~ A flashback ~
Vladimir Randall
My soulmate's mark pulsed like a beacon on my wrist as I was ensnared in the clutches of an ominous shadow creature. Its giant claws clamped around me, and its gaping maw filled with teeth like knives brought me to the edge of despair. My heart hammered inside my chest, and I felt as if I was in a horrific nightmare from which there would be no escape. This monster was more menacing than anything I had ever seen before, dark and utterly terrifying.
My heart pounded, my breath came in gasps and my body shook with fear as the shadow monster moved ever closer. Its giant claws scraped and scratched the ground, exuding an energy that seemed to echo through the darkness. I could feel its power growing, threatening to consume me completely. Its claws pricked my
