Chapter 4: The Cigarette Case
271 Words
Kade sat in the dim corner of his room, the flickering light from the streetlamp outside casting long shadows that danced against the cracked wallpaper. The cigarette case rested on his desk—a simple metal box, cold and unassuming, yet somehow heavier than any object he'd ever owned.
> (Not your average cigarette case. Nah, this one holds more than smoke.)
His fingers trembled slightly as he lifted the lid, revealing rows of slender cigarettes, each with a faintly glowing tip—a subtle pulse of blue that seemed alive.
He remembered the first time he found it, half-buried beneath rubble in that abandoned alleyway. No label, no markings. Just the unmistakable scent of something... otherworldly.
As he reached for one, a sudden chill crept up his spine. His reflection in the cracked mirror caught his eye, and for a split second, it hesitated—then smiled.
That’s impossible.
The cigarette lit itself in his hand, burning slowly without flame. He inhaled cautiously, feeling the familiar rush—a rush that sparked a chaotic energy deep within his veins.
But with power came price. His vision blurred for a moment, and when it cleared, he was no longer alone.
A whisper curled around his ear, cold and sharp: “You’ve taken the first step. There’s no turning back now.”
Kade’s heart pounded. The case wasn’t just a container—it was a key. A link to the shadowed world bleeding through the cracks of reality.
And with every drag, the echo of the past grew louder, pulling him deeper into a fate tangled with smoke, lies, and blood ties.
- Writer
