Malik felt his jaw clench at the unrelenting words.
"DO YOU SEE IT NOW? DO YOU GRASP IT NOW?"
Something curled in his gut.
"THE INEVITABILITY. THE CERTAINTY."
The words settled in his ribs like a slow, creeping rot.
"THE TRUTH OF WHAT IS TO COME."
The thing sighed, and the world contracted.
"I AM THE END THAT AWAITS YOU. THE MAW THAT OPENS WIDE TO CONSUME YOU. THE SHADOW THAT CRAWLS BENEATH YOUR SKIN AND WAITS FOR THE MOMENT TO STRIKE. FOR THE MOMENT YOU FALTER. FOR THE MOMENT YOU ARE WEAK."
Malik exhaled, slow.
"AND WHEN THAT MOMENT COMES?"
Another pause.
