Marvel: Sin Lord

Darkness surrounded Inarius, stretching endlessly in every direction. He felt weightless, like he was floating in a void, yet his chest tightened with a heavy sense of dread. The air, if it could even be called that, was suffocating—thick and oppressive, as though it carried the weight of countless sins.

Ahead of him, a faint shape began to emerge. It grew larger with each passing moment until it towered over him—a massive, pale figure. Its black hair cascaded down its back, blending with the shadows, and its eyes were pools of pure darkness. The crown on its head seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly glow, the only source of light in this realm.

The figure's presence was overwhelming. Inarius felt as though the very essence of his being was laid bare before it, every secret, every sin he had absorbed exposed to its scrutiny.

"You must wake, Inarius Morningstar," it spoke, its voice deep and resonant, echoing across the void like a command from the cosmos itself.

Before he could speak—before he could even process what was happening—his eyes snapped open, and he was back in the medical ward.

Inarius gasped, his heart racing as he sat up, drenched in sweat. His surroundings were familiar: the pristine white walls of the Massachusetts Academy's medical wing, the faint hum of machinery, and the faint scent of antiseptic.

His body felt heavy, every movement sluggish, but his mind raced with the memory of what he had just seen. That figure, that place… it was unlike anything he'd ever experienced.

The door creaked open, and Emma Frost stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor. She looked relieved to see him awake, though her expression remained composed.

"You've been unconscious for a week," she said, her voice calm but firm. "You had us all worried."

Inarius rubbed his temples, still shaken. "A week?"

Emma nodded and pulled a chair closer to his bed. "What happened with Magik was dangerous—for both of you. Your powers are… potent, but you're not in control of them. Until you are, you won't be going on any more missions."

Her tone left no room for argument, but Inarius didn't feel like arguing. He simply nodded.

"Starting tomorrow, you'll undergo extra training," Emma continued. "We'll work on your control, both over your absorption abilities and your emotions. It's not a punishment, Inarius—it's to ensure you can handle situations like that without hurting yourself or others."

Inarius sighed but nodded again. "I understand."

Emma's expression softened slightly. She reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're part of this team now. We'll help you, but you need to help yourself too."

With that, she stood and left the room, leaving Inarius to process everything.

Not long after Emma left, the door opened again, and the rest of the Hellions poured in. Their faces lit up when they saw him sitting up, alive and relatively well.

"Hey, look who's finally back from the dead," Jetstream teased, a grin spreading across his face.

"You had us worried, you idiot," Tarot said, her tone more scolding than concerned, though her eyes betrayed her relief.

Inarius chuckled weakly, their presence lifting his spirits. Even Catseye bounded over, her feline grace unmistakable as she curled up near the edge of his bed.

They talked for a while, the usual banter and teasing easing some of the tension Inarius had felt since waking. Even Empath, who he half-expected to throw a snide remark, seemed genuinely happy to see him.

The others eventually left, one by one, leaving only Empath behind. He lingered by Inarius's bedside, his usual arrogance replaced by an uncharacteristic silence.

"You really scared us, you know," Empath muttered, looking down at his hands.

Inarius raised an eyebrow. "You? Scared?"

Empath rolled his eyes. "Don't get used to it. I just didn't want to break in a new roommate."

Despite the jab, Inarius could sense the sincerity behind his words. They talked for a little while longer, the conversation light and easy, until Empath finally left, promising to come back tomorrow.

That night, as Inarius drifted off to sleep, he hoped for peace, for a dreamless slumber to give his mind a reprieve.

Instead, he found himself back in the dark realm.

The oppressive atmosphere pressed down on him once more, and the pale figure emerged from the shadows, just as massive and foreboding as before.

This time, it didn't speak. It simply stared at him, its black eyes boring into his soul.

Before Inarius could ask who or what it was, the vision faded, leaving him alone in the darkness of his room, his heart pounding in his chest.