The Broken Crown

Darkness Awaits

Tyler lay on his bed, staring up at the pale evening sky through his open window. Clouds drifted slowly, their shapes stretching and breaking apart, but his mind was fixed on something else entirely—the strange voice he had heard days ago. It had come without warning, low and calm, yet powerful enough to settle deep inside him.

You are not alone.

The words lingered in his thoughts, refusing to fade no matter how hard he tried to ignore them. He wondered if grief was finally breaking him, if his mind was filling the silence his father had left behind with things that weren’t real.

A soft knock sounded at the door.

His mother entered quietly and sat beside him on the bed. For a moment, she said nothing, just looked at him with tired eyes that mirrored his own pain.

“How are you feeling?” she asked gently.

Tyler let out a short, bitter laugh. “How do you think I’m feeling? Dad is dead, and you expect me to feel fine?”

She flinched, but kept her voice calm. “I know you’re still sad. I am too. But it’s been over three weeks now. You need to start moving on.”

Tyler sat up, his chest tightening. “I can’t move on, Mom. Dad wasn’t just my father. He was my friend—someone who understood me when nobody else did. When I felt useless or stupid, he was the one who believed in me. And now you’re telling me to move on like he meant nothing?”

“That’s not what I meant—”

He stood abruptly, anger and grief boiling over. “You don’t get it.”

Without waiting for her reply, Tyler walked out of the room and went downstairs. He dropped onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. A few moments later, his mother followed and sat beside him, gently pulling him into her arms. This time, he didn’t resist.

“It’s alright,” she whispered, stroking his hair. “We’ll survive this. Somehow.”

Tyler wished he believed her.

The next morning, his mother knocked on his door again.

“Get up, Tyler. You need to go to school. You’ve missed too many classes already.”

“I’m coming,” he muttered, dragging himself out of bed.

School felt distant and unreal. After breakfast, he said a quick goodbye and boarded the bus. Caleb and his friends noticed his mother kissing him on the forehead and burst into laughter.

“Wow,” Caleb sneered. “Didn’t know babies still went to school.”

Tyler ignored them and took a seat by the window, staring outside until the laughter faded.

At school, he headed straight for his classroom. Amelia spotted him and called out his name, relief flashing across her face. Tyler didn’t respond until she reached him and touched his arm.

“What’s your problem?” he snapped, pulling away.

Her expression hardened. “You disappear for three weeks, won’t answer my messages, and now you’re acting like I’m the issue?”

“It’s none of your business,” Tyler said sharply. “I’m not in the mood. Just leave me alone.”

He stormed off before she could say anything else.

Amelia stood there for a moment, confused and hurt, then followed him to class. Tyler kept his eyes forward, pretending she wasn’t there.

At lunchtime, Tyler sat near Caleb and his friends, barely listening to their conversation. Amelia approached and sat beside him.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked quietly. “Why are you avoiding me?”

Tyler felt cornered. Angry. Exposed. And instead of stopping himself, he let the words fly.

“You don’t know how to mind your own business,” he said harshly. “That’s why Caleb doesn’t even care about you anymore.”

The cafeteria fell silent.

Students stared as Amelia’s face flushed with embarrassment. Caleb laughed loudly.

“That’s what you get for leaving me for this stammer boy.”

Tyler’s stomach dropped. What did I just do?

Amelia stood and walked away without a word.

“Amelia—wait!” Tyler called, jumping to his feet.

He chased after her, but she disappeared into the crowd before he could apologize.

On his way home, guilt weighed heavier than his backpack. The streets felt darker than usual, the air tense. As he passed a narrow path lined with bushes, he noticed movement.

A faint cry reached his ears.

“Amelia?”

Tyler stepped closer—and froze.

Two dark figures stood over her, their eyes glowing unnaturally. Fear shot through him, locking his legs in place.

Run, his mind screamed.

Instead, he rushed forward.

“Get away from her!”

The figures turned toward him—and vanished into thin air, as if they had never been there.

Amelia collapsed, trembling. Tyler helped her to her feet.

She tried to pull away, but he grabbed her arm gently. “Please—wait. I didn’t mean what I said earlier. My dad died a month ago, and I haven’t been myself.”

She looked at him, her anger softening. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

“I should be the one apologizing,” Tyler replied. “I hurt you.”

They walked home together in silence, the night heavy with unanswered questions.

That evening, Tyler noticed his mother selling his father’s belongings online.

“We need the money,” she explained softly. “The bills won’t wait for us.”

Upstairs, Tyler searched through what remained of his father’s things. At the bottom of a dusty box, he found something strange—a small glowing chest.

Inside lay an ancient book and a shining sphere.

The sphere suddenly burst with light.

A glowing figure emerged.

“I am Kaelos,” it said. “A warrior from Tenebrous.”

Tyler stumbled back, heart pounding.

“You are the son of a fallen king,” Kaelos continued. “The Prince of Tenebrous. And the dark sorcerer Malakar is hunting you.”

Tyler’s breath caught.

“You are the Prince of Tenebrous,” Kaelos declared. “And darkness is coming for you.”