*The rain poured endlessly over the Overworld.

You stood beneath the roof of your house, staring into the darkness beyond the trees.

And there he was.

August.

The Man From the Shadows.

His tall silhouette stood beside Lily, a girl who had spent weeks chasing after him. She laughed at everything he said. She followed him everywhere. She acted as though she had some special connection to him.

The worst part?

August never pushed her away.

At least, not in front of her.

You watched as Lily touched his arm.

"You actually like spending time with me, don't you?" she asked.

August's permanent grin widened slightly.

"If that's what you wish to believe."

Lily blushed.

To her, it sounded like flirting.

To August, it was merely an answer.

Later that night, he appeared inside your house without warning.

The shadows gathered around him like smoke.

You folded your arms.

"Why are you encouraging her?"

August tilted his head.

"I am not."

"She thinks you're interested."

"I know."

The answer made your stomach sink.

"So why let her think that?"

His glowing eyes locked onto yours.

"Because she is useful."

The room became silent.

August sat in a nearby chair, looking almost bored.

"Humans reveal interesting things when they believe they are special."

"What does that mean?"

"She tells me secrets. Fears. Rumors. Everything."

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

"She speaks for hours."

You stared.

"And you just listen?"

"Not really."

He looked genuinely uninterested.

"I stopped paying attention days ago."

You couldn't help rolling your eyes.

Months passed.

Lily became more convinced than ever that August cared for her.

She bragged to anyone who would listen.

"He likes me more than anyone."

"We understand each other."

"He told me things he never tells anyone else."

The reality was much different.

Whenever she talked, August often stared into space.

Sometimes he vanished halfway through conversations.

Once, she spent twenty minutes talking before realizing he had disappeared entirely.

Still, she refused to accept the truth.

Then one evening she confronted him.

"Do you love me?" she asked.

The forest fell silent.

Even the Shadow Humans seemed curious.

August stared at her.

For several seconds he said nothing.

Lily smiled hopefully.

Then August spoke.

"No."

The single word shattered her confidence.

"What?"

"No."

His voice remained calm.

"I never said I loved you."

"But you spent time with me!"

"You followed me."

"You listened to me!"

"Unfortunately."

Several Shadow Humans began snickering in the darkness.

Lily's face turned red.

"You used me?"

August's grin widened.

"Yes."

The answer was so blunt that even the shadows seemed impressed.

Without another word, he turned away and vanished into the darkness.

Leaving Lily standing alone in the rain.

The next time August appeared at your house, he seemed completely unaffected.

"She's angry," you said.

"I know."

"Do you care?"

"No."

You shook your head.

"You're terrible."

A low laugh escaped him.

"I am a centuries-old nightmare that feeds on fear."

He paused.

"Being terrible is rather the point."

To be continued... *