The narrow ravine echoed with the sound of cracking stone and guttural roars as the creature descended after them. Its massive shadow loomed over the jagged walls, and every movement sent shards of rock tumbling to the ground below.
Samuel and Adanne moved as quickly as they could, but exhaustion was catching up with them. Each step felt heavier than the last, and the air grew thinner the deeper they went.
"Samuel, I can't—" Adanne gasped, her legs threatening to give out beneath her.
"You can," Samuel said, his voice strained but firm. "Just a little further. We can't let it catch us."
Adanne glanced back, her stomach turning at the sight of the monstrous figure closing in. Its glowing red eyes burned like embers, fixed on her with a hunger that made her blood run cold. She forced herself to keep moving, her hand resting protectively on her belly.
---
They stumbled upon a fork in the ravine—two paths, each shrouded in darkness. The air was damp and smelled of earth and decay, and the oppressive silence was broken only by the distant roars of the pursuing creature.
"Which way?" Adanne asked, panic rising in her voice.
Samuel hesitated, his eyes darting between the two paths. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice low. "But we have to choose quickly."
The creature's roar grew louder, and the ground beneath their feet trembled. Adanne made the decision for them, pulling Samuel toward the left path.
"This way," she said, her voice trembling but resolute.
They plunged into the darkness, the narrow walls of the ravine pressing in on either side. The path twisted and turned, and the light from the distant opening grew fainter with each step.
"Do you think it'll follow us?" Adanne asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Samuel glanced back, his jaw tight. "It's not giving up that easily."
As if to confirm his fears, a low growl echoed through the ravine, sending a shiver down Adanne's spine. The creature was still on their trail.
---
The path opened into a cavern, its walls glistening with moisture. The air was thick, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed around them. In the center of the cavern stood an ancient altar, carved from dark stone and covered in strange symbols that pulsed faintly with a dim light.
"What is this place?" Adanne whispered, her eyes scanning the eerie chamber.
Samuel approached the altar cautiously, his hand still gripping the stone knife. "It's connected to the ritual," he said, his voice heavy with unease. "Maybe even older."
Adanne's gaze fell on the symbols etched into the stone. They seemed to shift and writhe as she looked at them, and a deep unease settled in her chest. "What do we do now?"
Samuel turned to her, his expression grim. "We use it."
Adanne's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Samuel placed the knife on the altar, its blade catching the faint light. "The symbols on this altar... they're similar to the ones on the tree. If we can activate it, we might be able to seal whatever that thing is—or destroy it."
Adanne hesitated, her instincts screaming against the idea. "And what if it makes things worse?"
Samuel met her gaze, his eyes filled with determination. "We don't have a choice, Adanne. If we don't stop it here, it'll keep coming. And it won't stop until it has you and the baby."
Adanne swallowed hard, her heart pounding. "Okay. What do we do?"
---
Samuel studied the symbols, his fingers tracing their intricate patterns. He muttered under his breath, piecing together fragments of the ritual he had disrupted.
"These symbols are tied to life and death," he said, his voice barely audible. "To creation and destruction."
Adanne stepped closer, her eyes flicking between the symbols and the knife. "You think it needs a sacrifice?"
Samuel's jaw tightened. "Maybe. But not a life. Just... blood."
Adanne hesitated, then held out her hand. "Do it."
Samuel looked at her, his expression pained. "Adanne—"
"We don't have time to argue," she said, her voice firm. "If this is the only way to stop it, then do it."
Samuel nodded reluctantly and took her hand. He pressed the blade of the knife against her palm, making a shallow cut. Blood welled up, and Adanne winced but didn't pull away.
As her blood dripped onto the altar, the symbols flared to life, their glow intensifying. The cavern trembled, and a low hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing second.
---
The creature's roar echoed through the ravine, closer now than ever. Adanne turned toward the entrance, her heart racing.
"It's coming," she said, her voice trembling.
Samuel gripped the knife tightly, his eyes fixed on the glowing symbols. "We just need to hold it off a little longer."
The ground shook violently as the creature entered the cavern, its massive form barely fitting through the narrow opening. Its red eyes locked onto the altar, and it let out a deafening roar, the sound reverberating through the chamber.
Adanne stepped back, her legs shaking as the creature advanced. "Samuel, hurry!"
The altar's glow reached a blinding intensity, and a burst of energy erupted from its surface, striking the creature square in the chest. The force sent it stumbling backward, but it quickly regained its footing, its roar filled with fury.
"It's not enough!" Adanne cried, her voice breaking.
Samuel gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He glanced at the knife, then at Adanne. "There's only one way to end this."
"What are you talking about?" Adanne asked, fear flashing in her eyes.
Samuel stepped toward the altar, the knife in his hand. "The ritual needs more power. Blood is just the beginning."
Adanne's heart dropped. "No. You can't—"
Samuel turned to her, his expression resolute. "If it means saving you and our child, then I will."
Before Adanne could stop him, Samuel pressed the blade against his own palm, letting his blood drip onto the altar. The symbols flared brighter, their glow almost blinding.
The creature let out a guttural scream, its body writhing as the energy from the altar consumed it. The ground shook violently, and the cavern began to collapse.
"Samuel!" Adanne screamed, reaching for him as the altar's light engulfed them both.