# Beneath the Shadow of Sin – Chapter 1: The Breaking Point On his eighteenth birthday, Ethan confronts his abusive father, Marcus, sparking a heated argument that escalates into a shocking, explicit encounter in the kitchen, marking the start of their twisted dynamic fueled by a dark family curse. Ethan sat at the worn oak … Read more
Beneath the Shadow of Sin – Chapter 2: The Morning After – by Aarav Anthem Ethan woke with a start, his heart hammering in the dim glow of his bedroom. The digital clock on his nightstand read 2:17 AM, its red numbers casting an eerie light across the walls. His mouth tasted of salt and … Read more
Beneath the Shadow of Sin – Chapter 3: The Empty House – by Aarav Anthem With Sarah and his siblings gone, Ethan struggles to maintain normalcy at school while Marcus’s control intensifies. Introduced to Jack, Marcus’s friend, Ethan faces a risky encounter, hinting at a shared future that deepens his entrapment. Ethan dragged himself through … Read more
Beneath the Shadow of Sin – Chapter 4: The Stranger’s Den – by Aarav Anthem Ethan’s stomach churned as the truck rumbled down a quiet street, the neon glow of the city fading into the dim sprawl of industrial lots. Marcus drove, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on Ethan’s thigh, a possessive … Read more
Beneath the Shadow of Sin – Chapter 5: The Ritual Revealed – by Aarav Anthem Ethan’s hands trembled as he stood in Marcus’s study, the door creaking softly behind him. The room was a forbidden space, a shrine to his father’s ego—trophies from his football days, a mahogany desk cluttered with papers, and a locked … Read more
Beneath the Shadow of Sin – Chapter 6: The Forest Gathering – by Aarav Anthem Ethan’s breath fogged in the crisp night air as he trudged through the dense forest, the crunch of pine needles under his boots the only sound besides Marcus’s steady footsteps ahead. His grandfather, Richard, followed behind, his presence a quiet … Read more
Beneath the Shadow of Sin – Chapter 7: The Family Bond – by Aarav Anthem Ethan sat on the cabin’s worn couch, the blanket draped over his shoulders doing little to warm the chill in his bones. The fire crackled in the stone hearth, casting long shadows across the room, but Ethan’s focus was inward, … Read more
Beneath the Shadow of Sin – Chapter 8: The Outsider’s Game – by Aarav Anthem Ethan’s nerves were raw as Marcus’s truck pulled into an unmarked warehouse on the city’s edge, the gravel crunching under the tires. The building loomed, its rusted metal walls blending into the night, a far cry from the forest’s primal … Read more
Beneath the Shadow of Sin – Chapter 9: The Mother’s Shadow – by Aarav Anthem Ethan sat at the kitchen table, the morning light filtering through the curtains, casting long shadows across the scratched wood. The house felt smaller since Sarah’s call, her words—“I’ve always known”—a splinter lodged in his chest. He hadn’t seen her … Read more
Beneath the Shadow of Sin – Chapter 10: The Brother’s Burden – by Aarav Anthem Ethan sat on his bed, staring at the sketchbook in his lap, its pages blank. His hands shook too much to draw, his mind a tangle of Sarah’s betrayal, the warehouse’s cold brutality, and the curse’s relentless pull. The house … Read more