Chereads / Beasts Beauty and Purity / Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: The Whispering Hollow

Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: The Whispering Hollow

Isabella's feet pounded against the damp forest floor as she sprinted through the tangled underbrush, her heartbeat matching the frantic rhythm of her footsteps. The whispers grew louder in her mind, insistent and urgent, guiding her like a beacon. She didn't look back to see if the others were following—she just ran, as though the voice itself had taken hold of her legs and driven her forward.

Behind her, the sounds of battle still echoed: Doran's roars, the sharp twang of Mara's bow, and the guttural snarls of the corrupted wolves. The forest seemed alive with chaos, but ahead, there was something else—a strange calm, a stillness that beckoned her deeper into the unknown.

"Come to me..."

The voice was clear now, resonating through her very bones. It wasn't harsh or cruel—it was soft, melodic, almost soothing. And yet, Isabella couldn't shake the feeling that it was leading her somewhere dangerous.

Suddenly, the underbrush gave way, and Isabella stumbled into an open hollow. She skidded to a stop, her boots scraping against the stone-strewn ground as she tried to catch her breath. The air here felt heavier, colder, as though the life had been drained from it.

The hollow was a strange place. The ground was barren, devoid of any grass or leaves, and the trees that surrounded the clearing were twisted and blackened, their bark cracked and oozing something dark. In the center of it all was a massive stone altar, its surface covered in veins of glowing purple light that pulsed like a heartbeat.

Isabella's chest tightened. "The Heartstone…"

The whispers surged, filling her head with unintelligible murmurs. The light from the altar grew brighter, and the ground trembled beneath her feet. She felt the pull again, stronger now, like invisible hands grasping at her soul.

"Isabella!"

A voice cut through the whispers, sharp and desperate. Isabella turned to see the golden-eyed man emerging from the treeline, his sword drawn and his eyes blazing with urgency. Mara and Doran followed close behind, both breathless and battle-worn.

"You can't just run off like that!" Mara snapped, glaring at Isabella as she slung her bow over her shoulder. "Do you want to get yourself killed?"

"I'm sorry," Isabella said, her voice distant. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the glowing altar. "It was calling me. I couldn't ignore it."

Doran let out a low whistle as he stepped into the hollow, his gaze fixed on the altar. "So that's the next Hearthstone? Doesn't look any friendlier than the last one."

"It's worse," the golden-eyed man said darkly, his gaze scanning the clearing. "This place… it's a prison. The Heartstone has been feeding on the land, corrupting it. Whatever's holding it here doesn't want to let it go."

Isabella felt a chill crawl up her spine. She took a cautious step toward the altar, her eyes narrowing as she studied the glowing veins. The closer she got, the louder the whispers became, until they were a cacophony in her skull.

"Do you hear that?" she asked softly.

"We don't hear anything," Doran said, his brow furrowing. "But you're looking pale. Maybe we should back off—"

Before he could finish, the ground shook violently, knocking them all off balance. A deep, resonant thrum filled the hollow, like the tolling of a massive bell. The glowing veins on the altar flared brighter, and the whispers in Isabella's head turned into screams.

"Something's happening!" Mara shouted, drawing an arrow and spinning to face the tree line.

The trees surrounding the hollow began to groan and creak as shadows spilled from their trunks. Shapes began to emerge—twisted figures with elongated limbs, hollow eyes, and jagged teeth. They moved unnaturally, as though they were puppets being pulled by invisible strings.

"More guardians," the golden-eyed man said grimly, raising his sword. "They won't let us near the Heartstone."

"Then we'll make them let us," Doran growled, hefting his axe.

The creatures surged forward, their movements jerky and unnatural. Mara loosed an arrow, striking one in the chest, but it didn't slow down. It kept coming, its hollow eyes fixed on her like it didn't even feel the impact.

"Aim for their heads!" the golden-eyed man barked, slashing through one of the creatures as it lunged at him.

Isabella stumbled back, her dagger trembling in her hand as one of the creatures turned its gaze on her. It let out a low, guttural sound and lunged. She barely had time to react before something slammed into the creature from the side, knocking it to the ground.

Doran grinned at her as he pulled his axe free from the creature's skull. "You're welcome!"

"Thanks," Isabella breathed, her heart pounding.

The golden-eyed man cut down another creature before turning to Isabella. "You need to get to the Heartstone! We'll hold them off."

"What am I supposed to do?" she shouted back, panic rising in her chest.

"You'll know when you get there!" he replied, his voice urgent.

Isabella hesitated, her gaze flicking between her friends and the altar. The whispers screamed in her mind, urging her forward. Gritting her teeth, she turned and sprinted toward the Heartstone, the glowing veins of light pulsing brighter with each step.

As she reached the stone altar, the air around her seemed to warp and hum with energy. The whispers turned into words, clear and sharp.

"Release me..."

Isabella froze, her hand hovering over the surface of the altar. "What… what are you?" she whispered.

"I am the key. I am the curse. Release me, and the truth will be revealed."

The ground shook again, and a deafening crack split the air. Behind her, she heard Doran yell as another wave of creatures spilled into the hollow.

"Isabella!" Mara screamed.

Isabella looked down at the glowing altar, her mind racing. Her instincts screamed at her to pull back, to run—but the voice… the voice felt familiar now. It wasn't the same as the whispers that had plagued her. It was something deeper.

Her hand moved before she could stop it, pressing against the cold surface of the stone.

The moment her skin made contact, the light exploded outward, blinding her. A rush of energy surged through her body, and she felt as though she were falling, tumbling through darkness. Images flashed through her mind—a city in ruins, shadowy figures locked in battle, and a face… a face she couldn't quite see.

And then she heard it: a voice, clear and powerful, cutting through the chaos.

"Find me… before it's too late."

The light faded, and Isabella collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. The hollow was silent again, the creatures gone. Her friends were staring at her, their expressions a mix of shock and concern.

"What… what happened?" Doran asked, his voice unsteady.

Isabella looked up, her hand still trembling. The altar was cracked, its glow fading, but the whispers were gone.

"It's not over," she said softly, her voice shaking. "There's more… something bigger. We have to keep going."

The golden-eyed man stepped forward, his gaze steady. "Then we will."

Isabella nodded, rising to her feet. She didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: the path to breaking the curse was only just beginning.