The Shadow

Ethan's heart raced as he stared at the figure in the shadows. It was him, or at least, it looked like him. The same eyes, the same hair, the same piercing gaze.

But it was also different. The figure seemed... darker, more menacing. Ethan felt a shiver run down his spine as he tried to process what he was seeing.

"Who are you?" he demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.

The figure didn't respond. Instead, it began to move closer, its eyes fixed on Ethan with an unnerving intensity.

Ethan's instincts screamed at him to get away, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot. He was paralyzed with fear as the figure drew closer and closer, until it loomed over him like a specter of doom.

And then, in a flash of insight, Ethan realized that this was himself. This was his future self, or at least, a version of himself that he hadn't yet become.

"What do you want?" Ethan demanded again, trying to keep his voice steady.

The figure didn't respond. Instead, it reached out and touched Ethan's face, and Ethan felt a jolt of electricity run through his body.

When the figure withdrew its hand, Ethan felt changed. He felt like he had been awakened to a new reality, one that was darker and more sinister than he had ever imagined.

The figure vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving Ethan feeling shaken and confused. He stumbled backward, trying to process what had just happened.

As he looked around, he saw that no one else had seen the figure. It was as if they had all been oblivious to its presence.

Ethan knew that he had to get out of there, to find someplace safe where he could try to make sense of what had just happened. He made his way back to his dorm room, his mind reeling with questions.

What did this mean? Was this what lay ahead for him? And what did Astra and Arianna know about it?

As he settled into bed, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to take a drastic turn...