Echoes Of The Abyss

The street outside was quiet, dimly lit by a single flickering lamppost. Zarah h

hed something soft-an old envelope, yellowed by time. It almost felt like it didn't b

d it out

. His father's handwriting

's Dedicat

ened it. Inside were three ph

es. His mother held him close, eyes closed in prayer. His father stood beside her, one hand o

inked

re shut tight. His hands lifted. You could tell-even in a still image-that he was prayi

e he didn't remembe

sleeping Nathaniel, probably around five years old. The photo

's throat

arly for devotionals, who sang hymns without shame, who fasted without pr

w.

s spirit once rejected. He couldn't remember the last time he prayed

pped onto

ano

shaking in the front seat. He was breaking. Not in fro

d I ge

id I lo

dn't I

oorway. She didn't call out this

photos back in the envelope, and shoved them

r, trying to smile as

looking for a p

d him, kissed his cheek. "Co

n. But he felt like a str

t beside him, Nathaniel lay

tos hau

the s

ices Begi

ce surrounding Natha

traveled. Others said he was sick. But a few-those who r

he prayer leader, approached

eep seeing fire turning to smoke.

hed. "He's

saw his keyboard

that in

isn't done with him. The fire is

eyes damp. "Pleas

ver st

ith Na

haniel woke up from a

d at a distance, laughing in a voice that didn't sound human. Behind her, his

. His heart was racing. H

e him. Zarah wa

room, splashed water on his fa

recogniz

ollow. Skin pale.

e whispered, "God...

der. No

thing fl

oked

to cover his whisper.

ready to

t

thing ha

ents, or the way his own reflection in the mirror seemed increasingly unfamiliar. Maybe it was the sense

even in the heat of their passion, there were moments when he caught himself in the mirror, questioning who he was becoming. What

e. Sometimes, when he was alone, it felt like there was a voice whispering-one he

ndering through the supermarket. The aisles blurred together as his thoughts weighed him down. He foun

lp you wi

him, her dark hair flowing past her shoulders, a gentle smile on her face. She wasn't wearing anything

enuine. There was no judgment in her eyes, no curiosity about why he was stan

cted anyone to speak to him. "I-I was just..."

id, her eyes soft. "But you know, t

had ever said that to him. N

el the weight of the alcohol in his hand, the tempt

mained stead

mind. It was oddly familiar. He'd never met her befo

art of the church choir. We haven't met properly, but

im like a wave.

ings have been tough for you. But you don't have to keep running.

? How could she see the battle raging insid

and Nathaniel felt the pressure lift from his ch

more than that, you don't need to carry this

stunned. His mind rac

most not knowing what else

oice like a melody. "That you're not too

is hand. But it didn't feel the same anymore. In that moment, it f

hat," he whispered, his

hy I'm here. To remind you, you are loved. You are seen. And you don

en in the aisle as she gave him a soft,

ed P

sn't dramatic, but it was undeniable. The memory of Eden's words-her calm presence, her

beautiful, seductive even, but he felt... distant. It wasn't that he didn't still want her. He did. But there w

at the kitchen table. Zarah

she asked, walking over. "I'm goi

out right. How could he be fine? How could he pretend like eve

into the bathroom. He sat there, staring at the bottle of

side you...

seen B

en knew in that moment was th

-it wasn't extinguished. Not by Zarah. Not by the nights of sin. Not by the numbness he had wrapped around hims

ths of his soul, he knew

s that Eden was part of the bigger plan. She was the one who would help guide hi

t Before

de his, but her eyes cold and calculating. She had seen th

but his spirit didn't cling like before. And that moment in t

her mind racing. She cou

eeper sleep, Zarah sat up, eyes glowing faintly r

n an ancient tongue, and the shadows near the window shifted like living smoke

alm of

in eternal flame. The air smelled of sulfur and sorrow. A circle of

sing him,"

is," said another. "The prayers of

, masking her fear behind arr

ve their realm. "You were sent to destroy him. To poison his purpose. To extingui

"He's still under

him. Tomorrow. Or he will rise... and you will be

darkened. "He

Be

e danced around the apartment in a short dress, humming some seductiv

," she said. "Something... fr

ldn't explain it, but somet

ch?" he

th hers. "Yeah. Just us. Some wine,

slowly. "A

of town-quiet, peaceful, almost too still. The waves moved gently, and the wind whispere

played like two young lovers try

aniel fe

. Something about the waves-their rhythm, the

ch emptied. No passersby, no chi

. The sky had turned orange and blue, and

stood motionless.

as t

t behind him, frozen.

a step

Nathan," she

d halfwa

acked. "But some stories... w

wned. "What d

y," she w

respond-she sh

instantly. The cold gripped him like chains. He fl

est rising and falling rapidly,

ing inside

filled her eyes. "

wet sand, sobbing. "I loved y

realm had what it wanted. She turned her back and disa

to fade. His

ater pulled him under, he whispere

De

t it was useless. His strength was gone. Hi

It felt... spiritual. Like it was pullin

r. His sister. The chur

his lips under th

sil

Visi

y, time

ewhere else. The water faded. The cold vanished. He sto

d a man-strong,

fa

thaniel's vo

ftly. "Yes, my

l's cheeks. "I messed u

ed a hand on his shoulder. "Listen to

stared u

, wept... But I-" his voice caught-"I went into the chapel one night. And I said to God: If my life is the price f

l's lips

, your fever broke. You opened your eyes.

for me?" Natha

would fulfill the will of the Lord. But it was

generation waiting for your voice. There's a woman who will love you in tru

to

k to his face as he choked on seawater and tear

rs were

was

e was

is back, staring at the sky. Every part of hi

ng had

ho prayed

white at hi

ard God's voic

still

... he wasn't