In the eerie silence of the desolate abyss, a majestic castle stood tall, its ancient stone walls soaring above the emptiness. The castle cast a mysterious aura over the barren landscape, as if defiantly challenging the very laws of nature.
"Master, it's time to wake up," a mysterious voice echoed from deep within the castle's ancient walls.
In a dimly lit chamber illuminated by flickering candlelight, a figure stood at the center. With vibrant red hair streaked with black framing a captivating face, the figure's striking red eyes, set in sclera as dark as night, seemed to absorb the surrounding light. Clad in elegant butler attire, he approached the individual resting on the throne, extending a gloved hand to gently awaken them.
As the person yawned and stretched, they glanced at Ciel, the figure nearby. Turning to the window, they gazed outside for a moment before looking back.
"Ciel, didn't I tell you to wake me after three years so I could fake my causality backlash? Why did you wake me up so early?" the person asked while stretching their back.
"Master, you've been asleep for nearly 30 years. For the past 27 years, I've been trying to wake you up," Ciel replied.
"Oh, okay—WAIT, WHAT?" the person screamed.
"Affirmative, Master," Ciel responded.
"It seems that after becoming immortal, my sense of time has worsened," the person sighed.
"Affirmative, Master," Ciel echoed.
"I feel like I missed out on a lot while I was sleeping," the person said, lost in thought.
"Affirmative, Master," Ciel replied.
"Okay—WHY THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING LIKE AN AI!?" the person shouted.
"I just love annoying you, Master. And I'm not a robot," Ciel said with a smirk.
"Y-you don't need to act like a robot!" the person grunted.
"Say's the sloth," Ciel whispered playfully.
"Huh—did you say something?" the person asked with an annoyed expression.
"It was the wind, Master," Ciel replied in a robotic tone.
"Also, Master, I won the bet," Ciel stated.
"Which bet are we talking about again?" the person asked, their expression turning curious.
"I knew you would forget," Ciel said, his eyes gleaming mischievously. He produced a contract seemingly out of thin air. "It states that if {HE} makes the choices presented to {HIM}, [YOU] win. But if {HE} chooses something hidden, [I] win. The loser must reveal their [PAST], including their most embarrassing moments."
"Oh right—WAIT, WHAT!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN {HE} CHOSE SOMETHING ELSE? THERE WERE NO HIDDEN CHOICES IN THE FIRST PLACE!" the person exclaimed, astonished.
"Master, please stop shouting in my ear," Ciel replied, his tone now slightly irritated.
"And on top of that, you tried to CHEAT!" The person felt a chill run down their spine as they heard the unmistakable tone in Ciel's voice.
"I won, Master, so you must show me your {PAST}," Ciel said eagerly.
"Do I have to include the embarrassing parts?" the person asked, their voice pleading.
"Yes, Master," Ciel replied, his face expressionless.
"Alright, I'll show you," the person conceded after a moment of thought.
With a few hand gestures, the person conjured a magic circle on the wall, which enveloped the entire room.
"Oh, it's starting! Let me get popcorn and tea for us, Master," Ciel said. With a flourish, he summoned a bucket of popcorn and a steaming cup of tea for both of them, filling the air with the delightful aroma of freshly popped corn and fragrant tea leaves.
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"Hiro, today is a special day it's your 4th birthday! Dad couldn't wait to surprise you with the RC car you've been dreaming about!" The middle-aged man, with his striking white hair and intense blue eyes, smiled warmly, knowing how much this moment meant to his son.
"And guess what? Mom baked your all-time favorite chocolate cake, just for you!" The beautiful woman, her flowing jet-black hair glinting in the light and her warm red eyes full of love, wrapped Hiro in a tight embrace. She noticed the surprise in his eyes, knowing how much he loved cake. With a kind smile, she put him down
"Thank you so much, Mom! Thank you, Dad you are the best!"The little kid exclaimed, his dark black hair bouncing and his ocean-blue eyes shining brighter than ever as he was literally jumping up and down with excitement
In an instant, the entire scene changed dramatically, as the once cheerful birthday atmosphere vanished. In its place, an eerie and bone-chilling tension filled the room, carrying a sense of foreboding. Just moments ago alive with joy and laughter, the room was now shrouded in terror, with every surface smeared with grotesque remnants. The walls were decorated with blood splatters, while torn flesh and shattered bones littered the ground in a frightening display.
Amid this descent into a nightmare, two sinister figures emerged, their ghastly presence all the more terrifying against the backdrop of pure horror. They were dragging a young, helpless child toward an unseen abyss.
"YOU HEARTLESS MONSTER, HOW COULD YOU HIDE WHILE WE WERE DYING?" one of the figures shrieked.
"WHY ARE YOU THE ONLY ONE WHO SURVIVED? HOW CAN YOU LIVE IN PEACE AFTER ABANDONING US TO OUR GURSOME FATE?" The questions continued to pour out, filled with accusation and anger. "HOW ARE YOU EVEN LIVING WITH THIS GUILT? RIGHT, YOU DON'T EVEN FEEL GUILTY, DO YOU? HOW CAN YOU EVEN ENJOY YOUR LIFE? YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENJOY! WHY ARE YOU STILL ALIVE? WHY CAN'T YOU JUST DIE? WHY? WHY? WHY?"WH-"
The two terrifying beings wailed with a chilling intensity that sent shivers down the spine of anyone who dared to listen. Their eerie voices echoed through the void, creating an atmosphere of fear and dread that lingered long after the sound had faded.
The child stared at the horrifying figures, his eyes seemingly devoid of any emotion.
"...."
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The dimly lit room barely received any light from the first rays of dawn filtering through the curtains. A young man with jet-black hair lay motionless on his bed. His eyes, the color of the deep ocean, were tightly shut, revealing nothing of the emotions within. A single tear slipped from the corner of his eye, catching the faint morning light as it trailed down his cheek. As he slowly opened his eyes, the weight of his thoughts seemed almost tangible in the quiet stillness of the morning air as he muttered to himself.
"That damn 'Nightmare' again"
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"Hey guys! Your friendly neighborhood author here. This is my first time writing a novel, so wish me luck with this series. If you like it, please add it to your library and give me some power stones. Also, sending a few gifts my way would be awesome and really help's in keeping me motivated. Let me know of any mistakes, and I'll fix them as soon as possible. Once we reach 10 collections and 100 power stones, I'll post a bonus chapter as a treat for y'all."
EDIT:-
Hey y'all, just a heads up that I'll be setting some new targets for bonus chapters soon. I'll catch up with ya guys later. Gotta go bye!