The forest seemed to breathe with them, each step matched by a subtle rustling in the trees. It wasn't loud, not yet, but enough to keep Kodi's grip firm on his blade and Aaliyah's eyes sharp as they scanned the underbrush.
Then the rustling shifted.
It wasn't random anymore. It was deliberate. Controlled. Someone was coming.
"Stay close," Kodi murmured, his voice low.
Aaliyah's blade was already drawn. "I'm not the one you should be worried about."
Before he could respond, the figure emerged — not from the fog, but stepping through the trees as if the forest itself had parted for them.
It was a woman.
Tall, her lean frame clad in dark leathers that hugged her like a second skin. A loose braid of auburn hair fell over her shoulder, streaked faintly with sun-bleached strands. Her green eyes caught the light, sharp and discerning, and her lips curved into a grin that was equal parts charm and challenge.
Kodi froze.
"Still alive, huh?" the woman said, her voice warm and teasing. "Guess you're tougher than you look."
His heart stuttered in his chest. "Elira?"
The grin widened. "You remember me. I was starting to think you'd forgotten."
He lowered his blade slightly, his shoulders relaxing as he took a step forward. "What are you doing here?"
Elira spread her arms, casual and confident. "Saving your sorry ass. Again."
"Who's this?" Aaliyah's voice cut through the air, sharp and demanding. She hadn't lowered her weapon.
Elira turned to her, one brow lifting as she studied her. "You must be Aaliyah."
"And you are?"
"Elira Aen," she said, her voice smooth as she offered a hand. "Old friend of Kodi's. Old partner, too."
Aaliyah didn't take the hand. She glanced at Kodi instead, her expression tight. "Partner?"
Kodi cleared his throat, suddenly feeling like he was caught in a trap. "We used to work together. Back when I first started."
"Work together, huh?" Aaliyah's tone was flat, but her blade still hadn't moved.
Elira smirked. "It's cute, the way you're protective. But trust me, if I wanted to hurt him, I wouldn't have bothered saying hello."
Aaliyah's eyes narrowed, and Kodi stepped in quickly. "Elira, what are you doing here? Really."
Her expression softened, the teasing edge fading slightly. "I heard you were after the Skull. I know what that thing does to people, Kodi. I couldn't let you walk into this alone."
"I'm not alone," he said, glancing at Aaliyah.
Elira's smile turned faintly amused as her gaze shifted between them. "Sure. But I've seen what this kind of hunt can do. You need more than numbers. You need someone who's been in these kinds of places before. Someone who knows when to cut losses."
Aaliyah stepped forward, her blade lowering just slightly. "And you think that's you?"
Elira didn't flinch. "I know it is."
The tension was palpable, crackling between them like a live wire.
Kodi looked between them, then back at Elira. "This isn't your fight."
"It is if you die," she said simply. "And last time I checked, I owed you one."
Aaliyah scoffed. "How convenient."
Elira's gaze flicked to her, calm but pointed. "I don't do convenient. I do what needs to be done."
"Enough," Kodi said firmly, stepping between them. He turned to Elira. "If you're here to help, fine. But no games."
Elira grinned again, that easy, familiar charm slipping back into place. "Games are more your thing, Kodi."
Aaliyah muttered something under her breath, sharp and low.
"What was that?" Elira asked, her grin unfaltering.
"Nothing you need to hear," Aaliyah replied coolly.
Kodi sighed. "Can we just focus on getting out of here alive?"
Elira laughed, low and warm. "Spoken like someone who's been in the forest too long."
She stepped closer to him, resting a hand lightly on his arm. "Don't worry. I'll get you through this. Just like old times."
Aaliyah's fingers tightened around her blade.
Kodi shifted, stepping back from Elira's touch, his voice steadier now. "Let's move. The forest isn't going to wait."
Elira's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she nodded. "Lead the way."
As they started walking, Kodi felt the tension radiating from Aaliyah beside him. She didn't say anything, but her silence was louder than any words.
Behind them, Elira hummed softly to herself, her confidence a stark contrast to the charged quiet.
The trio moved through the forest, the thick undergrowth crunching beneath their boots. The oppressive silence from earlier had eased, replaced by the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional drip of moisture from the trees above.
Elira fell into step beside Kodi, her movements fluid and effortless. She glanced at him with a grin that felt like it belonged to another life — one far removed from the shadows of the forest.
"You haven't changed much," she said, breaking the silence.
Kodi glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"
She smirked. "Still stubborn. Still terrible at asking for help."
"I've gotten better," Kodi said defensively.
"Have you?" Elira teased. "Because last I checked, the last time you 'asked for help,' you almost got us killed."
Kodi groaned, but there was no real heat in it. "You're not seriously bringing that up, are you?"
"Oh, I absolutely am." Elira's grin widened as she turned to Aaliyah. "Did he ever tell you about the time we tried to steal that enchanted chalice from the Glasswood Tower?"
Aaliyah shot her a wary glance. "No. He doesn't talk much about his past."
"Well, let me fill you in," Elira said, clearly enjoying herself. "Picture this: a fortress made entirely of reflective crystal. Beautiful. Deadly. Completely impossible to break into."
Kodi cut in, his voice dry. "Until someone decided to scale the side of it with no plan and no backup."
Elira shrugged, unapologetic. "It worked."
"You got stuck."
"Temporarily."
Kodi laughed, and the sound was warm, genuine. "You dangled upside down for an hour while I tried to talk you out of cutting the rope."
"And you almost got caught trying to pull me up," Elira shot back, her grin infectious. "Admit it — you thought we were going to die."
"I was convinced," Kodi said, shaking his head. "And then you managed to swing through the nearest window like it was all part of the plan."
"Because it was." Elira raised a hand, gesturing dramatically. "Improvisation is the heart of adventure."
Aaliyah's voice cut through, sharp and measured. "Sounds reckless."
Elira glanced at her, that grin softening into something more calculating. "You have to take risks if you want the reward. Isn't that what all this is about?"
Aaliyah didn't answer, her jaw tightening slightly.
Elira turned back to Kodi, her voice lighter again. "Remember the golden map in Port Rellen? The one that was supposed to lead to the Starfire Relic?"
Kodi rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me. We spent two months chasing a treasure that didn't exist."
"It existed," Elira said with a wink. "Just not where the map said it would."
"You mean it didn't exist," Kodi corrected, though he was smiling now.
Aaliyah's grip on her blade tightened. "So, you've been chasing fake treasures together for years?"
Elira's gaze flicked to her, the amusement not fading. "More than treasures. Stories. Legends. Sometimes the reward is the journey, not the prize."
Aaliyah's voice was cool. "And sometimes the prize is what keeps you alive."
Elira chuckled. "Fair point."
Kodi glanced between them, sensing the undercurrent but not addressing it directly. "It wasn't always like that. We had a few wins too."
"More than a few," Elira agreed. "Remember the silver gauntlet in Vareth? The one that only lit up when you wore it?"
Kodi smirked faintly. "I remember you convincing the merchant it was cursed so we wouldn't have to pay for it."
"It worked, didn't it?"
Aaliyah's steps quickened slightly, putting a few feet of distance between herself and the pair. Her shoulders were tense, her hand brushing against the hilt of her blade as if grounding herself.
Kodi noticed and hesitated before calling out. "Aaliyah, you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said sharply, not turning around.
Elira raised an eyebrow, leaning closer to Kodi as she dropped her voice. "She always this prickly?"
Kodi frowned. "Don't."
Elira held up her hands, her grin unfaltering. "Just asking."
But there was something in her tone, something light enough to sound casual but sharp enough to linger. A challenge. A question she didn't need to ask aloud.
Kodi sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We should focus. This forest isn't going to let us wander forever."
Elira's grin softened. "Whatever you say, boss."
Behind them, Aaliyah's steps grew quieter. But in the shadows of the trees, her eyes burned.
The forest grew darker the deeper they went.
Not the natural dark of twilight or a moonless night, but something more oppressive. The trees were taller here, their blackened trunks twisting unnaturally, branches clawing at the pale sky above. The air was cold, biting. Even the mist clung tighter to their legs, as though reluctant to let them pass.
"This place is getting worse," Aaliyah muttered, her voice cutting through the quiet.
Kodi nodded, his grip firm on his blade. "Feels like it's leading us somewhere."
"Or trapping us," Elira added, her tone light but her gaze sharp. She adjusted the bow slung over her shoulder, her fingers brushing the hilt of a dagger strapped to her thigh. "Either way, it's not friendly."
For hours, they pushed forward, the ground beneath them shifting from dirt to gnarled roots, then to slick, uneven stone. The trees seemed to move when they weren't looking, narrowing the path, forcing them closer together. Every now and then, Kodi caught flickers of movement at the edges of his vision — shapes darting between the trees, just out of reach.
No one mentioned them.
By the time they reached the clearing, the air was heavy with unease.
It was circular, ringed with jagged stones that jutted out of the ground like teeth. The floor was bare, just cold, hard rock, its surface covered in faint, pulsing runes. A low hum vibrated through the air, barely audible but enough to set their teeth on edge.
Aaliyah stopped, her eyes narrowing. "This is it."
Elira let out a low whistle. "Well, doesn't this just scream 'welcome.'"
Kodi frowned, stepping closer to the center of the clearing. The runes beneath his feet pulsed brighter as he moved, a faint, sickly green that made his stomach turn.
"I don't like this," he muttered.
"Good instinct," Elira said, not moving from the edge. "Because this is definitely a trap."
Aaliyah stepped forward, her jaw tight. "We don't have a choice."
The hum grew louder.
The runes flared, their green light spreading outward like ripples on water. The stones surrounding the clearing began to vibrate, a low rumble that made the ground beneath them tremble.
Then the voice came.
"You seek the Skull. You seek power. But all power has a price."
The words echoed from nowhere and everywhere, deep and layered, a thousand voices speaking as one.
Elira drew her dagger, her eyes darting around the clearing. "Who's there?"
The voice didn't answer. Instead, the light surged, blindingly bright. When it faded, a figure stood in the center of the clearing.
It was humanoid, but barely. Its body was skeletal, wrapped in writhing black mist, its hollow eyes glowing with the same green as the runes. It held no weapon, but the air around it crackled with menace.
Aaliyah's blade was in her hand instantly. "What is that?"
The figure tilted its head, its gaze locking onto her. "You have come far, mortal. But you will go no further without sacrifice."
Kodi stepped in front of her, his blade raised. "We've made enough sacrifices already."
The creature tilted its head, its voice dripping with amusement. "You think to challenge the forest's will? Foolish."
Aaliyah stepped forward, her jaw tight. "What do you want?"
The creature's gaze shifted to her, its voice calm and cutting. "The forest wants what it is owed. To pass, one must fall."
A chill ran through her, but she held her ground. "We're not playing by your rules."
The creature laughed, a sound that grated against their ears. "You misunderstand. The forest does not ask. It takes. And if you refuse…"
The shadows erupted, tendrils lashing out toward them.
Aaliyah slashed at one, severing it mid-air, but more came, faster and stronger. One coiled around her ankle, dragging her toward the edge of the clearing.
"Kodi!" she shouted, panic breaking through her voice.
Kodi lunged, his blade slicing through the tendrils as he reached her. He pulled her free, his breath coming hard and fast. "Stay behind me!"
The creature tilted its head again, its hollow eyes narrowing. "You would give your life for hers?"
Its voice dropped, sharp and deliberate. "It will not matter. Before the second sunset to come, one among you will betray the other. The forest has already seen it."
The words hung heavy in the air, freezing them in place.
Aaliyah's voice trembled as she spoke. "You're lying."
The creature's laughter grew louder. "Am I? The seeds are already sown. And when the time comes, you will see who they choose to save… and who they choose to leave behind."
Shadows surged again, this time lashing out at Kodi. He barely had time to raise his blade before they coiled around his chest, dragging him toward the center of the clearing.
"Kodi!" Aaliyah screamed, rushing toward him, but the shadows formed a barrier between them, keeping her at bay.
The creature's gaze locked onto Kodi, its voice turning cold. "The price is life. Will you pay it?"
He gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on his blade. "If it means they're safe, then take it."
"No!" Aaliyah shouted, her voice breaking. "You can't—"
But Kodi met her gaze, his eyes steady. "You'll get through this, Aaliyah. You're stronger than this place."
The shadows tightened around him, dragging him to his knees.
The creature's voice turned triumphant. "The price is paid."
The ground beneath Kodi cracked, the pit widening as the shadows swallowed him whole. A blinding light erupted from the fissure, engulfing the clearing. Aaliyah shielded her eyes, her chest heaving as the light dimmed.
When it was over, the pit was gone. The runes faded. And Kodi lay motionless at the center of the clearing.
"Kodi!" Aaliyah ran to him, dropping to her knees beside him. She shook him, her voice desperate. "Kodi, wake up!"
He groaned softly, his eyes fluttering open. "You're okay," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
Her hands hovered over his chest, where a jagged black mark pulsed faintly like a brand.
"What did it do to you?" she whispered.
He gave a weak smile. "Bought us time."
But as the clearing fell silent, the creature's final words lingered, sharp and foreboding:
"Before the second sunset, betrayal will find you."
And Aaliyah couldn't help but wonder if the forest had already decided who would break first.
The forest seemed quieter now, but the silence wasn't comforting. It was heavy, charged with the weight of things unsaid.
Aaliyah sat beside Kodi, her knees digging into the cold rock as she leaned over him. His breathing was shallow, his skin pale, and the jagged black mark on his chest pulsed faintly like a second heartbeat. Every few seconds, his body tensed as though some unseen pain gripped him.
Her hands hovered above him, helpless.
"What do we do now?" she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
Elira crouched a few feet away, her sharp green eyes fixed on Kodi. Her usual smirk was gone, replaced by something quieter. Calculating. "We move. If we stay here too long, the forest will take more than it's already taken."
Aaliyah shot her a glare. "He can't move. Look at him."
"And we can't stay." Elira's voice was calm but firm. "That mark isn't just for show, Aaliyah. Whatever the forest put on him, it's not done yet."
Aaliyah's chest tightened. She hated that Elira was right.
Kodi groaned softly, his eyelids fluttering open. "You… okay?"
The question sent a sharp pang through her chest. She let out a shaky breath, brushing damp hair from his forehead. "You're the one who almost got swallowed by shadows, and you're asking me if I'm okay?"
He managed a faint smile. "Priorities."
Aaliyah swallowed hard, her throat tightening. She couldn't lose him. Not like this.
The runes beneath them glowed faintly again, and a low hum filled the air.
Elira stood quickly, her dagger in hand. "What now?"
The voice returned, deep and resonant, echoing from the stones. "A choice remains."
Aaliyah froze. "What choice?"
"The forest has claimed its price, but the path ahead is broken. To mend it, you must decide. What is given cannot be undone."
The ground beneath them shimmered, and an image appeared in the runes — a gleaming chalice filled with golden liquid. It hovered above the rock, its light pulsating with life.
"The blood of the living for the breath of the broken. Choose, or the forest will choose for you."
"What does that mean?" Aaliyah demanded, her voice trembling.
Elira's face darkened. "It means they want more."
Kodi stirred weakly, his hand brushing Aaliyah's arm. "Don't… listen to it."
She ignored him, her mind racing.
If the chalice could heal him — take away the mark, the pain, the thing the forest had left inside him — wasn't it worth it? But the voice had said blood of the living. Whose blood? Hers?
The image in the runes shifted, showing a vision of Kodi standing tall, whole, his strength returned. The mark was gone, his face clear and determined.
Her breath caught.
"What's the catch?" she whispered.
The voice returned, cold and unwavering. "All power demands sacrifice. A piece of you for a piece of him."
Elira stepped closer, her tone sharp. "Aaliyah, think about this. The forest isn't giving you a choice. It's giving you a trap."
Aaliyah clenched her fists. "If it's a trap, then what am I supposed to do? Just leave him like this?"
"He's still alive," Elira said, her voice softening slightly. "We can find another way."
"Another way might be too late!"
Aaliyah's shout echoed through the clearing. Her hands trembled as she looked down at Kodi. His eyes were half-closed, his breathing shallow. He looked so small, so breakable — and so unlike the man who had just thrown himself into the shadows to save her.
Her fingers brushed the runes, and the image of the chalice flared brighter.
"What are you doing?" Elira demanded, stepping closer.
"I don't know," Aaliyah admitted, her voice breaking.
Kodi's hand gripped hers weakly, pulling her attention back to him. "Don't," he murmured. "Whatever it costs… don't."
Her heart twisted. She wanted to listen to him, to trust his strength, but the creature's warning rang in her ears: Before the second sunset, one will betray the other.
What if this was it? What if her hesitation was the betrayal?
She let out a shaky breath, her fingers tightening around his. "I can't lose you, Kodi."
"You won't," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "But not like this."
Elira stepped between her and the runes, her expression fierce. "He's right, Aaliyah. Whatever this is, it's not worth it. Don't let the forest win."
Aaliyah hesitated, her gaze flicking between Kodi, Elira, and the glowing chalice.
The forest seemed to press closer, its shadows thickening as the hum grew louder.
Time was slipping away.
And in the pit of her stomach, she knew that whatever choice she made, the creature's warning would follow them.
Betrayal would come. The question was when.
The forest waited.
The hum of the runes vibrated through the air, the image of the chalice glowing brighter with every second. Aaliyah's hands trembled as she hovered over the shimmering surface, the faint warmth of the magic beneath her fingers urging her forward.
Elira's voice cut through the tension. "Aaliyah, don't."
"I don't have a choice," she said, her voice tight, shaking. "He won't make it if we wait."
"You don't know that!" Elira snapped, stepping closer. "This is exactly what the forest wants — to twist you, to make you doubt yourself. If you give in now, who knows what it'll take?"
Aaliyah turned on her, her eyes blazing. "And if I do nothing, what then? You saw what it did to him. He's dying!"
Kodi stirred, his weak voice pulling her attention back. "Aaliyah… don't do this."
Her chest tightened. "I can't lose you, Kodi."
He shook his head faintly, his breath coming in shallow gasps. "Not like this. Not because of me."
Tears stung at the corners of her eyes, but she forced herself to focus. "It's not because of you. It's because of me. Because I can't—" She broke off, her voice cracking. "I won't let you die."
The chalice flared, the golden liquid within rippling as if it could sense her resolve. The voice returned, smooth and unrelenting.
"The forest has chosen you, Aaliyah. Give what is asked, and the path will open."
Her hand hovered over the runes, her body tense. She could feel their heat, their pull, the promise of relief waiting just on the other side. But beneath it was something darker, something sharp and heavy that she couldn't quite name.
"Aaliyah, stop," Elira said, her voice softer now. "If you do this, it's not just your blood. It's your life. Your soul. Whatever this forest takes, it won't give it back."
She hesitated, the weight of Elira's words pressing against her.
Then she looked at Kodi.
The black mark on his chest pulsed faintly, a cruel reminder of what the forest had already taken. His face was pale, his strength fading by the second. She'd already lost Rashad. She couldn't lose Kodi too.
Her hand tightened into a fist, her decision made.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Before Elira could stop her, Aaliyah pressed her palm against the runes.
Pain exploded through her hand, sharp and immediate. She bit back a scream as the warmth turned to fire, spreading up her arm and into her chest. The chalice's glow intensified, and the golden liquid within began to darken, swirling with streaks of red.
A low hiss filled the air, the sound of the forest drinking deeply.
Kodi's body arched suddenly, a ragged gasp tearing from his throat. The black mark on his chest flared bright, then began to fade, shrinking into nothingness. His breathing steadied, his skin warming as color returned to his face.
But the pain didn't stop for Aaliyah.
Aaliyah slashed at her forearm, her blood spilled into the runes, soaking into the glowing carvings. The light dimmed, then turned crimson, pulsing in time with her heartbeat. Her vision blurred, the edges of the world closing in as a sharp coldness gripped her chest.
"Aaliyah!" Kodi's voice broke through the haze.
She felt his hands on her shoulders, steadying her as she swayed. Her knees buckled, but he caught her, pulling her close. "What did you do?" he whispered, his voice shaking.
She managed a weak smile, her head leaning against his shoulder. "I chose."
Elira stood frozen, her dagger in hand, her face unreadable. "You idiot," she said quietly. "You have no idea what you've just done."
The runes flickered one last time, then went dark. The chalice vanished, leaving behind only silence.
The forest didn't press so hard now, its malevolence retreating just enough to let them breathe. But Aaliyah could feel it, deep in her chest — a mark that no one could see but her. The forest had taken what it wanted, and she knew it wasn't finished with her.
Kodi held her tightly, his voice low and broken. "You shouldn't have done that."
Her hand gripped his shirt weakly, her smile fading. "It was worth it."
As her strength ebbed, she closed her eyes, the faint echo of the creature's warning returning to her mind:
"Before the second sunset, betrayal will find you."
The air shifted, growing colder.
Aaliyah was the first to notice. The stillness of the forest wasn't natural — it was suffocating, wrapping around them like a predator's claws. She stopped walking, her blade already halfway out of its sheath.
"Kodi," she said, her voice low.
He froze, glancing back at her. "What is it?"
She didn't answer, her eyes scanning the treeline. That's when the voice came.
"You're close now."
It was low and smooth, curling through the air like smoke. The kind of voice that wasn't heard so much as felt, pressing against their ears, their chests, their bones.
Kodi turned sharply, his blade raised. "Show yourself!"
The shadows shifted.
They pooled together at the edge of the clearing, writhing like living things, before forming the shape of a man cloaked in black. The shadowy figure stepped forward, its green eyes glowing faintly beneath its hood. Its movements were slow, deliberate, like it had all the time in the world.
"You again," Aaliyah muttered, her blade gleaming as she pointed it at the figure. "What do you want now?"
The figure chuckled softly. "Want? Oh, Aaliyah, I've already told you. I'm here to help."
"Funny way of helping," Kodi snapped, stepping between Aaliyah and the figure. "Why don't you try leaving us alone for once?"
The figure tilted its head, its voice dripping with amusement. "If I left you alone, you'd already be dead. You've only made it this far because I allowed it."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Aaliyah's jaw tightened. "What's that supposed to mean?"
The figure didn't answer her. Instead, it turned its glowing gaze to Elira, who had been standing quietly at the back of the group.
"And you," it said, its tone softening. "The outsider. The opportunist. What are you doing here, Elira?"
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn't flinch. "What's it to you?"
The figure chuckled again, a low, grating sound. "You don't trust them, do you? Not completely. You've survived this long by making the smart choice, by watching your own back. So, why are you risking it all for them?"
"Elira, don't listen to it," Kodi said quickly, his voice sharp.
But the figure continued, its voice weaving through the clearing like a snake. "They think they know you. But you've kept secrets before, haven't you? You've done things they wouldn't understand. And when the time comes, do you really think they'll choose you?"
"Shut up," Elira snapped, her dagger flashing as she drew it. "You don't know anything about me."
"Don't I?" the figure asked, stepping closer. "I know what drives you. Survival. And you're smart enough to know that survival isn't about loyalty. It's about opportunity."
"Stop!" Kodi's voice cut through the air as he stepped forward, his blade raised. His stance was firm, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes.
The figure turned its attention to him, its green eyes narrowing. "And you, Kodi Prime. The ever-loyal, ever-foolish leader. So quick to defend your friends. So blind to the fact that they are not the same."
"What are you talking about?" he demanded.
The figure's gaze flicked back to Elira. "Ask her. Ask her why she's here. Ask her what she's not telling you."
Elira's grip on her dagger tightened, her knuckles white. "It's trying to turn us against each other."
"Is it?" Aaliyah's voice was sharp, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Elira. "Because it seems to know an awful lot about you."
"Not now," Kodi said, his voice firm.
The figure chuckled softly, the sound grating against their ears. "The cracks are already there. I'm only showing you the truth." It leaned closer to Elira, its voice dropping to a whisper. "You've already made your choice. You just don't know it yet."
"Enough!" Kodi stepped forward, his blade flashing as he swung at the figure. The weapon passed clean through its shadowy form, scattering it like mist. But the figure reformed instantly, its laughter louder now.
"So predictable. So fragile. You'll see soon enough, Kodi Prime." Its gaze swept over the group, its voice rising. "Before the second sunset, betrayal will come. The forest has already decided. Will you?"
The shadows surged, thickening and swirling around the figure as it dissolved into the darkness.
The clearing was silent again, but the weight of its words lingered.
Kodi turned to Elira, his brow furrowed. "Are you okay?"
She nodded quickly, sliding her dagger back into its sheath. "Fine."
Aaliyah wasn't convinced. "You don't look fine."
Elira's eyes flashed as she met Aaliyah's gaze. "And you don't look like you trust me."
Aaliyah stepped forward, her voice cold. "Should I?"
"Enough!" Kodi's voice was sharp, cutting through the tension. He took a step back, rubbing his temple. "We don't have time for this."
He turned and started walking, leaving Aaliyah and Elira staring at each other in tense silence.
The forest swallowed them as they pressed forward, its trees closing ranks like silent sentinels. The air felt heavier now, dense with unspoken words and lingering doubts. Kodi led the way, his blade in hand, though his movements were slower, less certain. Aaliyah followed close behind, her gaze darting between the shifting shadows. Elira trailed at the rear, silent and watchful.
The figure's parting words hung over them like a stormcloud.
"Before the second sunset, betrayal will come."
Aaliyah clenched her fists, her breathing uneven. The shadow's gaze, its insinuations — they'd been aimed at Elira, but the doubt it had planted was spreading like poison.
She quickened her pace, closing the gap between her and Kodi. "Are you just going to ignore what it said?"
He glanced back at her, his brow furrowed. "What do you want me to do? It was trying to get under our skin. That's what it does."
"Maybe," she said, lowering her voice, "but it wasn't wrong about one thing. We don't know anything about her."
"Elira's saved my life more times than I can count," Kodi replied, his tone sharper now. "I trust her."
"You trust too easily," Aaliyah muttered.
He stopped abruptly, turning to face her. His voice was low but firm. "She's here, isn't she? That has to count for something."
"Does it?" Aaliyah shot back, her eyes narrowing. "What if she's here for herself? What if—"
"Are you two done?"
Elira's voice cut through the tension like a blade. She stood a few paces back, her arms crossed, her dagger hanging loosely from her hand. Her green eyes glinted in the dim light of the forest.
"If you've got something to say about me, Aaliyah, maybe try saying it to my face instead of behind my back," she added, her voice calm but sharp.
Aaliyah's jaw tightened. "Fine. Why don't you tell us why you're really here?"
Elira stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "I told you why. I owe Kodi. That's it."
Aaliyah scoffed. "That's a convenient excuse."
"That's the truth," Elira snapped, her composure slipping for the first time. "And if you can't handle that, maybe you should ask yourself why you're so ready to turn on the people trying to keep you alive."
The tension crackled like a live wire, the silence between them heavy and electric.
Kodi stepped between them, his voice low but commanding. "Enough. Both of you."
Aaliyah's hands tightened into fists, but she didn't argue. Elira sheathed her dagger with a sharp motion, her expression hardening as she fell back to the rear of the group.The journey continued, but the silence between them was suffocating.
The forest didn't make it easier. The trees seemed to twist as they passed, their blackened branches reaching like claws. Shadows moved at the edges of their vision, always just out of reach.
Aaliyah stayed close to Kodi, her blade in hand, her body tense. She glanced back at Elira once, catching the other woman watching them with an unreadable expression.
"You need to let it go," Kodi murmured, his voice low.
She shook her head. "I can't. Not yet."
He sighed but didn't press her.
Hours passed, though it was impossible to tell how many. The forest never seemed to change, the light filtering through the branches dim and gray.
When they finally stopped, it was in a small clearing, ringed with moss-covered stones. Kodi sank onto a flat rock, his shoulders slumping as he rested his blade against his knees.
"We'll rest here," he said, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
Aaliyah scanned the perimeter, her grip on her weapon firm. "This doesn't feel safe."
"It's not," Elira said, leaning against a tree at the edge of the clearing. "But it's better than walking until we drop."
Aaliyah shot her a sharp glance but didn't argue.
The silence stretched as they sat, each lost in their thoughts. The forest was quiet, but it wasn't the kind of quiet that brought peace. It was heavy, oppressive, like the calm before a storm.
Kodi broke the silence first. "We'll find the Skull. Together. No matter what that thing said."
Aaliyah looked at him, her expression softening slightly. "And if it's right? About the betrayal?"
He met her gaze, his voice steady. "It's not."
Elira didn't speak. Her green eyes flicked between them, her face unreadable.
As the group settled in for a restless night, the shadow's words echoed through the clearing, unspoken but not forgotten:
"Before the second sunset, betrayal will come."
And though none of them said it, the tension between them had already planted the seeds.
The clearing offered little comfort.
The night pressed in around them, the darkness thicker than it should have been. The forest seemed to watch them, its silence broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant snap of a branch. The faint glow of their fire did little to push back the oppressive shadows.
Kodi sat near the flames, sharpening his blade with slow, deliberate movements. His gaze flicked to Aaliyah and Elira, who were sitting at opposite edges of the clearing.
"We'll need to move early," he said, breaking the silence.
Aaliyah nodded without looking up. She was focused on her blade, the rhythmic sound of her whetstone scraping against metal the only answer she gave.
Elira leaned against a tree, her arms crossed. "Assuming the forest lets us."
"It will," Kodi said firmly.
Elira raised an eyebrow, her smirk faint but present. "Confident, aren't you?"
Kodi didn't respond, but Aaliyah shot Elira a glare. "Maybe focus on being useful instead of making snide comments."
Elira's smirk vanished, replaced by a sharpness in her gaze. "Funny, coming from someone who's done nothing but complain since we got here."
"Stop," Kodi said, his voice cutting through the tension. He looked between them, his expression tired. "We can't afford this right now."
Aaliyah exhaled sharply, turning back to her blade. Elira didn't respond, but her fingers drummed lightly against her thigh, her posture tense.
When they set out the next morning, the forest seemed to shift again. The trees were closer together now, their twisted branches forming a canopy that blocked out the faint light of dawn. The path beneath their feet was uneven, the roots and rocks almost deliberately placed to trip them up.
"Are we sure this is the right way?" Elira asked, her voice low.
"It's the only way," Kodi said, his tone clipped.
"Convenient," she muttered.
Aaliyah glanced back at her. "If you have a better idea, now's the time to share."
"Enough," Kodi snapped, his patience wearing thin. "We don't have time for this."
They walked for hours, the path winding and treacherous. The air grew colder, and the mist thickened, swirling around their legs like grasping fingers. Shadows moved at the edges of their vision, too fast to track.
"This place isn't right," Aaliyah said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It hasn't been right since we got here," Elira replied, her tone more subdued now.
A distant sound broke the silence—a low, guttural growl that sent a shiver through the group.
Kodi raised a hand, signaling for them to stop. His eyes scanned the forest, his blade at the ready. "Did you hear that?"
Aaliyah nodded, her hand tightening on her weapon. "We're not alone."
The growl came again, closer this time. The mist parted briefly, revealing a pair of glowing green eyes staring at them from the shadows.
"Great," Elira muttered, drawing her dagger. "More friends."
The creature stepped into view. It was massive, its body covered in matted fur and jagged spines. Its eyes glowed with the same sickly green as the shadowy figure's, and its claws scraped against the ground as it moved.
"What is that?" Aaliyah asked, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.
"I don't know," Kodi said. "But it's not friendly."
The creature snarled, its jaws snapping as it lunged forward.
"Move!" Kodi shouted.
The group scattered, each of them dodging as the creature's claws raked through the air. Aaliyah rolled to her feet, her blade flashing as she slashed at the creature's side. It let out a guttural roar, the wound glowing faintly before closing almost instantly.
"Of course it heals," she muttered, dodging another swipe.
Elira moved behind the creature, her dagger aimed for its neck. She struck quickly, the blade sinking deep, but the creature didn't even flinch. It turned on her, its glowing eyes narrowing as it lunged.
"Elira!" Kodi shouted, slamming into the creature's side with his blade. The force of the blow knocked it off balance, giving Elira enough time to slip away.
Aaliyah joined the fray, her strikes precise and relentless, but the creature seemed impervious to their attacks.
"This isn't working," Kodi said, his breathing labored. "We need a plan."
"We don't have time for a plan," Aaliyah snapped, dodging another attack. "This thing isn't stopping."
Elira's voice cut through the chaos. "The eyes. Aim for the eyes."
Kodi nodded, his grip tightening on his blade. "Aaliyah, keep it distracted."
She didn't hesitate, charging the creature head-on. It turned to face her, its claws slashing wildly as she darted out of reach.
Kodi moved quickly, his blade flashing as he struck one of the creature's glowing eyes. The beast let out a deafening roar, thrashing wildly as green liquid spilled from the wound.
Elira seized the opening, her dagger finding its mark in the creature's remaining eye. It collapsed with a final, guttural growl, its body disintegrating into black smoke that drifted away on the wind.
The group stood in silence, their breaths heavy, the forest once again eerily quiet.
Aaliyah turned to Kodi, her brow furrowed. "Are you okay?"
He nodded, though his hands were trembling. "Yeah. You?"
"I'm fine," she said, though her voice was tight.
Elira cleaned her dagger, her expression unreadable. "That wasn't just a random beast. It was sent."
Kodi met her gaze, his eyes narrowing. "By who?"
Elira didn't answer, but her fingers tightened around the hilt of her dagger.
Aaliyah noticed and frowned. "Do you know something we don't?"
Elira shook her head quickly. "No. Just a feeling."
Aaliyah didn't look convinced, but Kodi stepped between them. "We need to keep moving. Whatever sent that thing isn't done with us."
As they continued through the forest, the tension between them grew heavier. Each step felt like a countdown, the shadow's warning echoing in their minds:
"Before the second sunset, betrayal will come."
And though none of them spoke it aloud, the weight of that promise pressed down on them all.
The forest seemed to breathe.
Every step closer to the clearing felt heavier, like the air itself was pressing down on them. The trees weren't just trees anymore—they twisted into grotesque shapes, their bark forming the suggestion of faces, screaming mouths, and empty, hollow eyes. The faint sound of dripping water came from nowhere and everywhere, but the air was bone-dry.
A drumming noise began faintly at first, distant and rhythmic, but with each step, it grew louder. Not a drum—something else. Something alive. A heartbeat.
Kodi's grip on his blade tightened as the path opened into a clearing, revealing the trial.
It stood in the center of the space, an obsidian ring of stones that jutted from the earth like jagged teeth. Mist clung to the stones, glowing faintly green, and between them was a shimmering black void. The ground around the structure was smooth, almost polished, but it didn't feel welcoming. It felt wrong—like standing at the edge of a bottomless pit.
"I don't like this," Aaliyah murmured, her blade already drawn.
Elira's voice was quiet, her expression sharp. "It's not supposed to be liked."
The drumming grew louder, vibrating through the air, through their chests. Kodi took a cautious step forward, his boots scraping against the polished stone.
As he neared the center, the void between the stones shimmered. The green light pulsed, and a voice rose from the silence—a low, rasping whisper that seemed to come from inside their skulls.
"Speak your truths. Face your lies. Break the illusion, or be consumed."
The words hung in the air as the void began to ripple.
Aaliyah stiffened, her eyes darting to Kodi. "What does that mean?"
Before anyone could answer, the shadows moved.
From the edges of the clearing, the darkness slithered forward, twisting and coiling like a living thing. It pooled at their feet, rising into the air until it formed three figures.
They were human-shaped, but barely. Their bodies were black as pitch, rippling with a sickly green light, and their faces—
Aaliyah's breath caught. Their faces were mirrors of their own.
Not perfect mirrors. Twisted, grotesque versions of themselves, their features exaggerated in ways that made them monstrous. Kodi's shadow-self was hunched and gaunt, its eyes burning with malice. Aaliyah's wore a wide, jagged grin that showed too many teeth. Elira's was cold, its expression empty but its eyes blazing with accusation.
The shadows stepped forward in unison, their movements slow and deliberate, as though savoring the moment.
The voice came again, louder this time: "Speak your truths. Face your lies. Or perish."
Kodi raised his blade, his voice steady despite the pounding of his heart. "What do you want from us?"
His shadow-self answered, its voice a low, mocking rasp. "We want you, Kodi Prime. All of you. Or nothing."
Aaliyah's shadow turned to her, its jagged grin widening. "You think you can protect him? You couldn't even protect your brother. What makes you think you'll save him when it counts?"
Elira's shadow didn't speak at first. It just watched her, its hollow eyes narrowing. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, it said: "You've already chosen, Elira. Tell them. Or I will."
The drumming grew faster, erratic, and the shadows lunged.
Kodi swung his blade as his shadow-self attacked, the sound of metal slicing through air deafening in the suffocating silence. But the shadow moved like smoke, slipping through his strikes and reforming effortlessly. It circled him, its voice dripping with disdain.
"You're not him, you know. You're not your father. You'll never be half the man he was."
Kodi gritted his teeth, slashing again. "I'm not trying to be him!"
The shadow laughed, the sound sharp and grating. "Aren't you? Chasing his dream, making his mistakes. You'll end up in the same grave, Kodi."
Aaliyah's shadow circled her, its jagged grin never faltering. "You think you're strong, don't you? But you're not. You're the reason he's here, the reason he's suffering. He'd be better off without you."
"Shut up," she hissed, slashing at the shadow. But her strikes felt sluggish, as though the air itself resisted her movements.
Her shadow leaned closer, its voice turning into a whisper. "You know I'm right. You'll fail him, just like you failed Rashad."
Elira faced her shadow in silence, her dagger moving with precision as she struck. But the shadow didn't fight back. It simply stood there, its hollow eyes watching her.
"They'll turn on you," it whispered, its voice soft but insidious. "They don't trust you. They'll leave you behind the first chance they get. You know it's true."
She didn't answer, but her strikes grew more frantic, her movements less controlled.
The shadows pressed closer, their voices growing louder, overlapping in a cacophony of accusations and fears. The green light from the void flared, bathing the clearing in a sickly glow.
Kodi staggered, his blade slipping from his hand. His shadow-self loomed over him, its voice rising. "Admit it, Kodi. You're weak. You've always been weak."
"No," he whispered, his hands trembling. "I'm not…"
The voice from the void boomed again: "Speak your truths. Face your lies. Or perish."
Kodi clenched his fists, his voice rising. "I'm not my father! I'll never be him, but I'm still here. I'm still standing!"
The shadow froze, its form wavering before it dissolved into smoke.
Aaliyah stared at her shadow-self, her breath shaky. "You're right," she said, her voice breaking. "I couldn't save Rashad. But I can save him. I can save Kodi."
Her shadow let out a piercing shriek before it shattered into mist.
Elira faced her shadow silently. The words echoed in her mind: They'll turn on you. They don't trust you.
She gritted her teeth, her voice low. "Maybe. But I'll get through this anyway."
She plunged her dagger into the shadow's chest, and it burst apart in a swirl of darkness.
The shadow creature's form then burst into a wild frenzy, creating cracks in its wake beneath them. Suddenly the shadows escaped into these cracks in their unholy groups.
Then just as they felt a sense of security, the ground suddenly trembled erratically.
Aaliyah stopped, her hand instinctively moving to the hilt of her blade. "Did you feel that?"
Kodi nodded, his jaw tightening as the tremor grew stronger. Loose dirt and rocks began to tumble from the path ahead, and a low, ominous groan rose from the earth.
"Move!" Kodi shouted, but it was too late.
The ground beneath them erupted.
A deafening crack split the air, and the group was thrown off their feet as the forest floor fractured. Shadows surged from the cracks, writhing and coiling like living things, their eerie green glow illuminating the chaos.
Kodi hit the ground hard, the breath knocked from his lungs as the earth beneath him crumbled. He clawed at the jagged edge, but gravity took hold, and he slid into the widening crevice.
"Kodi!" Aaliyah screamed, scrambling to her feet.
She sprinted toward him, her heart hammering in her chest. His fingers clung to the edge of the crack, his face pale but determined as he struggled to pull himself up.
"Hold on!" she shouted, dropping to her knees and reaching out to him.
Their hands brushed, but before she could grip him, something slammed into her shoulder.
She cried out as she was knocked sideways, her body hitting the ground with a jarring thud. She twisted, her breath catching as she saw Elira standing above her, her expression cold and unreadable.
"What—" Aaliyah started, but her words were cut off as Elira turned back toward Kodi.
Aaliyah lunged for her blade, but the forest floor bucked again, forcing her down.
Kodi's grip slipped, and he fell.
"Kodi!"
His hand shot out, grabbing a jagged root protruding from the edge of the crack. His other hand reached upward instinctively, and Aaliyah's fingers clasped his just as he began to slide further. She gritted her teeth, anchoring herself against the ground as she struggled to pull him up.
For a moment, it seemed like the world held its breath.
Aaliyah looked up, her heart pounding as she saw movement behind Elira. The shadow stepped into the faint light, its black, writhing form contrasting sharply against the green glow of the crevice.
"Elira," Kodi said, his voice strained. "What are you doing?"
Elira didn't answer immediately. She stood motionless, her back to him, her shoulders tense as though bracing for a storm.
The shadow tilted its head, its voice curling through the air like smoke. "You've done well."
"No," Aaliyah whispered, her chest tightening. "No, no, no."
Elira turned slowly, her green eyes meeting Aaliyah's. The faint smirk that tugged at her lips wasn't triumphant—it was hollow, resigned.
"Why?" Aaliyah's voice cracked, her fingers tightening around Kodi's wrist. "We trusted you!"
Elira's gaze flicked to Kodi, then back to Aaliyah. Her smirk faded. "You shouldn't have."
The shadow stepped closer, its form towering over Elira as its glowing eyes fixed on the two below. "The cracks were always there. I simply widened them."
Kodi's grip tightened on Aaliyah's hand, his voice low but firm. "Aaliyah, don't let go."
She didn't respond. Her gaze was locked on Elira, her chest heaving as realization settled over her like a crushing weight.
"You were working with it the whole time," she said, her voice trembling.
Elira didn't deny it. "Not the whole time," she said softly. "But long enough."
The shadow chuckled, the sound grating and sharp. "Do not look so betrayed. She is merely smarter than you. Stronger."
"You don't have to do this," Kodi said, his voice strained as his muscles burned from the effort of holding on. "Whatever it promised you—it's lying."
"Maybe," Elira said, her tone detached. "But it's the only thing keeping me alive."
The forest groaned, the ground trembling again as the shadow gestured toward Kodi and Aaliyah. "It is done. Leave them to their fate."
Elira hesitated, her dagger still in her hand. For a fleeting moment, something flickered across her face—doubt, hesitation, regret.
"Don't do this," Aaliyah pleaded, her voice breaking.
Elira's expression hardened. "I already have."
She turned and walked toward the shadow, her steps deliberate. The shadow moved to meet her, its form rippling as it whispered something inaudible. Then, with one final glance back, Elira disappeared into the darkness with it.