Haloma lay motionless on the damp ground, her eyes staring into the void, vacant and expressionless. Slowly, she moved her hand in front of her face, but all she saw was darkness. Thoughts jumbled in her mind, unable to distinguish if this darkness surrounding her was an external force, or if she had lost her sight completely.
I can't see... have I lost my sight too? she thought, a slight panic seeping into her mind. Waves of sharp pain flooded her head, like invisible thorns slowly piercing her skull. This really hurts... She touched her head with a trembling hand in a futile attempt to ease the pain. Then she thought, Maybe I lost consciousness from the fall...
With immense effort, she forced her body to sit up. Her head swayed in protest, but she held on to her balance.
Where's Kaeric? she remembered, and worry etched into her expression. She looked around, the mist closing in on her like a cage.
Was that Kaeric?
Or is this just a hallucination from the fog?
She shut her eyes tightly for a moment, trying to recall what had happened.
The ghostly light, the misty entity, those glowing white eyes.
Ghosts...? The thought unsettled her even more.
She pushed herself to stand, her body reluctantly responding. She stretched her hands forward cautiously, taking small, hesitant steps. With every step, she waved her arms, hoping to feel something, anything—any clue that would lead her to Kaeric. But all she sensed was an overwhelming loneliness, sinking her deeper into a prison of isolation.
I'm pathetic, she thought, then slowly moved her lips to call out Kaeric's name, but the words betrayed her; her voice did not emerge. Why can't I even call for him? She couldn't cry, though the tears lay hidden, lurking behind her heavy, sorrow-laden eyelids.
Her hands trembled unconsciously, and in a moment of frustration, she clenched her fist tightly, her nails digging into the flesh of her palm. If anything happened to Kaeric... she thought with an internal fury, this forest will pay. I'll burn it down... I'll tear it apart!
Haloma couldn't make out the distances or directions around her.
Suddenly, a faint sound broke the silence—a soft voice that drifted through the damp air, as gentle as the whisper of the wind among the trees. "Loma..." It lingered in the air, strange yet familiar, making her body freeze for a moment.
And she knew, deep within her heart, that it was Kaeric's voice. She should feel relieved, but something was wrong. The voice that had brought hope was laced with an unsettling energy.
And Kaeric never called her "Loma"—he always preferred to call her "Haloma."
Despite Haloma's mind screaming with continuous warnings, her body moved in complete opposition.
Her feet pulled her forward, her steps increasing in speed involuntarily.
She didn't fully know where she was heading, but the voice calling, "Loma…" had stolen what little logic she had left.
Kaeric needs me, she thought, and the closer she got, the stronger the negative energy became. Yet, her mind was consumed by only one thing: I must save him… even if it costs me my life.
The voice returned again, "Loma…" This time, like claws sneaking into her ears and piercing her mind.
Suddenly, Haloma's foot struck something solid beneath the wet leaves. She didn't realize what had happened until she fell hard to the ground, a sharp pain radiating through her body as she crashed into the trunk of a massive tree. She shielded her face with her hands, but the pain in her side and shoulders made her pause for a moment, warm blood trickling from her cheek.
And the voice came back. "Loma…" This time, it was so close, so insistent it was impossible to ignore.
Haloma pushed herself to her feet again, wiping the blood from her cheek with determination. I have to reach Kaeric, no matter what it takes. She started running again, her body leaning forward, her legs barely holding her up. She fell again, this time harder. Her body struck the harsh ground, and pain echoed through her limbs and back, forcing her to stop for a moment, unable to move.
This hurts… she thought, tears of frustration welling up in her eyes without permission. She quickly wiped her face, thinking with renewed resolve: I won't give up… not now.
She rose slowly, stumbling over debris and broken branches beneath her feet.
The voice returned, "Loma…" but now it was just a part of reality. The sense of the negative energy around her was what guided her.
Kaeric… Kaeric is waiting for me, she thought, gathering her remaining strength. Her heavy steps quickened blindly.
Then the voices began to multiply.
It was no longer one voice, but multiple whispers from all sides, each calling, "Loma…" in a soft tone filled with hatred.
Is this a nightmare?
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her conflicting thoughts.
Damn this place… I'm so scared.
"Loma… Loma…" The whispers grew louder and louder, the tone of urgency increasing with each passing moment.
Something is wrong. And in a fleeting moment of realization, she understood: I have to try a different plan… I'll reach Kaeric, even if I have to run forever!
She began to retreat slowly, the whispers following her persistently.
"Loma… Loma…" the voices took on a harsher, more urgent tone, as if challenging her decision. "Loma… Loma… Loma…" It was clear now—these calls were not just whispers but accusations, a relentless mockery of every mistake she had made.
She ran with all her might. Then she caught a glimpse of light in the distance, the first glimmer of hope she had seen in a long time. She lifted her eyes slightly and pushed herself toward it with doubled strength.
"Loma…!" the voices grew louder, mocking her, taunting her. "Loma!"
In an instant, the ghostly white figures faded from the mist, revealing their true nature at last. She realized that what she faced was more complicated than she had imagined. They aren't ghosts… Conflicted emotions clouded her steps, and she stumbled, falling heavily to the ground. She tried to stand quickly, but the mysterious glow she had seen from afar began to wrap around her from all directions.
She couldn't ignore the negative energy she felt. For a brief moment, she saw them—those mysterious entities moving quickly behind the trees. Ghosts or misty creatures, she wasn't sure. All she knew was that they grew clearer each time Haloma felt afraid. She sank to her knees, exhausted, trembling. I'm scared… she thought, as a feeling of dread seeped into her being, engulfing every cell in her body. I'm so tired… Kaeric… help me… and terror mounted inside her. She wanted to cry, to scream, but her voice was trapped within her.
I'm scared! The words echoed inside her mind, trying to instill dread within herself. I'm scared! I'm terrified! I hate this so much, so much!! She kept repeating the words, and the voices around her transformed into whispers responding to her emotions, soaked with mockery and urgency.
Haloma made up her mind.
She bent her head to the ground, clutching it tightly between her hands.
I'm scared… I'm terrified… I'm petrified…
Then, she caught a glimpse of movement through the mist. They appeared again, but they weren't ghosts. They were strange creatures, glowing with bright lights piercing through the darkness.
One of them advanced towards her with a strange confidence, its voice childish and soft, calling to her, "Loma? Loma!" It approached close enough for her to feel the coldness of its presence.
And as it said "Loma" once more, her hands moved instinctively, and without thinking, she broke through the mist surrounding the luminous creature, wrapping her hands tightly around its fragile body.
Got you! she thought, an unexpected relief flooding her.
"Loma!!!" the creature cried out in terror, "Loma!!! Loma!!!!" trying to break free, but Haloma tightened her arms around it. She left it no chance to escape, holding it with all her remaining strength.
The creature struggled to flee, but it was helpless.