1 day left until the Light blesses the children of the world.
Everything was dark.The air smelled like gunpowder, and the silence made my skin crawl. No matter how long I walked, I never reached anywhere—like walking endlessly on a treadmill inside a void. Somewhere in the darkness, I heard a middle-aged man humming, almost like he was singing to himself.
Then, without warning, something appeared right in front of me.
It had no face.It wasn't even human.Its body was made of swirling black clouds, but its shape… its shape was exactly like mine.
I stumbled back, my voice echoing as I yelled,"Who are you?!"
It reached out its hand toward me.
"Do you want revenge on those people?"
Then it spread its arms wide and continued:
"Do you think they deserve to live? You've seen how they treated you. And don't think you're the only one—they were the same with the ones before you, and the ones before them. We can defeat anyone who hurt you. The only thing that can defeat me is someone as bright as the sun… but in this dark world, no one like that exists. Tomorrow, while the Light blesses everyone else, I will bless you. Think about it."
He turned around and faded into the mist.
My eyes shot open.I jumped out of bed, breath heavy.No one was there.The sun was already setting.
How long had I been asleep?
I went downstairs; Mom was preparing dinner. I hugged her, then went back to my room.Sitting on my bed, I tried to make sense of the dream.That man… the Light… the blessing…What did it all mean?
My thoughts were cut off by Rex shouting,"I'm home!"
He was downstairs chatting with my mom. When he saw me, he paused his story and followed me to my room. While he picked out some comfy clothes, I told him about the dream.
As he changed, he said,"The Light's blessing? Dude, that's the most boring dream ever. Everything's dark? Have some imagination. By the way, I called Emre—he's on his way. Let me tell your mom to set another plate."
He left the room, but just as he opened the door, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" he yelled. From the voice, I guessed it was my dad.
I went to take a cold shower.But the moment the water hit my skin, I froze.
The humming from my dream…I heard it again.
My eyes darted around the bathroom.No one. Nothing.
Then it came again—clearer this time.
Maybe I was imagining it.
Then, finally:
"One day, you'll agree with me. If they are darkness… then you must become darker."
My entire body went cold.
I finished the shower quickly and went downstairs, my thoughts spinning nonstop.Mom had finished dinner. Everyone had arrived.After a nice evening together, Rex, Emre, and I went out for a walk.
We stopped by a small shop to buy ice-cold soda, but of course they didn't have any. Finding cold drinks in that place was like finding gold. I swear they never turned on the fridge.
As we walked to the park, I told Emre about the dream too.I didn't mention the voice I heard in the shower.
When I finished, Rex gave me a weird look.
"Hearing strange voices isn't normal, you know… Imagine if everyone in the world had a special power. That would be so cool, right?"
Emre shook his head."If everyone had powers, the world would be chaos. It's better if nobody has them. And if everyone does, it'll all end up the same anyway."
By then, the park lights were beginning to glow.The air was cool.A cold raindrop hit my hand, making me flinch.Looking up, I saw the rain starting, so we ran under a tree.
Rex didn't stay still—he ran toward the outdoor gym equipment.We followed him.
Those workout machines the city installed were ridiculous. Half of them worked like they were designed by someone who hated physics.But I loved the steering-wheel-looking one. When I was a kid, I used to pretend I was driving a real car.
If someone saw us from far away, they would've asked, "Why are these three idiots laughing in the rain?"But honestly—who else but idiots would be out here in weather like this?
Time passed.The rain stopped.We were soaked.We walked back home, and Emre left for his place.
When Mom saw the state we were in, she gasped."You're going to get sick!" she scolded, pushing us upstairs.
Rex took a shower first.I… hesitated.
But I couldn't sleep dirty, so I forced myself into the bathroom.
This time, no humming.No whispering.No sound at all.
I was safe.
After the shower, we lay in our beds.As I drifted off, Rex mumbled:
"If that shadow guy shows up again, punch him for me."
I answered,"Yes sir,"and fell asleep.
And there he was again.
The man made of black clouds.Standing right in front of me.
I swung my fist—it passed straight through him.
We weren't in that dark place anymore.We were outside my house.
He pointed at me, then at the sky.Suddenly, we floated upward.I could see the entire world beneath us.
He gestured toward the beams of light descending from the sky.They were beautiful—warm, peaceful.
He turned to me:
"Tonight, many people will be blessed by the Light. Their descendants will inherit it. One day, almost the entire world will possess this power. And you… you are one of the chosen. Remember—be better than the rest. For our sake, you must bring everyone to their knees."
Then he dropped himself downward.His body dissolved into nothingness.
And slowly, my eyes closed…