74. Embracing darkness

In the dimly lit room, the flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows on the peeling wallpaper, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. The man's face remained shrouded in darkness, intensifying his enigmatic presence. The little boy, no more than eight years old, stood nervously before him, his small frame trembling with fear and anticipation.

He had stumbled upon the man while exploring the abandoned mansion on the outskirts of the town. The man's sudden appearance had startled the boy, but there was something mesmerizing about him that kept the child rooted to the spot.

As the man spoke, his voice sent chills down the boy's spine. The sinister tone held a promise of great power, a temptation that both intrigued and frightened the young mind. The boy wondered who this man was and how he knew about the dormant potential within him.

Desperate to be acknowledged and seen as strong, the boy tried to muster the courage to respond. He believed the man was his father, despite not being able to