Chapter 2: The Boy Who Had No Power
A black screen rises— another world.
The Doll's gaze falls upon a boy.
The boy had nothing special about him. He was born— but the world never thought it needed him.
His name was Iren Vale.
From childhood, his body was weak. If he ran, he gasped for breath. If he clenched his fist, his hands trembled.
At school, he was the boy on the last bench— not called by his name, but pointed at for laughter.
"Hey, weakling." "He'll never amount to anything."
Every day was the same— pushing, laughter, and silent endurance.
Iren never protested. Because he did not even have the strength to protest.
There was a girl. Lysa.
Since childhood, she used to sit beside Iren. When she saw his wounds, she would lower her eyes and say—
"One day, everything will be fine."
But days change. Iren stays the same. The world moves forward.
One day, Lysa no longer sits beside him. She moves toward the strong boys. The ones who laugh. The ones who win.
Iren only watches.
Some things cry without making a sound.
Years pass. Iren turns twelve.
That day— was meant to be the last day of his life.
A large company. Powerful people. Black cars.
Iren did not know why. But they did.
If this boy lived, their profits would suffer.
He is thrown into a dark room. No one asks for forgiveness. Because forgiveness is for the weak.
A cold blade flashes.
Inside Iren's chest, something breaks.
He does not cry. He does not scream.
He only says, silently—
"If… If I had one more chance…"
"I wouldn't want to be strong…"
"I just wish— my family, and I, could live a little happily, like other people."
At that moment— everything stops.
Before his eyes, a black screen appears.
But— only Iren can see it.
On the black screen, white letters emerge—
[OBSERVATION CONFIRMED]
Iren forgets how to breathe.
Another line—
[POWERLESS SUBJECT DETECTED]
Then—
[OFFER AVAILABLE]
The black screen trembles. A name appears—
The Doll
Then the final line—
"Dark power will be granted." "In exchange—your soul."
Iren's hands shake. He does not know what a soul is.
But he knows this— this life is already dead.
In his mind appear— his mother's tired face. His father's silence. His own childhood.
He closes his eyes. And answers—
"Take it."
"I have nothing else."
"If this can change everything— then take it."
The black screen displays a single word—
[CONTRACT ACCEPTED]
At that instant— Iren's body collapses to the floor.
His heart stops.
But— the story does not end.
In the depths of darkness, between thousands of worlds—
two crimson eyes turn toward this world for a single moment.
The Doll of the Author watches.
And marks it.
Iren Vale's body slowly stirs. His chest begins to rise and fall again.
But the eyes that will open— will not belong to the same boy.
Darkness descends.
The story grows deeper.
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🩸 Chapter-End Line
"Some souls are taken by gods. His was claimed by something that watches gods."