The rumbling beneath the bridge deepened, vibrating through the stone and rattling Isabella's bones. Her legs froze for a moment as she instinctively glanced down.
The abyss churned like a living sea of darkness, the swirling shadows twisting into shapes that made her heart lurch. Faces—twisted, ghastly visages with hollow eyes and mouths open in silent screams—formed in the void, only to melt away like smoke. Something ancient and alive watched them from below.
"Move!" Mara's sharp command broke through Isabella's trance.
Ahead, Mara had already reached the center of the bridge, her form steady against the swaying structure. Isabella tore her gaze from the depths and forced her feet to move. Behind her, the man followed, his hand hovering near her back as if ready to catch her should she stumble.
The rumble became a roar. Something was coming.
The Shadow Wraiths
From the depths of the abyss, tendrils of darkness surged upward, snapping like whips. One lashed out toward Mara, striking the bridge just in front of her. Stone cracked, but the bridge held.
"Run!" Mara yelled, not breaking stride.
Isabella's breath came in sharp gasps as she sprinted forward. Doran cursed loudly behind her, his axe drawn though there was nothing solid to strike. The tendrils rose higher, forming humanoid shapes—shadow wraiths—creatures of darkness with glowing, malevolent eyes.
One wraith lunged for Isabella. The man beside her reacted instantly, drawing his sword and slashing through its form. The creature shrieked as the blade passed through it, dissipating it like smoke.
"Don't let them touch you!" he shouted.
Another wraith darted toward Doran, who swung his axe wildly. "Try it, you cursed shadow!" he bellowed as his weapon shattered the creature into nothingness.
But there were too many.
The wraiths swarmed around the bridge, rising like a tidal wave. Their cries echoed through the chasm, a sound that pierced Isabella's mind like needles. She stumbled as the bridge swayed violently, nearly pitching her over the edge.
The man grabbed her arm and pulled her upright. "Keep moving!"
"We can't hold them off forever!" Mara shouted, her voice strained. She loosed an arrow, the enchanted tip flaring brightly as it struck one of the wraiths, scattering it into the mist.
"We're halfway!" Isabella gasped, her voice barely audible above the chaos.
The Collapse
A terrible cracking sound split the air. Isabella turned just in time to see one of the tendrils strike the bridge near its base. The stone groaned and splintered.
"It's breaking!" Doran roared, his eyes wide with terror.
"Run!" the man barked.
The group broke into a desperate sprint. The bridge trembled violently beneath their feet, chunks of stone crumbling into the abyss. Isabella's heart thundered in her chest as she raced forward, every step feeling like it might be her last.
A wraith darted in front of her, its claws outstretched. Before she could scream, the man leaped forward, cutting it down. "Go!" he ordered, shoving her ahead.
Isabella ran, tears stinging her eyes from the wind and the sting of panic. The end of the bridge was so close now—a jagged edge of safety surrounded by blackened trees. Mara reached the far side first, turning back to cover them with her bow.
Doran stumbled, and for a horrifying moment, it looked like he might fall. "No!" Isabella cried, reaching for him.
The man grabbed Doran's arm and hauled him upright, his face a mask of determination. "Move, you fool!"
The final stretch of the bridge shattered behind them, the pieces plummeting into the chasm. Isabella pushed herself harder, her lungs burning as her feet hit the final span of stone. She leaped forward, feeling the last of the bridge collapse beneath her.
Her hands hit solid ground.
Strong arms pulled her up, and she found herself on the far side of the chasm, Mara helping her to her feet. The man landed beside her a moment later, dragging Doran up with him. The remnants of the bridge crumbled into nothingness, leaving only the void between them and the other side.
Silence fell.
The Darkness Watches
Isabella collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. Her limbs felt like they were made of lead, and her heart refused to slow. She could still hear the shrieks of the wraiths in her ears, though the chasm now lay still and quiet.
"That was too close," Doran groaned, rolling onto his back.
"Is everyone here?" Mara asked sharply, her eyes scanning the group.
"We're alive," the man said, his voice steady despite the tension in his expression. He turned to Isabella. "Are you all right?"
She nodded shakily. "I think so. What were those things?"
"Shadow wraiths," Mara answered grimly. "Guardians of the curse. I've never seen so many in one place."
The man's golden eyes narrowed as he stared into the abyss. "They're drawn to the power of the Heartstone. The closer we get, the worse it's going to become."
Isabella shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. The air here was colder—unnaturally so. The blackened trees loomed around them like silent sentinels, their twisted branches clawing at the sky.
"There's no turning back now," Mara said, her voice quiet but firm. "We've come this far. The source of the curse must be close."
Isabella stood, her legs still unsteady. She followed the man's gaze back to the chasm, where the darkness still pulsed faintly, as though it were alive.
"It's watching us," she whispered.
The man turned to her, his expression grave. "It knows we're here. And it's waiting."
The Path Ahead
They regrouped quickly, taking stock of their supplies and checking for injuries. No one spoke of what they had seen in the mist or the abyss—as though speaking of it might give it power.
Mara pointed toward a narrow path that led deeper into the forest. "We follow this trail. It's the only way forward."
Isabella hesitated, her heart still heavy with dread. "How much further do you think it is?"
"Not far," the man replied. "I can feel the Heartstone's pull. It's close now."
Doran grunted, picking up his axe. "Then let's finish this. Before this cursed place throws anything else at us."
The group moved on, stepping cautiously into the deeper gloom of the forest. The ground seemed to shift beneath their feet, and the trees whispered as they passed, their branches twisting as though reaching for them.
Isabella's mind lingered on the wraiths, the bridge, and the darkness below. Whatever lay ahead, she knew one thing for certain.
The worst was yet to come.