The Black Mire stretched endlessly, a swamp of viscous tar-like muck that clung to their boots and threatened to pull them under with every step. The sulfuric stench of rot and decay grew stronger, curling around their senses like a malevolent fog. The Core loomed in the distance, its defiled red glow pulsing like a dying sun, a constant reminder of how far they had come—and how much farther they had to go.
Rowan glanced back, her face twisted in a mix of disgust and determination. "This is like some messed-up video game level," she muttered, jumping over a patch of ooze that reached for her boot. "Y'know, like one of those scrolling platformers where the screen just keeps chasing you. Classic NES stuff."
Sylva, keeping pace, glanced at her with faint curiosity. "Scrolling platformers?"
Rowan turned her head, an eyebrow raised. "You don't know—"
"It reminds me of that movie with the goblins," Sylva interrupted, her tone thoughtful as she deftly avoided a bubbling patch of tar. "You know, the one where they had to run across boulders in the bog and the goblin king sang while throwing the baby."
Rowan blinked. "Wait, you've seen that movie? How do you know that?"
Sylva's expression remained calm, though there was the faintest hint of amusement in her eyes. "While maintaining the timelines, I found time to develop an appreciation for movies and television. Stories are fascinating windows into the human experience."
"You're a literal god-tree or whatever," Rowan said, exasperated. "How do you have time to—"
"Nows not the time!" Amara's sharp voice cut through their banter. She shoved past them, pointing at the edge of the path where the mire was closing in faster. "Keep running unless you want to end up part of this swamp!"
Rowan shot Sylva a bemused look but picked up her pace. "We're talking about this later."
Shadows writhed from the muck, their forms half-formed and grotesque, their glowing crimson eyes locking onto the group. One lunged, its skeletal hand reaching for Rowan's back. She spun, her rope dart snapping through the air with precision, slicing cleanly through the creature. It dissolved into the tar with a hiss.
"Anyone else feel like this place just keeps getting worse?" Rowan quipped, her breathing labored as she kept a watchful eye on their rear. "Shadows in the muck, air that smells like death, and that giant disco ball of doom ahead. What's not to love?"
"Less talking, more running!" Keiran barked, his shield raised as he led the way over the uneven terrain. His arms burned from exertion, and his breath came in shallow gasps. The path ahead twisted and warped, stone platforms rising and sinking in the bubbling tar. He leapt onto the nearest one, motioning for the others to follow. "Stay close! And watch your footing!"
Amara bounded after him, her fan snapping open as another shadow emerged to her left. With a flick of her wrist, a blast of wind sent the creature spiraling back into the mire. She skidded to a halt on the stone platform, her rifle shifting into her hands in a seamless motion. Her next shot rang out, the bullet piercing the head of a shadow that had nearly closed in on Sylva.
"Thanks!" Sylva called, her roots spreading across the stone to steady herself as she catapulted to the next platform. Her complexion was pale, her luminous eyes darting nervously to the shifting landscape ahead. "The Core's doing this! It knows we're close—it's trying to stop us!"
"Well, it's doing a damn good job of it," Rowan muttered, spinning her rope dart in a defensive arc as more shadows rose from the tar behind them. "I'm getting tired just looking at this mess."
Keiran glanced back, his brow furrowing as he noticed the strain in Rowan's movements and Amara's heavy breathing. "How's everyone holding up?" he called, his voice sharp but tinged with concern.
"Peachy," Rowan replied dryly, lashing her dart into a shadow's chest. "You?"
"Getting there," Amara admitted, pausing to fire another shot before breaking into a run. "This isn't exactly a sprint."
Keiran gritted his teeth. He was exhausted, but he couldn't let it show. The group needed him to stay strong, to lead them through this hellish mire. "We can't slow down. Keep moving!"
Sylva stumbled slightly as she floated down onto the platform, her roots retracting into the mire. "I see it now," she said, her voice faint. "It's not just the shadows—it's the terrain, the stench, the constant pressure. It's all meant to wear us down."
Amara growled in frustration, switching her fan back to her rifle, taking aim at a shadow that lunged toward Rowan. The shot rang true, the shadow disintegrating mid-air. "If only we could get a message to Aiden," she muttered. "He'd know what to do."
Rowan darted forward, her rope dart coiling back into her hand as she dodged another attack. "We've been over this! The Core has him. He's not coming."
Keiran's gaze hardened as he jumped onto the next platform, watching Sylva apprach after him. "What if Sylva tried to reach him?"
Sylva shook her head quickly, her voice tense. "I can't. I've never tried—it wouldnt work."
"You don't know that," Keiran interrupted, his tone firm. "We're so close. If the Core and you share some traits, maybe Aiden can hear you."
"Keiran's right," Amara added, her voice steady despite the desperation in her eyes. "It's worth a shot."
Sylva hesitated, glancing at the tar bubbling around them. "If I try and fail, it could alert the Core. We could be overrun."
"And if you don't try?" Rowan shot back, her gaze fierce. "We're already overrun."
Sylva exhaled shakily, nodding. "Fine. I'll do what I can."
The group slowed briefly as Sylva planted her bosom in keiran's grasp, her gown curling around his arms. She closed her eyes, her glow intensifying as she reached out. The air around her shimmered faintly, the light flickering like static. Her brows knitted together, her lips moving soundlessly as she strained against an invisible barrier.
Her glow flickered erratically, static lines of light splitting her form as though she were being torn apart. Her hands flew to her temples, and a sharp cry escaped her lips, a sound that cut through the mire like shattering glass.
A sudden, sharp cry escaped her as she clutched her head, staggering back. "I—I can't. It's not working," she gasped, her voice thick with pain.
Keiran steadied her, his grip firm on her shoulder. "Sylva, are you okay?"
She nodded weakly, though her hands trembled. "I failed."
Before anyone could respond, the shadows froze mid-lunge. A ripple of unseen force spread across the mire, halting the tide of darkness. The group stared in stunned silence as the shadows dissolved into the tar, leaving only the faint glow of the Core in the distance.
Before anyone could respond, a low rumble echoed through the mire. The shadows halted their advance, their forms dissolving into the tar as if pulled by an unseen force. The oppressive weight in the air lifted slightly, and the mire grew still.
"What just happened?" Amara asked, her rifle still trained on the horizon.
Sylva straightened, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. "We've reached it," she said quietly. "The Core's inner sanctum."
The group turned their attention forward. A massive stone platform rose from the mire, its surface etched with pulsating red veins. At its center stood the Core, a radiant sphere of corrupted energy that seemed to pulse in time with their racing hearts. Its light flickered and shimmered, casting eerie shadows across the platform.
As the group stepped onto the platform, the Core's light flared, bathing them in a crimson glow. A deep, resonant voice echoed in their minds, smooth and mocking. "Welcome," it said, the word dripping with malice. "You've come so far..."
The group braced themselves, their weapons at the ready. The Core pulsed again, its presence overwhelming. For a moment, it seemed to laugh, a sound that reverberated through their very souls.
The warm glow of crimson light bathed the stairway of roots, casting elongated shadows that seemed to shift and dance in the corners of Aiden's vision. Lila's hand was warm in his, her touch guiding him upward. He followed without question, his gaze fixed on her back, the soft sway of her movements hypnotic.
"You're doing so well," she said, her voice soothing. "We're almost there."
Her voice was honey-sweet, wrapping around him and pulling him deeper into her world. He nodded absently, his steps matching hers as if in a trance. The whispers in his mind were soft now, almost soothing, urging him forward. But as they ascended, a faint whisper broke through the haze, a static yet familiar voice calling his name.
"Aiden…"
He froze, his steps faltering. The whisper grew louder, more insistent, cutting through the fog in his mind. His grip on Lila's hand slackened, and he turned his head slightly, as if searching for the source.
Lila's smile faltered, her grip tightening. "Aiden?" she asked, her tone tinged with concern. "What's wrong?"
The whisper came again, clearer this time. "Aiden… don't forget…"
A flicker of doubt crossed his face, his gaze shifting between Lila and the unseen source of the voice. For the first time, her touch felt heavy as her grip quivered, like a tether rather than a comfort.
"I… I'm fine," he murmured, his voice uncertain. But the whisper lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.