Stepping into the vast expanse of blinding white, Lauren's eyes struggled to adjust to the brilliance that surrounded her.
A shock initially coursed through her, unsettling her senses, but she gradually acclimated to the serene stillness of the ethereal space. No souls, no objects—just an eerie silence that enveloped her being.
"Hello?" she called out, her voice breaking the silence, reverberating through the emptiness. The sound of her own voice echoed back to her, amplifying her solitude.
"Wonderful," she sighed, a tinge of frustration in her voice, but undeterred, she ventured further into the seemingly interminable white void.
After what felt like an eternity of walking, exhaustion threatened to conquer her resolve. Just as weariness began to seep into her bones, a figure emerged in the distance—a man, his hands shackled on either side, his head bowed as if resigned to a tragic fate.
"Oh, my God," she gasped, her hand instinctively rising to cover her mouth, a mixture of horror and urgency gripping her heart.
Without a moment's hesitation, she raced towards him, her footsteps quickening. Her heartbeat intensified, as if recognizing an unspoken connection to the tormented man before her.
Drawing nearer, she caught sight of a familiar tattoo etched upon his exposed flesh. Recognition stirred within her, hinting at an unspoken past encounter.
Deep cuts, lashes, bruises, and dried blood adorned his back, testament to the merciless torment inflicted during his captivity, she surmised.
Unable to resist the force that propelled her, her hand extended involuntarily, tenderly brushing against the wounds. He squirmed instinctively, his pain palpable even in that desolate realm.
As an inexplicable connection bound their hearts, Lauren felt an indescribable pain reverberate within her own being— unsettling her to the core. Gently, she moved to face him, and what unfolded before her made her heart sank.
Detecting the faint scent of lavender, a fragrance that he had come to cherish, the figure raised his head.
Slowly, almost against the weight of the world, he lifted his face to gaze upon her. Though his eyelids felt as if they were burdened by sacks of cement. he needed to see her even if it proved to be a fleeting encounter.
His eyes, a piercing shade of gold, locked upon hers like an unbreakable bond. Time halted, her breath suspended, as her heart raced, skipping countless beats.
Utter bewilderment consumed her as she found herself captivated by the brilliance that emanated from his gaze.
Questions besieged her mind. What crime had this stunningly beautiful man committed to be chained within this perpetual white void? Every fiber of her being yearned for answers.
Once more, she disregarded the barriers that separated them. Cupping the side of his face with tender resolve, she couldn't suppress the familiarity that tugged at her heartstrings.
Memories lay dormant, like fragments of a shattered mirror waiting to be pieced together, but out of reach.
"Lauren" he called out weakly almost in a whisper, but she heard it.
"You know me, you know my name?" She asked in suprise. But then reasoned that almost every person in the country knew her name...but they always addressed her as agent Lauren whenever they see her, but this man here, this man called her with a tone of familiarity.
The injured man stared at her initially in suprise but turned to pain, how can she not know him.
"Its me, Damien...." he said again, this time a jolt of electricity ran down her spine as soon as she heard the name. It sounded so familiar yet so new. She tried to remember but nothing came out.
"What have they done to you" he said softly one could see the pain in his eyes.
"I feel like I'm supposed to know who you are but I cant, couldn't, but that's not the main thing at the moment" she said starring at the chains in his hands.
"I need to get you out of this chains and take you to Chastain, you urgently need a doctor" she said resolutely, moving to unfasten the shackle in his hands.
"You are wasting your time" he whispered, his words a quote plea, yet she heard him, her sense attuned to every nuance of his words.
"My time is mine to waste, is it not?" she mused, unfettered and went to work.
"The witches wouldn't allow you" he tried to dissuade her from freeing him.
"There are nothing like witches, wizard or whatnot, now keep quite Damien let me concentrate" she said musing.
A smiled creased his face on, she was still the same even in this realm...
As Lauren inched closer to unlocking the chains that bound Damien, a sudden and forceful gust swept through the air, knocking her away with a jolt.
Her form wavered but remained steady, allowing her to turn and face the unexpected presence that had disrupted her progress.
Ten women, cloaked in black darkness and blindfolded, stood before her in solemn black attire.
Surprisingly, not an ounce of fear flickered within Lauren's being as she regarded their perplexing presence.
Unfazed by their mysterious appearance, she posed a question, her voice filled with curiosity and intrigue.
"Who are you?" she inquired, her voice steady despite the veil of uncertainty that surrounded her in this desolate realm.
With an eerie harmony, the ten women answered in unison, their voices resounding like the symphony of a mighty running river.
"We are the Benneth witches, protectors of the supernatural realm. That creature of the night shall never be set free, for he must bear the burden of his ancestral transgressions," they proclaimed, their index fingers pointed resolutely at Damien.
Struggling to comprehend their words, Lauren attempted to interject. "What are you talking about—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Damien interrupted, his voice tense but resolute. "Surely, even from beyond the grave, you should know better than to accuse my grandfather of giving the order against you lots" he interjected, his breath labored as he spoke, wincing from the strain.
"I care not for whatever grievance exists between the two of you, but that man," she declared, pointing a finger at Damien, "requires urgent medical attention."
Determined to assist, she attempted to move, only to discover her legs entangled, sinking into the very floor beneath her.
Bewilderment colored her expression, interlaced with traces of fear, as she observed her feet being swallowed by the unseen force.
Desperation etched across his face, Damien helplessly watched her descent, his anger simmering as he confronted the witches before him.
"Release her! How could you do this to your own?" he demanded, his voice heavy with indignation.
The witches merely responded with a collective hiss, their disdain apparent.
Lauren struggled fruitlessly, her attempts to free herself proving futile as the floor encroached upon her, inching upward, swallowing her thighs, and steadily progressing toward her stomach.
Panic seized her, and she cried out for help, her voice strained with desperation. Damien, straining against his shackles, fought with a fervor that seemed futile, each attempt to break free met with resistance.
"Lauren!" he called out, his voice teeming with anguish, his inability to save her a relentless burden on his soul.
Now, it was her turn to look up at him, tears streaming down her face, her voice tinged with the familiar strains of an unspoken bond as she called out to him, this time her tone was that of familiarity.
A surge of energy coursed through Damien, a burst of power enveloping him like a tempest unleashed. A knowing smirk curled upon his lips as he locked eyes with the enigmatic witches.
"You would be wise to flee," he warned, his tone laced with an unmistakable authority.
With determination, he exerted an unprecedented force, shattering the chains that once held him captive.
The witches, their shock evident despite the blindfolds obscuring their eyes, conjured a spell and hurled it towards Damien. But to their astonishment, it seemed as though he was immune to their enchantments.
Unperturbed by their futile attempts, Damien's focus remained unwavering, his sole mission was to rescue Lauren from the clutches of the magical sinking ground.
Swift as a gust of wind, he materialized beside Lauren, grasping her hand as his lifeline.
"I've got you," he reassured her, his voice filled with relief.
Yet, Lauren, understanding the gravity of their predicament, gently implored Damien to release her.
"You need to let go, Damien," she whispered softly, her voice laced with an inherent calmness. Every fiber of her being yearned to be saved, but she refused to allow him to suffer the same cruel fate.
She hoped reason would prevail, even as her heart ached at the thought of parting from him.
Dismissing her plea, Damien fiercely clung to her adamantly.
"Pack of nonsense," he retorted, his determination unyielding as he exhausted every ounce of his strength to keep her secure.
"No, Damien. You need to let go," she persisted, her voice tinged with sorrow as she sought to reason with him.
The fear lurking behind his eyes tore at her heart, kindling a surge of empathy and compassion. "I'm trapped, sinking, but I won't drag you down with me," she reasoned.
Her heart shattered as she saw the pain he endeavored to conceal. "Like hell I will," Damien stubbornly declared, but the more he struggled, the more an unseen force seemed to drag Lauren's leg from beneath the encroaching floor.
Their hands, slick with sweat, slipped away with agonizing slowness.
"It's okay, Damien," she murmured with remarkable composure, her voice a bittersweet melody. And just like that, her grasp slipped, the ground closing up to claim her once more.
"LAUREN!" Damien's anguished cry reverberated through the air.