THE DEMON IN ME

STANDING ON HIS GROUND

The morning sun spilled weakly through the wooden shutters of Arden's home, casting long shadows across the worn floorboards. The air felt thick, heavy with worry, as if the house itself were holding its breath.

Arden sat at the edge of the wooden table, hands folded tightly, trying not to meet the eyes of his mother and his two youngest sisters, Fira and Leina.

"Arden," his mother began softly, her voice trembling, "you can't stay here. Not after… everything. The villagers… they see you differently now. You need to leave for your safety, for theirs."

Arden's gaze lifted, steady and unwavering. "No. I won't leave. This is my home. The people here… my family… I can't abandon them just because they fear me."

Fira's tender hands clutched his sleeve, trembling. "But… but you could get hurt! What if something happens?"

"I know the risks," Arden said quietly, bending down to meet her gaze. "And I accept them. Running won't help anyone. I won't let fear dictate my choices."

Leina hid her face against his chest, muffling her tears. "Please… promise you'll be careful," she whispered.

Arden wrapped his arms around both sisters. "I promise. I'll be careful. I'll stay and learn to control it. I won't let the demon hurt anyone, and I won't let the villagers' fear control me."

His mother pressed a hand to her lips, eyes glistening. "You're the eldest, Arden. You've always protected them… and now, you must protect yourself. But promise me you'll be vigilant. Don't let the demon take over."

"I promise," he said, jaw tight. Inside him, the demon stirred, low and impatient, testing the edges of his control. Arden forced it down, focusing on the warmth of his sisters in his arms and the soft worry in his mother's eyes.

A sudden breeze rattled the shutters. For a fleeting moment, Arden swore he heard a whisper, faint but unmistakable:

"Vessel… you cannot hide."

He shook his head. Probably nothing. Yet the chill crawling down his spine reminded him that danger wasn't somewhere far away, it was already here, in Eldervale.

He rose, placing protective hands on Fira and Leina's heads. "No matter what comes, I'll face it. Here. With them. With you."

Fira wiped her tears, and Leina clung tightly to his side, but Arden didn't falter. Outside, the village stirred. Whispers followed him wherever he went, cautious glances and murmured fears tracking his every step.

Arden knew one thing clearly: leaving would solve nothing. Staying would mean danger, yes but it would also mean facing it head-on.

And Arden, eldest sibling, protector, and vessel, would not back down.

"Vessel… your defiance will be tested," the whisper came again, low, patient, and certain. Arden tightened his fists. He was ready

By mid-morning, Arden had stepped outside, the warmth of the sun doing little to lift the heaviness in the village streets. Whispers followed him wherever he went. Children froze in place, glancing nervously at him before scurrying away.

A few villagers stopped their work, exchanging uneasy glances as Arden passed. "Don't get too close," one of them muttered under his breath. Another whispered, "Mark my words… trouble follows him."

Arden's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. He had promised his mother and sisters that he would stay and face whatever came. Retreat was not an option.

Still, a sense of unease prickled at the back of his mind. The demon inside him stirred, low and impatient, its presence like a shadow brushing his thoughts. Arden clenched his fists, forcing it down, refusing to give in.

As he walked past the market, a sudden rustle caught his attention. A shadow flitted across the corner of his vision, quick, deliberate, almost like it was watching him. Arden froze.

"Vessel… you cannot hide," a faint whisper curled in his mind.

He shook his head, forcing himself to stay calm. Nothing in the village appeared unusual to anyone else. To them, it was just a normal day. But Arden knew better. The danger was closer than it seemed, and the demon inside him was stirring, testing his control.

A few villagers gave him wary glances, crossing themselves or stepping aside. Arden noticed their fear, their judgment, but he refused to waver. Standing his ground wasn't just about staying, it was about proving that he could control what lived inside him, that he could face fear without running.

Fira and Leina had followed him to the village square, their tender hands holding each other tightly. They didn't speak, but their eyes told him everything: fear, hope, and trust. Arden nodded subtly to them, and they nodded back. He wasn't alone. Not truly.

The whisper returned, soft but insistent, lingering at the edges of his mind. Arden clenched his teeth, tightening his grip on the resolve that had brought him this far.

"I won't leave," he muttered to himself. "I will face this… here."

The village seemed to shift around him, ordinary yet hiding something ancient and patient. Arden took a steadying breath. Whatever came next, he was ready because running was no longer an option.

As Arden walked toward the center of the village square, a sudden commotion drew his attention. A few villagers had gathered near the well, murmuring anxiously. One man stepped forward, scowling.

"You there!" the man called, pointing directly at Arden. "Why are you still here? Haven't you done enough to frighten us all?"

Arden's jaw tightened. "I'm not going anywhere," he replied calmly, meeting the man's glare.

The villagers shifted uneasily, whispering among themselves. Fira and Leina peeked from behind him, their small hands gripping his cloak. Arden gave them a reassuring nod.

"You think you can stay here?" the man sneered. "People are afraid of what you possess. Strange things happen whenever you're near… animals disappear, crops are failing… It's your fault!"

A low growl rumbled inside Arden's chest, the demon testing him, hungry, eager. He clenched his fists, forcing it down. The whispers in his mind grew louder, almost mocking.

"Vessel… they fear you… let me show them your power…"

No. Arden's resolve burned hotter than the demon's whisper. He straightened, stepping forward, letting the sunlight fall across his face.

"I'm not here to hurt anyone," he said firmly. "I'm here to protect them. And if I can't control what's inside me… I will learn. But I will not leave, and I will not let fear rule me."

The villagers faltered, some shrinking back at the intensity in his eyes. The man's face twisted in disbelief and unease, but Arden didn't lower his gaze. He wasn't angry, he was determined.

A hush fell over the square. Even the whisper in his mind seemed to pause, waiting. Arden's heartbeat pounded, but he remained steady.

Fira and Leina stepped closer, their tender hands brushing his sides. He could feel their trust, their fear, and their hope, and it gave him strength. Arden's mother, standing at the edge of the crowd, watched silently, pride and worry warring in her eyes.

The villagers murmured among themselves, unease written across every face. Arden didn't need them to understand. He only needed to stand his ground.

"Vessel… the test has begun," the whisper breathed through his mind, faint and patient, yet undeniable.

Arden didn't flinch. Whatever the demon had planned, whatever the villagers feared, he would face it. Here. In Eldervale. And he would not run.