Ethan, Lena and Alex stumbled through the endless darkness, disoriented. Flickering starlight offered scant illumination.
"This is Nimrod's domain," Ethan whispered, awe and terror mingling. "We must find a way out."
Lena's hand instinctively found Ethan's. "Together."
Alex scanned their surroundings. "No landmarks, no escape routes. We're lost."
Julian's mocking laughter echoed, seeming to come from everywhere.
"You'll never leave," Julian taunted. "Nimrod's power grows. Your souls will fuel eternity."
Suddenly, dark tendrils snaked around them, tightening.
"Run!" Ethan yelled.
The trio sprinted blindly, tendrils snapping at their heels.
A faint glow materialized ahead – an ancient portal. Nimrod's symbol pulsed upon its surface.
"The exit," Ethan exclaimed.
" Run towards the exit! ", Ethan exclaimed again.
Julian appeared, eyes blazing. "You'll never pass."
Ethan charged, his friends clashing with Julian.
In the chaos, Lena broke free, running towards the portal.
"Nimrod's secret," she whispered.
Lena touched the symbol. The portal flared. Darkness recoiled.
"For us, for our world," Lena declared.
The portal's radiance enveloped them.
Light shone and the darkness recoiled even more. Their hope of survival spiking like their heart rates.
" We did it ", Alex laughed.
" Thanks to Lena " Ethan smirked. " Now , we need to figure out how to get out of here ", Ethan said.
" Else, we'll be lost in here forever," Alex whispered.
Lena clutched Ethan's hand firmer than before." Relax ", she said looking into Ethan's eyes, " We'll be okay. We'll find a way."
Julian's menacing laughter echoed once more.
" What! ", Ethan exclaimed.
" You thought you could get rid of me that easily ", Julian said smirking.
" We gotta get outta here ", Ethan urged. " Now! ", Ethan exclaimed as the trio turned towards the portal, which was now 10 meters away from them.
" What! I... I... It was j... just here ", Lena stammered in fear.
" We can still make it ', Ethan urged them. As they quickened their paces and headed for the portal.
Ethan's faced changed, after realizing that they had made no progress. It was almost like...
" ... We're running in the same place ", Alex cut in.
" Or, the distance between the portal and the three of us, is constantly increasing ", Lena added.
Julian chuckled once more. " You fools, did you think you would escape so easily? Did you seriously think I would let you escape? What do you take me for? Your souls will forever fuel Nimrod's eternity," Julian taunted.
Dark tendrils ensnared them. The trio struggled.
"Run!" Ethan yelled.
They sprinted blindly. But the tendrils were faster grasping them with a thunderous grip. The more they struggled for freedom, the more the tendrils tightened.
"Alex!" Ethan screamed.
Alex vanished, consumed by darkness.
"Lena!" Ethan shrieked.
Tendrils wrapped Lena, pulling her away.
Ethan lunged. Tendrils bound him.
Lena's screams echoed. Ethan watched in horror.
Julian appeared, eyes blazing.
"Your friends are gone. Nimrod claims them, but they are not yet dead. You will watch them die"
Lena's cries silenced. Darkness swallowed Alex.
Ethan's mind shattered.
"You're next," Julian sneered.
Ethan's mind went blank.
Ethan knew that he was the piece to an incomplete puzzle, so he knew Julian wouldn't just kill him like that.
"You'll suffer eternal torment, if you don't give in to me ", Julian taunted.
" What do you want ", Ethan said smiling as if he had his way.
" All I am asking for is your essence ", Julian smiled.
" My essence? ", Ethan questioned.
" Yes. The essence of your soul, Ethan. Give it to me! ", Julian demanded.
" I can't give you that ", Ethan sneered feeling it's importance in him.
" I said give it to me ", Julian demanded again. " This is your last chance, or watch your friends die ", Julian completed.
" You wouldn't dare " , Ethan said in a somewhat daring tone.
Julian smirked, turning to face the shadows, Julian waved his hande in the air.
Lena and Alex emerged from the darkness, still entangled by the tendrils and struggling for freedom.
" Since you say so "' Julian added.
Before Ethan could utter a word, Julian had begun his blinding terror.
Lena shrieked as the tendrils ripped her arms from their sockets. Blood splattered, arterial spray painting the shadows and it's surrounding. Her eyes widening in agony tears rolling down her eyes as she looked at Ethan.
"Lenaaaa!" Ethan screamed with horror and sadness.
Alex's cries echoed. Tendrils tore his abdomen, his intestines spilling. Organs ruptured, splattering viscera.
Ethan's horror intensified. Julian's eyes blazed.
"Your turn, Ethan" Julian sneered.
Tendrils constricted Ethan. Bones cracked, splintering. Ribs shattered, puncturing his lungs.
Ethan's vision blurred. Agony overwhelmed him. He had lost everything. His parents, his friends and his life.
Tears filled his eyes as he stared at Lena's lifeless body and Alex's mutilated form.
Ethan's world went black amidst Julian's triumphant laughter.