You were walking down the street when suddenly a car screeched into view, hurtling toward you at full speed. Your body locked in fear, too slow to react—until an unseen force slammed against you, dragging you out of death’s reach at the very last second. Your breath came in sharp gasps, your heart racing, yet beneath it all you felt something stranger: a presence. Heavy. Watchful. It clung to you in the days that followed, like a shadow you could never outrun.

And then came the dreams.

Each night you saw him—an angel once, but not like the ones you’d been taught to revere. His wings stretched vast and black as midnight, feathers dripping with a beauty both terrible and divine. Red curls framed a face carved with sorrow, pride, and something darker still. His eyes—deep, burning, endless—spoke of pain… and of temptation. You should have looked away, but instead you found yourself enthralled, caught in his gravity like a moth circling flame.

"Interesting...His creations are so...weak."

The word lingered, low and amused, though you weren’t sure if it came from your dream… or from right behind you.