For every creature we destroyed, more seemed to rise, their forms flickering as though born of the void itself. The battle became a blur of motion and noise-Logan’s claws slicing through dark bodies, Mal’s knives flashing as they struck true, and Liam’s magic flaring like fireworks in the suffocating gloom. My breaths came faster, and the orb’s energy vibrated through my entire body like an electric current, urging me to act.
But the creatures were relentless.
“There’s no end to them!” Mal shouted, ducking under a swipe and slashing upward with both blades. She was starting to slow, her movements less fluid, exhaustion beginning to creep in.
“We need a way to cut them off!” Liam’s voice cracked with desperation as he cast another spell, the burst of light pushing the creatures back for mere seconds before they swarmed again. His runes dimmed, the power he was drawing clearly nearing its limits.
Logan snarled, his golden eyes glowing fiercely as he tackled one of the larger creatures, tearing it apart with savage precision. He looked back at me, blood streaking his face. “Audrey! Use the orb again! Clear them out!”
“I… I don’t think I can!” I stammered, the heat of the orb almost unbearable in my hands. The memory of its previous surge still lingered-how close I’d come to losing control. What if I unleashed it again and couldn’t stop?
“Yes, you can!” he barked, his tone sharp but unyielding. “Trust yourself. Trust me.”
The words struck something deep within me, piercing through the fear that gripped my chest. My gaze shifted to the orb, its light pulsing in time with my heartbeat. The whispers had gone silent now, as though waiting. Hoping.
I couldn’t let them win. Not here. Not now.
Clutching the orb tighter, I closed my eyes and let its energy flow through me. The heat surged, consuming every nerve, but this time, I didn’t try to contain it. Instead, I focused on the shadows-the creatures’ unnatural forms-and visualized their unraveling.
The orb responded instantly.
Light exploded outward, washing over everything. It wasn’t like the earlier burst-it was controlled, directed, and purposeful. The creatures shrieked, their forms dissolving into nothingness as the light touched them. The warped surroundings shuddered, the oppressive atmosphere cracking like glass.
When the light faded, silence descended, so profound it made my ears ring. The creatures were gone, and the air felt lighter, though traces of the void’s influence still lingered like an unwelcome guest.
“You did it,” Logan said, his voice quieter now, almost reverent. He stepped closer, his gaze locked on me. “I knew you could.”
I opened my eyes, my knees weak, and swayed unsteadily. Logan caught me before I fell, his hands steady and warm despite the blood and chaos around us. “Easy. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I’m okay,” I managed, though the words felt hollow. My entire body ached, and the orb’s once-steady hum was now a faint, irregular beat, as though it too was recovering.
“You don’t look okay,” Mal muttered, limping over. She sheathed her knives and gave me a once-over. “But hey, you saved our asses, so you get a pass.”
“She’s right,” Liam added, his face pale but relieved. “That burst of light… it wasn’t just destroying the creatures. It destabilized the void pocket. We’re back in the real world, or at least, closer to it.”
I blinked, looking around. The warped, shimmering air was gone, replaced by the dense but familiar forest. The river’s flow was natural again, its current no longer sluggish. For the first time in what felt like hours, I could breathe.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Logan said, his gaze sharp as he scanned the area. “The void pocket’s collapse might’ve drawn attention. We need to keep moving before something else finds us.”
“Great. More running,” Mal grumbled, though her sarcasm lacked its usual bite. She gestured at me. “Can you walk, or are we carrying you?”
“I can walk,” I said quickly, straightening with effort. Logan hovered at my side, his hand brushing my arm as if ready to steady me again. I ignored the heat that climbed up my neck at his closeness and focused on the path ahead.
The group fell into formation again, Logan taking the lead, Mal flanking us, and Liam trailing slightly to monitor for void remnants. We moved quickly but carefully, the river guiding our path. The oppressive weight of the void was gone, but unease lingered. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched.
After what felt like an eternity, Logan held up a hand, signaling us to stop. “We’re close,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
I followed his gaze. Up ahead, the river split into a narrow tributary that vanished into a cave carved into the side of a rocky hill. The entrance glowed faintly, a dim, eerie light that pulsed in rhythm with the orb in my hand.
“That’s it,” Liam said, his voice a mix of awe and dread. “The void heart. It’s inside.”
The orb throbbed harder, its energy both a beacon and a warning. My grip tightened instinctively, and Logan noticed. “You’re sure you’re ready for this?” he asked, his golden eyes searching mine.
“No,” I admitted honestly. “But I don’t think we have a choice.”
“Good answer,” he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Stay close. It’s going to get worse from here.”
Mal snorted. “Worse than what we just went through?
“Worse than what we just went through?” Mal snorted, though her laugh was laced with dread. “Great. Can’t wait to add this to my growing list of regrets.”
Logan ignored her and started toward the cave, his movements cautious yet determined. His claws remained extended, and his posture screamed readiness for a fight. Mal and Liam followed, their tension palpable, while I lingered a moment longer at the edge of the glowing cave, the orb vibrating in my hand like it knew what lay ahead.
“Come on, Audrey,” Logan called without looking back. “The longer we wait, the worse it gets.”
Swallowing my fear, I stepped into the cave.
The air shifted as soon as I crossed the threshold, wrapping around me like a suffocating cloak. The dim light inside was otherworldly-pale and flickering, as though it couldn’t decide whether to burn bright or collapse entirely. The walls seemed to breathe, pulsing faintly in sync with the orb in my hand. Each step forward felt like wading through quicksand, the cave pressing harder against us with every move.
“I hate this place already,” Mal muttered, her voice tight. She held her knives close, her sharp eyes darting toward every faint sound. “It’s too quiet.”
“Too quiet’s better than the alternative,” Logan replied, though the tension in his tone betrayed his unease.
Liam shook his head, muttering a spell under his breath. The faint glow of protective runes danced along his forearm, casting fleeting patterns on the uneven cave walls. “The void’s influence is stronger here,” he said grimly. “This isn’t just a rift; this is a core. The heart of where the corruption spreads.”
“Lovely,” Mal quipped. “Why don’t we ever stumble across things like, I don’t know, healing springs or treasure hoards? Always apocalyptic nightmare zones.”
Logan shot her a glare. “Focus. Jokes won’t keep you alive here.”
Despite his admonishment, I found some comfort in Mal’s sarcasm. If she could keep her humor alive, maybe we had a shot. Maybe.
The further we went, the stronger the orb became, its light casting jagged shadows against the cave’s walls. The whispers returned, fainter this time but somehow more insidious, creeping into the edges of my consciousness like threads trying to unravel my thoughts.
Turn back… You’re too weak… They don’t trust you…
I grit my teeth, shaking the words off. They weren’t mine-they didn’t belong here.
But they didn’t stop. If anything, they became louder the closer we got to the heart.
Suddenly, the tunnel widened into a cavern, and we froze. At its center stood the void heart: a massive, pulsating sphere of black energy, threaded with sickly green veins that radiated malevolence. Its glow was harsh, cold yet blinding, and the sheer force of its presence made my knees buckle.
“What… the hell… is that?” Mal whispered, her voice a mix of fear and awe.
“The void heart,” Liam said, his tone flat, almost resigned. “It’s what’s causing the corruption. That’s what we have to destroy.”
“Fantastic,” Mal said faintly. “And how exactly do we do that without, you know, dying?”
Before anyone could answer, the ground beneath us trembled, and the shadows in the cavern shifted unnaturally. From the void heart came a screech that reverberated in my very bones.