One evening, Aarav saw the faceless boy again.
Standing in his room.
This time, it spoke.
"You can stop this."
Its voice sounded like his own thoughts layered over each other.
"Release them."
"How?" Aarav whispered.
"Step into the well."
The implication settled like cold water in his lungs.
Anchors could end the cycle.
But only by removing themselves.
Because shadows cannot feed without a host.