Chapter 9
In the enveloping darkness of the night forest, Erika raced through the tangled undergrowth with little Lily tightly cradled in her arms. Her footsteps were a hurried rhythm, a desperate dance to outrun the ominous presence that pursued them. The moonlight cast eerie shadows, painting the scene with an ethereal glow.
The chilling howls of the hideous spirits echoed through the woods, sending shivers down Erika's spine. Each heartbeat resonated with fear and determination, as she clung to the child who was the embodiment of hope and innocence.
As Erika dashed through the moonlit glades, a sinister whisper of wind announced the arrival of Suzanna, a malevolent spirit with ill intent. In an instant, the air grew colder, and the very atmosphere seemed to constrict around them.
Erika's heart raced, her breath quickening, as she felt Suzanna's icy grip close around her neck. The world blurred around her, her senses overwhelmed by a terrifying force beyond her control. Desperation etched lines of anguish on her face as she struggled against the spectral grasp.
In the midst of this harrowing encounter, tragedy seemed inevitable as Lily slipped from Erika's arms. Time seemed to slow, a suspended moment of sheer dread as the baby's basket plummeted towards the forest floor.
But then, a glimmer of light pierced the darkness. A mysterious spirit, draped in billowing white garments, materialized out of thin air. With grace and swiftness, they intercepted the falling basket, cradling it gently in their luminous arms.
The ethereal spirit radiated a sense of benevolence and power, their presence calming the chaos that had unfolded. With a mere glance, they seemed to convey reassurance and protection, a force beyond comprehension that defied the hideous spirits' malevolence.
And then, as swiftly as they had appeared, the mysterious spirit vanished into the night, leaving behind a sense of wonder and awe. Erika, her breath ragged, found herself released from Suzanna's grip, collapsing to her knees as she gasped for air.
The forest stood silent, the hideous spirits momentarily thwarted by the intervention of the enigmatic guardian. Erika clung to the ground, her heart pounding, as she gazed at the empty space where the spirit had stood. The scent of blooming flowers lingered, as if the spirit's presence had infused the very air.
The spirits dropped Lily in the Enchanted Shadefell forest, and said to her,
"You must live, you must survive, you were born to save lifes,"
The five women in white garments put their hand together on Lily's body, she cried out in pain as they were feeding her body with powers. The silent forest became awaken jungle, winds blew fiercely, thunder crumbled loudly, and the lighting wrote "Savior" boldly on the sky.
"Those who will rise is near, Lily, see you soon,"
One of the women said and they all disappeared.
*BACK TO LILY WITH THE PACK IN FOREST*
Lily's steps faltered, her heart seizing within her chest, as a sorrowful and hideous voice pierced the air, carrying an unsettling cry for help from miles away. The once serene forest seemed to shudder in response, its tranquility shattered by the haunting sound that seemed to emanate from the very shadows themselves.
Her wide eyes darted nervously around, searching for the source of the mournful call. Fear threaded its icy fingers through her veins, causing her breath to hitch as a chill danced down her spine. The voice seemed to seep into her very being, invoking a sense of dread and unease.
Every fiber of her being seemed to rebel against the sound, urging her to flee, to escape the clutches of whatever unseen entity cried out in anguish. Yet, a haunting curiosity held her rooted to the spot, her feet feeling as though they were encased in lead.
In the midst of the frozen moment, the forest seemed to hold its breath, as if the very essence of nature awaited the resolution of this eerie encounter. Lily's heart pounded in her chest, her senses hyper-aware as the sorrowful voice echoed in her ears, weaving a haunting melody that carried with it an undeniable sense of tragedy.
As the seconds ticked by, the voice seemed to intensify, wrapping around Lily's senses like an insidious fog. It was as if the voice tugged at her very soul, urging her to respond to its plea for help. A myriad of emotions swirled within her - uncertainty, empathy, and a growing unease.
Luna noticed Lily's mood and moved closer to her,
"What happened my lady?"
"Why are looking trembling?"
She asked concerning.
"I heard a voice, calling for help,"
Lily said looking at the direction of the voice.
"What a voice?"
Luna asked again
"Yes, a sorrowful voice,"
She answered and closed her eyes
Suddenly, an image of a woman on her knees tied with enormous chains flashed in her head, she opened her eyes immediately.
"I saw a woman on a knees tied with chains,"
She told Luna.
"What, you saw what?"
Luna asked again
Lily closed her again, the vision came to more clearly as she followed the voice to the The Cursed Crypt Cave.
In the cursed crypts cave, Lily saw a woman knelt alone, a forlorn figure surrounded by shadows that seemed to cling to her like an oppressive shroud. Her once vibrant spirit had been reduced to a mere whisper of its former self, as evidenced by the tattered rag cloth that hung from her frail frame.
Enormous chains, heavy and unyielding, bound her hands in a cruel embrace, a stark contrast to the vulnerability that radiated from her eyes. The chains, like a macabre tapestry, told a tale of captivity and despair, each link an echo of the torment she endured.
Her knees pressed into the cold, unforgiving ground, the dampness seeping through the fabric of her worn attire. The very air in the cave seemed to carry a weight of desolation, mirroring the woman's state of being.
The dim light filtering through cracks in the cave's walls cast eerie shadows that danced across her bowed form, like mournful specters whispering of lost hope and broken dreams. Her hair, once a cascade of lustrous strands, now framed her face like a curtain of darkness, a stark contrast to the faint glimmer of determination in her eyes.
Despite the chains that held her captive, there was a spark of defiance within her gaze, a silent rebellion against the oppressive circumstances that had ensnared her. Her spirit, though battered, remained unbroken, a testament to the resilience that thrived even in the bleakest of environments.
In the cursed crypts cave, where time seemed to stand still and the echoes of anguish reverberated through the air, the woman knelt as a haunting symbol of endurance. Her story, etched into the stone walls and whispered by the very winds that traversed they gave, spoke of suffering, but also of the unyielding strength that could emerge from the depths of despair.
To be continued....