The campfire had long since died down, leaving the trio bathed in the soft glow of dawn. Trevor remained awake, his eyes fixed on the horizon, unable to shake the weight of the decision hanging over them. Tracy and Lucius slept nearby, though their rest was far from peaceful—shifting, restless, their dreams likely haunted by the same grim thoughts that plagued him.
The blood sacrifice. One of them had to die.
The idea gnawed at him, turning his thoughts to every possible escape. Was there someone else? Someone who could take their place? Could they find a way to bypass the ritual without losing one of their own?
But deep down, Trevor knew Lucius was right. The ancient curse was unyielding, and they were running out of time. The next Blood Moon was fast approaching, and with it, the curse's power would only grow stronger.
As the sun rose higher, Trevor made his decision. He would go to Shea.
By mid-morning, they arrived at the edge of the forest where Shea had agreed to meet them. The dense, mist-covered woods stretched out before them, silent and foreboding. They waited in tense anticipation, the air heavy with the weight of what was to come.
After what felt like hours, a figure emerged from the mist—Shea, cloaked in dark robes, her movements graceful and silent. Her face was calm, as though she had expected them all along.
"I see you've returned," Shea said, her voice smooth and unreadable. "I assume you've encountered the Elder of Shadows."
Trevor nodded, stepping forward. "He told us what the ritual requires. A blood sacrifice."
Shea's eyes flickered with understanding. "And now you seek another way."
"We have to," Tracy said, her voice tight. "There has to be something we can do. Anything."
Shea studied them for a long moment, her sharp gaze moving from Trevor to Lucius and finally to Tracy. "The Elder spoke the truth. The curse that binds you was forged with blood, and it can only be undone with blood. But…"
Trevor's heart leapt. "But what?"
Shea's gaze turned to him, her expression guarded. "There is a way to bend the rules of the ritual. A way to break the curse without losing one of you."
Tracy gasped softly, hope lighting her eyes. "Tell us. Please."
Shea's voice grew colder. "It is not without cost. To alter the ritual means bargaining with the forces that forged it. And they do not trade lightly."
Trevor swallowed, his throat dry. "What do they want?"
Shea's eyes darkened. "In exchange for sparing your lives, the Blood Moon will demand something of even greater value. Not just blood, but your very essence—your souls. And in doing so, you will not be free of the curse. Instead, you will become its vessels."
Lucius stiffened. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Shea said, her voice hardening, "that while you may live, you will be bound to the curse for eternity. You will become its guardians, its keepers. You will live forever, but in servitude to the very thing you sought to destroy."
Trevor's heart sank. The reality of Shea's offer was worse than he'd imagined. Live forever, but trapped by the curse, never free, always under its shadow.
"We can't do that," Tracy said, her voice trembling. "We can't live like that."
Shea's eyes softened, but only slightly. "It is the only way to avoid death. The Blood Moon will accept nothing less."
Silence fell over the group as they processed Shea's words. Trevor looked at Lucius, whose face remained impassive, though his eyes were filled with turmoil. Tracy was visibly shaken, her arms wrapped around herself as though trying to hold herself together.
"I can't ask you to do that," Trevor said finally, his voice low. "I won't. If this is the only way… I'll take the risk. I'll offer myself as the sacrifice."
"No," Tracy snapped, stepping forward. "You're not doing this alone. We're in this together. We'll find another way."
Lucius, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "There is no other way, Tracy. The curse requires a life. If Trevor's willing to make that choice, then we need to respect it."
Trevor felt the weight of Lucius's words. He could feel Tracy's eyes on him, pleading silently for him to reconsider, but he had already made up his mind.
Before he could say anything, Shea spoke again. "The decision is yours. But know this—whether you choose to sacrifice one of your own or take on the curse yourselves, the price will be paid. The Blood Moon's power cannot be cheated."
Trevor clenched his fists, the truth of her words settling over him like a heavy fog. There was no escaping the curse. Whether they sacrificed one of their own or became its eternal guardians, the price had to be paid.
As the sun began to set, Trevor, Tracy, and Lucius sat in a small clearing, the weight of the decision hanging over them like a storm cloud. Shea had left them to consider their options, and now they were alone with their thoughts.
Trevor stared into the fading light, his mind racing. The idea of becoming the eternal guardians of the curse was unbearable, but the thought of sacrificing one of his friends was even worse.
"I won't let you do it," Tracy said softly, breaking the silence. "I won't let you offer yourself as the sacrifice, Trevor."
He turned to face her, his expression pained. "What other choice do we have? If we don't do this, none of us will be free. We'll be hunted, cursed, forever tied to the Blood Moon."
Lucius spoke up, his voice steady but tense. "We can't avoid this forever, Trevor. The curse is too powerful. If we're going to break it, we have to make a decision."
Tracy's eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling. "There has to be another way. We've fought so hard, come so far… We can't just give up now."
Trevor looked at her, his heart breaking at the sight of her pain. He wanted to promise her that they'd find another solution, that they wouldn't have to make this terrible choice. But he couldn't.
Because deep down, he knew the truth. There was no other way.
And soon, they would have to decide who would pay the price.