LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 3: Intertwined Strings
As morning broke, St. Petersburg seemed to cling to its enigmatic charm, never losing its luster. Gray clouds cloaked the sky, allowing shy rays of sunlight to peek through and illuminate the frozen ground. The sounds of the city were muted, as if the entire place moved to the rhythm of an unseen, ghostly melody.
Irina woke from a restless sleep, her eyes bearing the remnants of last night—an uneasy mix of exhaustion and tension. Her mind was still tethered to Dmitri's words and the way he had left the café, leaving behind an unsettling void.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring into the emptiness of her small room. The gray-painted walls were adorned only with a few old family photos and a melted candle beside an open book on her desk. It felt as though the room mirrored her state of mind—empty yet heavy with unease.
"Why do I feel like I'm caught in his web?"
Her voice was barely a whisper as she cradled her head in her hands.
The feeling was contradictory, a blend of attraction and fear. Dmitri was no ordinary man, and his words weren't mere surface pleasantries. He had slipped into her mind, planting seeds of doubt and desires she hadn't known existed.
While trying to steady her nerves with a cup of coffee, her phone rang. The number was unfamiliar. She hesitated for a moment, but curiosity overpowered her caution.
Irina (softly): "Hello?"
Dmitri (in a calm, captivating tone): "Good morning, Irina."
She froze. How did he get her number? And why was he calling now?
Irina (nervously): "Dmitri? How did you get my number?"
Dmitr (with a smile audible in his voice): "I have my ways. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
Irina: "I'm… fine. But why are you calling?"
Dmitri: "Sometimes written words or brief encounters aren't enough. I wanted to hear your voice."
His voice carried a soothing tone, yet it held something hidden, as though every word was deliberately chosen to leave a deep impression. Irina felt as though she were standing on the edge of a cliff, unsure whether to jump or run away.
Irina (trying to regain her balance): "You've left me confused. I don't know what you want from me."
Dmitri: "Sometimes, you don't need to know everything all at once. Trust the moment."
He ended the call, leaving Irina feeling as though she had become part of a puzzle she hadn't chosen to join.
In an attempt to clear her thoughts, Irina decided to head to the bookstore where she worked. A small shop tucked away in a quiet alley, it was packed with old books and rare manuscripts. She considered it her sanctuary—the one place she could escape the noise of life.
Entering the store, she greeted her only coworker, Alexei, a cheerful man in his thirties with sharp, observant eyes.
Alexei (with a smile): "You look distracted today. Everything okay?"
Irina (hesitantly): "Just a long night. Nothing to worry about."
The walls were lined with shelves, some reaching up to the ceiling. The air was filled with the scent of old paper and wooden fixtures, while the dim light from vintage lamps cast a magical glow over the space.
Irina immersed herself in her work, trying to push thoughts of Dmitri aside. But deep down, she knew they would return, sooner or later.
As evening fell and she prepared to close the store, she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up to find Dmitri standing at the door.
Irina (startled): "You're here? How did you know I work here?"
Dmitri (calmly): "Like I said, I have my ways."
Dmitri sat down on one of the wooden chairs, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity she couldn't bear.
Dmitri: "This bookstore… it's enchanting. It suits you perfectly."
Irina: "Why do you make me feel like you're always watching me?"
Dmitri (smiling): "Maybe because I'm more interested in you than I should be."
In that moment, Irina felt her life shifting irreversibly. Dmitri was a mystery, but she couldn't resist the urge to solve him. St. Petersburg, with all its allure and secrecy, bore witness to the beginning of a story where souls intertwined in ways no one could predict.