Chapter 50: The Heart’s Race
Melissa’s POV
As I guided the group through the thick woodland, there was a lot of tension in the air. With the burden of the task at hand bearing down heavily on my shoulders, every step felt like a race against time. I turned to look at Kane, who was walking right behind me, watching the trail for any danger. The other members of our little group silently followed, their faces displaying a mixture of fear and resolve.
Despite the knot of anxiety in my chest, I responded, “We have to pick up the pace.”
“We’ve been working hard for hours, Melissa,” Kane replied, his voice becoming softer. “We’ll become weak before we reach our destination if we don’t take a break soon.”
I paused and looked up at him. And if we don’t act quickly, Damon will seize the Heart of Creation and put an end to all our hard-won victories. We cannot afford to go more slowly.
With a groan, Kane nodded. “I understand. Simply put, don’t overwork yourself, will you?
Even though I was anything but calm on the inside, I faked a little smile. “I’ll be all right. Let’s continue our journey.
As we got closer to the mountain where the Heart’s sanctuary was concealed, the terrain became steeper. The gathering fell into a spooky silence as the temperature dropped.
The ground beneath us suddenly moved, and the trees burst into dazzling light. With my heart racing, I flung up my hands to cover my eyes.
“What’s going on?” yelled one of the fighters.
A voice, old and powerful, reverberated through the jungle before I could respond.
“Only those with unwavering determination may succeed. Show your value or go back.
As the light faded, three stone arches appeared in front of them, each bearing softly pulsing glyphs. I took a cautious step forward while glancing over the arches.
“What are we going to do?” Kane’s voice was tense as he asked.
I inhaled deeply as the gravity of the situation came upon me. “We demonstrate our worth.”
As I got closer, the first arch glowed with life, and a glistening person emerged-my younger self, unsure and afraid.
“You believe you are capable of taking charge?” With a voice brimming with uncertainty, the figure teased. “You were unable to even defend your family.”
Even though the words were painful, I made myself stand up. I said, “I’ve made mistakes,” in a firm but shaky voice. But because of them, I’ve become stronger. I refuse to be defined by my past.
The figure grinned before dissolving into the light. The way to the next arch became evident as the previous one disappeared.
Kane moved to stand next to me, his face softening. He remarked, “You handled that well.”
My hands were still shaking, but I nodded. “Let’s continue.”
The obstacles became more difficult as we ascended, putting not just our strength but also our mutual trust to the test. The sun was starting to set by the time we finished the final task, and the rocky landscape was bathed in a golden glow.
Kane took me aside as we paused to gather our breath.
“Melissa,” he said in an unusually tentative tone.
“What is it?” I scowled at his grave expression as I asked.
He searched my gaze while running a hand over his hair. “I have something I need you to know. I’ve fought, protected, and tried to be strong for everyone else for a large portion of my life. However, I’ve come to know how much I stand to lose with you.
His remarks caught me off guard, and I blinked. “Kane…”
His voice was barely above a whisper as he confessed, “Melissa, I’m scared.” “Afraid to lose you.” Fearful of the consequences if we fail.
I reached for his hand as my throat constricted. “I’m also afraid. However, fear cannot deter us. For the sake of the pack and everyone who is depending on us, we must continue to fight and go forward.
He tightened his hold on my hand as he nodded. “Just make me a promise.”
“What?”
“Don’t attempt to bear this load by yourself. Let me tell you about it.
Despite the cold air, I grinned as a feeling of warmth surged through my chest. “I swear.”
We eventually arrived at the sanctuary’s entrance as night fell; it was a huge stone gateway etched into the mountainside that was dimly illuminated by old runes.
“This is it,” I said quietly, my voice quivering with a mixture of fear and relief.
Kane took a step forward and looked at the door. “How can we get it open?”
The runes came alive before I could respond, and the door started to grind open, revealing a dimly lighted chamber beyond. As we entered, the air was heavy with an old, almost oppressive energy, and my heart raced.
The Heart of Creation, a throbbing ball of light that appeared to hum with life itself, stood in the middle of the room. It was stunningly beautiful, but it also had a frightening quality, a power that seemed almost too immense to fathom.
However, my amazement soon gave way to fear when a well-known figure emerged from the darkness, his eyes gleaming with evil intent.
“Damon,” I said, my heart racing.
He grinned, but it was a twisted, vicious smile that made me shudder. His voice reverberated around the room as he continued, “Melissa, it’s too late.” “I own the Heart of Creation.”
I froze, trying to take in what I was seeing, my mind racing. How could he get here so fast? More significantly, how could we now stop him?
The Heart of Creation blazed brighter as Damon held up his hand, its light creating unsettling shadows on the walls. With a voice full of satisfaction, he said, “Goodbye to your world.”