Kim Cheon hesitated. He had no reason to trust this woman. She could be a trap, a ploy by the Guild to lure him into their clutches.
But something in her eyes, a flicker of something genuine, made him pause. He had been alone for so long, a ghost in a world of shadows. He craved connection, a sense of belonging.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"I am the Shadow," she replied, her voice a silken caress. "And I am offering you a place in my world."
She extended her hand, her fingers long and slender, her nails sharp and pointed. He stared at her hand, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt a pull, a magnetic force drawing him towards her.
He took her hand, his fingers closing around hers. He felt a surge of power, a wave of energy that coursed through his body. He felt a connection, a bond that transcended words.
"Welcome to the Shadow," she said, a smile playing on her lips. "We have much to do."