Simon woke up in darkness. His head throbbed as if someone had taken a hammer to it, and the taste of iron filled his mouth. Opening his eyes, he saw nothing but shadows—thick, oppressive, and almost alive.

"Where am I?" he whispered, his voice hoarse and dry.

The last thing he remembered was running. From what, he couldn't say. It was a blur of screams, the ground trembling under his feet, and a suffocating sense of terror.

Slowly, Simon pushed himself up from the cold, uneven ground. His hands touched damp stone, and the faint smell of decay filled his nostrils.

"Hello?" he called out, his voice echoing in the emptiness.

No answer. Only silence, heavy and deafening.

Simon took a tentative step forward, his hands stretched out in front of him. The darkness was absolute, like being swallowed whole. His fingers brushed against something rough—stone, maybe? A wall?

He pressed his palm against it and started moving, keeping one hand on the surface to guide him. Each step felt like a risk, but standing still wasn't an option.

After what felt like hours, a faint glow appeared in the distance. It was weak, like a dying ember, but it was something. Simon quickened his pace, his breathing uneven.

The glow grew brighter as he approached. It was coming from a jagged crack in the wall, wide enough for a person to squeeze through. On the other side, he could see flickering light—fire?

Simon hesitated. There was no telling what lay beyond, but staying in the dark wasn't an option. He pushed through the gap, the rough edges of the stone scraping against his skin.

On the other side, he found himself in a vast, cavernous space. The walls shimmered faintly, covered in strange, glowing symbols that pulsed like a heartbeat. In the center of the cavern stood a pedestal, and on it rested an orb that seemed to drink in the light around it.

Drawn to it, Simon approached cautiously. The orb was mesmerizing, its surface swirling with black and crimson hues. As he got closer, he felt a pull, like it was calling to him.

"Touch it," a voice whispered.

Simon froze. The voice was soft, almost seductive, but it came from nowhere.

"Who's there?" he demanded, turning in every direction.

"Touch it," the voice repeated, more insistent this time.

Against his better judgment, Simon reached out. The moment his fingers brushed the orb, a searing pain shot through his hand and into his chest. He gasped, falling to his knees as the world around him dissolved into chaos.

Images flashed before his eyes: burning cities, monstrous creatures tearing through the streets, and a sky that bled red. He saw people screaming, running, fighting—dying. And then, amidst the destruction, he saw himself, wreathed in black flames, standing against the tide of horror.

When the vision ended, Simon was left gasping for air, his body trembling. The orb was gone, and in its place, a faint warmth pulsed in his chest, like a small ember waiting to ignite.

The cavern was silent again, but Simon knew one thing for certain: he had changed. And whatever lay ahead, he couldn't turn back.