TWISTED FATE (ECHOES OF STRENGTH AND YEARNING)

CHAPTER 001 The downpour of rain came on in sheets pounding against the windshield as Sebastian Whitmore held the wheel of his shiny black car. The deluge was moving so fast the rhythmic thumping of the wipers barely kept up. His jaw was clenched so tight it ached, his knuckles were white. The sound of his father’s voice wouldn’t leave his head. Sebastian, you’re a disappointment! Running away from responsibility will solve anything, you think?” Seb growled under his breath and his grip tightened more firmly. Chaos swirled in his chest, and mirrored the storm outside. He had to get away, he had to clear his head. Their demands were endless and they suffocated his family’s expectations. It didn’t matter how much he gave, it was never enough. There were the headlights of the car, barely cutting through the dark and rain, as it sped down the winding countryside road. Outside the world was a blur of wet black asphalt and the occasional ghostly silhouette of a tree. “Stupid!” Seb muttered. “Stupid argument. “Why couldn’t you just let it go, old man?” He took a sharp turn too fast, and the tires screeched slightly. The car swerved, but it got its grip back. He laughed bitterly, but his heart jumped. He said to himself, “Figures.” “Can’t even crash properly.” The rain intensified as if the storm had heard him. The sky was lit up by lightning, painting the road in harsh flashes of white. The headlights didn’t appear until they were right in front of him. The other car’s horn screeched through the night, and Seb yanked the wheel instinctively. The wheels lost their grip and his car spun. The world twisted around him, slow time and he was gone, the road disappeared. And then the crash came. Metal was crumpling, glass shattering, there was the sickening crunch of impact. As the car flipped Seb’s body jerked violently down a steep embankment. He slammed against the restraints, his head snapping forward and back, and pain shot through him. The car finally stopped. Upside down. The rain dripped through the shattered windows onto Seb’s face, and everything was silent. His voice was weak and shaky, he groaned. Sharp, unrelenting pain throbbed everywhere. Warm blood trickled down his face, and his legs were pinned. He blinked to try to clear his vision. The first thing he saw was the clock on the dashboard. The numbers flickered—12:04 a.m. And then they went out. “Help,” Seb croaked. His body screamed in protest, but he turned his head slightly. “Somebody... help me...” The road above was empty. No cars. No lights. Just darkness and rain. He gasped for breath, short and panicked. The reality sank in. He was going to die here, alone, broken, forgotten. The silence was broken by a crunch of glass. Seb’s heart raced. He whipped his head toward the sound, the movement making him dizzy. A figure appeared through the shattered driver’s side window. He thought it was the shadows messing around with him, at first. But no—someone was there. He was tall, dressed in black, with sharp edges that were too crisp, too perfect. “You’re awake.” It was smooth, kinda comforting, but an edge to it made Seb's spine crawl. The crouched figure tilted his head to see through. Seb could see the faintest glint of eyes, silver, almost glowing. “Who...” Seb’s voice cracked. “Who are you?” The man smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Not important.” His voice was low and calm, like a teacher explaining something to a child, and he leaned closer. ‘What’s important, Sebastian, is that you’re dying.’ Seb’s breath hitched. The man continued, “You feel it, don’t you?” “Your ribs collapsing. Your blood running dry. Your heart slowing. Tick. Tock.” With a gloved finger, he tapped the glass. “Not much time left.” Seb’s mind raced. “Help me,” he whispered. “Please.” The man smiled, and said, “Oh, I will.” “But it comes at a cost.” “What... cost?” The man stood up, his silhouette against the rain. He held out a hand, palm up. “Your loyalty. Your service. I give you life, you give me those. Simple, isn’t it?” Seb looked at the hand, then at the man’s face. It was hard to see in the rain, but he swore the shadows around the man moved, moved unnaturally. "Why didn’t you just go? Why’d you have to come back?" Seb’s voice quivered. The man replied, “You don’t need to.” “Decide, Sebastian. Life or death?” Seb’s chest heaved. His ribs stabbed with knives with every one of his breath. His vision blurred again. “I...” He hesitated. “Tick. The man said again, firmer this time, 'Tock.' His hand shook as he reached out. His bloody fingers touched the man’s, and a jolt of electricity shot through him. Pain. Blinding, searing pain. His back arched, his body convulsed, and Seb screamed. Every cell in his body felt like fire erupted inside his veins, like the cells were torn to shreds and stitched back together. The storm went silent. Seb opened his eyes and the man was gone. His head pounded, Seb blinked. The wreckage around him was... different. The rain had stopped. The silence was deafening, the air felt heavier. A voice echoed in his head, cold and unmistakable: “Here’s the rest of your life.” --- Seb woke up with a gasp for air. He wasn’t in the car anymore. Surrounded by the faint hum of machines, he was in a hospital bed, the bright white walls, looming large above him. His body hurt, but it was a dull, far away pain now. The woman entered, the face of a nurse, kind but unreadable. “You’re awake,” she said. “You’ve been through a lot.” Seb looked down at his hands. There was no blood on them, they were clean. He remembered the cuts and bruises, but they were gone. “Impossible,” he muttered. The nurse frowned. “What’s that?” Seb shook his head. “Nothing.” He took a small envelope from her. “This was delivered for you.” Trembling hands opened it. Inside was a single card with three words: *“Instructions to follow.”* He turned it over. Nothing. No name, no address, nothing. Seb sat there, staring at the card, as the nurse left. He looked at his wrists and froze. His skin was covered in faint marks, twisted and curled like watching shadows moving under the skin. A whisper filled the room, soft but chilling: “You belong to us now.” Gripping his clutched the card and Seb's heart pounded. What had he done?