It was a chilly night in the city, and Priority, a young woman in her early twenties, found herself wide awake at 11:50 PM. A phone call from her parents had shaken her out of her restless slumber. They had left on a spontaneous vacation, leaving her with some money and the instructions to take care of herself. Feeling a mix of annoyance and concern, Priority decided to take a walk in the eerie park near her apartment, hoping to clear her mind.

As she strolled through the dimly lit paths, her gaze was glued to her phone, scrolling aimlessly. Suddenly, she collided with a figure, causing her to stumble. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, looking up to meet the eyes of a stranger.

The man, whose name she would soon learn was Zane, immediately reached out to steady her. "No, it's my fault," he said, his voice soft and soothing. Priority couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions – a warmth that seemed to radiate from him, coupled with a sense of unease and a lingering feeling of protection.

Zane introduced himself and the two struck up a conversation, walking together through the park for over an hour. Priority couldn't help but notice the way he would steal glances at her, and when she asked about it, he simply replied, "Because you're beautiful." The compliment made her blush, and she found herself feeling drawn to this mysterious stranger.

As they approached Priority's home, Zane hesitated, but Priority insisted that he come inside to warm up. Unsure of what to expect, Zane reluctantly agreed, his mind racing with thoughts of what might lie ahead.