His Possession To Claim

Aria felt her breath knocked clean out of her lungs. "Holy Mother of God!" she whispered, frozen in deadplace. She was staring at the most beautiful creature she'd ever laid eyes on. His raven-black locs framed a face carved like a deity's—smooth, sun-kissed skin that gleamed like melted honey, a nose sharp as a mountain peak, and lips so full and rosy. Thick eyebrows sat over eyes that were shut tightly in pain,his beautifully sculpted jaw, a masterpiece in itself, flowing seamlessly into a pointed chin so sharp it looked capable of cutting through ice. His torn shirt revealed a body sculpted like a Greek god, every muscle defined as though chiseled by a master sculptor, his towering frame only adding to the air of power and magnificence he exuded.

Aria's gaze flitted over the blood soaking his abdomen, his hand pressed firmly against what must have been a deep wound. She finally noticed the bruises littering his face and body—each one telling its own story of pain. She had been too focused on his beauty,she forgot to notice his struggles.Yet none of it dulled his ethereal beauty.

"Hey, are you okay?" ?" she asked, her voice shaking.The moment the words left her lips, she gave a tight lipped smile, followed by a long sigh "Seriously, Aria? Could you be any dumber? Does he look okay? Don't you have something better to say?"

Her self-criticism was cut short by a dull thump. The man had collapsed, his body hitting the ground hard. His chest heaved as he fought for air, every labored breath a painful struggle.

Aria stood frozen, torn between instincts. Should she help him? Call someone? What if he was the person those strange men from earlier were searching for? What if helping him puts her in danger? The questions swirled chaotically, making her dizzy.

"Whatever," she muttered, shaking her head. "I'm not getting involved."

As she turned to leave, a hand shot out and clamped around her ankle.

Aria yelped, glancing down to see him clutching her leg with surprising strength. She tugged, trying to free herself, but his grip didn't falter. Then, with immense effort, he rolled to his stomach and raised his head, his gaze locking onto hers.

She forgot how to breathe. His eyes—dear God, his eyes!—were a piercing sapphire blue, bright and unyielding despite the pain they held. They seemed to see through her, peeling back layers she didn't know existed.

"Hel..p me," he rasped, his voice deep but ragged. His lips barely formed the words before his body went limp, his breathing shallow.

Thunder rumbled overhead, the dark clouds releasing a torrential downpour. The eerie hoots of owls echoed around her, joined by the distant flapping of bats as they started edging eerily towards them forming in circles. Something about the atmosphere made her blood run cold.

This wasn't normal, her instinct screamed at her to run.

"I can't risk it," she whispered, taking a shaky step back. "I'm not the Good Samaritan, Father. I'm one of those regular people that passed by and couldn't give a helping hand to the injured passenger. Please don't hold it against me."

Her trembling hands folded together in a makeshift prayer. She nudged the unconscious man with her foot. "I'm sorry, but I can't help you. If you somehow survive, don't come looking for me. Selfishness is a survival tool, okay? And am trying to survive"

Turning her back on him, she took a step away, but hesitation gripped her, and she turned back toward the man,her inner voice gnawing at her resolve, she was at a crossroad of what to do. But with one final look,she made her decision.

"You did the right thing," she muttered to herself. "He's beyond saving. You couldn't have helped him anyway." she tried bargaining with her conscience, it had been tugging at her since she left the man.

But a persistent voice whispered back. "But you know the Word said,do unto others as they would unto you. Wouldn't you want someone to help you if the roles were reversed?"

"Ai! Don't say that. I had to help myself first before anyone else. Heaven help those who help themselves and that is what I did, to be helped. Also if he is meant to be alive he would, without even breaking a sweat, period." Aria answered, trying so hard to push the guilt that had been gnawing at her.

"But you know deep down, you are guilty upon guilty !!!" This time the voice fired back, she was startled by it. "Leave me alone for goodness sake!!!"

But the moment she said that,she tripped over something as she tumbled forward, landing hard on the muddy ground. Pain shot through her body as the thorns pierced her exposed skin further. Groaning, she pushed herself up, to know what had caused her to fall, only to glare at the culprit: an old, battered cart.

She stared at the cart with a furrowed brow,she was pissed off but it was as if the cart was also staring at her angrily like it wasn't happy with her or maybe it was just her imagination. "Don't give me that look" she pointed at the cart furiously. "If anyone is meant to be angry here,it should be me. Me" she shouted as she started throwing kicks at the cart,but what was flesh and blood against an iron. "Ahhhhhh" she yelped in pain as her body ached further.

"You know what you're supposed to do," the voice in her head whispered again.

"Nope! Not happening!" she barked, limping away from the cart.

"Don't even think about it Aria!!! She shouted almost on the verge of breaking down. "I am not going back there in this weather, condition and certainly not with that sick cart to save a stranger I do not know. And that is final" Aria finalized as the thunder rumbled.