The rooftop trembled beneath their feet.
Wind howled between the buildings, carrying with it a chilling presence that made Adrian's skin crawl. The Harbinger stood before them, tall and unmoving, its crimson eyes glowing like embers in the dark.
Kai stepped forward.
Shadows gathered at his feet, rising like a tide.
"This time," Kai said quietly, "it won't hold back."
Adrian swallowed hard.
"And neither will we… right?"
Kai didn't look back, but his voice was firm.
"Stay close to me. Don't lose control again."
Adrian nodded, even though his heart was racing.
The Harbinger lifted its hand slowly.
Dark energy spiraled around it, thicker and heavier than anything Adrian had felt before.
"…Return," it whispered.
Then it attacked.
The shadows shot forward like spears.
Kai reacted instantly.
A wall of darkness surged up, blocking the attack with a loud crack that echoed across the rooftop.
The force pushed him back slightly.
Adrian's eyes widened.
It's stronger than before…
"Kai—!"
"I know," Kai said sharply.
The Harbinger moved again—faster this time.
It vanished.
Then reappeared behind them.
Adrian froze.
"Behind—!"
Too late.
A sharp wave of energy slammed into Kai, throwing him across the rooftop.
"KAI!"
Adrian's chest tightened as Kai hit the ground hard.
The Harbinger turned its gaze toward Adrian.
"…Now… you."
Adrian stumbled back.
Fear surged through him.
But this time—
He didn't run.
"I'm not going with you!" he shouted.
The shadows around him reacted instantly.
They rose from the ground, swirling violently.
But unlike before—
They didn't feel completely out of control.
They felt… stronger.
The Harbinger stepped closer.
"…You cannot resist what you are."
Adrian clenched his fists.
"Watch me."
He raised his hand.
Dark energy burst forward, forming sharp tendrils that lashed toward the Harbinger.
The creature blocked easily.
But its eyes flickered with interest.
"…He learns."
Behind Adrian, Kai slowly pushed himself up.
Blood ran down the side of his face, but his eyes still burned bright.
"Adrian… don't fight it alone…"
Adrian glanced back, panic flashing across his face.
"You're hurt!"
Kai wiped the blood away.
"I've had worse."
The Harbinger moved again.
This time, it appeared directly in front of Adrian.
Too fast.
Adrian gasped.
The creature's hand reached forward—
And grabbed his wrist.
Everything went still.
Adrian's eyes widened.
A sharp pain shot through his arm.
"Ah—!"
Dark energy flooded into him.
Not his.
Something foreign.
Something ancient.
"…Accept it," the Harbinger whispered.
Adrian felt his vision blur.
The world around him faded.
And suddenly—
He wasn't on the rooftop anymore.
---
Inside the Darkness
Adrian stood alone.
Endless black stretched in every direction.
No sound.
No light.
Just silence.
"What… is this…?"
A voice echoed around him.
Deep.
Endless.
"…You have always belonged here…"
Adrian turned quickly.
"Who's there?!"
The darkness shifted.
A massive shadow formed in front of him.
Larger than anything he had ever seen.
Its eyes opened slowly.
Glowing… not red.
But pure black.
Adrian's breath caught.
"…You carry my power."
Adrian shook his head.
"No… I don't even know what you are!"
The shadow moved closer.
"…You are the vessel… the bridge… the one who can awaken all shadows…"
Adrian's heart pounded.
"No… that's not me!"
The shadow's voice deepened.
"…Then why do they obey you?"
Adrian froze.
Memories flashed through his mind—
The classroom.
The warehouse.
The way shadows responded to him…
"…You cannot deny it."
Adrian clenched his fists.
"I won't become something like you!"
The shadow paused.
Then—
It laughed.
A low, echoing sound.
"…You already have."
Suddenly—
Pain surged through Adrian's body.
A burning mark formed on his wrist.
He screamed.
---
Back on the Rooftop
"ADRIAN!"
Kai's voice cut through the darkness.
Adrian's eyes snapped open.
He collapsed to his knees, gasping.
The Harbinger stepped back slowly.
On Adrian's wrist—
A glowing black symbol pulsed faintly.
Kai's eyes widened.
"…No…"
Adrian looked down, shaking.
"What… is this…?"
The Harbinger's voice echoed softly.
"…The mark of the chosen."
Kai rushed forward, pulling Adrian back.
"Stay away from him!"
The Harbinger didn't move.
"…It has begun."
Kai's grip tightened.
"Adrian… listen to me carefully."
Adrian looked up, fear filling his eyes.
"Kai… something's wrong…"
Kai nodded.
"I know."
His voice was low.
Serious.
"That mark… it means they can track you now."
Adrian's heart dropped.
"…They?"
Kai looked toward the darkness surrounding the city.
Not just at the Harbinger.
But beyond.
"…All of them."
The wind grew colder.
The shadows around them shifted.
Watching.
Waiting.
And Adrian realized something terrifying.
He wasn't just being hunted anymore.
He had been marked.