"We are not alone," Mira said tightly.
Amara stopped, cocking her head to one side. "Yeah, I feel it, too. Something is watching us."
As if on cue, a low growl echoed through the corridor ahead. A pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the shadows, followed by another… and another.
"Finally," Amara said, a grin spreading across her face.
A pack of twisted creatures burst forth, their bodies distorted and grotesque. Their skin shone like oil, and their limbs flexed at unnatural angles. They moved with an unsettling fluidity, encircling the trio in the manner of predators sizing up a meal.
"Don't let them surround us!" Mira warned, raising her staff.
Amara didn't wait for further instructions. She lunged at the nearest creature, her daggers flashing as she struck with precision. The creature let out a guttural screech before dissolving into black mist, but two more took its place.
Emmie stepped forward, the shard flaring in his hand. He swung it like a blade, its light slicing through the creatures with ease. For a moment, the maze was filled with chaos—Mira's magic crackling in the air, Amara's sharp movements, and Emmie's determined strikes.
But the creatures kept coming. For every one they destroyed, two more seemed to emerge from the shadows.
"We can't keep this up!" Mira shouted, releasing another burst of light magic as the sweat dripped from her face.
Emmie glanced around. The shard in his hand pulsed faster now, almost urging him toward something, it seemed. His eyes landed on a faintly glowing rune at the end of the corridor-a symbol different from all the others.
"There!" he shouted, pointing at the rune. "I think it's a way out!"
"Great," Amara panted, slashing through another creature. "But how do we get to it with these things swarming us?"
Mira hesitated, then her eyes hardened. "I'll clear a path. Just go!"
Emmie began to argue, but something in Mira's eyes shut him down. "You're better with the shard," she said decidedly. "Get to the rune and get us out of here. I'll hold them off."
"Not alone, you won't," Amara said, moving up to stand beside her. She spun her daggers, her grin sharp despite the sweat and blood. "Go, Emmie. We'll cover you.
Emmie hesitated, his heart in his throat. The creatures were closing in, and their growls were sounding louder. Finally, he nodded.
"Be careful," he said, and his voice was tight.
He turned and ran, the shard lighting his way as he sprinted toward the glowing rune. The creatures seemed to sense his goal, and several broke off to pursue him. Emmie gritted his teeth, swinging the shard to fend them off as he ran.
Behind him, he heard Mira's voice, strong and commanding, as she let loose in another wave of magic. Amara's laughter sounded wild and defiant, fighting with all she had.
Finally, Emmie reached the rune. He pressed the shard against it, and the light flared, blinding and intense. The creatures screeched; their forms dissolving into nothing as the corridor shook violently.
A portal opened in the wall, swirling with golden light.
"Mira! Amara!" Emmie shouted, turning back.
The two women fought their way toward him, their movements frantic but skilled. Mira stumbled just as she reached the portal, and Emmie caught her, pulling her through. Amara followed a heartbeat later, diving into the light as the corridor collapsed behind them.
They landed in a heap on the far side, the portal closing behind them with a soft whoosh. The air was hot and still, the ground beneath them solid stone.
Emmie sat up, his heart racing. "Everyone okay?"
"Peachy," Amara said, though her breathing was ragged. She rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling.
Mira nodded, her face pale but determined. "We made it."
Emmie helped her to her feet, their hands outstretched for a moment more than necessary. Mira's eyes met his, and wordlessly, something passed between them—a silent thanks, a shared relief.
Amara groaned, pushing herself up. "If you two are done making googly eyes at each other, can we figure out where we are now?"
Emmie flushed, stepping back. He looked around, taking in their new surroundings. The chamber they were in was circular, with a high, domed ceiling. At the center stood a pedestal, and on it rested a small, glowing orb.
The shard in his hand pulsed again, brighter this time.
"This is it," Mira said, her voice soft with awe. "We're getting closer to the Heart."
Amara raised an eyebrow. "Closer? I was hoping this was the finish line."
"Not yet," Emmie said, stepping toward the pedestal. The orb's light reflected in his eyes and he felt its pull-gentle but insistent.
Whatever lay ahead, he knew they were far from finished.
With measured steps, Emmie approached the glowing orb, the shard in his hand growing warmer with each step. The soft hum of its energy is synchronized with the pulse of the orb, like two halves of the same heartbeat.
Mira and Amara stood back, watching silently. Amara's grip on her daggers was tight, her knuckles white. Mira leaned on her staff, her expression curious, unease etched upon it.
What do you think it is? "Amara asked, breaking the silence.
"It feels familiar," Emmie said, his voice barely above a whisper. He reached out a hand toward the orb and stopped, merely inches away.
"Wait!" Mira's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding.
Emmie froze, turning to her.
Mira stepped forward, her gaze locked on the orb. "This isn't just another piece of the Heart. It's a test, like the mirrors. Whatever happens next could be worse than anything we've faced so far."
Emmie lowered his hand, meeting her eyes. "I can't keep running from this. The shard brought us here for a reason. If this is the next step, then we have to take it."
"And what if it kills you?" Mira's voice cracked, betraying her normally steadfast poise.
Emmie paused, the weight of his words settling over him. Slowly, he turned to face her full-on. "If we don't stop this darkness, it won't matter. The whole world will burn."
A moment, she looked like she wanted to say a lot more, then she sighed and stepped back. "Just be careful."
Emmie gave her a slight nod before refocusing on the orb. He took a deep breath and reached out to touch it.
The moment his fingers came in contact, the world around him shifted.
He was no longer in the chamber, instead standing in a field of golden grass, with warmth spreading across his skin and a soft breeze carrying the sweet scent of wildflowers. For a moment, he felt peace, a fleeting sense of normalcy that felt foreign after the horrors of the tower.
Then he heard laughter.
Turning, he saw a figure in the distance. A boy, younger than him, with dark eyes that glinted mischievously. The same boy from the void.
"You again," Emmie muttered, his fists clenching.
The boy grinned, his posture relaxed as he strolled toward Emmie. "You're catching on fast. Guess the shard didn't pick a complete fool after all."
"What is this place?" Emmie demanded.
The boy tilted his head, his grin widening. "A memory. A dream. A warning. Take your pick." He stopped a few paces away, his dark eyes boring into Emmie's. "You've made it this far, but here's the thing—you don't know what you're really fighting for, do you?"
"I'm fighting to stop the darkness," Emmie said firmly.
The boy laughed again, a hard, unnatural sound that reverberated in a weird echo. "Yeah, sure, keep telling yourself that. But what happens when the darkness isn't something you can defeat? What happens when it's you?"
Emmie recoiled, his breath catching. "What are you talking about?"
The boy stepped closer, his voice low. "The shard did not only choose you for strength or courage. It chooses you because you are connected to the darkness. It is within you, Emmie. You will never be able to get away from it."
"You lie!" Emmie screamed, his voice quivering.
The boy sneered. "Really?"
The golden meadow started to dim, the grass shriveling and the sun disappearing. From every side, shadows crept in, their outlines twisting into grotesque shapes.
Face it, Emmie," the boy echoed, his voice reverberating. "The more you fight, the closer you come to being that thing you fear."
••••
Back in the chamber, Mira and Amara were horror-stricken as Emmie froze before the orb, his face pale and his body quivering.
"What's happening to him?" Amara asked, her voice tinged with panic.
"He's trapped in a vision," Mira said, her tone grim. She stepped closer to Emmie, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Emmie, listen to me. You're stronger than anything this is. You've faced the darkness before, and you've beaten it. Don't let it win now."
Her voice seemed to reach him. Slowly, Emmie's breathing steadied, and the shard in his hand began to glow brighter.
Throughout the darkened field, Emmie stood tall, his gaze fixed on the boy.
"You are wrong," he said, his voice firm. "The darkness may be part of me, but it is not my defining feature. My choices are."
The boy's smirk faltered, the surrounding shadows receding.
"I will prove you wrong," Emmie said, his grasp on the shard tightening. "I will use the light to fight the dark, no matter if it is within me."
The form of the boy began to disintegrate. His laughter still echoed softly when he had disappeared completely. The golden field returned, and with the shard's power flowing through him, Emmie felt a sudden warmth and light.
••••
In the chamber again, Emmie fell to his knees, the shard glowing brightly in his hand.
"Emmie!" Mira knelt beside him, laying her hands on his shoulders. "Are you okay?"
He looked up at her, determination filling his eyes. "The darkness isn't just out there. It's in me, too. But I can control it. I won't let them win.
Mira's gaze had softened, her fingers lingering on his arm. "You're stronger than you think, Emmie."
Amara cleared her throat, breaking the spell of the moment. "Not to ruin this touching scene, but what did that orb do?"
Emmie rose, hard glowing now with a steady brilliance. "It showed me the truth. And it gave me the strength to face what's coming next."