The cold night air clung to Olivia and Mia as they pressed on through the fog, their minds racing with the demon's final taunt. It wasn't just the thought of this demon escaping that chilled them—it was the possibility of others. If there were more like it, bound in hidden prisons across the cemetery, they would need to act fast to prevent them from breaking free.
Without another look back, they began searching for the gems, each one hidden near specific tombstones, hoping that placing them correctly would keep whatever forces lay dormant from awakening. They moved through the cemetery in tense silence, feeling time slipping away as they hunted for each gem and quickly aligned it with its corresponding tombstone. For now, they dared not look back toward the demon, focusing solely on their task.
As they reached the final tombstone and placed the last gem, Olivia and Mia caught sight of the demon once more in the distance. Its form was now heavily chained, and the bindings glowed with an intense, almost blinding light as they wrapped tightly around it, anchoring the creature in place with a fierce, vengeful grip. With each pulse of light, the chains seemed to dig deeper, emitting an eerie crackle that drowned out the demon's snarls.
"This should be the last one," Olivia whispered, her voice laced with both relief and fear. The ground trembled slightly beneath them as the final gem clicked into place, sending out a final pulse that swept across the cemetery, strengthening the chains around the demon and casting a cold, protective glow over the graveyard.
---
Meanwhile, in a shadowed part of the cemetery, Cain was locked in battle with a dark, masked figure. This figure moved with unsettling precision, controlling a monstrous, spectral creature whose roar reverberated with an otherworldly power. Each roar shook Cain to his core, its soul-crushing impact echoing the sensation Olivia had felt earlier. The figure made subtle gestures, each one directing the monster with deadly intent.
"Who are you?" Cain's voice was a low growl, frustration and fatigue creeping in as he dodged the creature's claws, blocking it with every ounce of his strength. "And why are you targeting me?"
The masked figure let out a dark chuckle, taunting him with every word. "You don't remember, do you?" The voice was distorted but laced with a familiarity that only deepened Cain's confusion. "So many sins forgotten… buried deep. But I remember." It gestured, sending the monster lunging at Cain, forcing him back several paces.
Cain gritted his teeth, holding his ground. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, you'll remember soon enough." The figure's voice dripped with mockery. "And when you do, I'll be waiting."
Cain tried to sever the connection between the masked figure and the monster, sensing a weakening each time he disrupted the figure's control. But just as he started to gain ground, the figure suddenly looked toward the demon in the distance, noticing the final pulse of light from the last gem.
The masked figure's head tilted in interest, and with a soft, almost amused laugh, it began to back away. "I'd love to stay and reminisce, Cain, but I have other matters to attend to."
Cain braced, ready for a final strike, but just before the masked figure could disappear into the shadows, it began to recite a strange incantation in a language Cain couldn't recognize. Then, with a swift flick of its wrist, it hurled a small, dark object toward the chained, white-eyed demon in the distance.
---
Olivia and Mia froze as they heard the distant incantation carried through the fog, watching as the object sailed through the air, landing at the demon's feet with a heavy thud. A second later, an ominous clicking sound filled the air, like the snapping of bones or the unhinging of a lock.
Mia's heart raced as she grabbed Olivia's arm, her eyes wide with horror. "Did… did the chains just—"
Before she could finish, the chains around the demon rattled ominously, loosening just enough for the creature to regain its stance. It lifted its head, eyes blazing with a vicious, triumphant gleam.
"Oh, you're clever girls, aren't you?" the demon sneered, its voice dripping with venom. "But you can't hold me forever."
Olivia and Mia took a step back, feeling the cold weight of dread settle over them. Cain appeared from the shadows, his face hardened as he watched the demon struggle against its weakened chains.
"Cain!" Olivia called, relief flooding her voice, though it was short-lived as she noticed the grim look on his face. "Who was that?"
Cain shook his head, gaze never leaving the demon. "Someone with a vendetta," he muttered, anger simmering in his tone. "And they just made things a lot worse."
The demon grinned, its jagged teeth glinting in the moonlight. "The disturbance in this cemetery… it hasn't just freed me," it hissed. "There are others. Others who will be even hungrier than I am."
Its laughter echoed, haunting and bitter, fading into the night as Olivia, Mia, and Cain realized the gravity of what had just been unleashed.