The dank air was heavy with the scent of decay and dampness as if the very walls were rotting away. The dim light of flickering lanterns cast twisted shadows that danced along the walls, creating a sinister atmosphere.
The cell was eerily quiet, with only the distant sound of dripping water breaking the silence. As Aricen and Casey sat in the cold, damp cell, they could feel the chill of the stone floor seeping into their bones. The darkness seemed to press in on them, like an invisible weight, making it hard to breathe. It was as if they were buried alive, trapped in a tomb deep beneath the earth.
As Casey's groggy mind started to clear, a sharp pain pulsed through her head like a hammer to a bell. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light, revealing her predicament - she was bound in heavy metal cuffs in a cramped cell, surrounded by murky shadows. A cold sweat broke out on her skin as she tried to move her limbs, but the restraints held her captive.
She blinked away from the fuzziness. She looked around, trying to make sense of her surroundings. The walls were made of rough, cold stone, covered in a layer of grime and moss. The floor was equally rough and cold, made of large stone slabs that were uneven and cracked in places.
The cell was small, with barely enough room for her to sit up in. The only light source came from a few flickering lanterns, but they were barely enough to illuminate the corners of the cell. The air was heavy with the musty smell of old stone and dampness.
As Casey tried to move, she felt the weight of the cold metal cuffs on her wrists and ankles. The cuffs were tight, cutting into her skin, and she knew there was no way she could break free. Then she saw him.
"It's all your fault!" she said, her voice clear, yet low. "If it weren't for you...I would've...I would've..."
Casey's heart raced as the blue-black flame materialized in front of her, flickering and pulsing with eerie energy. It seemed to radiate a dark, malevolent power that made her skin crawl. As she watched, the flame began to take on a shape, coalescing into a small, writhing creature that hovered in the air before her.
The creature was unlike anything she had ever seen before. Its body was formed of the same blue-black flames, and it seemed to twist and turn in on itself as if it were alive. Its eyes glowed with an intense, otherworldly light, and Casey felt a shiver run down her spine.
Then suddenly, the creature spoke. Its voice was ringing, an echoing sound that seemed to come from inside her head. "You dare call upon me, little mortal?" it hissed, its voice dripping with contempt. "What makes you think you have any power over me?"
Casey let out a tsk, an amused expression on her face despite the dire situation. "Oh, honey," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I may be smaller than you, but I'm bigger where it counts."
The creature let out a screech, its body writhing in anger. "You dare mock me? You will pay for your insolence, mortal!"
Casey didn't back down. She leaned forward, her eyes locking onto the creature. "You're just a pathetic little thing, aren't you? Trying to act tough and scary, but really, you're just a scared little animal."
The creature lunged at her, but she wasn't afraid. She stood her ground, watching as it collided with an invisible barrier in front of her. She knew she had power, even if she didn't quite understand it yet.
He let out a loud laugh, which apparently only she could hear. The creature's laugh was a sound that seemed to echo from the depths of the underworld, a chilling cackle that sent shivers down Casey's spine. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent light, and its twisted mouth curled into a wicked smile. Casey could feel its hatred and disdain for her radiating from every inch of its writhing form.
As the creature's laughter subsided, it fixed its gaze on Casey, its eyes boring into her with cold intensity. "Pathetic? Look at yourself, little mortal. I am the product of your weakness. Did you forget already?" he hissed, his voice low and menacing. "You think you can just lock it away and forget about it? No, it will always be with you, gnawing away at your soul until there's nothing left."
Casey trembled, feeling the weight of the creature's words. Everything that happened to Lane, Serenya, Rowan, and Aricen was her fault. She thought, her head buried in her knees. It wouldn't have happened if she was a little brave, Serenya would be perfectly fine.
She was so excited after seeing her brother, all she ever did to Casey was 'help' no matter what the situation. It was her war, her journey after all. She should've done it all by herself, instead of putting everyone in danger. Aricen, he didn't even have to do anything with all this. He should have just ignored all this and walked on... somewhere, far from her. Rowan... "I am sorry, all of you..." she sniffed... "Lane... I am a bad sister after all..." Her warm breaths made her feel warm even in the cold cell.
That one day, that one moment, had set everything in motion. It was probably from that day...
Casey's mind was flooded with memories, as if a dam had burst open, unleashing a torrent of thoughts and emotions that she had buried deep inside. She felt herself being pulled back to that fateful day when she had first encountered the tree.
That golden butterfly has always been something she was scared of, something she would kill no matter how beautiful it was, but her thoughts and actions towards that particular butterfly changed as she got to know its purpose. She followed it without a second thought, as she knew it would lead to something purposeful.
As she reached the tree, she felt a strange pull, as if something was calling out to her. Her fingers grazed the rough bark, and she felt a surge of energy coursing through her body. The air around her started to shimmer, and that was when she saw it – a dark and eerie figure materializing before her eyes.
Casey gasped, feeling the blood drain from her face as she stared at the shadowy figure. It was like nothing she had ever seen before – its shape was indistinct, flickering and twisting like a flame in the wind. And yet, she could sense the malevolent energy emanating from it, a feeling of darkness and hate that chilled her to the bone.
The creature spoke to her in a voice that echoed through her mind. It told her that it was the manifestation of her guilt and fear, the part of her that she had tried to suppress and ignore. Casey felt a cold hand grip her heart, as she didn't know what that place is which the creature mentioned, 'Evervale'.
As the creature continued to feed on Casey's fears and despair, its power grew stronger and more consuming with each passing moment of her life. Casey's heart pounded with a fierce intensity, her body paralyzed with fear as the creature loomed over her. Its laughter echoed in her mind, a sinister sound that threatened to drive her mad. She felt like a prisoner in her own body, held captive by the creature's malevolent power.
Her eyes darted around the room, searching for some kind of escape, but all she saw was darkness. She could feel the weight of the creature's gaze upon her, like a physical presence that threatened to crush her.
Casey tried to call out for help, but her voice was gone. The creature had stolen it, leaving her stranded and alone. She could feel the ground beneath her feet shake with each mocking laugh the creature let out.
It was then that she remembered her mother's words and the pendant that hung around her neck. She closed her eyes, drawing strength from the memory of her mother's face, and focused all her energy on the pendant.
A burst of energy crackled around her, filling her with a surge of power that she had never felt before. She opened her eyes, and the creature was gone, vanished like a shadow in the night.
Casey slumped to the ground, gasping for breath, her heart still pounding with the fear of what had just transpired. She knew that the creature would return, stronger and more malevolent than ever, but she was ready. She would not let her fears consume her. At least she could try.
"Casey?" the voice echoed.
Casey looked around, but she was not able to tell if the voice was in her head or if someone really called her. Are there people here who have kept her enclosed in this cell? How much do they know about her? Did they find out that she was the princess of Rothania? Are they going to kill her? Is this the end? Will she not be able to see Lane ever again?