The door slammed shut with an echo that seemed to vibrate through Ava's entire body. The cold, damp air inside the tower wrapped around her like a shroud, and a faint sound—a hum, a whisper, something—buzzed at the edge of her hearing. Her heartbeat quickened as she glanced at Luke, whose face remained tight with concentration, and then at Kara, whose eyes gleamed with a strange, dangerous anticipation.
The Tower of Echoes was alive with secrets.
The interior was a sprawling labyrinth of stone corridors, dimly lit by floating orbs of pale blue light. Every surface was etched with ancient runes that pulsed softly, casting eerie shadows that seemed to dance as they moved. The air was heavy, thick with the weight of forgotten history and forgotten souls. Ava felt a chill crawl down her spine, the atmosphere oppressive and foreboding.
"Kara," Luke said, his voice low but tense, "don't get ahead of yourself. We need to stick together and be cautious."
Kara gave a small, dismissive wave of her hand, but she didn't argue this time. Her usual bravado was tempered, if only slightly, by the palpable power that radiated from the walls of the tower. Even she couldn't deny the dangerous nature of this place.
Ava stayed close to Luke, her senses alert to every shift in the air. There was something unsettling about the silence here—like it wasn't true silence, but a space where something was listening, waiting.
As they walked deeper into the maze-like corridors, a faint, melodic sound began to drift through the air. It was subtle at first, barely noticeable over the sound of their footsteps, but soon it grew clearer—a woman's voice, soft and haunting, singing a song that echoed through the stone halls.
Ava stopped in her tracks, her heart skipping a beat. "Do you hear that?"
Luke nodded, his eyes narrowing. "It's coming from ahead."
Kara tilted her head, a smile curling at the edges of her lips. "It's a song. Pretty, isn't it?"
Ava wasn't sure what to think. The melody was beautiful, yes, but there was something unsettling about it—something that tugged at her mind, drawing her forward in spite of her instincts screaming at her to turn back.
They pressed on, the song growing louder and more distinct with every step. As they rounded a corner, they found themselves in a wide, circular chamber, the center of which was dominated by a massive stone statue of a woman. Her eyes were closed, her hands outstretched as if in prayer, and around her feet were carved intricate symbols that glowed faintly in time with the song.
But what caught Ava's attention wasn't the statue—it was the source of the song.
A figure stood before the statue, her back turned to them, draped in a tattered cloak of deep crimson. Her voice filled the room, her song resonating in the very air. It was ethereal, entrancing, and yet… hollow, as if the words themselves held no true meaning but were merely a vessel for something else.
"Kara, wait," Ava said sharply, her hand tightening on her sword as she stepped forward. "Something's not right."
Luke moved to stand beside Ava, his eyes locked on the singing figure. "We need to be careful. We don't know who—or what—she is."
Kara, however, was already walking toward the figure, seemingly drawn by the song. "Oh, come on, you two. It's just one person. What's the worst that could happen?"
Ava's heart pounded. She felt it again—that pull. It was as if the melody wrapped around her thoughts, fogging her mind, making it harder to think clearly. She tried to shake it off, focusing on the figure ahead.
The woman's song suddenly stopped, and the silence that followed was deafening.
The figure slowly turned to face them, her features obscured by the shadow of her hood. For a moment, no one moved. Ava felt the weight of the woman's gaze settle on her, cold and unnerving. Then, in a voice as smooth as silk, the woman spoke.
"Welcome, travelers. You've come far to reach the Tower of Echoes. But tell me… what is it that you seek?"
Ava's throat went dry. She glanced at Luke, who gave her a slight nod, signaling her to speak. Her heart raced as she chose her words carefully.
"We seek a way to survive this world," Ava said. "We were told the tower could help us."
The woman let out a soft, almost amused laugh, her head tilting slightly to the side. "The tower can grant many things… but survival comes at a price. Are you willing to pay it?"
Kara stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "We're not afraid of a challenge."
The woman's attention shifted to Kara, and for the first time, Ava saw a glint of something dark and dangerous in the depths of her hood. "You are bold, but boldness can lead to recklessness. Many have sought the power within these walls, and many have fallen."
"What's the price?" Luke asked, his voice steady but cautious.
The woman's lips curled into a slow, eerie smile. "The tower's power can reshape your fate, but it requires a sacrifice. You must each face the trials of the Echoes. Only then will you be granted what you seek."
Ava felt a chill run down her spine. "What kind of trials?"
"The kind that test your mind, your heart, and your soul," the woman replied, her voice like the wind whispering through the trees. "The Echoes will show you the truth of who you are… and you must be willing to confront it."
Luke exchanged a glance with Ava, his jaw tight. "We'll take the trials."
The woman nodded slowly, and as she did, the room began to shift. The walls seemed to ripple, the air growing heavier as the ground beneath their feet trembled. The stone statue at the center of the room began to glow, its eyes slowly opening to reveal empty, swirling voids.
"Very well," the woman said softly. "Let the trials begin."
Suddenly, the floor beneath Ava's feet gave way, and she felt herself falling into darkness. Her breath caught in her throat as she tumbled through the void, her heart racing with fear and confusion. She couldn't see Luke, Kara, or the woman—everything was swallowed by the inky blackness.
And then, just as quickly as it had begun, the fall stopped. Ava landed hard on cold stone, gasping as she tried to catch her breath. Her surroundings came into focus, and she found herself alone in a narrow, dimly lit corridor.
She looked around, panic rising in her chest. "Luke? Kara?"
There was no answer. She was completely alone.
The corridor stretched endlessly before her, the walls covered in the same glowing runes she'd seen in the main chamber. But these runes felt different—darker, more sinister. The faint whispering sound she'd heard earlier returned, louder this time, and it seemed to come from all around her, growing more insistent with every passing second.
Ava's hand instinctively went to her sword, but as she drew it from its sheath, the runes on the walls flared with light, and the whispering grew into a deafening roar.
And then, she heard it.
A voice, clear and distinct amidst the cacophony, calling her name.
"Ava…"