Shadowseal: The Price Of Sin

CHAPTER 7

One year later...

Missing posters, police interrogations, television reports... After everything, the bearer had finally returned. When he came back, there wasn't a single scar on his body, no visible sign of trauma anyone could explain. But his eyes… his eyes were still staring into somewhere else. Somewhere much deeper.

To the authorities, his family, his school he said the same thing:

"I was kidnapped."

No one dared to ask for more details. A teenager missing for that long coming back alive was already a miracle. The records were updated. Precautions were taken. The school took him back.

Newford Central High.

An old American high school on the edge of the city still standing, barely. Red spray paint stains on the concrete walls, a gloom clinging to the rooftop like birds that never left.

He was now a senior. And the moment he stepped into the hallway... every eye turned to him.

The whispers began.

— "Isn't that the kid?"

— "The kidnapped one..."

— "No way, I thought he was dead."

— "Dude's totally wrecked now…"

As he walked through the doors, he felt none of it. No nostalgia, no connection. He didn't answer anyone. Just kept his head low, eyes focused on nothing. A few touched his arm, said things like "Hey man, you good?" but he said not a single word.

He had become popular.

But he couldn't care less.

Because now… he carried a secret.

When he entered the classroom, everyone fell silent. Some stood up, some just stared, confused. It was like a ghost had walked in.

He made his way to his seat. The only real friend he had in the class was already sitting next to him.

Blushing, the friend whispered, "Welcome back, man…"

The bearer simply nodded.

The first lesson began. The teacher walked in and said a few words, but the bearer didn't hear any of them. His eyes began to close. The exhaustion was pulling him back down. He rested his elbow on the desk and leaned his forehead into his palm.

Just two minutes...

In those two minutes, everything went black.

And then a voice rushed into his ears like a warm, haunting wind.

"Heeeyyy... whaaat haappeneeedd?"

"Did you really think... I'd let you go that easilyyyy?"

"Thousands of years of planning… and you think it never faced these kinds of species flaws, huh?"

"Don't worry… that body... will be MINE! HAHHAHAHAA!"

He squinted in his sleep and saw the silhouette of the demon. Bright eyes, twisted grin. The mind was foggy, but the voice was clear. His voice.

Just then, someone nudged him from behind.

— "Hey! Hey, Mikey! Wake up, man! You're sweating like crazy!"

He jolted upright. When he opened his eyes, the classroom was still there. The teacher writing something on the board, the other students listening.

His friend beside him looked worried.

— "Are you okay? You seriously don't look good…"

The bearer wiped his face and nodded like nothing happened.

But deep down, he knew:

It was still inside.

And this... was just the beginning.

Lunch break had arrived.

But to him, it was just another meaningless part of the day.

His mind was still asleep; his body moved on autopilot.

He walked as if he were dragging the weight of the world. His shoulders slumped, head hanging low. It was as if everything he'd been through had wrapped around his neck like an invisible chain. His eyes didn't focus on anything not the students beside him, not the noise of clattering trays and metal cutlery.

When he entered the cafeteria, he sat at an empty table without making eye contact with anyone. He leaned back in the chair, placing his head between his hands. He exhaled deeply, but the breath felt hollow like his lungs no longer knew how to fill.

Just then, someone approached.

His closest friend from class Zack.

A mix of relief and worry painted his face.

— "Hey, Mikey... man, finally!"

— "What the hell happened to you? I looked everywhere. I searched every damn place… and you were just gone."

— "How did you get out? Or… did someone find you?"

Zack's questions poured out, but there was a tremble in his voice. His tone shifted toward the end, becoming quieter.

— "Even asking you this feels wrong. I hope I'm not making things worse, man."

For a few moments, Mikey didn't move. His head remained lowered, eyes closed.

Finally, he gave a slow nod and spoke in a tired whisper:

— "Zack… not now. Please, not now."

— "Maybe one day I'll talk about it… but today… I just don't have the strength."

Zack nodded silently. He didn't push.

He just sat next to him and stayed quiet.

Then...

From across the cafeteria, a girl approached.

There was a gentle sadness in her eyes, a slight shimmer like tears barely held back. But her expression held something more genuine warmth.

She stopped beside the table and looked down at him.

— "Hey Mike… we missed you. A lot."

— "We can't even begin to imagine what happened to you…"

— "But if you ever need anything just say the word, okay?"

Mikey looked up briefly. He nodded faintly, then lowered his head again.

— "Thank you," he murmured.

He glanced at the tray in front of him. Picked up his fork.

Tried to eat.

But the food wouldn't go down.

His vision blurred. His limbs felt heavy.

And in the next instant…

He collapsed.

The sound of the fork falling and clinking against the floor echoed through the cafeteria.

All the noise stopped.

And once again, darkness returned to Mikey's eyes.