Sarah and Ben walked through the forest. The trees were too quiet. No birds. No wind. Only soft whispers in the distance. They followed strange black marks on the ground—Mark's trail.
"He's not the same anymore," Sarah said. "Something inside him is changing."
Ben didn't speak. He didn't want to believe it. Mark was his best friend. But deep inside, he was afraid Sarah was right.
Far ahead, Mark stood in front of the second gate. The temple around him was dark and cold. Strange people in black robes stood around him. They bowed and whispered strange words.
"You are the vessel," one of them said. "The god speaks through you."
Mark didn't answer. His head hurt. His skin burned. Something deep inside of him was waking up.
He didn't know if he could stop it.
And maybe... he didn't want to.