The days seemed to blur together for Noir as he lay in the small, crumbling room Jess had stashed him in. Pain flared through his side every time he moved, but at least it wasn't as sharp anymore. Breathing didn't feel like being stabbed with every inhale. Jess came by regularly, always with supplies or food. And every time he checked on Noir's wounds, he offered a smile, that same easy grin that made everything feel like it might be okay.
"You're healing well," Jess would say, leaning in close. "Just a little longer, and you'll be back on your feet."
Noir would nod. What else could he do? He didn't have many options, and returning to his adoptive parents was out of the question. He couldn't face that nightmare again. Not after everything. Jess had become his only escape. His lifeline, really.
But something always lurked beneath Jess's kindness. Noir felt it—like a shadow creeping at the edges of his thoughts. He wasn't sure what it was, but it left a strange, uneasy feeling.
One evening, as the light outside the grimy window began to fade, Jess sat beside him, a thoughtful look on his face. The usual charm in his expression was gone, replaced with something more serious.
"Noir," Jess said slowly, breaking the silence, "there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about."
Noir's brows furrowed. "What is it?"
Jess hesitated. That wasn't like him. Usually, Jess was so smooth with his words, so sure. But now, he seemed to weigh each word before letting it out. "I know people," he finally said, lowering his voice. "People who could help you—help us both, really. It's a group, a... community."
Noir sat up a little, wincing at the pull in his side. "A community? What kind of people?"
Jess's eyes gleamed with a new kind of intensity. Noir hadn't seen him look this focused before. "They're like a family," Jess explained, almost too casually. "They take in people like us—people who don't have anywhere else to go. They give us purpose. A place to belong."
A place to belong? Noir's gut twisted. It sounded... too good. But at the same time, he wanted to believe it. He needed to. He'd been alone for so long, barely surviving. Maybe this was his shot. Maybe Jess really had found something.
"And... you're with them?" Noir asked, voice tight with suspicion.
Jess nodded, a soft smile creeping back onto his face. "Yeah, I've been with them for a while. They've helped me more than I can explain. Gave me clarity, you know?" He leaned closer. "I think they could do the same for you."
Noir bit his lip, letting the words sink in. It all sounded promising, but... "What do they want in return?" There was always a catch. Always.
Jess didn't miss a beat. His hand rested gently on Noir's shoulder. "Nothing you wouldn't be willing to give. It's about balance. They believe everything has a price, sure, but trust me, it's worth it."
Noir's mind raced. This could be the way out. A fresh start, maybe even a real family. But... it felt like stepping into something he didn't fully understand. Still, what choice did he have?
"Can I meet them?" Noir asked, feeling a knot of uncertainty tightening in his stomach.
Jess's smile widened, and for the first time in a while, it didn't seem forced. "Yeah, of course. It's time you did."
Jess stood, offering a hand to help him up. Noir hesitated but took it. He pushed past the pain in his side, standing on shaky legs. Maybe this is it, he thought. Maybe this is the way out.
They moved through the dark, narrow alleys, the city growing quieter as the sun dipped below the skyline. Noir shivered, but he wasn't sure if it was the cold or the feeling that something was off. He followed Jess, trusting him to lead the way, but with each step, that uneasy feeling crept closer.
Finally, they stopped in front of a tall, unremarkable building. It looked like nothing from the outside, just another shadow in the city. Jess turned to him, eyes serious.
"This is it," he said quietly. "Are you ready?"
Noir nodded, though he wasn't sure if he was convincing himself or Jess. "Yeah. I think so."
Jess pushed open the door, and they stepped inside. The hallway was dim, the air thick with the smell of incense. It felt... wrong. Noir tried to ignore the twisting in his gut as they walked deeper, the sound of soft chanting growing louder.
When they reached the end of the hall, Jess opened another door, revealing a room lit by flickering candles. People stood in a circle, their faces hidden by the shadows, heads bowed as if in prayer. At the center of the room, there was an altar draped in dark cloth.
Noir's heart pounded in his chest. What the hell is this place? He glanced at Jess, who seemed perfectly calm, like he belonged there.
"Don't worry," Jess whispered, sensing Noir's anxiety. "They're here to help you. Trust me."
Before Noir could respond, one of the figures stepped forward—a tall man with piercing eyes that seemed to glow in the candlelight. His voice was deep, steady. "Welcome, Noir. We've been waiting for you."
Noir swallowed hard. "Who... who are you?"
The man smiled, but it was cold. Too cold. "We are a community, as Jess said. A family. We offer guidance, purpose, and peace."
Jess's hand squeezed Noir's shoulder. "They're here to guide you, Noir. To show you the way."
Noir nodded, but his mind was spinning. "What do you want from me?" His voice came out shakier than he intended.
The man's smile widened. "Only your faith. You've suffered much, Noir. We offer you a chance to move beyond your pain."
Noir looked at Jess, who gave an encouraging nod. "Listen to them," Jess whispered. "This is the way out."
Noir took a breath, trying to steady himself. Maybe this is it, he thought. Maybe this is what I need.
The man's voice grew soothing, almost hypnotic. "Join us, Noir. You'll find peace here. You'll be valued."
Jess watched him intently, excitement building beneath his calm exterior. He's almost there, Jess thought, heart racing. Just a little more.
Noir's body tensed, his heart hammering in his chest as he looked around the dark room. The chanting grew louder, filling his ears, making it harder to think. He glanced at Jess, who still stood there, holding the dagger with a calmness that didn't match the rising panic inside Noir.
"Jess..." Noir's voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "Please... what's happening?"
Jess didn't meet his eyes, his expression tight, focused. "This is something I have to do, Noir. To prove myself."
"What?" Noir's mind raced, confusion mixing with fear. "Prove yourself to who?"
The tall man stepped forward, his voice cutting through the chanting like a blade. "Jess, it's time. Fulfill your duty and offer this boy's blood to the Light Bearer. Prove your loyalty."
Noir's blood turned cold.
He took a step back, his side aching, but he barely noticed the pain. All he could focus on was Jess—his supposed friend—now staring at him like he was nothing more than a lamb led to slaughter.
"No... Jess, don't," Noir pleaded, his voice shaky. "You don't have to do this!"
Jess hesitated for a split second, the dagger trembling slightly in his grip. Noir thought he saw something flicker across Jess's face—regret? Doubt? But then it was gone, replaced by that same cold determination.
"I'm sorry, Noir," Jess whispered, his voice hollow. "This is the only way."
The chanting reached a fevered pitch, the air in the room thick with the weight of it. Noir struggled against the hands that gripped him, but his strength was fading fast. His side throbbed, his breathing shallow.
"No... no, Jess... please..." Noir's voice broke, desperation clawing at him as he tried to find a way out.
But there was no escape.
Jess stepped closer, raising the dagger high, the blade gleaming ominously in the candlelight. For a moment, everything seemed to slow, the world narrowing down to just Noir and Jess—the friend who had saved him, now about to end him.
With a deep breath, Jess brought the dagger down.
The pain was immediate and blinding. Noir gasped, his body tensing as the blade plunged into his side. Hot blood spilled against his skin, and for a second, everything went white with agony. He could feel the life draining out of him, each breath growing shallower, harder.
The cult members erupted in cheers, their voices blending into a chaotic roar as they chanted louder, faster.
Noir's vision blurred, the room spinning as his strength faded. His knees buckled, and he collapsed, gasping for air that wouldn't come. He looked up at Jess, his eyes wide with pain and betrayal.
"Why...?" The word barely left Noir's lips, weak and broken.
Jess stared down at him, his hand still wrapped around the dagger, blood dripping from the blade. For a moment, his mask slipped, and Noir saw the conflict in his eyes—just for a second.
"For the Light Bearer," Jess murmured, but it sounded like he was trying to convince himself. "For the power..."
Noir could feel the darkness closing in, his consciousness slipping away. But even in his last moments, there was something that wouldn't let go, something that burned hotter than the pain.
Hate.
"I... curse you, Jess," Noir whispered, his voice barely audible but filled with venom. "I will come back... I'll drag you down... to hell with me."
Jess stiffened, his grip tightening on the dagger. The cult members continued their fevered chanting, oblivious to the tension now hanging between the two boys.
Noir's body trembled, his eyes locked on Jess with a fire that refused to die, even as his life ebbed away. "You think... you're safe? You think this is over? I will haunt you... I swear it... I will take my revenge."
Jess's heart skipped a beat. The room seemed to darken, the shadows growing longer, deeper. He wanted to dismiss Noir's words as nothing more than the ramblings of a dying boy, but something about the way Noir looked at him—like he saw beyond the physical world, like he knew—sent a chill down Jess's spine.
"You'll regret this," Noir spat, blood bubbling from his lips. "Enjoy your power while you can..."
With that, Noir's body finally went limp, his eyes closing as the last bit of life slipped away.
The cult leader stepped forward, raising his hands in triumph. "It is done! The Light Bearer will accept this sacrifice!"
The cultists cheered louder, their voices filling the room as they praised the ritual's success. But Jess barely heard them. He stood frozen, staring down at Noir's lifeless body, his hand still trembling around the dagger's hilt.
What have I done?
The tall leader placed a hand on Jess's shoulder, his voice filled with pride. "You've done well, Jess. The Light Bearer will be pleased. You've proven your loyalty."
Jess nodded mechanically, but inside, his mind was racing. Noir's final words echoed in his head, circling like a storm. He tried to push them away, to focus on the ritual's success, on the power he had gained—but he couldn't.
The cult members began to disperse, their fevered energy slowly fading as they left the room one by one. Jess stood there, staring at the blood-stained dagger in his hand, feeling the weight of it like a thousand pounds.
"Noir..." Jess whispered to himself, his heart heavy with something he couldn't quite name—guilt? Fear? He didn't know.
As the last cultist left, Jess finally moved, pulling the dagger free from Noir's body and stepping back. The room felt colder now, emptier. The cheers and chanting were gone, replaced by a deafening silence.
It's over, Jess told himself. I did what I had to do.
But even as he left the building, Noir's voice followed him.
"I'll be there, waiting..."
The night air was cool against Jess's skin as he walked through the empty streets. But no matter how far he went, no matter how fast he moved, he couldn't escape it.
The curse had already begun.
And deep down, Jess knew he would never be free.
A few hours later, the police arrived at the nondescript building after a tip-off from a concerned passerby who had heard strange chanting and seen shadows flickering through the windows.
Two officers approached the building cautiously, flashlights cutting through the thick darkness inside. The door creaked open under the pressure of one officer's hand.
"Over here," one officer called out, his flashlight falling on the crumpled figure on the floor. Noir's body lay still, eyes closed, face pale, and blood streaked across his side. The pool of dried blood around him painted a grim picture of the ritual sacrifice that had occurred. The officer's expression hardened.
"Looks like a ritual killing... something dark," the second officer muttered under his breath, his hand instinctively resting on his holstered weapon.
They both stepped closer, shining their lights over the strange symbols drawn on the walls, the remnants of melted candles littering the floor. The smell of burnt incense still lingered heavily in the air. This wasn't just some random crime scene. It felt... ancient.
One of the officers kneeled beside Noir's body, his face grim. "Poor kid... Looks like they gutted him." He motioned to the fatal wound in Noir's side. "This wasn't a robbery. This was deliberate."
The other officer gave a slow nod, his face tight. "We need forensics down here immediately." He reached for his radio, calling in for backup. "We've got a body, possible cult activity, and... it doesn't look like we're dealing with amateurs."
As they waited for the team to arrive, one of the officers couldn't help but glance down at Noir's lifeless face. Despite the brutality, there was something strange, almost eerie, about the way Noir's face was set—there was a faint smile on his lips, as if even in death, he had something to say.
The officer shifted uneasily, stepping back from the body, rubbing the back of his neck. He'd seen many things in his career, but this... this felt different. There was something about the scene, something about the boy, that made him feel like the air was still thick with tension—like something hadn't finished here yet.
Noir's words seemed to hang in the air, carried by the wind and left behind for whoever remained to hear.
Later that night, in Jess's room...
Jess sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the wall. The room was dark, the only light coming from the moon through the window. He could still feel the weight of the dagger in his hand, the cold air from the ritual, and the heat of the cult's chanting in his ears.
But more than anything, he could still hear Noir's final words.
"I curse you, Jess... I will return... I will haunt you... I will take my revenge."
Jess clenched his fists, trying to steady his breathing. "It's just a curse," he whispered to himself. "Just the desperate words of a dying boy... it means nothing."
But deep down, the fear had already taken root. He could feel it creeping up his spine, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts, whispering doubts into his ears.
What if he does come back? What if I didn't win after all?
Jess lay back on his bed, his eyes wide open, staring up at the ceiling. The room felt colder, darker than it had before. Every sound—the creak of the floorboards, the rustle of the curtains, the faint hum of the city outside—felt amplified, like the shadows were alive, watching him.
"I'll be there, waiting, watching..." Noir's voice seemed to whisper from the dark, sending a jolt of fear through Jess's chest.
Jess sat up abruptly, heart pounding. "Stop it!" he hissed, rubbing his temples with trembling hands. "It's nothing... just my mind playing tricks."
But even as he said it, he couldn't shake the feeling—the presence that lingered in the room with him, as if Noir was still there, watching from the shadows.
Jess lay back down, forcing his eyes shut, trying to will himself to sleep. But the words kept coming back, circling in his mind, over and over:
One day, I'll return... I'll take my revenge...
And as Jess lay there, staring into the darkness, he couldn't help but feel that somewhere, somehow, Noir was still watching.
Waiting.