The forest was darker than I'd imagined, suffocating in a way that made my breath feel shallow.
I entered the dark and mysterious Veil-wood Hollow. The fog moved around my feet like it was alive and every branch and shadow seemed to be watching me.
Every move I made was careful as the dried leaves crunching under my feet.
Even with the thick fog trying to slow me down I kept moving forward.
There's more on the line now.
The goal wasn't just to win. It's about finding who I am gathering up the scattered pieces of myself in this place.
The trees creaked and swayed from the wind, and for a moment, I thought I heard a whisper. I stopped suddenly and looked carefully at the thick bushes.
Nothing. I balled up my fists pressing my nails into my palms. Keep it together, Lara. I had to focus. No distractions.
I pulled up the mental map I'd created from the conversations I'd heard. If the pieces of the soul were hidden in places like this they wouldn't just be sitting there for someone to find easily.
There would be tests, obstacles, challenges. The underworld offered no mercy—the initial test made that clear.
As I went further into the forest the trees looked like it was getting closer together. The light dimmed. It was making it difficult for me to know if I was going the right way at this point. My heart beat faster. Is this the right way?
I heard a creak but it wasn't me so I spun around to see something moving behind the fog.
Oh my god.
I tensed as I held my sword not familiar with its weight but still feeling like it wasn't enough in my hand. What's behind the fog?
I swallowed as my hands shook.
A familiar figure appeared through the mist walking calmly. Of course, it was him. Grey eyes. Always showing up when I least wanted him to. My heartbeat fast as irritation overtook my brain. I didn't need this right now. Not here.
"What are you doing here?" My voice cut through the silence, sharp like I was accusing him. "Were you following me?"
He smirked. I'd wanted nothing but to wipe his smugness with a slap, but I controlled myself.
He shrugged casually. "Following you? You're not that interesting." He looked amused and it made me feel tingly all over.
"I'm here for the same reason you are. If you think you're the only one hunting soul fragments, you're wrong."
I tightened my grip on the sword. This guy always managed to find me. He was interrupting the time I wanted to be alone and think about my plans. Maybe it's not that bad. A small voice said in my head. Maybe I could team up with him? The idea of teaming up with him—him of all people—was a joke.
He moved closer. "Look, we both know the competition is only going to get harder from here. These woods aren't empty." He motioned towards the dark shapes surrounding us. "There are things out there. Things that don't care about our little rivalry."
I looked around trying to spot anything hiding in the fog but all I saw were the twisted trees their branches that came at me like claws. He was actually right. I had heard stories about terrifying creatures lurking in these woods protecting the soul pieces like strange guards. But can I trust him? That was a different kind of risk.
"And? You think teaming up will help?" I asked, my voice low. "Just because you don't want to deal with them alone?"
He looked directly into my eyes without blinking. "We can cover more ground together. You know it makes sense."
A part of me hated that he was right. The fog was getting thicker and the forest was becoming more dangerous as we walked further. If we encountered a problem that neither of us could solve on our own we would both suffer more than just failing to find the fragments. We'd lose everything.
I paused feeling the weight of the silence between us.
"Fine," I said finally, my voice hard. "But this is temporary. The moment we find the fragments, you're on your own."
He smiled again but this time it was softer.
"Wouldn't expect anything less. The name's Mason."
I'm certain he expects me to tell him mine. No. I won't do that if he doesn't ask.
I looked away from him and looked at the strange horizon trying to hide the worry in my stomach. Working with him felt wrong. But I couldn't get rid of the feeling that at the moment it was the only way to move forward.
The air thickened as we went further. The ground became softer. It's not quite like mud but something that sank with every step as if it was trying to pull us in completely. I didn't like it. Not the forest, not the silence, and especially not him walking just a few steps behind me.
A soft weird sound mixing with the whispers caught my attention.
I looked back at him Mason. He's so unbearable. He strolled with his normal attitude that I would never get used to.
"So, what's the plan? Saint Mason is going to save us all with his calm and righteousness?" I couldn't help but throw a jab.
He didn't look at me. Mason just kept his eyes ahead as he searched the dimly lit path. "If I were you, I'd focus more on surviving than keeping up this superior act."
The bluntness of his words hit me. I clenched my jaw stopping myself from responding. He had a point, but I wasn't ready to admit it. Not to him.
"Oh, please," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I've survived worse than this."
"Have you?" he shot back. He finally glanced at me, his dark and mysterious eyes stayed on for a little too long before he looked away. "Because the way I see it, you're just as trapped here as the rest of us."
I exhaled sharply and looked away.
"So, what's your name?" he finally asked, as if the question meant nothing.
I hesitated. "Lara."
"Nice to meet you, Lara." His voice was annoyingly neutral.
I didn't respond.
I moved forward choosing not to glance back at Mason. The silence between us grew.
As we continued, the temperature dropped and it became extremely cold. The cold was so intense that it felt like it was grabbing into my bones making it difficult to take a deep breath.
Then I saw it. A movement, just from the corner of my eye.
I froze. Shadowy figures moved between trees, barely visible in the fog, shifting like smoke as the glowing blue orbs locked onto us.
Soul Eaters. It was exactly like they described.
The air became thinner as the light grew dimmer and the ground got colder. A deep chill grabbed into something inside me.
I held my sword tighter.
An unsettling sucking sound filled the air, starting soft but growing louder. It seemed like they were feeding, drawing out souls and consuming the remaining life in this place.
Mason and I noticed the approaching Soul Eaters in the fog. Their barely audible whispers made me shiver.
As the Soul Eaters got closer, the feeling of numbness grew stronger and created a chilling emptiness in the air. Would we feel a thing when they get us?
I took a step back, their presence pressing down on me. My breath became faster as the cold got worse. Then something flickered. It was a faint glow coming from the remains of what looked like a temple.
The soul fragment? It had to be!
"There," Mason whispered as he looked at the light from afar while we carefully continued moving ahead. I sensed his stress. Never thought I'd get to see him this tensed even though he looked calm.
The Soul Eaters stayed near the edge of the clearing observing and being patient. Then a low rumble spread through the ground, gentle at first. What's happening?
"Ah!" I screamed, clutching Mason's arm as the ground buckled beneath his feet then it gave way. We both fell through the ground.
The faint glow from what I suspected as the soul fragment flickered, and before I could react, an eerie voice echoed through the air.
"I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?"
The old and cold voice echoed. What the hell? My heart jumped as I scanned the ruins, trying to locate the source, but there was nothing. Just the voice. Is it soul eaters asking these riddles?
"A riddle?" I muttered under my breath, my mind racing. "Are you serious? This is the test?"
Mason gave a small shrug. "Seems like it."
I stared at him angrily, my heart still pounding in my ears. "There's no time for riddles, we need to—"
"Echo," Mason cut me off but the ground trembled once more, and the ruins shifted. The air around us cleared just enough for me to see it—the soul fragment.
It floated slightly, casting a greeen glowing light.
I took a step forward, my heart hammering in my chest, my fingers itching to reach out and grab it. But before I could move any further, the sound hit me. That same sucking sound from before, growing louder, closer.
The Soul Eaters are back.
I felt numbness all over my body like cold air and light were freezing me.
"Mason, we need to—"
"I know," he interrupted. He brought me into a small hidden area of the stone building where we stood close together while the Soul Eaters passed by whispering in the quiet air.
I felt relieved, though it was strange. Not from escaping the Soul Eaters, but because Mason had saved me, showing I wasn't alone.
And I hated that I was grateful.
I shouldn't have been. I was Lara, independent and competitive. Yet, I had to admit I needed Mason and he proved useful, though it hurt my pride. Sigh.
I shifted uncomfortably in this secluded spot, feeling his soft breathing against me.
"We need to keep moving," I muttered, pushing past him and stepping out. The sound was gone.
Mason followed. "Yes. But next time, maybe don't wait until they're breathing down our necks before you decide to move."
I shot him a glare over my shoulder. He just smiled. Yes, as expected.
We still didn't have the soul fragment. It floated close like it was reminding us our purpose but now the darkness was growing once more with the Soul Eaters returning.
And this time, I wasn't sure we'd be able to hide.
The fragment beat like a heart from afar. Something pulled me forward.
The Soul Eaters waited as they floated in circles, and I swear, I could feel their cold eyes on us, draining whatever warmth remained in this place.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. This wasn't going to end well. We needed to grab the fragment and get out of here, but something told me it wasn't going to be that simple. It never was.
The ground shook again. I looked around to find Mason standing still, his eyes darting between the fragment between and the soul eaters. Oh my. He's scared. For the first time ever, the guy was scared and now it wasn't making me feel any better.
Without warning, the ground moved under our feet and the whole scene changed. We were no longer in the open ruins. The whole place was a darker chamber surrounding and closing in on us.
There was no exit.
"Good heavens!" I muttered, spinning around, searching for any sign of a way out. But the chamber was just seamless! We were trapped.
Then that cold voice spoke up again.
"I am not seen, yet I am always here, I end the journey, bring loss and fear. I hold no breath, I make no sound, Yet when I come, all must bow down. What am I?"
Another quiz? I thought we passed when Mason answered the first one. Darn it!
My mind raced, but it felt sluggish like I was being pressed down by something powerful. Of course it's the damn walls. I took a long breath. Calm down.
Mason was silent for a moment then I spoke up "Death."
Once I said the answer the room shifted again. Why the hell does it keep changing so much.
And then a green light reflected off the walls and floated towards us still beating like a heart. Closer, it looked like gem stone.
I was about to grab it and then the sucking sound came again. Okay, we need to get out of here!