NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: Melody of the Abyss
The hours passed slowly on that gray morning. Despite the warmth Irina had felt in Dmitri's arms the night before, she couldn't ignore the questions tormenting her mind. She sat alone on the dark leather couch, trying to make sense of what was happening.
The large windows mirrored the overcast sky, reflecting her mental state—chaotic, tangled, and unclear. She thought of every word Dmitri had said, every touch, every kiss, and every glance filled with a cryptic promise she couldn't decipher.
Irina (to herself): "Who is Dmitri, really? Why does it feel like I'm falling into an endless abyss?"
On the table in front of her sat a half-empty bottle of wine and an unused glass. She considered pouring herself a drink, hoping to numb her thoughts, even for a moment. But before she could, Dmitri entered the room, his deep voice breaking the silence.
Dmitri: "You think too much, Irina. Overthinking can kill you."
He was wearing a black shirt with the collar open, revealing part of his chest. His dark hair was neatly combed, though it looked like his fingers had run through it several times. His eyes glimmered with a familiar darkness that evoked both anxiety and intrigue.
He approached her slowly, his steps nearly soundless, like a ghost gliding across the room. He sat beside her, close enough for her to feel the heat of his body.
Dmitri (with a faint smile): "Do you want to run away from me? Or do you want to drown deeper in my world?"
Irina looked directly at him, as if trying to read his face, but, as always, she couldn't reach the depths of his soul.
Irina (with a trembling voice): "Dmitri, you make me feel like I'm losing myself. All I want is to understand you. Who are you? What do you really want from me?"
Dmitri smiled enigmatically, a smile that carried many meanings but revealed nothing. He took her hand, his fingers gently tracing her skin.
Dmitri (in a low voice): "I'm just a man who saw something different in you. Something I couldn't resist."
He slowly led her toward the window, where the dim light reflected on their faces. Placing a hand on her cheek, he gazed deeply into her eyes. There was something in his gaze—an ancient pain buried within, as though his eyes were a mirror to a troubled soul.
Then he whispered, as if speaking to himself:
"I love you, I love you, I love you.
I love you, I love you, I love you.
I love you, I love you, I love you...
You're my angel,
Sent from a distant heaven.
I love you, I love you, I love you.
I love you, I love you, I love you.
I love you, I love you, I love you..."
The echo of his words filled the room, like an ancient melody resurrected from the depths of time. Irina felt her heart race, as if his words had pierced the very core of her being.
As he stood before her, Irina felt an overwhelming urge to uncover the truth.
Irina: "If you love me as you say, why do I feel like a pawn in a game I don't understand?"
Dmitri smiled again but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it, the smoke rising slowly into the air.
Dmitri: "Love, Irina, isn't always simple. Sometimes it's complicated, filled with pain and fear. But that doesn't make it any less real."
He looked at her deeply, as though pleading for her trust without offering explanations.
The atmosphere in the apartment was thick with cigarette smoke and the scent of Dmitri's enigmatic cologne. Irina felt trapped between the walls of this place and her conflicted emotions toward him.
But deep down, she knew she couldn't escape. Something about him held her captive—his mysterious allure, his boundless passion.
Dmitri moved closer again, this time placing a hand on her shoulder and looking at her intently.
Dmitri: "Irina, there are things I can't tell you yet. But I promise you one thing: no matter what happens, I won't let you leave me."
Irina felt a creeping fear take root in her heart. His words carried promises, but also an unspoken threat.
Irina (in a soft voice): "And what if I want to leave?"
He cupped her face in his hands, his gaze turning into something bordering on madness.
Dmitri: "I won't allow it. You're mine, Irina. Mine alone."
Those words felt like chains binding her to him. She felt as though she were sinking deeper into his world—a dark place that offered the promise of something she had never experienced before.
At that moment, Irina realized something crucial: perhaps she was searching for freedom, but she was also drawn to something that tied her to Dmitri. Perhaps he was the answer to her questions—or perhaps he was the reason for her confusion.
In a world shrouded in mist and mystery, Irina found herself increasingly entangled in a relationship whose destination she couldn't predict. But one thing was clear: Dmitri wouldn't stop pursuing her, nor would he allow her to leave.
"How long can I endure this world?" Irina wondered, feeling that her journey with Dmitri had only just begun.