Behind her, Damien began to whistle softly as he stepped deeper into the cave.
But suddenly, his body twisted as if gripped by an invisible force. He dropped to his knees with a strangled gasp.
"What… what's happening to me?" he cried, terror filling his voice.
All the cold indifference vanished, replaced by a panicked young man who didn't resemble the Damien Angelina had just spoken to. His voice cracked with fear as he looked around wildly.
"What's going on? This… this isn't how I was supposed to live…"
Damien lifted his gaze toward the empty air, as though he were speaking to something invisible that lingered just above him.
His voice trembled as he pleaded.
"I apologize… If I offended you earlier, please forgive me. Please… let me have control of my life back."
The next second, his expression shifted into cold indifference.
His eyes emptied of fear, and an unfamiliar calmness coated his voice.
