Echoes of darkness

SEASON 2:

Chapter 23: Awakening

437 slowly opened his eyes and blinked a few times to clear his vision. He was lying on a comfortable bed in a well-furnished room. It took him a moment to remember what had happened, but then he realized that he had been unconscious for two whole weeks.

As he sat up, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, but it quickly subsided. He looked around the room and saw the hooded man standing by the balcony, staring out at the sky.

"Feeling better yet?" the hooded man asked as he turned to face 437.

"Yeah, I think so," 437 replied, still a bit groggy. "But what happened to me? Why was I out for so long?"

"You were injured badly, and it took time for you to heal," the hooded man explained. "But now that you're awake, we can move forward."

"Move forward? Where are we going?" 437 asked, still feeling a bit disoriented.

The hooded man walked over to the bed and sat down next to 437. "You remember what happened when the sky split open, don't you?"

"Yeah, I remember," 437 said, shuddering at the memory. "But what does that have to do with anything?"

"The sky will open again, and when it does, we will be ready," the hooded man said cryptically.

437 was about to ask more questions when he remembered something else. "Wait, why am I here? This isn't even my world, is it? I was not born here; I was forced here into this world you rule. Why is that?"

The hooded man looked at him for a moment before answering. "You were going to end your life, yes? You are no good to me dead."

437 was taken aback by the hooded man's words. How did he know about his suicidal thoughts? But before he could say anything else, the hooded man stood up and said, "You look fine to me. The dinner should be ready. Meet me downstairs."

As the hooded man left the room, 437 couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The heavy atmosphere in the room seemed to have thickened, making it difficult to breathe. The thought that the hooded man had some sort of power over him only added to his anxiety.

He got up from the bed and walked towards the balcony, looking up at the sky. It was still the same as before, but somehow, he knew that it wouldn't be for long. The sky would split open again, and he had a feeling that it would be soon.

The sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts, and he turned around to see one of the women from before. "Dinner is ready," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "The Lord has requested your presence."

437 followed her down the stairs, feeling as if he was walking towards his doom. The hall was empty, and the only sound was the echo of their footsteps. He wondered if the hooded man was watching him, if he knew every move he made.

The dining room was just as empty, except for the hooded man sitting at the head of the table. The food was already served, and 437 couldn't help but wonder how long it had been sitting there.

The hooded man looked up as he entered the room. "Ah, there you are," he said, gesturing to the empty seat next to him. "Please, sit."

437 sat down, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was about to happen. The hooded man seemed to sense his unease and said, "Relax, boy. You're safe here. For now, at least."

They ate in silence, the only sound coming from the clinking of cutlery against plates. When they were done, the hooded man got up from the table and said, "Come with me."