The Whisper pt. 3
A call, faint at first, like a distant echo carried on the cold wind, began to whisper in her mind. Marra's stomach twisted into knots as the voice grew louder, its tone insidious, slipping through her thoughts like venom. She could almost feel it coiling around her, suffocating her with its dark presence. Her heart pounded louder, faster, and for a moment, sheer terror gripped her.
Not again. Please, not again.
Memories of the last battle flashed before her eyes—of freezing when it mattered most, of the terror that had paralyzed her, making her useless when her friends had needed her the most. She couldn't let it happen again. Not now. Not here. Not when the darkness was pushing so hard against her mind that it felt like it would swallow her whole.
Marra clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms as she forced the fear down. She couldn't let Edric or Kyrntar see. She couldn't show them the terror she felt creeping into her every thought, twisting her gut into a tight, cold knot. They had to see her as strong, as someone they could depend on—someone who wasn't falling apart under the pressure.
Stay calm, Marra. Stay calm.
Her breath hitched, and she muttered a prayer under her breath, her frame trembling as she attempted to cast Ward Against Evil. The words stumbled out of her mouth, clumsy and rushed, but she finished the prayer, a faint glow shimmering around her. For a fleeting moment, the glow gave her a sense of safety, of control.
But it wasn't enough.
The lie continued to creep in, slithering through the cracks of her defenses, twisting her thoughts like a dark serpent. "...reclaim it... the power calls to you..." The words pulsed inside her mind, almost melodic in their repetition, but the message was clear—and terrifying. It was trying to lure her, to seduce her with promises of power. And worst of all, a part of her wanted to listen.
Marra swallowed hard, her throat dry. She could feel the weight of it now—the dark presence, pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe. Her hands trembled as she fought against the panic rising in her chest. The temple around her seemed to darken, the shadows growing deeper, more sinister. Every step felt like walking deeper into the jaws of a beast.
No. No, I can't freeze again. Not now. They need me.
But the fear was stronger this time. Her skin prickled with the icy chill of dread, her legs felt like they were made of lead, and her heart hammered so loud she was sure Edric and Kyrntar could hear it. She wanted to scream, to run, but she forced her feet to keep moving. She bit down on the inside of her cheek, the sharp pain grounding her, keeping her from spiraling into the horror that clawed at her mind.
They can't know. If they see me like this... if they see how scared I am...
The thought of Edric or Kyrntar looking at her with pity, with disappointment, was worse than the terror she felt. She couldn't let them down. Not again.
"Are you alright?" Edric's presence broke through her spiraling thoughts, his concern piercing through the fog of fear. Marra's heart skipped a beat, anixety flaring as she realized she wasn't hiding it as well as she thought.
She forced a smile, though it felt like her face might crack under the strain. "I'm fine," she lied, her tone shaky but determined. "Just... the temple's giving me the creeps."
Edric's eyes lingered on her for a moment, doubt flickering in his gaze, but he didn't press. She was grateful, but the guilt gnawed at her. She couldn't even look him in the eye. She wasn't fine. She was far from fine. The darkness was pressing harder now, the chant louder, more insistent. "...the power... it is yours... take it..."
Marra's pulse quickened, her vision swimming for a moment as the words wrapped around her like chains, dragging her down into the depths of her fear. Her body felt cold, but her mind was burning with the looming pressure of the sinister drone. She muttered another prayer, this time more frantic, her words jumbled as she tried to push back against the presence pulling at her thoughts.
But the darkness kept pushing, its power relentless. She could feel it burrowing into her mind, chipping away at her resolve, seeping into her soul. And with every passing second, her fear grew.
Don't freeze. Don't freeze. They need you.
But inside, she was breaking, the terror gnawing away at her, pulling her deeper into the abyss. She wanted to cry out, to reach for help, but the shame of her own weakness kept her silent.
She was drowning in the dark, and she was terrified no one would notice until it was too late.
As they ventured deeper into the heart of the temple, the oppressive air thickened, suffocating in its intensity. Kyrntar led the way, his sword at the ready, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of danger. But as the silence stretched on, broken only by the faint echoes of their footsteps, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Behind him, Edric clenched his fists, his expression tight as he fought against the growing noise in his head. The murmuring had started out faint, mere flickers of sound, but now they gnawed at him relentlessly, their words twisting and pulling at his mind. He blinked hard, trying to clear his head, but the whispers only grew more insistent. Still, he remained silent, unwilling to worry Kyrntar or Marra. I can handle this, he told himself. It's just a trick... it has to be.
Marra, trailing just beside Edric, kept her gaze low, her lips moving in silent prayer. Her heart raced, her pulse thundering in her ears as the mutters grew louder, pushing against her mind. She could feel the malevolent presence creeping into her thoughts, seeping through the cracks in her mental defenses. Every step forward made it worse, and the familiar dread began to claw at her chest. But she couldn't—wouldn't—let herself freeze again. Not this time. I can do this, she thought, gripping her amulet tightly. I won't be weak.
Kyrntar, unaware of the growing turmoil in his companions, pushed on, his focus sharp, scanning the shadows for threats. He hadn't noticed the subtle changes in their pace, the way Edric had begun to lag slightly or how Marra's steps had grown hesitant. He had faith in them—they had trained for this. He trusted their abilities, even if the air felt wrong here, even if the darkness felt alive. His instincts told him something was off, but he hadn't yet pieced it together.
Then, Edric faltered.
Kyrntar stopped, turning just in time to see Edric pause, his brow furrowed in frustration, as if battling something invisible. "Edric?" Kyrntar's voice was low, cautious. "You alright?"
Edric forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah... I'm fine," he replied, his words too quick, too forced. He straightened, rolling his shoulders as if to shake off the weight pressing down on him. But Kyrntar's gaze lingered, sensing there was more behind the facade.
Before he could press the issue, Marra let out a quiet breath, her heart trembling with the effort of her prayer. She had tried to hold it together, but the force of the darkness was unbearable. The whispers were no longer just a distant murmur—they were in her mind, speaking to her, urging her to give in. She tried to hide it, to be strong for Kyrntar and Edric, but the fear gnawing at her was too much.
Kyrntar turned to her, concern etching deeper lines in his face. "Marra, are you sure you're alright?" His tone was softer now, worried.
For a long moment, Marra remained silent, staring at the ground as if the words were too difficult to say. But she knew she couldn't keep it inside any longer. Slowly, she shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I've been hearing it too." Her hands tightened around her own amulet, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and frustration. "I didn't want to say anything, but... it's getting stronger. I don't know how much longer I can fight it."
Kyrntar's eyes widened, his fist by his side began tightening. He looked between Marra and Edric, realization dawning on him. "Both of you...?" His bravado dropped with concern.
Edric sighed, finally giving in to the truth he'd been trying to ignore. "It's not just whispers anymore, Kyrntar. It's telling me to take something... something I don't understand. I thought I could handle it, but... it's more than just a whisper in my head."
Kyrntar stood still for a moment, the depth of their confessions hitting him hard. He had been so focused on leading them, on pushing forward, that he hadn't realized how much they were struggling—how much they had been keeping from him. He cursed himself silently for not seeing it sooner.
"We'll stay close," he said firmly, his purpose filled with a newfound urgency. "If we can't shake this, we'll find the source and end it. Together."
He could see the relief in Marra's eyes, even through her fear, and the weight of their silent burdens seemed to lessen, if only slightly. But the danger hadn't passed. Kyrntar knew that whatever evil was haunting this temple had already sunk its claws deep into his companions. Now, it was up to him to lead them through it before it consumed them entirely.