THE DEVIL WITHIN ME IS AWAKE

Chapter 7: The Devil's Path

Arthur spent days wandering the city, his mind a labyrinth of confusion and fear. The encounter with the shadowed figure had shaken him to his core. The visions it had shown him—visions of destruction, of power—kept replaying in his mind. The more he thought about it, the more he realized the truth of its words: There was no turning back.

His feet carried him through the ruins like a man in a trance. The streets had become even more desolate. Something was happening—something that felt far beyond his control. The city was crumbling around him, as though the very foundation of the world was being torn apart.

Arthur's thoughts kept returning to the symbol, the one that had been carved into the altar, the one that had haunted him since his first encounter with Selene. He didn't know what it meant, but he was certain of one thing: the key to his power lay within it. But how could he unlock it?

He wandered into the city's outskirts, where the wreckage was even more severe. Buildings had collapsed, and the streets were choked with debris. In the distance, a flicker of light caught his eye, and he followed it, drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

When he reached the source, he found an old temple, overgrown with vines and crumbling with age. Its entrance was hidden beneath layers of stone and dust, but Arthur could feel the pull of something powerful within.

Without hesitation, he pushed through the fallen debris and entered the temple. The air was thick with age, and the silence weighed heavily on his shoulders. As he ventured deeper, the walls became covered with strange markings—symbols like the one he had seen in his dreams.

At the heart of the temple, he found an ancient altar, surrounded by candles that burned with an unnatural flame. The energy in the room was palpable, almost suffocating. He approached the altar, his fingers brushing against the cold stone.

"Arthur," a voice called, soft but clear. Selene.

Arthur's heart skipped. He turned sharply, his pulse racing. She was standing in the doorway, her figure barely visible in the dim light. She had returned.

"Selene…" he whispered, almost in disbelief.

She stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "I'm sorry," she said softly, her eyes filled with something like regret. "You were never meant to be alone in this."