THE DEVIL WITHIN ME IS AWAKEN

Chapter 4: The Shattered Past

Arthur's world was slowly unraveling. Each day, the mysterious power inside him seemed to grow stronger, more insistent. His once quiet life in the factory now felt like a distant memory, replaced by visions of strange, half-remembered dreams and fragments of memories that didn't feel like his own.

He stood on the edge of the ruined temple, staring at the crumbling walls covered in faded runes. The air was thick with an ancient energy, a presence that felt both comforting and oppressive. Selene was beside him, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings, ever watchful.

"You're not just a tool of destruction, Arthur," she said, her voice low but firm. "You're part of something much older—something that was sealed away for a reason."

Arthur didn't know whether to believe her or not. He had always thought of himself as ordinary, someone who lived in the shadows of society, never asking for attention. But now? Now, he felt like he was standing on the edge of an abyss, unsure of whether to fall or climb back out.

"How do you know all of this?" Arthur asked, his voice tight with uncertainty.

Selene didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stepped forward, brushing her hand against the stone wall. Her fingers lingered over the ancient carvings, as if deciphering something Arthur couldn't see. Then, turning to him, she spoke again.

"I've been searching for you, Arthur," she admitted. "For years. I knew there was someone out there, someone who could break the seal. Someone who would bring the devil's power to the world once again."

Arthur frowned, the weight of her words sinking in. Break the seal? The devil's power? It didn't make sense. He didn't ask for any of this.

Before he could respond, a loud crash echoed in the distance, cutting through the tension. Both Arthur and Selene spun around, instinctively reaching for weapons that weren't there. The ground trembled beneath their feet.

"Get ready," Selene whispered, her eyes scanning the darkening horizon.

The figure that emerged from the shadows was tall and imposing, a hulking figure covered in black armor. His face was hidden beneath a helmet, but his eyes burned through the darkness like twin embers. There was something about him—something familiar.

"You're Arthur," the figure said, his voice deep and gravelly. "The one they've been waiting for."

Arthur instinctively took a step back, but Selene held him firm, her hand resting on his arm.

"Who are you?" Arthur demanded, his voice wavering between fear and defiance.

The armored figure stepped closer, his boots grinding against the stone. "I'm the one who was sent to bring you in, Arthur," he said with a cruel smile. "You're not ready to control that power, and you will never be. It's time to end this—before the world falls apart."

Arthur's heart raced, his breath catching in his throat. He could feel the devil's influence stirring inside him, the power growing restless.

"Not yet," Arthur said, his voice trembling but resolute. "I'm not going anywhere."

The armored figure laughed, a cold, echoing sound. "We'll see about that."

Before Arthur could react, the figure lunged, his armored fist aimed directly at him. But just as it made contact, a surge of energy erupted from within Arthur, a blast of raw power that knocked the figure back with a deafening crash.

Arthur's mind reeled. He had no idea how he did it, but the force that flowed through him felt as natural as breathing. The power surged, filling him with a sense of control and chaos all at once.

The armored figure struggled to rise, but Selene was already moving, her body a blur as she darted toward him. In the blink of an eye, she struck, her hand grabbing the figure by the throat, lifting him off the ground with ease.

"You don't understand, do you?" she said, her voice as cold as ice. "Arthur isn't the one you want to fight. It's me."

The figure's eyes widened, but before he could react, Selene threw him across the temple ruins, sending him crashing into the stone pillars. He lay there motionless.

Arthur stood frozen, heart pounding in his chest. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion. Who was this figure? And what was it that Selene had said? Arthur isn't the one you want to fight… It's me.

Before he could process it all, Selene turned toward him. Her expression softened, though there was still a distant, guarded look in her eyes.

"You're not alone in this, Arthur," she said gently. "But we're going to need to do more than just survive. We need to find the answers to who you really are… and what's coming for both of us."

Arthur opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Selene's gaze shifted to the horizon. Her face hardened as she looked toward the dark sky, a storm brewing in the distance.

"I need to leave," she said, her voice strained. "There's something bigger happening, something I can't face with you here. I'll be back when it's time. Trust me."

Arthur reached out, but she stepped back, her expression closing off.

"You're ready for this journey, Arthur," she said softly. "But it's a journey you'll have to take alone for now."

Without another word, Selene turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Arthur standing in the ruins of the temple, more uncertain than ever.