I stayed on my knees in the middle of the ruined courtyard, ash clinging to my skin, chest heaving as I tried to force air into my lungs. The golden light inside me was still unstable, flickering between hot spikes and icy numbness. Every few seconds I felt it twitch, like something else was testing the boundaries of my control, probing for weakness.
Liora knelt a short distance away, her small body trembling, silver hair messy and eyes wide with worry. Kaia stood beside her, arms crossed tightly over her heavy breasts, looking equal parts confused and protective. Morgana remained standing a few steps back, her purple hair shifting slightly in the night breeze, her expression carefully guarded.
"Alex," Liora whispered, voice soft and pleading. "Please come back to us. Whatever you're seeing, it's not real. You were with us. You were… you were so good to us."
I laughed bitterly, the sound cracking in my throat.
"Good?" I rasped. "You keep saying I was good. That I was rough. That I claimed you. That I made you cry and beg and cum harder than ever. But I don't remember any of it. Not one second. So tell me, Liora, how can that be me?"
Kaia stepped closer, her voice low. "Because we felt you. We tasted you. We still have your cum inside us. It was your cock. Your hands. Your voice. Even if you don't remember, it was you."
I shook my head violently. "No. It wasn't. Something else was driving. Something that enjoyed hurting you. Something that laughed while you cried. And it's still here. I can feel it. Waiting."
Morgana finally spoke, her tone measured but sharp. "Then fight it. You are the Chosen. The power is yours. Do not let it take the wheel again."
I wanted to believe her. I wanted to stand up, pull myself together, and be the man they thought I was. But every time I tried to steady my breathing, another flash pushed through.
I had Liora pinned beneath me, her small wrists held above her head with one hand while I thrust into her with deep, punishing strokes. Her legs were folded back, knees near her shoulders, body bent in half. Tears ran down her cheeks as she sobbed and came at the same time. I leaned down and bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood, then whispered, "Break for me, little one. I want to feel you shatter."
I gasped and doubled over again, pressing my forehead to the cold ground. My stomach twisted violently. I could still taste the phantom blood on my tongue. I could still hear Liora's broken moans in my ears.
"Stop," I whispered desperately. "Please stop."
The girls moved closer despite my earlier warning. Liora reached out and gently touched my shoulder. The contact made me flinch, but I didn't pull away this time. Her hand was warm. Real. Hers.
"We're here," she said softly. "We're not afraid of you. Whatever happened last night, we can figure it out together."
For a moment, her words almost reached me. I lifted my head, looking at her tear-streaked face, at Kaia's concerned frown, at Morgana's watchful eyes.
Then the voice returned.
Not a memory this time.
A whisper, right behind my eyes.
They say they aren't afraid. But they will be. Soon.
My hand moved without my permission.
It rose slowly and wrapped gently around Liora's slender throat.
Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't pull away immediately. She thought it was still me. She thought it was playful.
I felt my fingers tighten.
"No!" I screamed inside my own head.
With every ounce of willpower I had, I forced my hand open and shoved myself backward, scrambling away from her across the ash-covered ground. Liora touched her throat, breathing fast, looking shocked but not yet hurt.
I stared at my own hand like it belonged to a stranger.
"It moved," I whispered, voice hoarse. "It tried to choke you. It wanted to. I felt it."
Kaia stepped forward, fists clenched. "Then fight harder. You are stronger than this thing."
Morgana's eyes narrowed. "Or perhaps the thing inside you is stronger than we thought."
I pushed myself up to my feet, legs shaking, and backed away from all three of them. The panic had evolved into something colder now. Clearer.
"I can't stay here," I said. "Not with you. Not until I know it won't take over again. I won't risk hurting you."
Liora reached out. "Alex, don't—"
I turned and ran again.
Deeper into the ruins.
Away from their voices.
Away from their bodies.
Away from the terrifying possibility that the next time I closed my eyes, I might wake up covered in their blood instead of their cum.