𝙱𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 08: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚃𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚗

---

Days blurred together, and Elara could hardly

remember what life had been like before Darius's

presence became a constant shadow. She felt him

everywhere-in her thoughts, her dreams, even in the

spaces between her breaths. He watched her, a silent

sentinel, while she navigated this new, terrifying reality.

It wasn't just the shadow creatures that haunted her

anymore. It was Darius himself.

He had not spoken of the "obedience" he demanded since

that night, but his grip on her life had only tightened.

Every decision she made, every move, felt like it was

under his scrutiny. Elara couldn't help but feel that she

was losing herself in the process, slipping deeper into the

darkness he had wrapped her in.

One evening, she sat alone in her apartment, the

oppressive silence pressing in on her. Her phone vibrated

-another missed call from Lena. She had been avoiding

her best friend for days, unable to explain what was

happening without sounding delusional. How could Lena

understand when Elara didn't fully understand herself?

Just as she considered picking up the phone to call back,

there was a soft knock at the door. The knock itself

seemed out of place-it wasn't Darius's way. He

appeared without warning, like the night itself.

Her stomach churned as she opened the door, her heart

pounding. But it wasn't Darius standing there.

It was Lena...

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"Elara," Lena's voice was urgent as she pushed past her

into the apartment. "You've been avoiding me. What the

hell is going on?"

Elara stood frozen, guilt washing over her. Lena's eyes

were filled with concern, her hands trembling slightly as

she reached out to touch Elara's arm. "You're scaring

me. You're acting like... like you're not yourself."

Elara swallowed hard, unable to look her friend in the

eyes. How could she explain what was happening? How

could she tell Lena about Darius without sounding

completely insane?

"Lena, I can't explain," Elara whispered, her voice

cracking. "It's... it's complicated."

"I don't care if it's complicated!" Lena snapped. "You're

shutting me out, and I'm not leaving until you tell me

the truth. Please, Elara."

Tears welled in Elara's eyes, but before she could