The forest had become a labyrinth of shadows. Elara could feel the weight of the curse pressing down on her, heavier with every step.
The air was thick, suffocating, as though the very trees were leaning in, watching her, waiting for her to falter.
Leif moved silently ahead, his eyes constantly scanning the dark for any signs of movement.
But it wasn't the prince's men that Elara feared. It was the curse itself, the darkness that seemed to pulse beneath her skin, drawing her deeper into its grasp.
Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She tried to focus on the path ahead, but her mind was clouded by the visions that had begun to haunt her. The glimpses of the ruined kingdom, the silver-haired prince standing alone in the shadows—it was all too vivid, too real.
"Elara," Leif's voice was a low whisper, pulling her from her thoughts. "We're close."
"Close to what?" she asked,
her voice barely above a whisper.Leif pointed through the trees. "There's a clearing up ahead. We can rest there."Rest.
The idea seemed foreign to her now. How could she rest when the curse was so close, when every moment felt like it was drawing her toward something inevitable? But she nodded, too exhausted to argue.
As they neared the clearing, Elara's vision blurred, the world around her spinning. She stumbled, her hand reaching out to steady herself against a tree. The bark was rough under her fingertips, grounding her, but it wasn't enough to push away the growing darkness in her mind.
"Elara!" Leif was at her side in an instant, his hand on her arm.
"What's wrong?"She shook her head, trying to clear the fog that had settled over her thoughts. "It's the curse... I can feel it."Leif's brow furrowed with concern.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm connected to it," she whispered, her voice trembling. "It's pulling me in. I don't know how much longer I can resist it."Leif's grip tightened on her arm, his eyes hardening with determination.
"We'll figure this out. We just need to keep moving. Don't let it take hold."Elara wanted to believe him, but the truth was, she could already feel the curse sinking its claws into her.
It was only a matter of time before it consumed her completely.They reached the clearing just as the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon. The sky was painted in hues of deep purple and red, casting an eerie glow over the forest.
Elara sank to the ground, her body trembling with exhaustion. She could feel the earth beneath her, its pulse weak and erratic, as though the curse had drained it of life.Leif sat beside her, his eyes scanning the treeline.
"We can't stay here long," he said quietly.
"The prince's men will be close."Elara nodded, though her mind was elsewhere. The vision had returned, sharper now, more vivid.
She could see the cursed kingdom in ruins, the once-grand castle crumbling into dust. And at the center of it all was the prince, his silver hair gleaming in the pale light of the moon.
His eyes, cold and empty, stared back at her as though he could see right through her.She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. The curse wasn't just coming for her—it was already inside her, twisting her power, turning it against her.
"We have to keep going," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "We can't outrun it, Leif. The curse... it's too strong."
Leif looked at her, his eyes filled with determination. "Then we fight it. Whatever it takes, we fight."Elara wanted to believe him, wanted to hold onto the hope that they could somehow defeat the curse.
But deep down, she knew the truth.This was a battle they couldn't win.The night was still, the silence broken only by the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Elara's eyelids grew heavy, her body finally succumbing to the exhaustion that had been gnawing at her for hours.
She closed her eyes, hoping for a moment of peace, but the visions returned the moment her mind began to drift.
She was standing in the ruined kingdom again, the cold wind biting at her skin. The sky was dark, the clouds heavy with the promise of a storm. The prince stood before her, his silver hair whipping in the wind, his eyes locked onto hers.
"Elara," his voice was low, barely a whisper, but it echoed in her mind. "You can't run from this."She took a step back, her heart racing.
"What do you want from me?"The prince's lips curled into a cold, cruel smile. "You already know."
Elara shook her head, fear clawing at her chest. "I'm not your enemy."The prince's eyes darkened, and for a moment, the air around her seemed to freeze.
"You are the key," he said, his voice cold and unfeeling. "You will break the curse, or you will be consumed by it."She woke with a start, her breath coming in ragged gasps
. The vision had felt so real, so vivid. She could still feel the cold wind against her skin, the weight of the prince's gaze.
"Elara?" Leif's voice was soft, filled with concern. "What is it?"She shook her head, unable to find the words. The curse was tightening its grip on her, pulling her deeper into the darkness. And the prince... he was waiting for her.
"We need to move," she whispered, her voice trembling. "We can't stay here." Leif nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. He helped her to her feet, and together they began to make their way through the forest once more, the shadows closing in around them.
Elara could feel the curse watching her, waiting for her to fall.And this time, she wasn't sure if she could resist.
Author's Note:
Elara's connection to the curse is becoming clearer, and the prince's role in this dark game is emerging. What do you think of Elara's visions? Are they mere glimpses of her fate.