Seven Ways To The Abyss

HUNGER'S WHISPER

Damian hummed a wordless tune as he skipped down the hill, each step light and carefree, despite the lingering sting of his wounds. They hadn’t healed completely yet, and that fact alone was... fascinating.

From the moment she landed her first strike, he had felt an abnormal rush of pain—intense and sharp. A tiny cut on his cheek shouldn’t have hurt so much, but it did. And when she fought him, it was as though she wasn’t even fully conscious.

The cursed child.

His mind wandered back to the battle, replaying the memory like a vivid dream.

Had he actually been defeated?

The sensation was foreign to him. Never before had he tasted defeat. Yet, somehow, an inexplicable joy bubbled within him. He had heard rumours about Sofia—the cursed child with the personality complex, who believed she shared her body with another entity named Elaina. But from what he had seen today, it was not merely a delusion. They were two separate beings.

That explained how she had managed to keep moving despite the devastating blows. He hadn’t just fought one opponent—he had faced two.

"That’s not fair," he muttered to himself, a smile playing on his lips.

The clan had advised him to take his time, and that was exactly what he intended to do. He would defeat her, no matter how long it took. And he’d figure out what in the world those metallic vines were that erupted from her back. But for now, he needed to retreat, to plan and strategise for the next encounter.

His stomach growled, the sound breaking his reverie.

"Alright, time to feed," he said with casual nonchalance, as if talking about a normal meal.

He was in the capital, so finding food would be trickier than usual. But there was nothing he couldn’t handle. Sitting cross-legged on a rock, he closed his eyes, listening to the hum of the city, sensing every pulse and heartbeat. After a while, he sighed. No dead bodies within an eighty-mile radius. But then, a prison caught his attention.

That’ll do, he thought. If a prisoner goes missing, it wouldn’t cause too much of a stir.

~~~

Sofia woke up on the cold ground, her body stiff and aching. She glanced around the bridge in search of her vines, but they were gone—melted into the earth as if they had never existed. Elaina’s presence was a bit stronger now, more tangible, though still faint. A good night’s sleep really did wonders, she thought as she sluggishly stood, looking for the nearest water source to clean up. She patted her bag, checking for the money she’d secured earlier, a small sigh of relief escaping when she found it st...

Her skin was raw, peeled in places, and her thick afro was matted with dried blood. She was beyond a mess. After what felt like hours of walking, she stumbled upon an abandoned building. Outside, a working tap sputtered with cold water. There were people inside, sprawled out across the floor—drunk, passed out, or worse.

Probably all drunk, she thought.

Under normal circumstances, she might have cared about modesty, but today was not one of those days. She stripped and scrubbed her skin under the tap, peeling away the dried blood and grime. Her remaining vines, weak and brittle, fell off, the sensation both relieving and unnerving.

One of the men inside stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He stared at Sofia, lust igniting within him. He stumbled to his feet, his gaze locked on her, hunger and madness driving his steps.

If I had been more alert... I could have avoided this.

She barely had time to register his movement before it was too late. Instinct took over. She reacted, and before she knew it, he was dead at her feet. The man’s body lay crumpled on the ground, his head split in two. Blood pooled beneath him, mixing with the water trickling from the tap.

But it wasn’t his death that shocked her. It was how he had died.

Her vines.

A single vine had shot out from her back, slicing through his skull in one swift motion before retreating just as quickly. She stood there, drenched and shivering, staring at the empty space on her back. How? Where had the vine come from?

Her stomach growled, the hunger gnawing at her insides like a ravenous beast.

He brought this on himself. I wouldn’t be a bad person if I ate him. It’s not my fault.

The thoughts circled in her head, reassuring her, justifying her next actions as she bent down. She sank her teeth into his flesh, the taste of fresh blood sending a rush of energy through her veins. Each bite was more satisfying than the last, filling the emptiness inside her.

Delectable.

She had forgotten how fulfilling fresh flesh could be. It felt right—natural, even. The hunger eased, her senses sharpening once more.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her eyes scanning the surroundings. That’s when she felt it—someone was awake, watching her, pretending to sleep.

A smile crept onto her face. She took her time finishing her bath, letting the cold water soothe her aching muscles. Then, she dressed and walked toward the pile of bodies.

One man stood out—the one faking his slumber. She knelt beside him, her fingers brushing lightly against his neck. His pulse raced, his heart pounding in his chest.

Got you.

Her suspicions were confirmed. Now, the only question was... what to do with him.

Kill him.

The voice in her head was louder than usual, insistent. It made sense—she could kill him, and no one would know. She was still a little hungry, after all.

No, not this time.

She bit her lip, silencing the darker thoughts. Leaning in close, she whispered in his ear, her voice icy and low.

"You saw nothing. And if you say otherwise, I will hunt you down, find you, and I will kill you... in the worst way possible."

His heart raced faster, but he kept up the act, pretending to sleep.

"Now nod if you understand," she added, her voice even colder.

After a moment of hesitation, he nodded, his fear barely contained.

Satisfied, Sofia straightened and walked away, a small smirk playing on her lips. Now, to find my candidates.

As she strolled towards the pedestrian bridge, her steps light and almost cheerful, she began to hum a wordless song—the same one Damian had been humming before.