Wild Bonds

The intruder!

Jinx and Iris tensed and jolted in shock when they heard the knocking sound.

As though it wasn't odd enough that it didn't come from the door but from the balcony, it came right after the power was out too!

Shocked, concerned, and alarmed, they couldn't help but exchange glances as if trying to figure out from one another just what was going on.

At that point, Iris could sense some suspicion in Jinx's gaze at her, which left her defensive.

As if understanding her best friend's stance, Iris raised her mobile phone to show her that she hadn't done anything. She didn't even think about it before acting.

However, Jinx's frown deepened at this, ' Seriously? Does she really think I'm suspecting her of having ordered something? What delivery man does his job through the balcony? At this hour too!' She just couldn't believe Iris's gullibility. So much that she almost glared and lashed out at Iris.

Knock! Knock!

Nonetheless, hearing the knock coming once again, Jinx didn't linger too long on Iris and quickly shook her thought to focus on thinking about the situation at hand.

' There isn't any visitor we're expecting tonight. Definitely not under such a heavy rainstorm, and that too, coming through the balcony.' She rationalized within split seconds. They don't know much people around town, and definitely weren't related with anyone close enough to be allowed in through the balcony.

Iris and Jinx's eyes that glowed a golden ring and flickered in thought in the darkness were suddenly raised in a glance to pair at each other, conveying their suspicions at the same time!

' Burglars!?' Iris and Jinx's eyes widened in realization as they both came to a conclusion.

There's been rumors around the neighborhood about such attacks before, so this made them certain of the situation.

But that left a question. What sort of burglar would knock so politely when they could have just picked the lock and snuck in?

' They must be armed!' Jinx deduced.

Iris who shared the same thoughts as Jinx swallowed nervously and moved her gaze to stare at the softly flailing curtain by the balcony. Only the sliding glass door stood between them and this intruder.

A part of Iris still wondered, no... wished that they had only just misheard a knock at the balcony door.

Perhaps it was the wind and nothing more, maybe? maybe not?

Iris was scared in any case!

On the other hand, Jinx had already come to a resolve.

Feeling the need to take action, she shot a knowing glance at her friend who seemingly instantly understood.

Although still terrified, Iris forced herself to move, looking around in search of something to defend herself with. It didn't take too long for her to find the soft broom in the corner.

Jinx who was also the same, quickly grabbed the knife she was just using to chop the tomatoes and tucked it in her shorts behind her.

Jinx was now putting on a black silk spaghetti strap camisole and short. She seemed comfy in them.

She hastily moved to the cabinet above the oven and drew it open to grab a rolling pin. She turned to face Iris afterwards, only to pause seeing the state of her friend.

' Naked...' Jinx thought with her brows twitching at Iris who stood naked with the soft broom clenched to her chest.

Looking at Jinx in wait for her command, Iris seemed too petrified to even notice that she wasn't putting on anything.

' That'll work' Jinx decided to not say anything and gave a serious nod at Iris to indicate that she was just as armed enough and ready instead.

Jinx planned to catch the intruder or whoever it was by surprise, saving the doubts of whether it was someone familiar or not for later.

Iris nodded her head at this and slowly moved towards the glass sliding door of the balcony with Jinx in lieu behind her.

Crack!

Another lightning struck, and Iris couldn't help but pause in her step forward when she saw the silhouette of the intruder that was illuminated by the lightning just now.

It was only for a short moment, but it was enough to shake Iris. The fact that It's really an intruder!

Rumble!

She trembled in spot when the thunderclap came. However,

Thump!

Her racing heart calmed when she felt someone tap on her shoulder. She looked to the side to find Jinx giving her a bold reaffirming nod.

' That's right, she's here...' Iris nodded severally in thought. She'd always believed nothing could go wrong so long as Jinx was with her.

After a short while, Iris managed to muster enough courage to continue towards the balcony.

On getting to the balcony door, Jinx moved to the side and gave Iris a knowing glance.

She pointed for Iris to slide the balcony door open, to which the latter nodded in understanding and readied herself to do.

Iris pretty much understood just what Iris was aiming to do.

With just a broom in hand, Iris stood in front of the glass sliding door to the balcony. Her chest rose and fell heavily as she took deep breaths, while her pretty face donned a serious frown.

She shut her eyes tight for a second and heaved one last deep breath to brace herself. Almost instantly, she shot her eyes open and reached to yank the curtain aside with serious conviction, before sliding the door open.

Only to meet sight of a dark hooded figure, blending in perfectly with the stormy night.

His glowing golden-ringed eyes that shone resplendently in the dim darkness of the night under his hood paired with Iris's, causing the latter to freeze in shock.

It really is a burglar!

Although she was already prepared for it, nothing could prepare Iris enough for those petrifying gaze of his.

Those cold glint in the intruder's golden-ringed eyes left Iris terrified, and she froze in spot without a single thought. So much that she forgot that she was supposed to make use of the broom she had in hand to attack the intruder.

Her heart fell into dismay at the realization that she was facing an intruder, who could pretty much harm her!

Iris was stunned and confused as to how to act. Her mind went blank in the moment, and the only weapon she was supposed to defend herself with slipped out of her grip!

Thud!

However, she was jolted out of her stunned state and became alarmed when she saw a wooden staff swing into her view following a short grunt.

Bang!

Jinx who had struck the rolling pin at the intruder was surprised to see the intruder stopping it with his bare palm.

However, she didn't fret. She hadn't expected that her surprise attack with the rolling pin would be found out and stopped so easily, but she didn't expect that it would be all she'd need to fend off the intruder from the start anyway.

Besides, she doubted that this guy was a normal person. Jinx could tell from the golden glint in his eyes. But she wouldn't wait to find out.

Jinx pushed the rolling pin at the intruder, releasing her grasp on it, and causing the rolling pin to drop on the floor.

Without stopping to think, Jinx quickly reached behind her to grab the knife in her shorts. It was precisely for this moment that she had hidden it in her shorts beforehand.

Jinx wasn't mad that Iris just stood stunned and didn't do anything. In fact, she expected Iris to be like this.

Iris was extremely gutless, and Jinx well knowing this had only used her to deceive and bait the intruder into thinking Iris was alone. And since Iris was naked, she expected that the intruder would at least be caught in surprise when she attacked out of nowhere.

But it seemed that wasn't the case. The intruder saw right through her. As though he already knew Iris wasn't alone.

" Wait, wait, wait! I'm not here to cause you any trouble!" The intruder suddenly cried out loud, raising his hands in surrender when he saw the knife in Jinx's hands. His glinting eyes constricted and shook in trepidation as he slowly backed up to the railing of the balcony.

Jinx who had raised her kitchen knife and was ready to plunge it down at the intruder stopped midway hearing this. However, she didn't let her guard down. not even for a second.

She stared at the guy for a moment, looking him up and down as if to find any sign of falsity.

" What do you want?" After a while, Iris asked in a grim tone that carried heavy threat with her knife skillfully held in front of her against the intruder.

The guy looked from Jinx to Iris- who rattled behind the former, and then back to Jinx. He slowly moved his hands to remove his hood, revealing an angular face of a good-looking young adult illuminated by a small lightning crack. He seemed to be in his early twenties.

"Please, I need your help!" He begged.