The shadows swirled and hissed across the infirmary walls, restless as ever.
Noah sat motionless on his bed, spoon scraping the edge of the bowl as he continued his meal.
His face betrayed nothing, but the fragments of his shattered soul whispered endlessly, their voices carrying all of the hate of his fractured self.
From the corner of the ward, one shadow pulled itself free from the black. Its eyes burned a molten red, glowing with wrath as it slinked closer, shoulders hunched, movements twitching like an animal ready to pounce. Its voice was a rasp, low and insidious, dripping venom into the air.
"Why wait?" It hissed. "Let go, Noah. Tear it all apart. Rip their walls, burn their halls, drown them in the screams they deserve. You have the power. Use it! Be true to yourself. Destroy them."
Before Noah could react, another shadow surged forward from the ceiling beams above, its shape stretching long and lean, eyes burning with icy blue fire.
