Elena stumbled back, her head spinning as the weight of her aunt's words crashed over her. The Hollow Man. The name, the fear, the darkness—it was all so real now. She had hoped for so long that it was just a story, a legend whispered by terrified townsfolk, but now? The truth was suffocating her. She wasn't just caught in this nightmare; she was central to it.
"You… You're my aunt?" Elena managed to croak, her voice barely above a whisper.
The woman smiled again, a cruel twist of her lips. "Yes, Elena. I'm your Aunt Vivienne. And I've been watching you for a very long time."
Miles's hand shot out, gripping Elena's arm to steady her. "You're not welcome here," he growled, eyes narrowing at Vivienne. "Get out."
But Vivienne didn't move. She only raised an eyebrow, unfazed by Miles's hostility. "You think you can protect her, Miles? You always were delusional. You can't protect her from what she is, from what she's always been. This is destiny. This is in her blood."
Elena took a step back, her chest tight. She wanted to scream, to run, but something—some force—kept her rooted to the spot. Destiny. What kind of destiny could she possibly have in a place like this? And why had her family kept this from her? Why hadn't anyone told her that the very thing she feared most—the thing that had haunted her nightmares—was inside her?
"You're wrong," Elena said, finding some semblance of strength in her voice. "I'm not like you. I'm not part of this... this sick game."
Vivienne's eyes glinted, amusement flickering at the corners of her mouth. "You think you have a choice in this? You think any of us ever had a choice? It's in the blood, Elena. It's always been in the blood. Your father knew it. Your mother knew it." Her eyes flicked briefly to Miles. "And you, too. You've been playing a dangerous game. Trying to keep her safe. But the truth is... you can't protect her from herself."
The room felt colder, the walls closing in on Elena as Vivienne's words wrapped around her like chains. She could feel the weight of them, heavy and suffocating. She wasn't just a victim of circumstance. She was a vessel. A pawn in something much larger than herself.
Miles stood between them, his eyes blazing with fury. "Don't you dare speak to her like that. Elena doesn't belong to you or your twisted cult. You won't drag her into this."
Vivienne's lips curled into a smile, but it was dark, almost mocking. "Do you really think you can stop me, Miles? Or stop what's coming?" She glanced toward the window. "He's already on his way, you know."
Elena's heart dropped to her stomach. He. The Hollow Man. She felt it—the shadow outside the diner, lurking in the periphery of her vision, as though he was already standing right behind her, breathing down her neck.
Dorian.
"Elena," Vivienne's voice softened, almost coaxing now. "You don't have to fight it. You've always known, deep down, that you were meant for this. Meant for him. Your blood is the key, and once you embrace it, you'll finally understand what it all means."
Her words seemed to echo, reverberating in Elena's mind like a warning bell she couldn't ignore. She wanted to deny it, wanted to scream at her aunt that she didn't belong to any of this, but something inside her flickered—a memory, a glimpse of her father's face, a shadow that crossed her mind. Was it true? Was this really who she was?
"No." Elena shook her head violently, as if she could shake the truth out of her. "No, you're wrong. I'll never be a part of this."
Vivienne's smile widened. "You already are, Elena. And you can't run from it anymore." Her eyes gleamed as she looked toward the door. "He's coming."
At that moment, the door to the diner swung open with a sudden force, the bell above it jangling loudly as a cold gust of wind swept into the room. Elena's breath caught in her throat as she saw him.
Dorian.
He stood in the doorway, taller than she remembered, his dark eyes locked on her with an intensity that made her blood freeze. His presence filled the room like a shadow stretching across the walls, and she could feel the oppressive weight of him pressing down on her chest.
For a moment, no one spoke. No one moved. It was as if the entire room held its breath, waiting for something to happen.
And then, in a voice low and smooth, Dorian spoke. "I told you, Elena. We're not done. Not by a long shot."
Elena's pulse hammered in her ears. She wanted to run, to flee, but her body felt like it was paralyzed. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him. His gaze was magnetic, pulling her in like a moth to a flame.
"I've waited so long for this moment," Dorian continued, stepping forward into the diner, his eyes never leaving hers. "You've always known, haven't you? That you were part of something greater than yourself. Something ancient."
Elena's thoughts scrambled for something to say, anything to stop him from getting closer. "You don't know anything about me," she spat, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. "You're a monster."
Dorian's lips quirked into a smile, his teeth flashing briefly in the dim light. "I'm not a monster, Elena. I'm something more. And you, my dear... you're the last piece of the puzzle."
Suddenly, everything clicked.
The hollow feeling in her chest. The nightmares. The tension that had been building inside her since she returned to Black Hollow. This wasn't just about survival anymore. This was destiny, as twisted and horrific as it was. She was the key to something much darker than she could've ever imagined.
"No," Elena whispered, her voice breaking. "I won't do it."
But as Dorian stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, she knew in the pit of her stomach that it was already too late. The choice had been made for her a long time ago.