𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕜

Chapter 1.

Romania, beautiful country, polite people.Everywhere greenery, forests. Somewhere there was hidden a small town – Aren.

Aren was not exactly hidden, but rather forgotten among nature, with a long, dark, and gloomy history. People still lived there – strange for passersby, but actually ordinary people, who just hid secrets. Everyone else in the world knew about the mark, but ignored it. They knew what it was and what it caused, but they did not care. People were dying even on the streets all over the world, however in the forgotten town it was rare for someone to die on the street. Everyone knew each other, worked together, and were united. But even there, there were people who denied the mark.

What is the mark?The mark was an original mystery. It reminded people that somewhere out there there is a person who is made exactly for them. The mark was located on the nape – there was no person born without it. It was individual for each couple. It did not remain a mark, but turned into a tattoo, which connected two people forever.It was not a curse. It was not pain. It was a gift – but for some.

In the town of Aren there were also people who denied it and did not want to be controlled by it. One of them was Selin. She was not a malicious or bad person. She was naive, fearful, and simply did not want to be controlled. She had seen a good opportunity for freedom and was walking along it.

Six years earlier.

Selin was sitting at her desk and scribbling in her notebook when the principal entered with a boy – dark hair, dark eyes, good posture and appearance.Selin raised her head, looked at him, and looked him over completely. At first glance she liked him, but her mark was still cold and did not react to the appearance of the new boy. Selin’s dream at that time was to meet the person assigned to her, or as she called him – her true love.Just as she had started to get bored of her mark and her dream, he appeared.

Only next to her was a free space – everyone else was with their soulmates at their desks. She was the only one in her class, last year in school, who had not found her love.He sat next to her, looked at the other couples, and noticed that they no longer had marks – at each desk sat a couple – girl and boy, who had the same tattoos on their napes.He looked at Selin and smiled, then offered her his hand.

– I am Set – his voice was heavy like that of an adult man.

Selin also smiled, surprised by his manliness at only eighteen years old.

– I am Selin – she said, shaking hands with him.

– Isn’t it a bit late to transfer schools? – She laughed slightly.

– I had no say – he said and also smiled slightly, revealing his clean white, intact teeth.

Internally she was charmed by him – she liked his appearance, the way he spoke, and how he behaved.

But Selin had not yet seen his true self.

Several months later.

Graduation. Each student was called to receive their diploma. Selin and Set sat next to each other, holding hands, waiting for their turn.

– Aren’t these you? Set and Selin, the deniers? – whispers were heard behind them.

Selin squeezed the boy’s hand and decided to remain silent.

– You are very righteous, huh? Where are your beloved ones? Do not make me speak, or you will regret it. – Set stood up and turned to the two girls.

He noticed both were alone and found a convenient way to provoke them and shut their mouths. After he finished, he sat next to his beloved and hugged her over the shoulder.

As soon as she leaned on him, both felt as if someone stabbed them with ice. Some called it a safety mechanism, others – the curse of the mark. When you begin to rely on someone else, your mark reminds you that there is a person waiting to be found.

After a few hours, the ceremony ended. Everyone was taking photos with their parents, but Set took a photo with another family – Selin’s family.

Set’s father was constantly busy and could not attend, and his mother was one of those women who only cared about herself.

– Let’s go home tonight, I don’t feel like going to the ball – Set whispered in Selin’s ear.

She looked at him strangely.

– Why don’t you feel like going? At least for an hour, please. – She used her favorite trick – “puppy eyes.”

– Fine, but only an hour – he muttered with a slight smile, then kissed her in front of everyone.

Selin’s parents did not approve of him, but agreed for him to be with her only until she found her true one.

When Selin arrived home, she started preparing for the ball alone, but her parents had prepared a surprise – they brought a makeup artist and hairdresser.

When she was called to come down to the living room, she had no idea that two highly skilled girls were waiting to prepare her.

– Yes, mom? – When she saw the small suitcase on the table full of professional makeup, as well as the lined-up hair straighteners, she opened her mouth wide and almost cried. She hugged her parents.

– There was no need to do this. I know we don’t have these possibilities – she said, already crying with joy.

– You were not like the girls around you – with possibilities. Her parents were ordinary people, but they tried to give her what she deserved.

– You deserve it, dear. A unique diploma, full of excellent grades – her mother said, stroking her face.

– We thought Set would distract you from studying, but we were wrong – her father said proudly.

Soon, Selin sat on a chair and they began to do her makeup, showing her different hairstyle options.

When she was ready, only the dress remained. She had chosen the dress herself and even her parents had not seen it.

When she put on the dress and went down the stairs, her parents and Set were waiting at the door.

Her mother cried.

– What do you think? – asked Selin with a smile, slightly shaking her dress.

It was not ordinary. The dress was half black and half white – a ball gown.

Selin turned slightly, and the dress flared to the sides.

After a few minutes of photos, they decided to leave for the ball.

– Set, you haven’t said anything. How do I look? – she asked before getting into the car.

– You are amazing. But I thought I would say it after I take your dress off later – he whispered and kissed her.

When this happened, both felt the icy pain on their nape.

– You know you can’t – she said, stepping back from the pain.

He huffed.

When she got into the car, he slammed the door. Selin was slightly startled, but said nothing. He drove off without a word.

When they arrived at the ball, everyone looked at them oddly – not because they did not like them, but because they knew they were breaking the rules of the mark.

Set did not care about people’s opinions. Selin, however, felt it as pressure.

They stood on the dance floor and danced a slow dance.

– I think we will leave earlier than I thought – she whispered.

After the song, they got drinks and sat to talk.

– I have a crazy idea – he said.

– What now? – she laughed.

– Let’s run away together. Leave Romania.

Selin laughed, although sometimes she thought the same. But she remembered her parents. She touched her mark and looked forward. She knew that the moment could come when they would have to separate – or die.

She had never thought they would reach twenty-five years old and get away with the mark.

– I wish… – she started, but stopped.

– Come on, what is it? A little pain, then everything will be fine – he insisted, though he himself was not sure of his feelings.

– Let’s go somewhere else – Selin said and offered him her hand.

He took her and they left. They drove toward the forest.

– Where are we going? – she asked.

He did not answer.

After some time, they arrived at a luxury villa.

– It belongs to my parents – Set said.

Inside, everything was covered with dust and cobwebs. He poured himself whiskey and drank it in one go.

– My mother thinks only about shopping and traveling. My father – about work. – At that moment, with these words, he admitted why he did not follow the rules of the mark, why he chose to live without thinking about it.

He lit the fireplace and sat next to Selin. When he touched her, the pain from the mark returned.

– Stop… it hurts – she said.

He hugged her.

– I know you will succeed.

She tried, despite the pain. Internally she knew that if it did not happen, she could lose him. She decided for the first time to give herself to him.

When everything ended, Selin stood up, breathing heavily, and touched her mark, feeling the cold on her hand, but she was more concerned that it might bleed.

– Everything is fine – he said, relaxing on the sofa with a slight smile.

– Take me home – she said.

She had turned her back to him, obviously not wanting to be there anymore, so she simply put on her dress and waited for him to get ready to leave.

He just nodded and got dressed.

Then he drove her and left her in front of her house.