Chapter 2 — The Curse of Darkness
She was six now.
Still in that filthy, smoky city.
No smiles, no joy.
Bad luck followed her like a shadow.
Wherever she went — something happened.
Once, a rabid dog attacked her.
Another time, a crumbling wall nearly buried her.
And one night, hunger drove her to knock on a shop's door…
The old man inside wanted to sell her.
But every time… something dark, something invisible…
Didn't save her — just kept her alive.
Alive, in misery.
Donati… colder than ever.
He spoke less.
His eyes empty.
Never spoke of his past.
At night, while Arya pretended to sleep, he drew strange marks on his arms… whispering forgotten words.
She saw once… but kept her eyes shut.
Then one cold night.
Rain.
Arya, alone in a ruined shelter.
Donati wasn't back.
Footsteps.
A drunk man…
A knife…
She ran.
Slipped. Fell.
But that dark, invisible force made the man trip —
His own knife plunging into his gut.
Arya watched.
Terrified… shaking… yet strangely calm.
Why did death follow her?
Why did others die, but she survived?
That night…
For the first time, a voice whispered:
"You are born of darkness.
Something will be made of you…
This world won't survive it."