Destined for Calamity (zelink)

Chapter 10

As Dark watched her from a distance, something awakened within him. The sight of her emerging from the water, the sunlight casting a gentle glow on her damp hair, made her appear ethereal, like a radiant being. His gaze remained fixed on her, unable to tear his eyes away. It felt as if time stood still, and he was captivated by her presence. Dark found himself drawn to her in a way he couldn't fully comprehend. He had never felt this way or witnessed something so enchanting.

Lost in his thoughts, Dark gradually looked away, breaking the spell that had engulfed him. He realized he had been staring, and the intensity of his gaze might have made her uncomfortable. He silently berated himself for his behaviour, realizing that such weakness was unfamiliar and unnerving to him.

Taking a deep breath, Dark composed himself and continued with his preparations. The encounter had left a memorable impression on him, sparking a curiosity and a deeper interest for her person. From that moment on, he knew that his perception of her had forever changed.

Reflecting on the events of the past few days, he couldn't help but be reminded of how she had selflessly saved him. It was an act devoid of any ulterior motive, driven purely by the goodness of her heart. He came to a depressing realization of the fear she must have felt in his presence, the way she perceived him as a monstrous figure devoid of empathy. In her eyes, he was nothing more than a relentless creature driven by violence and cruelty. The weight of this perception pressed upon him, causing an indescribable ache in his heart. He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of self-loathing for his actions. But that was all he had ever known—violence, hostility, and a constant battle against the gloom that haunted him.

In his past, everyone had been an enemy, an obstacle to overcome or a prize to be won. His experiences had been marked by roughness and vulgarity, driven by an overwhelming sense of hatred and disdain. He was a ruthless brute, indulging in his own desires, with no regard for the well-being of others. But now, as he navigated through this uncharted emotional terrain, he couldn't help but feel a stirring of something different within him.

Confusion enveloped his thoughts, as if he was engaged in a fierce internal battle. How could he accept this newfound vulnerability within himself? He had always been a merciless killer, embracing the role of the aggressor, driven by hatred and anger. The concept of tenderness and compassion seemed foreign to him, yet there was an underlying sense of familiarity that he couldn't ignore. The intensity of his conflicting emotions only heightened his internal struggle. It was a profound struggle of self-acceptance, where the lines between right and wrong, darkness and light, blurred into a murky haze.

Could he ever transcend the image she held of him? Was he truly capable of change, of breaking free from the shackles of his own darkness? Would she be the key to his never ending misery? Perhaps she was the glimmer of hope he desperately needed—a chance at salvation from the abyss that consumed him.