{IRIS}
"I merely planted a shadow curse within you," Sol said calmly.
The words sent a fresh wave of panic through me.
"A—a what?"
"It will ensure your silence," he continued, as if explaining a trivial inconvenience. "The moment you speak of me—of what transpired here—or the moment you even think of revealing my condition to another soul…"
His eyes lifted to meet mine.
"That shadow will pierce your heart."
A pause.
"And you will die."
The finality of it made my blood run cold.
"Got that?" he asked.
I nodded frantically.
Too fast.
Too hard.
"Yes—yes, I got it. I understand. I won't tell anyone. I swear."
The thing inside my chest seemed to tighten in response, as if acknowledging the vow.
I hated it.
I hated knowing something lived inside me now—something that belonged to him.
But what choice did I have?
This was the only way.
Right?
I hesitated, fingers curling into the fabric of my sleeve.
