❝I'm sorry there
is so much pain
in this story.

I'm sorry it's
in fragments, like a
body caught in crossfire
or pulled apart by force.

But there is nothing
I can do to change it.
I've tried to put some
of the good things in as well.❞

MARGARET ATWOOD,
The Handmaid's Tale

Welcome to my cage, little lover.

Welcome, readers.

If you journey into this story, be prepared to descend into Tom Riddle's darkness—no glimmer of redemption here, only the twisted path of his soul.

This story is not for the faint-hearted. It lingers on themes of violence, bloodshed, and haunting desires. Each chapter will carry its own warnings, ensuring you are prepared for the shadows that await.

We meet Tom after Hogwarts, at a time when he's already embarked on his journey into the macabre, having created his first Horcruxes. Rejected by Dippet from a teaching position due to youth, he works at Borgin & Burke's, letting darkness seep further into his life. I've taken liberties with timelines to shape the atmosphere, bending his history to fit this grim narrative.

Let the shadows draw you in.