The chamber shook as dust rained from the ceiling.
Those burning eyes inside the open door did not blink.
Arin tried to stand, but his legs felt numb. Mira pulled at his arm desperately.
"Arin! Move!"
The shadows wearing his face began circling them, smiling like hunters that already knew the prey could not escape.
Then the creature inside the darkness stepped forward.
One hand appeared first.
Long fingers.
Black skin cracked like burnt stone.
Then a shoulder.
Then a face—
Mira screamed so loudly the chamber echoed.
It was Arin's face.
Not similar.
Exact.
Same jawline. Same eyes. Same scar near the eyebrow.
But twisted… older… filled with hate.
The thing smiled.
"You grew weaker than I expected."
Arin stared in horror. "Who are you?"
The creature's voice was calm.
"I am the first you."
The candles burst out.
Total darkness swallowed the chamber.
A heartbeat later, something grabbed Mira and dragged her screaming across the floor.
"MIRA!"
Arin ran blindly, crashing into stone pillars. He heard chains rattling above him. Heard whispers all around.
Run.
Too late.
He remembers.
Blue flames returned.
Mira was hanging in the air, wrapped in living shadows, unable to breathe.
The creature stood beneath her, one hand raised.
"You were made to replace me," it said. "A weaker vessel. A human mask."
Arin's head pounded again.
More memories slammed into him—
A ritual circle.
His father crying.
A child lying unconscious.
The black door closing.
Arin dropped to one knee.
"No…"
"Yes," the creature said. "He split me… and hid half inside flesh."
It pointed at Arin's chest.
"You are carrying what belongs to me."
Mira gasped, fighting the shadows. "Arin… don't listen…"
The creature turned toward her slowly.
"Then watch her die first."
Its fingers tightened.
Mira's eyes rolled back.
Something snapped inside Arin.
A violent pulse exploded from his body.
Every mirror shattered.
Every shadow flew backward.
The chains above ripped free and crashed down like spears.
Mira fell, coughing, onto the stone floor.
The creature took one step back for the first time.
Then it smiled wider.
"There you are."
Arin slowly stood up.
His eyes were glowing red.
Blood ran from his nose.
His voice came out doubled—two voices speaking together.
"What… did… you do to me?"
The chamber walls cracked open.
From behind the stone, hundreds of handprints pushed outward from inside the walls, trying to break through.
Mira whispered in terror, "Arin…"
The creature spread its arms.
"I set you free."
Then the entire mansion above them screamed.
To Be Continued…