The Price of Shadows

Chapter 12: The Silent Witness

Liam sat on the edge of his bed, a cold dread twisting in his stomach. He had spent the night tossing and turning, unable to shake the image of the shopkeeper's eerie, unnatural smile. The words of the deal played over and over in his mind, each one weighing heavily on him, yet he felt committed—trapped in a path he'd already accepted.

He got up slowly, feeling the dread and determination simmering inside him. This is the price I have to pay, he thought, as though convincing himself would make it easier. He pulled on his suit jacket, straightened his tie, and prepared himself to face the day. But as he reached for his keys, he felt a strange presence in the room, something quiet but powerful, like the air thickening around him.

Turning around, Liam's eyes widened as he saw him—the same figure who had once blocked his path before, wearing the familiar, gentle smile that had haunted him.

God stood in his doorway, his presence filling the room with a quiet strength that was at once comforting and unnerving. He looked at Liam with an expression that was calm, almost peaceful, as if he had been waiting there all along.

The sight of him ignited something in Liam, a fierce, pent-up rage that burst forth, all his fear, anger, and frustration pouring out in an instant.

"Oh, you're back?" Liam spat, his voice shaking with fury. "Where were you when I needed you? When I asked for something real, something to make my life better? When I tried to take control of my life, you just stood there, blocking my way! And now, now, you show up?"

He took a step forward, his hands clenched into fists. "I wanted a chance, a shortcut, something to make things easier. Was that too much to ask? But no, you had to make it complicated. You had to fill my path with guilt, regret, make me feel like a monster for wanting anything at all!"

God's expression didn't change; he simply stood there, his smile unwavering, as if patiently waiting for Liam to finish.

"Look at you," Liam continued, his voice rising, raw with frustration. "You show up now, silently judging me with that smile. What do you know about what I went through? What I sacrificed? Do you have any idea what it's like to live with that kind of choice?"

He glared, breathing heavily, his words growing desperate, torn between anger and a deep, aching despair. "You left me to deal with all this alone! And now that I'm about to make these choices, these horrible choices, you just stand there like none of it matters. Like it's just some... test."

God's smile didn't waver, his eyes kind, almost understanding. He remained silent, allowing Liam to vent his rage, the calm in his expression never faltering.

"And that smile—" Liam nearly choked, the words spilling out. "Why don't you say something? Tell me I'm wrong! Tell me I don't have to do this, that I'm not as... as damned as I feel! You act like you know something I don't, like there's some hidden answer you're keeping from me." He paused, his voice breaking. "So just tell me already!"

But God remained quiet, his expression one of quiet compassion, the same gentle smile that seemed to radiate both sorrow and understanding. He simply watched, as if waiting for Liam to see something he hadn't yet understood.

The silence settled around them, thick and heavy, leaving Liam's words hanging in the air. He felt drained, his anger simmering into a dull ache as he looked at the man before him, realizing that no answer would come.

God's smile softened, a warmth in his eyes that left Liam standing there, feeling exposed, his fury fading, leaving only a hollow silence and the quiet, unyielding presence of the figure before him.

Liam's fury began to fizzle out, replaced by a sense of exhaustion that weighed on him like a heavy cloak. He let out a hollow laugh, sarcasm dripping from his words. "Oh, so you're here to stop me again, huh?" He shook his head, trying to hide the unease rising within him. "No need for that—there's no stopping this now. I did it before and I am going to do it again. You couldn't stop me before and you can't stop me now."