The night was quiet. Julian lay in his bed, the faint hum of the city outside his window the only sound that accompanied his restless thoughts. The old watch sat on his desk, glinting in the dim light of his lamp. He couldn't shake the strange feeling he had since buying it. There was something about it—something he couldn't quite put his finger on. It wasn't just old and broken; there was a sense of... power about it.
He hadn't even bothered to take a proper look at it, but now, as he stared at it from across the room, something urged him to approach. The watch gleamed in the moonlight, and as Julian reached out to pick it up, he felt an odd chill run down his spine.
Before he could even fully hold it in his hand, the watch clicked.
Julian froze. He felt the subtle vibration in his palm, like the watch had come alive, as if it had been waiting for him. He twisted the dial, trying to figure out what it was, but nothing happened. It was just a broken timepiece.
He set it back down, not thinking much of it.
But as he was about to lie back down, a sudden, cold voice filled his mind.
"Your first task is simple, yet it is a test of your will. Go to the most popular party in the city tonight. There, you will find a girl. She will be beautiful, full of desire, and she will offer you her body. You will accept, but you must never look at her face."
The voice was chilling—disturbing, yet strangely compelling. Julian's heart raced. He stood up, almost instinctively, his eyes darting to the watch, then to the window. The world outside seemed distant, and for the first time, he felt a pull towards something greater than himself.
The task didn't seem difficult. In fact, it felt like a game. Something Julian was all too familiar with. Girls had used him his entire life—he was a stepping stone, a temporary pleasure for them, and this... This was no different. But there was a twist. He had to go, to accept, but never look at her face. Why?
He didn't know, but the mystery stirred something inside him. Was this the watch's power? To control his actions? Or was he losing his mind?
Without thinking twice, Julian grabbed his jacket and left the room. He knew where to go. The city's most popular party was being held at Club Viper, an upscale venue known for attracting the rich and famous. It was where the influencers, celebrities, and the beautiful people went to indulge in their hedonistic pleasures. He had never been invited to one of their parties, but tonight, he wasn't going to be just a spectator.
As he walked through the city streets, his thoughts raced. He had no idea what to expect. The voice in his mind felt real, but was it? Was he imagining this? Or was it possible that the watch had some power he couldn't understand yet?
Julian reached the club, its walls vibrating with the thumping bass of the music inside. The line to get in was long, filled with people dressed in expensive clothes, laughing, flirting, and showing off. Julian, however, didn't even need to wait in line. The bouncer—who knew him from his job at the auto shop—nodded at him as if he was expected. He made his way inside, the smell of alcohol, perfume, and sweat hitting him like a wall.
The lights flashed, colors swirling in time with the music, as Julian navigated through the crowd. The people here—rich, beautiful, carefree—seemed like they belonged in a world of their own, a world where Julian was an outsider. Yet tonight, everything felt different. He wasn't just a bystander; he was a part of something. He didn't know why, but his pulse quickened, the mystery of the watch consuming him.
And then, he saw her.
She was standing near the bar, surrounded by a group of people, laughing, talking, her beauty impossible to ignore. Her golden hair cascaded down her back, and her dress clung to her body like it was made just for her. Her eyes, bright and sparkling, were locked on someone else, but Julian didn't care about that. It was her body, her presence, that drew him in.
The task. The voice had been clear.
He walked up to her, his heart racing in his chest, and without thinking, he began to speak.
"Hey," he said, his voice low, trying to keep his cool. She turned toward him, flashing a seductive smile.
"You look like you're out of place," she said with a playful glint in her eye. Her voice was sultry, like she already knew what kind of game was about to unfold.
"I'm just here to... have fun," Julian replied, his voice betraying the tension he felt.
"Good," she purred, leaning in closer. "You can have all the fun you want, if you're willing to pay the price."
Julian knew what she meant. This wasn't about love. It wasn't about a relationship. She wanted what every girl at this party wanted: a good time, and then she'd move on to the next. And so would he. But there was a catch—he had to do what the watch demanded.
He leaned in, kissed her, and then pulled back, trying to keep his cool. He refused to look her in the eye, following the task's rule. The watch was still in his pocket, and he felt its weight there, as though it were silently watching him, guiding his every move.
Minutes passed, and before he knew it, they were leaving the club, heading to her apartment. The air was thick with anticipation, but Julian couldn't let himself get lost in the moment. He had to remember: don't look at her face.
They reached her apartment, and the night unfolded in a blur of touches, whispers, and hurried movements. But through it all, Julian never once looked at her face. It felt... wrong, like he was missing something crucial, but he couldn't stop. The task was clear, and somehow, he couldn't break free from it.
As the night ended, he left without a word, without looking back. The voice in his mind was quiet now, but the task had been completed. He had done what was asked of him, and in return, he expected something, anything.
The watch's power had just begun to show its grip on his life. But Julian didn't know yet that this was only the beginning. The task he had just completed was trivial compared to what was to come.
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