The Price of Shadows

Chapter 15: The Irreversible Path

Liam stood alone in his office, the silence pressing down on him, heavy and inescapable. His thoughts churned in desperation, the full weight of his choices settling over him. With a deep, shuddering breath, he steeled himself and spoke aloud, his voice trembling slightly.

"God... I need you."

The words had barely left his mouth before the air around him seemed to shift, growing warmer, and there, as if he had been waiting all along, was God. His expression was calm, benevolent, that same gentle smile softening his features.

Liam's heart pounded as he took in the figure before him, a spark of irony flickering in his thoughts. Here he was, ready to do the noble thing, to give it all back, and it almost struck him as funny. The bitterness clung to his voice as he spoke, a touch of false bravado lacing his words.

"Alright, I'm ready to repent," he said, the words spilling out with an edge of sarcasm. "I'll give everything back, all of it. My strength, my wealth, my intelligence—whatever it takes. Let's just... set things right, okay? I want my old life back." He gave a slight nod, as though expecting God to be impressed, as if this grand act of humility was a favor he was extending.

God's smile remained steady, his eyes gentle as he regarded Liam, and he simply shook his head. "It's too late for that, Liam," he said softly, his tone carrying an almost sorrowful finality. "The decisions you've made are permanent. They cannot be undone."

Liam's heart stopped, a cold dread seizing him. "No," he whispered, a tremor in his voice. "No, you don't understand. I'm ready now. I get it, okay? I'll give it all up. I just want... I want to fix it." His voice began to shake, panic seeping in as he realized that the way back he'd counted on might not exist.

God's expression didn't change, his gaze filled with infinite patience and something Liam couldn't identify—an understanding so vast it left him feeling small. "The choices you made were your own, and they are woven into the lives you've changed. Nothing you give back will bring back what you've taken away."

A surge of frustration boiled up within him, but it was quickly smothered by something colder, deeper—fear. The full weight of the truth settled over him, heavy and inescapable. "But there has to be a way," he said, voice barely above a whisper, the desperation raw in his tone. "There has to be."

God shook his head, his gentle smile unwavering. "There is no undoing what you've done, Liam. You chose this path, and now you must walk it. Prepare yourself for what lies ahead. Everything you've taken will demand a price." His words were steady, each one sinking into Liam with a finality that felt like the closing of a door.

Liam's mind spiraled in panic, the reality of God's words hitting him like a series of blows. The permanence of his choices, the irrevocability of everything he'd done, twisted inside him, pushing him toward something desperate, something reckless. His voice cracked as he lashed out, grasping for anything to avoid the crushing weight of responsibility.

"This is your fault," he spat, his voice trembling. "You could've stopped me, but you didn't. You're supposed to be all-powerful, aren't you? So why didn't you do anything?"

God's calm expression never wavered, his eyes filled with the same patient sadness. "I tried to stop you, Liam. I warned you, showed you what your actions would cost." He paused, his gaze unwavering. "I thought that seeing the pain you caused would be enough for you to understand and turn back."

Liam's frustration flared, and he clenched his fists, unwilling to accept the words. "But you could have stopped me," he insisted, his voice louder, angrier. "You're God, aren't you? You could've forced me to stop, saved everyone before things got this bad!"