Eldara's breath hitched as she heard the voice—soft yet hauntingly familiar.
"Eldara… my child…"
She froze. The words wrapped around her like a whisper from the past, filled with warmth she had long yearned for. The voice carried the gentleness of her mother, the melody of lullabies sung under moonlit skies.
For a moment, a desperate hope clawed at her heart.
Could it be real?
Her mother—alive?
No.
Eldara's fingers curled into fists, her nails pressing into her palms as she forced herself to think. This is a trick.
The shadows had played this game before. They had lured Aria with Callan's voice, and now they were trying to do the same to her.
She inhaled sharply, pushing away the emotion threatening to rise.
"I am no fool," she muttered under her breath.
The air grew colder. The voice tried again, softer this time.
"Eldara, why do you resist? I have missed you, my daughter. Come to me…"
She clenched her jaw, shutting out the ache in her chest.
It's not her. It's not real.
She took a step back, steadying herself. "You won't break me," she said firmly.
And just like that, the voice vanished.
The air stilled, and for a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Then—
A sharp breath.
Aria stood beside her, shaking.
But it wasn't from fear.
It was something else.
Eldara turned, her brows furrowing as she took in the look on Aria's face.
Hope.
A dangerous, fragile hope.
"Aria?" Eldara whispered cautiously.
Aria's eyes were wide, shimmering with something unreadable. "They have him," she breathed.
Eldara's stomach twisted. "What?"
"They have him, Eldara. Callan. His body… it's preserved. They said it wouldn't take much—just a few spells, and he would wake up."
Eldara's blood ran cold.
No.
She knew what was happening.
They had tried to trick her with her mother's voice, and now they were doing the same to Aria.
But the worst part?
Aria wanted to believe.
Eldara shook her head. "Aria, don't listen. They're lying."
Aria didn't respond.
She looked lost in thought, as if weighing the possibilities, grasping at something just out of reach.
Then, a whisper drifted through the air—so quiet that only Aria could hear it.
"You know it's true, Aria. You've always suspected it. We wouldn't lie to you. All we need is one thing in return…"
Aria's breath hitched.
The voice continued, slow and deliberate.
"Give us Eldara."
Aria stiffened.
Her mind spun in chaos.
Give them Eldara?
Her gaze flickered to the girl standing beside her. Eldara looked at her with concern, but she had no idea what had just been offered.
Aria swallowed hard.
It had to be a trick.
It had to be.
But… what if it wasn't?
What if Callan really was out there, just waiting for her to bring him back?
What if she could undo what had been done?
Her chest tightened.
She wanted to say no—to shut the thought out entirely.
But the temptation clung to her like a parasite.
And the voice whispered again.
"You could have him back, Aria. Just one sacrifice. One girl. And you will never be alone again."
Her fingers trembled.
Would it really be so wrong?
Eldara had no family left. She had no one.
Just like Aria.
And yet—
Aria looked at Eldara again.
At the girl who had fought beside her.
At the only person who had stood by her side when no one else did.
Aria clenched her jaw.
No.
She would not make this choice.
She would not become what the darkness wanted her to be.
Taking a deep breath, she shut her eyes and whispered, "I refuse."
And the air shifted.
The darkness stirred.
And then—
A growl.
Low. Echoing.
The shadows did not like her answer.
And they were about to make her pay for it.
A guttural growl filled the air.
The darkness had been patient. It had whispered. It had tempted.
Now, it struck.
The ground beneath Aria trembled as the shadows surged forward, twisting into unnatural forms. Their edges blurred like ink spilling into water, shifting and writhing, waiting for her next move.
Eldara grabbed Aria's wrist. "We need to run."
Aria hesitated.
She had just denied them what they wanted—Eldara. But what if they were telling the truth?
What if Callan really was out there, waiting for her?
Her heart pounded.
She wanted to believe it was a lie. She needed to.
But doubt was a seed, and it had already been planted.
Before she could dwell on it, a shadow lunged.
Eldara yanked Aria backward just in time. The creature's clawed hand sliced through the space where Aria had been standing, leaving a thin line in the air, as if reality itself had been cut open.
Aria's pulse thundered in her ears.
The shadows weren't waiting anymore.
They were attacking.
Another tendril shot toward them. Eldara lifted her palm, and the air around them crackled with energy. The vines from the earth shot up, wrapping around the dark form, holding it back.
For a moment, it seemed like it would be enough.
Then the shadow laughed.
Low. Hollow.
Like the sound of wind howling through a dead forest.
Aria shivered.
A voice slithered into her mind.
"We only offered you kindness, Aria. And you turned us away."
She clenched her fists. "I don't need your kindness."
The voice hummed.
"We shall see."
A force slammed into her, knocking the breath from her lungs. Aria hit the ground hard, stars bursting in her vision.
Eldara called her name, but Aria couldn't respond.
The shadow loomed over her. Its shape twisted, reforming, as if struggling to hold a single form. For a moment, Aria thought she saw a face—one that sent ice through her veins.
Callan.
It was his face, his expression.
But the moment her mind grasped the image, it was gone.
The shadow leaned in, its voice now a whisper in her ear.
"This is not over."
Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared—
The shadows vanished.
The forest fell silent.
Only the sound of Aria's heavy breathing remained.
Eldara knelt beside her, gripping her shoulders. "Are you hurt?"
Aria shook her head, but her hands still trembled. "What was that?"
Eldara didn't answer immediately. She scanned the darkened forest, as if expecting the shadows to return. When she finally spoke, her voice was wary.
"They were trying to break you."
Aria swallowed.
They had nearly succeeded.
She forced herself to stand, though her legs still shook. "We need to leave."
Eldara nodded. "Before they come back."
Together, they stepped forward, deeper into the unknown.
But as they walked, a single thought echoed in Aria's mind.
The shadow had taken Callan's form.
And it had whispered a final warning.
This is not over.
Aria couldn't shake the feeling that it was right.
She had refused their offer.
But the darkness was not done with her yet.
And she wasn't sure if she was done with it either