The Evil Sorcerer
I had barely crossed the threshold of the Bifrost when I spotted Odin, accompanied by Frigga, walking resolutely towards me, an expression of anger on his face.
"How dare you disobey me?" thundered Odin, his voice filled with fury. "Not only do you go to Midgard despite my prohibitions, but you also interact with humans in your Jotun form? Have you gone mad, my son?"
"I am not your son," I replied bitterly.
"Loki!" exclaimed Frigga. "How can you say that? Are we not your family?"
I looked at her with a melancholic gaze.
"Despite all the affection I have for you, My Lady, only Earth has truly given me a home."
My words hung in the air, creating a heavy silence. The gazes of my divine parents were filled with pain and incomprehension. I understood their sorrow, but it was time for me to face my truth.
"You are my family, but I have always felt different, excluded," I confessed with a voice tinged with sadness. "My heritage as a Jotun has always been present, constantly reminding me that I do not fully belong to Asgard. I sought my place, my identity, and I found it on Earth."
Frigga let out a sigh, her eyes welling up with tears. "Loki, we have always tried to understand you, to love you as our own child. But you have chosen your path, even if it meant losing sight of us."
Odin remained silent, his single eye piercing my soul with a stern gaze. I could feel his disappointment mixed with a hint of regret.
"You are a Prince of Asgard, Loki, and I refuse to hear that you renounce your duty. I forbid you from setting foot in the world of mortals. We will find you a suitable bride, and you will abandon your ridiculous dreams of making a life on Midgard."
I held Odin's gaze, my face displaying a cold determination. "I may be a Prince of Asgard, but that doesn't mean my duty is to conform to your expectations. I have always lived in Thor's shadow, relegated to the background. I am Loki, Guardian of Earth and its inhabitants. I will choose my own path."
Unaware of the apparent madness of my act, I had hoped that by leaping into the void, a branch of Yggdrasil would slow my fall. It was a desperate act, but I refused to consider it as suicide.
Frigga's cries echoed in my ears as I plunged into the abyss. The wind whistled around me, my hair swirling in all directions. The reality of my action began to sink in, and a sense of dread grew within me. Time continued its course, yet I found myself suspended between space and time.
As I fell into the endless darkness, a sinister presence finally manifested itself to me.
His name was Thanos, and he was the most feared sorcerer in the Nine Realms.
"What do we have here?" asked the creature, grabbing my chin to get a better look at me.
"I am Loki," I replied calmly, showing no trace of fear despite Thanos' powerful hold on me.
His piercing eyes scrutinized my face, perhaps searching for signs of weakness or submission. I held his gaze, determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing me falter.
"Ah, Loki," he said with disdain. "The god of lies. You are far from your kingdom, my boy."
I felt his grip tighten, as if he sought to break me.
"Odin does not seem to care much for his offspring, it seems... First Hela... And now his youngest son?"
"I doubt that's any of your concern!" I retorted defiantly.
A sardonic smile spread across Thanos' face. "Ah, the confidence of youth. I suppose I should show you the reality of your insignificance."
He chanted an incantation, and a dark energy enveloped me, completely immobilizing me. I was at his mercy, but I refused to show my fear.
"You are a brave little creature... I want to play with you... How about a deal?" he proposed.
"Everyone in the universe knows your deals are never fair," I replied warily.
"Where's the fun if they were? Besides, I doubt you're in a position to negotiate!"
I remained silent, ready to hear what he had to say, although I knew this deal would likely be perilous.
"I have heard of you, Loki Silver Tongue. Your songs precede you. I understand that Earth is your refuge. How about a life among mortals? You could blend in with humans and lead a peaceful existence. Perhaps even find love? What do you say, young prince?"
"And what would you ask in return?" I questioned cautiously.
"The best of what you have to offer, of course... Your Silver Tongue!" he replied with a sly smile.
"I would become mute?" I asked, surprised.
"What a small price to pay in exchange for mortality, don't you think?" he retorted mockingly.
I took a moment to think, weighing the consequences of this proposition. Being deprived of my voice was a huge sacrifice. However, accepting the deal was currently the only way to be saved from the void. Besides, the prospect of a life among mortals, a different existence, irresistibly attracted me. After all, there was little future waiting for me in Asgard. Thor would probably return victorious from his trial, and things would go
"Very well, Thanos," I declared firmly, making a decision that would seal my fate. "I am willing to accept your deal."
A sinister smile crept across the sorcerer's face, revealing a wicked satisfaction. "A wise choice, Loki," he said in a cold tone, while tightening his grip on my throat with implacable force. "Let's see what this Silver Tongue has to offer me and my army..."
Words got stuck in my throat as I struggled to articulate them, feeling my voice slowly fade away, swallowed by the darkness.
Finally, Thanos released his grip, allowing me to catch my breath, but the reality of my new condition began to set in, plunging me into a mix of horror and resignation.
"Didn't you know that by giving me your tongue, you would also offer me your powers?" Thanos revealed with a sly triumph. "I can feel it now... This strength within you... It's that of an entire planet. The Mind Stone is now under my control!"
A shiver of horror ran through me as I realized the extent of my dependence on this dark sorcerer. Thanos reached out his hand towards me, and a violet glow emanated from the Mind Stone. "Now, Loki, you are at my command. You will serve my conquest."
Everything became blurry from that moment on. It felt like my body no longer obeyed me. I was nothing but a vulgar puppet, under Thanos' yoke. At least, that's what he thought. Quickly, I discovered flaws in his mental control. The sorcerer expected me to bring him the Tesseract.
But deep within me, a glimmer of hope persisted. I knew I could use this situation to my advantage, play Thanos' game while preparing my escape. I was Loki, the god of deception, and no one could completely reduce me to impotence.
Thus, I embarked on a frenzied quest to retrieve the Tesseract, aware that the fate of humanity rested in my hands. I wove a complex web of deception and subterfuge.
Weeks passed, and I drew closer to my goal. I had managed to gather a group of exceptional individuals, beings who were dear to me, children I had once helped in one way or another. They were now accomplished adults, possessing unique strengths and abilities.
Each of them had once given me a pearl, connecting their destiny to mine.
Steve Rogers, with his finely carved wooden pearl, embodied strength, loyalty, and courage. Tony Stark, wearing a glass pearl, represented intelligence and ingenuity. Bruce Banner, carrying a cultured pearl, symbolized the duality of raw strength and vulnerability. As for Clint Barton and Natasha Romanov, their golden pearls reflected their unmatched mastery of skills and talents. As an elite archer and spy, they were formidable in the art of combat and infiltration.
I knew that our combined forces were powerful enough to confront Thanos and prevent him from taking control of Earth.
A race against time began. I was constantly on guard, anticipating the sorcerer's movements, exploiting his ambitions and weaknesses.
It was painful for me to see my companions view me as an enemy, to play with their fears and doubts. My plan was designed to sow discord, pushing them to come together and face a common enemy. But that did not make the betrayal any easier to bear.
Every look charged with suspicion and every word filled with anger felt like blows to my heart. I clung to the hope that when the truth came out, they would understand my intentions and find a faithful ally in me.
Then, finally, we achieved victory.
But one crucial detail had escaped me: my magic had been cruelly weakened by my mortal condition. Now mute, the spells I could once cast with ease had become weak and powerless. My magical resources were rapidly diminishing, to the point where I struggled to stand.
Then came the moment when Tony was injured. I drew on my last resources, sacrificing what little magic I had left to save him.
Yinsen had been right about love.I was ready to accept my fate, happy to be able to die alongside those I had learned to love.
*
With a start, I woke up, gasping for breath, on an operating table. Strange wires were connected to my entire body, and I hastily ripped them off my skin. Around me, machines blinked with an alarming sound of alarm.
The first sensations of reality overwhelmed me. Where was I? How had I survived? I feverishly scanned the environment, desperately searching for clues to understand what had happened to me.
Suddenly, a creaking door swung open, revealing a figure rushing towards me. Dr. Banner's face appeared clearly in front of the bed, and instinctively, I recoiled to protect myself from the danger emanating from him.
"Loki, it's okay, you're safe," he said in a soothing voice.
My heart was pounding, and just hearing my name evoked confusing emotions. How could he know my name? I had always taken care to hide my identity from humans to avoid cults.
I tried to speak, but no sound came out of my mouth. That's when my deal with Thanos came back to me. I had exchanged my voice, my silver tongue, for a mortal existence.
The man moved gently towards me, as if afraid of scaring me.
"We eventually realized that you were being manipulated by the Mind Stone," he said in a compassionate tone.
My eyes widened in surprise. What he said wasn't entirely accurate. While Thanos had indeed used the Mind Stone against me, I had managed to turn the situation in my favor. Suddenly, memories of the invasion came flooding back to me.
I tried to get out of bed, my legs still unsteady.
"You should rest, Loki, you're still weak," the man said with concern.
Ignoring his words, I took hesitant steps towards the window.
The city was in a sorry state, with a Chitauri carcass decomposing right in the middle of the landscape. The damage could have been much worse, but a pang of guilt washed over me at the sight of all the carnage. I was supposed to be the master of chaos, not its detractor.
Banner's hand brushed my shoulder, and I turned to face him.
"Thor said he would intercede on your behalf with Odin. We came to certain conclusions when we discovered that Phil Coulson was still alive…"
Though fatigue overwhelmed me, I absentmindedly nodded to show I was listening.
"Some of us also claim to know you personally. But we didn't recognize you in this form," he added, shame evident in his voice.
Distractedly, I reached into my hair to retrieve the bead that a child named Bruce had given me long ago. While holding the bead between my fingers, I fixed Bruce with an intense gaze.
A shy smile appeared on the man's face as he reminisced about the past. "Yes, I remember. My father had just given me a good thrashing that day. I ran away from home to cry in the woods, and you were there. You had taken the form of a little girl with raven hair, and we played together until nightfall. The next day, I found this cultured pearl in my mother's jewelry box, and I came to give it to you. If you knew how furious my mother was," he chuckled.
I nodded, acknowledging the special bond we had shared in the past. I offered him the pearl, unaware at the time of its precious significance.
"I gave it to you; it's yours now… My mother has no use for it anyway," he declined, refusing the pearl in my hand.
My heart tightened at the mention of this painful memory for Bruce. He and I had shared several moments of comfort and friendship in his troubled childhood.
While holding the pearl in my hand, I gently clasped it against my palm, silently expressing my appreciation for his gesture. I had often underestimated the impact of my actions on others, but this simple act of kindness had left a lasting impression in Bruce's life.
My thoughts naturally turned to Steve, Tony, Natasha, and Clint. How were they?
I began gesturing wildly in all directions, trying to convey to Bruce that I wanted to see them. However, my strange behavior initially earned me a puzzled frown. Then, as if deciphering a foreign language, Bruce eventually understood my intentions and smiled.
"You want to go see the others?" he said, laughing lightly at my eagerness.
I nodded frantically, not hiding my determination to reunite with them. Bruce sighed slightly, probably exasperated by my childish behavior.
"If you're even more stubborn than Steve, I doubt I have a chance of getting you back to bed, do I?" he said with a hint of humor.
Mischievously, I couldn't help my eyes from sparkling, and without further ado, Bruce helped me walk to the exit of the room.
"Shall I inform Mr. Stark and Mr. Rogers that our guest is awake?" a disembodied voice suddenly asked from the ceiling.
"No," Bruce chuckled, "let me surprise them, Jarvis. I can't wait to see their faces."
Intrigued by the conversation, I gave Bruce a questioning look.
"Tony and Steve took turns watching over your recovery for days. I was just taking over when you woke up," he explained kindly.
At that moment, my cheeks turned red, and Bruce laughed heartily at my embarrassment.
"Be careful, we didn't have to bring you back from the realm of the dead, but it was close," he warned me protectively.
The journey through the long corridors of Stark Tower seemed endless. Every step I took brought me closer to my companions, and my heart palpitated with excitement and apprehension. Had they all come to realize the bond that existed between us?
Finally, we reached the living room, and there I saw Steve and Tony deeply asleep on a massive couch. A warm smile illuminated my face as I gazed upon their peaceful features. They had given so much of themselves to save the Earth…
Silently, I left the support of Bruce to approach my companions stealthily. Like a cunning feline, I discreetly slipped under the blanket they shared, seeking to merge into the cocoon of warmth their slumbering bodies produced. I, too, was exhausted by this little excursion and soon surrendered to sleep, lulled by their peaceful breathing.
*
I woke up the next morning with the gentle sensation of the first rays of sunlight on my face. However, this peacefulness was quickly disturbed by annoyed voices around me.
"Am I dreaming, or is my designated God using you as his pillow? It's absolutely scandalous! God of Mischief, I already knew, but not in this sense!" exclaimed a voice that could only belong to Tony.
Struggling to open my eyes, I realized that I was nestled against a warm and muscular chest. Raising my head, I saw Steve's smiling face, looking both amused and embarrassed.
"Did you sleep well, Loki?" he asked with a warm smile, as if it were completely normal for me to be snuggled up to him.
I nodded while searching for Tony with my eyes. He was staring back at me from the other end of the couch, eyebrows slightly furrowed, with… Annoyance? Was he still upset?
Feeling my heart race, I detached myself from Steve's embrace to rush towards Tony.
Taken aback by my sudden movement, Tony toppled backward. My hands quickly examined the arc reactor on his chest, making sure everything was working perfectly.
Once reassured about the arc reactor's condition, I looked into Tony's face, focusing on his brown eyes to try to read his emotions. His surprise seemed to now outweigh any initial annoyance. I was close enough to smell his cologne, and my hand gently rested on his cheek. The stubble of a few days made it rough, but I found the sensation pleasant.
"Well…Hey," Tony stammered, blushing at my gesture.
Had I really managed to leave the famous Tony Stark speechless just by caressing his cheek?
To find out the answer to my question, and because I really wanted to, I leaned in and kissed him.
"I think his preferences are quite clear, Tony," Natasha declared, observing the scene with a mischievous smile, holding a cup of coffee.
However, Tony was not inclined to respond to the spy, too busy reciprocating my kiss with even more fervor.
Miraculously, we managed to separate from each other for a proper breakfast.
As Bruce guided me to a table overflowing with food, I caught a glimpse of Clint's silhouette at the stove, busy cooking the food.
Tony was sending me predatory smiles, earning him an elbow from Natasha on his right.
"Both of you, restrain yourselves. I want to eat in peace without having to witness your lovey-dovey antics," Natasha sighed, rolling her eyes.
Steve had seated himself in front of me, his face turning a bright pink as he served what looked like porridge into a large bowl. I couldn't help but feel compassion for him, knowing how different attitudes were towards romantic relationships in the 1950s. Same-sex relationships were not yet widely accepted at that time, and Steve had probably remained true to his old-fashioned values. A little update in his soldier's mind was certainly needed to understand and accept social progress.
Then, a meat with a divine smell was served generously on my plate. I gave Clint an uncertain look as he hadn't spoken to me yet. I was almost certain he still held a grudge after the events of the past few days. After all, I had manipulated him to help me carry out my plan.
The man stared at me for a moment before finally retorting, "Eat. We'll have plenty of time to talk later…"
I nodded, grateful for the gesture of peace. We were far from being reconciled, but it meant he was willing to listen and talk.
So, I immersed myself in my meal, savoring every bite of the delicious meat when I suddenly became aware of all the eyes on me.
"So refined," Tony teased with a smile.
"Are you sure you were raised in the same house as Thor?" Clint asked with a grin. "This guy eats more cleanly than all my kids combined."
I blushed slightly, realizing that my manners might seem a bit strange compared to humans. But then again, I had been raised as the Prince of Asgard. The fact that Thor had manners similar to a raccoon rummaging through trash had often been a subject of jest between Sigyn and me. It was somewhat reassuring to know that Tony and his companions thought the same about my foolish brother.
I tried to ignore their looks as I sipped my drink. Once again, I received stifled laughter from my audience.
"Am I dreaming, or are you drinking your tea with your pinkie finger raised like the Queen of England?" Bruce exclaimed.
Unable to bear it any longer, I shot them all a menacing look. Couldn't I enjoy my first meal in peace?
"Ah! I recognize in that look the man who tried to conquer the world!" Steve joked.
He couldn't join in as well! I thought, throwing an apple right at the man's forehead.
"Ouch!" exclaimed the soldier, massaging his forehead.
" Count yourself lucky, you didn't get a bottle slammed into your skull," Tony retorted.
Suddenly, I grabbed the first piece of fruit within my reach to throw it at the traitor this time. Tony caught what looked like a banana in mid-air.
"Save that kind of thing for later, okay, cutie?" Tony teased with a suggestive wink.
"I said no profanity at the table!" Natasha exploded.
"A bottle? What's that about?" Bruce intervened, mouth full.
"Loki once knocked me out with a bottle," Tony informed him, a strange pride in his voice. "I must have been what? 16 years old? It hurt like hell! I had a bump for at least a week!"
"There is no longer any doubt. I knew you were slow, Stark, but now I have proof that you are mentally stuck in adolescence due to a head trauma!"
After that, it was Bruce's turn to receive a barrage of grapes to his head.
"Didn't anyone tell you not to play with your food?" Clint added, rolling his eyes. "Seriously, we're like kids in kindergarten."
"Loki started it!" the accused parties declared in unison.
Breakfast continued in a good mood, with teasing and shared laughter. Surprisingly, I felt comfortable in their presence despite the recent events.
*
"Okay!" Tony declared. "Are you finally going to explain why you became mute? Not that you were much of a chatterbox to begin with, but not to the point of complete radio silence."
We were all gathered on the numerous couches in the living room for what seemed to be storytime.
I simply shrugged, feeling somewhat embarrassed. I wasn't very inclined to share my experience with Thanos with them. However, their insistent looks left me with no choice. With a sigh, I conjured a pen and a piece of paper in front of me. Although my powers were greatly limited in my human form, this was still a relatively simple spell to perform.
After writing a few words, I passed the paper to the others, and they took turns reading it. Their expressions were astonished as they read my account. However, it was Tony who was the first to exclaim, "This has to be a joke, Loki! Please tell me this is a joke! You can't possibly expect me to believe that you... you traded a mortal life for your voice?"
"He's right, man. I don't know what's more absurd. That it sounds like a fairy tale or that you, the god of mischief, got swindled so easily." Bruce interjected.
"Seriously! Why did you do that?" the millionaire exclaimed, sitting up.
I simply pointed at him, hoping this would suffice as an answer.
Tony's face suddenly went blank, and he slumped heavily into his chair. Natasha and Steve exchanged puzzled looks, while Clint crossed his arms, clearly bewildered. Bruce, on the other hand, took a deep breath before speaking in a calm voice, "So... This Thanos wanted to enslave humanity. If I understand correctly, he was the mastermind behind the operation?"
I was about to snatch the paper from Tony's hands to write the answer when Natasha asked, "So, you weren't entirely under control?" with a grimace.
I nodded in agreement, quickly scribbling on the paper to explain. "No, I wasn't completely under control. I was aware of my actions, but I was influenced by the Mind Stone," I explained with a sigh.
"And you knew what you were doing?" Natasha asked, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Again, I nodded, filling the paper with my words. "In a way, I did my best to thwart his plan. With or without my intervention, the invasion would have taken place. What Earth and its inhabitants needed was heroes ready to protect them. You were the best ones for this mission."
A heavy silence filled the room. They found it difficult to comprehend the extent of the manipulation they had all been subjected to. But I knew I had to tell them everything, even if it meant facing their anger or suspicion.
"I'm sorry," I added, writing. "I know I should have handled it differently, but time was running out. Thanos had to believe I was under his control, and you had to unite to confront me."
Tony spoke up, breaking the silence that had settled in the room. "Well, that's in the past now. What matters is what we're going to do from now on. We need to regroup, work together, and put an end to that crazy Thanos once and for all."
"Isn't that what we're already doing?" Bruce asked, raising an eyebrow.
As they all animatedly discussed the way forward, I found myself slumping into my chair, finding it much too comfortable for my liking.
I was starting to doze off when a hand gently stroked my hair.
"How about a movie?" Tony offered, settling down beside me.
I tilted my head to the side, clearly demonstrating that I had no idea what he was talking about.
"It's... How did I explain it to Thor again? Ah yes! It's like theater, but the actors are locked in a very small box instead of a big stage."
Intrigued by his proposition, I nodded enthusiastically.
"Jarvis!" Tony called, glancing at the ceiling. "Turn off the lights and play us Disney's Hercules, please."
"You can't be serious, Stark!" Clint complained. "For once, I thought I'd be surrounded by adults, although that remains to be proven, and you're putting on a damn cartoon!"
"But it's an action movie!" Tony defended himself with a dismayed expression.
I was initially very surprised by the moving images on the box. They flowed smoothly, like the paintings on a vase spinning rapidly on its axis. Eventually, the story captivated me, taking me away from reality, and I allowed myself to be carried away by the movie. It was the story of a man who wanted to become a God. I strongly suspected that Tony had precalculated his move. Hercules and I shared too many similarities for it to be just a coincidence.
I have often dreamed
Of a far off place
Where a great warm welcome
Will be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be
Without knowing how, my eyes started to tear up on their own, and I wiped the tears away with a heavy sniff.
"Tony!" Natasha exclaimed, annoyed. "Turn off the movie! Can't you see that it's making Loki cry?"
With a resounding snap of his fingers, Tony abruptly ended the movie, and the lights came back on. His eyes were filled with concern, as if he feared being the cause of my distress.
"Loki! What's wrong? Are you in pain somewhere?" Bruce asked in a panicked voice.
I shook my head, indicating that I wasn't physically hurt, and pointed to the spot where the moving images had just been. Then I grabbed my notepad and started writing frantically:
"They hate me."
"Who?" Tony asked, sounding worried.
"The gods," I wrote, letting my words express the sadness and pain that overwhelmed me at that moment. "I never belonged in Asgard. The only place I felt at home and accepted was on Earth, in the company of the children."
"That's why you spent your immortal life taking care of brats like us?" Clint asked.
I timidly nodded, avoiding eye contact with any of them.
"It's true that the five of us form a sad bunch of people with more or less troubled pasts," Bruce remarked in a distant voice. "Personally, I believe that Hulk represents the part of the child in me that never truly healed. I think deep down, he's just trying to protect that little boy who was beaten by his father…"
A heavy silence followed his confession.
"My parents died in a car accident," Clint shared. "I ended up in a traveling circus, taken in by a con artist named Jacques Duquesne. Under his tutelage, I was trained to become a professional thief…"
"My father was an unknown soldier, and I never knew my mother," Natasha said with a sad grimace. "I was found by a Soviet soldier, still a baby, amidst the rubble of a building destroyed during a bombing. He raised me as his own daughter. However, he was often alcoholic and violent, and he forced me to steal to survive on the streets of Stalingrad…"
"My father died in the war, and my mother from tuberculosis," Steve finally admitted in a weak voice. "After the war, I thought I could build a life with a woman and start a family of my own, but… I woke up in the future. Everyone I knew is gone now…"
"Suddenly, it's a shitty atmosphere. I hate shitty atmospheres," Tony intervened, showing no interest in playing the role of an anonymous alcoholic. He then headed to his bookshelf to retrieve a peculiar black disc from its cover.
"Please, Tony, anything but Queen!" Steve groaned, covering his ears.
Tony placed the disc on a small turntable, and suddenly, the living room filled with a gentle melody. The first notes of the song filled the air, creating an atmosphere that was both joyful and melancholic.
I took a little journey to the unknown
And I've come back changed, I can feel it in my bones
I fucked with forces that our eyes can't see
Now the darkness got a hold on me
Oh, the darkness got a hold on me
Tony came back to me and, with a mischievous smile, invited me to dance. Accepting his hand, I let myself be led to the middle of the living room as he spun me around. The music filled our ears, and I was surprised to see that Natasha had joined the dance, pulling Clint along with her.
How long baby have I been away?
Oh, it feels like ages, though you say it's only days
There ain't language for the things I've seen, yeah
And the truth is stranger than my own worst dreams
The truth is stranger than all my dreams
Oh, the darkness got a hold on me
I glanced at Steve, still sitting, watching us from a distance but hesitating to join the dance. After all, he probably had no idea how people moved their bodies in the 21st century. Twirling around, my clothes transformed into a long green dress from the 1950s. Enjoying his astonished look, I went to him to help him up, and we joined the others to share a dance from his era.
Steve wasn't the only one observing me with amazement. I had become a woman as easily as if I had put on a new shirt. I had always known I was capable of this transformation, but it was only in that moment that this form felt natural to adopt. Then Bruce joined the group, and I went from partner to partner. Tony smiled tenderly at me, pleasantly surprised by the extent of my powers. Soon, we were swept away by the music, forming a strange band of dancers.
The room was filled with a joyful and light atmosphere, our steps harmoniously blending with the rhythm of the retro music. Smiles blossomed on our faces as we let ourselves be carried away in this dance from the past.
I have seen what the darkness does
Say goodbye to who I was
I ain't never been away so long
Don't look back, them days are gone
Follow me into the endless night
I can bring your fears to life
Show me yours and I'll show you mine
Meet me in the woods tonight
As I suddenly realized, for the first time in a long while, I was smiling genuinely. I was happy and felt like I belonged.