The world was spinning as Xander's consciousness floated between realms, weightless and disoriented. His body jerked awake, and his eyes snapped open, revealing a vast, unfamiliar landscape. The air was crisp, the smell of earth and pine filling his lungs. The sun shone down from a brilliant sky, casting golden light over a thick forest that stretched out endlessly in every direction.
He sat up with a groan, disoriented but relieved to be free from the darkness. The last thing he remembered was the figure—the twisted version of himself—and Lyra's voice calling out to him. Where was she now? Where had he ended up?
"Lyra!" he shouted, his voice breaking the silence of the forest. There was no response, only the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.
His heart clenched with fear. She must be somewhere nearby. She has to be. He pushed himself to his feet, feeling the familiar weight of exhaustion in his limbs. Still, the strange serenity of the forest brought a brief sense of calm. It was nothing like the desolation of the abyss, or the oppressive presence of the Veil's creatures. This place was alive, vibrant with magic.
Xander brushed dirt from his hands and took a cautious step forward, scanning his surroundings. As he ventured deeper into the forest, he noticed the odd way the light filtered through the trees, casting shimmering, almost ethereal beams around him. Every so often, the air seemed to ripple, as if reality itself was bending slightly, barely noticeable but present. It was as if this forest were part of a different realm, a place between worlds.
But he had no time to marvel at the beauty. His priority was finding Lyra.
He walked for what felt like hours, the forest growing denser as he pushed through thick underbrush. His thoughts kept drifting back to the last few hours—or days?—and the cryptic words of his shadowed double. Was it right? Was the darkness truly a part of him? And if so, could he ever control it without losing himself?
I can't think about that now, he thought, shaking his head. First, I need to find her.
A twig snapped behind him.
Xander whirled around, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. His breath hitched as he strained to see beyond the thick foliage, his senses on high alert. The forest had grown unnervingly quiet, as if the trees themselves were holding their breath.
"Who's there?" he demanded, his voice steady despite the unease crawling up his spine.
There was no reply, only the soft rustle of leaves. But something was watching him—he could feel its gaze.
Suddenly, a massive shadow lunged from the trees, barreling toward him. Xander barely had time to react as he drew his sword and leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's crushing weight. It landed with a thunderous thud, shaking the ground beneath them.
The creature was enormous, easily the size of a horse, with a muscular, sinewy body covered in dark fur. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its maw dripped with saliva as it growled, circling him.
"Great," Xander muttered, gripping his sword tightly. "Another beast."
The creature charged again, faster this time, and Xander barely managed to parry its attack, the force of the blow sending shockwaves up his arm. He could feel the power of the Veil stirring within him, the temptation to tap into that strength gnawing at the edges of his consciousness.
But he couldn't let it consume him.
He dodged the creature's swiping claws, keeping his movements quick and precise. The forest floor was slick, making it harder to maneuver, but Xander was determined to stay one step ahead. As the beast lunged again, he sidestepped and slashed at its side, the blade connecting with a satisfying hiss as it cut through fur and flesh.
The creature howled in pain, staggering back, but it wasn't done. Its glowing eyes locked onto Xander with renewed fury, and it charged again, faster and more erratic.
Xander braced himself, knowing he couldn't keep up this pace for long. Think, Xander. Don't just fight—outsmart it.
He scanned the environment quickly, noticing a thick tree root jutting out of the ground just a few paces behind him. A plan formed in his mind, and he waited, timing his next move perfectly.
The beast roared and charged at him one last time, and Xander feigned weakness, letting the creature come dangerously close before diving to the side. The beast's momentum carried it straight into the exposed root, and it stumbled, crashing to the ground with a bone-jarring thud.
Before it could recover, Xander was on it, his sword flashing in the sunlight as he brought it down on the creature's neck in a decisive blow. The beast went still, its glowing eyes dimming as its life force drained away.
Xander stood there, breathing heavily, his pulse racing. As the adrenaline began to fade, the ground beneath the beast shimmered, and the dark energy within it seemed to evaporate into the air.
"What was that thing?" he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. This forest was strange—alive with magic he didn't fully understand. And something told him this wasn't the last time he'd face something like that.
But as he turned to leave, a voice echoed from deeper in the woods, faint but familiar.
"Xander…"
He froze, his heart pounding in his chest. It was Lyra.
"Lyra?" he called, sprinting in the direction of the voice. His legs burned as he pushed through the thick trees, driven by desperation.
"Xander… help…"
Her voice was growing fainter, like a distant whisper carried by the wind. He ran faster, refusing to let her slip away. But just as he reached a clearing, everything changed.
The forest around him flickered, the trees and grass fading into mist. The ground beneath him shifted, the air grew colder, and suddenly, he was standing on the edge of a massive cliff, overlooking a swirling vortex of shadows below.
And there, on the far side of the abyss, stood Lyra.
But something was wrong. Her eyes glowed with the same dark light he had seen in the creature. She smiled at him, an eerie, unnatural grin that sent chills down his spine.
"Lyra?" he whispered, taking a cautious step forward.
"Come, Xander," she beckoned, her voice twisted and hollow. "Join me in the abyss. This is where you belong."
A pit formed in Xander's stomach as he stared at her. This wasn't Lyra—something had taken her. Or worse, it had been watching them all along, and now it had her.
Before he could respond, the ground beneath his feet began to crumble, and the darkness of the abyss rose up to swallow him.