The First Strike

The shadow's influence over Adrian grew stronger with each passing day. The weight of his guilt and the seductive promises of power kept him tethered to the darkness. He moved through the village, a silent predator among sheep, waiting for the right moment to strike.

The village was a powder keg ready to explode. Mistrust and fear had seeped into every corner, turning neighbors into enemies and friends into suspects. Adrian watched it all with a detached numbness, his mind focused solely on the shadow's commands.

That night, as the village slept uneasily, Adrian crept through the dark streets. The shadows seemed to bend and twist around him, guiding his steps towards the house of a villager who had been vocal in their accusations and paranoia. The shadow had chosen this person, seeing their death as a way to further destabilize the village.