Suddenly, I felt hot breath on my skin and a pair of soft lips press themselves against mine. My eyes snapped open and I struggled to push my arms forward, knocking the person next to me backwards. Once the black dots cleared my vision, I found myself staring into the eyes of a young man. His iris’s were as dark as midnight and held a mysterious edge to them as he stared back at me. He had soft hair that resembled fine black silk that clung in wet, soft waves on his face. His pink lips were curved in a smile as he gently helped me sit up, though I flinched away from his touch. I tried to distance myself from this strange man, casually sliding to the side, but he wrapped his arms around me tightly and pulled me in close.

“I’m so happy you’re okay,” he whispered, his lips brushing my hair as he spoke. “Oh,
Carolina, my darling Cari, you had me so worried,” he purred as he pecked my cheek lightly. I wanted to move away, in fact, I twisted uncomfortably under his lips, but his grip was strong and unforgiving.

I managed to tilt my head away from his lips before I spoke, “I’m afraid you must be mistaken. My name is Summer, Sumer Charad, not Carolina. Though I’m grateful for you rescuing me, I also think it would be a good idea if you let go of me.”

“What?” the man whispered in a breathless voice as he studied me. His face had turned cold and he slowly began shaking his head, “Oh, no, my Cari, my sweet, sweet darling, you-”

“No!” I interrupted as I thrashed about in his arms, trying to squirm my way from underneath him. “My name is not Carolina and I said let me go!” My screams seemed to penetrate the man’s daze and I felt his arms release their gasp a bit.

He looked up at me with a broken expression, his face slick with tears and his eyes drowning in despair, “Carolina, my love, how have you forgotten me?” His voice was hoarse and taunt as he began to creep forward. His expression changed instantly, going from sad and dazed to angry and insane. His charcoal eyes seemed to spin as he proceeded to yell incantations in my direction. “Would I have ever forgotten you?! Would I’ve?! Come here, show me you remember, show my now!” He hissed and spat the words as he crawled crazily toward me.