After making the deal with the ominous presence, John felt a sense of excitement and fear coursing through his veins. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he knew that his life was about to change forever.
At first, nothing seemed to happen. John went about his daily routine, working at the diner and returning to his dingy apartment at night. But there was a new feeling inside him, a sense of strength and purpose that he had never felt before.
One night, as he was walking home from work, John encountered a group of teenagers who had been taunting him for weeks. Normally, he would have just walked away, but this time was different. He felt a surge of power building inside him, and he knew that he could take them on.
Without even thinking, John lashed out at the teenagers, his fists connecting with their faces and bodies with a satisfying thud. They tried to fight back, but John was too fast and too strong. Within minutes, they were lying on the ground, bruised and bleeding.
John stood there, panting and trembling with adrenaline. He had never felt so alive before. The ominous presence had given him a taste of power, and he wanted more.
Over the next few weeks, John began to experiment with his newfound abilities. He found that he could lift heavier weights at the gym, run faster and longer than he ever thought possible, and even read people's thoughts. It was like he had tapped into some hidden reserve of energy that had been inside him all along.
But with this power came a price. John's thoughts became darker and more violent. He found himself relishing in the pain of others, enjoying the feeling of control he had over them. He knew that he was becoming a different person, but he couldn't stop himself.
One night, as he was walking home, John saw a woman being attacked in an alley. Normally, he would have just walked away, but this time was different. He felt a pull towards the darkness, a voice in his head urging him to take action.
John charged towards the attackers, his fists flying. He didn't care about the consequences, he just wanted to inflict pain on those who had hurt the woman. Within seconds, the attackers were lying on the ground, bloodied and bruised.
But as John looked down at them, he felt a wave of guilt and shame wash over him. What had he become? Was this really the person he wanted to be?
The ominous presence appeared before him, a smug grin on its face. "I see you're starting to realize the cost of your power, John," it said. "But it's too late to turn back now. You're mine, and you always will be."
John felt a shiver run down his spine. He knew that he had made a terrible mistake, but he didn't know how to fix it. All he could do was continue down this dark path, hoping that he could find some way to redeem himself in the end.