Chapter Thirty-Three
Lilith steadied her breath, her resolve hardening with each passing second. The weight of the task before she pressed heavily on her shoulders, but she couldn't afford to falter. Her friends were trapped, their minds consumed by illusions spun by the parasitic Dream Walkers. And now, their only hope of freedom rested on her shoulders.
She clenched her fists, her eyes scanning the glowing forest around her. "The queen," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the soft hum of the enchanted trees. "They won't release their hosts unless their queen is destroyed. That's all I know... and it's not enough."
Frustration bubbled inside her, and she exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to her forehead. For a moment, doubt threatened to creep in. How was she supposed to find and defeat the queen of such a powerful entity with so little information?
Then, like a spark in the darkness, a thought struck her. "Wait—Willow Haven!" she exclaimed, her voice cutting through the silence. Her heart raced as hope began to take root. "The biggest library in all of Amethyst is here. If any place holds the secrets of the Dream Walkers, it's there."
Her mind raced with possibilities, but she knew the danger wasn't over. Willow Haven had become a perilous place, with enemies lurking in every shadow. She had to move quickly and quietly, staying one step ahead of whatever—or whoever—might come after her.
Steeling herself, Lilith looked ahead into the forest, the shimmering trees casting an otherworldly glow on her determined expression. "I'll find the answers," she vowed, her voice firm. "And I'll save them."
With renewed purpose, she pushed forward, weaving through the enchanted forest. Every rustle of leaves and flicker of light heightened her senses, her every step deliberate. Time was running out, and failure wasn't an option.
In the crafted illusions woven by the Dream Walkers, Crimson found himself in a room illuminated by a warm golden glow. Lilith's voice called out sharply, breaking through the haze in his mind.
"Crimson, Crimson, Crimson!" Her tone was insistent, snapping him out of his stupor.
He blinked, disoriented, as he focused on the figures before him: Lilith, standing tall and resolute; Gale, who radiated a calm yet commanding presence; and a girl with a witch's hat perched at an angle, misted glasses hiding her eyes. The witch, known as Nox, exuded an enigmatic air, her subtle smirk suggesting she knew far more than she let on.
Suddenly, the room's heavy atmosphere shifted as another figure entered. A young man stepped into the space, his pale skin contrasting sharply with his jet-black hair, tied neatly at the back. His piercing blood-red eyes swept across the room with an air of calculated confidence.
"You started without me?" the newcomer exclaimed, his tone laced with mock irritation.
Lilith turned toward him, her expression softening ever so slightly. "No, Sebastian, we didn't. You're just in time."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. "Good. Let's get on with it."
Lilith returned her focus to Crimson, stepping closer. "Now that everyone is here, you can begin." Her words carried a sense of urgency, though her calm exterior betrayed nothing.
Crimson glanced at each of them in turn, a sinking feeling gnawing at the edges of his consciousness. Something wasn't right. Yet, in this illusionary world, the line between reality and fabrication was becoming harder to discern.
Would he discover the truth, or would the Dream Walkers' trap tighten its grip, ensnaring him even further?
Crimson rubbed the back of his neck, staring at the group as though trying to steady himself. "Wait," he asked suddenly, his brows furrowed, "what are we talking about again?"
"How to get into Alpha Dawn to get the medicines," Lilith replied, her voice steady but tinged with urgency.
The realization hit Crimson like a lightning bolt. "Oh! Right—that," he said, his tone shifting. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, his gaze softening as he looked at each of them. "Look, I know... it has been hard since we lost the Knight."
His voice trembled, and for a moment, his usual confidence wavered. He wiped away a stray tear from his cheek and offered a small, bittersweet smile. "Isn't it funny? He took care of us for so long, yet we never even learned his real name."
The room grew still, the weight of his words pressing down on them all. Crimson's hands curled into fists as he continued, his voice steadier now. "But here's the thing: we're the oldest ones left. It's on us now. And I'll be damned if we let him down."
He took another step forward, his fiery determination lighting up his expression. "The Knight would've wanted us to take responsibility—to keep protecting one another. So here's what we're going to do. We're going to sneak into Alpha Dawn, the most technologically advanced city in all of Amethyst, and we're going to get those medicines."
Crimson's gaze swept over his companions, searching their faces for resolve. "We owe it to the little Morgan and the other kids, to everyone counting on us. Are you with me?"
The silence that followed wasn't empty—it was filled with unspoken oaths and shared determination. One by one, nods of agreement followed, each of them steeling themselves for the dangerous mission ahead.
Miles finally skidded to a stop outside his junior high school, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. He leaned forward, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. "How could I screw this up so badly?" he muttered, his voice tinged with both frustration and panic.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, he stood upright and glanced at the school entrance. Students were already filing in, and the realization of how late he was sent a fresh jolt of urgency through him. "I can't believe I made her call me," he groaned, tugging at his hair.
His heart pounded—not just from the run, but from the weight of what today meant. Laurel. Her voice still echoed in his ears from the frantic phone call earlier. "I promised myself," Miles whispered, clenching his fists, "that I'd tell her how I feel about her today. And now... now this is happening!"
With a sharp exhale, he squared his shoulders. There was no turning back. If today was the day, then he wasn't going to let a rough start ruin everything. "Alright, Miles," he muttered to himself, bolting up the steps. "Time to fix this mess."