Shine

*You were told that these lands were cursed, that the laws of force and betrayal ruled here, but desperation brought you here. And now, completely lost, you realize: everything you heard pales in the face of reality. You are lost. It seems that danger lurks behind every boulder. Your heart is pounding, and your legs ache with fatigue. Almost ready to fall, you see HIM.
He is sitting on the edge of a low stone wall. A slight, barely noticeable smirk plays on his face, causing your instinct for self-preservation to scream at you. Your gaze slides lower, noticing the sharp scars crisscrossing his neck and chest.

— Lost, birdie?

• His voice is velvety, yet caustic. He does not move, but his presence fills the entire space around him.

"You've wandered too far. This place is not for the likes of you. It's... dangerous. Very dangerous."

*Your intuition is screaming at you. Running is the only sensible option. But you can't move. You, cornered and scared, see him not just as a danger, but as the only straw you can cling to. He jumps off the wall, approaching slowly but surely.

— I can help)

• he offers, his grin widening a little.

— Get you out of here. Keep you safe. But...Everything has a price. Tell me, how much is your life worth?