensation to my chest as if I was short of air. Geez, I was as crazy as him!

“Possible, ma’am. Now please, come with me. We’ve to fill out the report.”

“Can I think about it... have a glass of water...”

The officer shook his head in frustration and impatience. “I’ll ask someone to bring you water. Please, follow me.”

My head nodded half-absently, and doing as he said, we entered a small office. I sat on the seat he pointed to, and he left the room after huffing. While I was waiting for the officer to come back with my glass of water, I once again got lost in my thoughts.

Taking my old cell phone from my purse, I texted my boss at the Café Noisette, saying that I wouldn’t be able to make it on time today, but I would compensate later. I hoped he would understand after I explained the situation. The officer was taking some time to come back, so I opened the reading app, Dreame, to read one of my favorite books, Flatline; it’s a realistic story, not a fairy tale BS. That’s what I need, reality. I had to come snap back to reality and stop thinking about him and his words.

~ * ~

Zorion

The officer asked me some questions and even examined me ‘for signs of substance abuse,’ as they call it, before placing me in this cell. They also told me that since I looked clean, I could bail myself out of here. Since it was considered a minor offence, it would all end up at most in a restraining order, if the young lady’s complaint managed to convince any bored judge.’ Those were the officer’s exact words.

After looking around the empty cell, I took a seat, placing my elbows on my knees. Lena would laugh when I told her I ended up in a human dungeon. My eyes roamed around, the chains were thin and scarce. This dungeon looked so easy to break that even a Pixie would manage to run out of here without having to catch their breath.

Their work wasn’t really effective in protecting the people of this realm; If I were truly threatening her, she would still be in danger and helpless, which only fueled my urge to protect her myself. To keep any harm from reaching my beautiful mate.

Shaking my head, I recalled what happened. I told them that I didn't want any bail, and that I had nothing to say to them, only to Nina, and that I was waiting for her. One of them sneered at me and tried to convince me to reconsider it, but nothing would change my mind. The officers surely thought that I was crazy. Due to my enhanced senses, I could hear their snickering and comments after they left me here.

Adjusting myself in my seat, I tried to make myself comfortable. Maybe I would have to wait for a long time, but I would remain here, waiting as I told her I would. That was my only chance to talk to her, having her hearing me out. That was my way to win her trust. She felt it too, even though she was human she felt our bond. It was clear in her eyes as she pushed her hand away; the way her beautiful eyes opened widely, told me everything her lips wouldn’t. I only hoped she would admit to herself that she felt it; the sparks, the connection, the magic and magnetic attraction, and she would come to see me. For all of that, I would wait for her.

If I opened a portal to get away from this place and went to her place to try to talk to her another day, she would be even more certain that I was an insane stalker.

The bond was strong, maybe she didn’t feel it as much as me because she was human, and because we were in a Realm without magic.

So, it might take longer, be harder, but the mate bond will work its magic and bring her to me.

And I would wait for her.

My dad waited centuries to find my mum, his mate. Why couldn’t I wait some days for Nina?

I looked around my cell, there were two human males in the cell beside mine. They were sitting in the other corner, as far away from me as possible. They didn’t say anything or even dared to look up at me. It was an involuntary effect of my aura and the power rolling off me.

Taking a sharp exhale, I recalled her sweet smell of snow and cherry blossoms; it was the only thing that could bring me some peace. All the wait would be worth it, everything was surely worth it as long as I could be close to you, looking at your eyes, my Nina.