The air beyond the Obsidian Gate was suffocating, heavy with a darkness that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. Isabella stumbled, the disorienting void around her pressing in from all sides. She could feel the Heartstone's faint warmth in her hands, but its light was nearly extinguished, swallowed by the oppressive blackness.
"Isabella, stay close," Caelum's voice came from her right, though it was barely audible over the eerie silence. His hand found hers, grounding her in the void.
"Where's Malrik?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Caelum didn't answer. His grip tightened, and together they pressed forward, the swirling darkness parting slightly as they moved. Shapes flitted at the edges of their vision—vague, menacing forms that seemed to grow bolder with every step.
"Don't stop," Caelum urged, his voice low but firm. "If we hesitate, they'll close in."
Isabella nodded, though her heart raced with fear. Each step felt like wading through thick, icy water, the resistance sapping her strength. The Heartstone flickered weakly, its energy fading fast.
Ahead, a faint light pierced the darkness—a single point of silver that shimmered like a distant star. Isabella's chest tightened with hope. "There!" she said, pointing.
Caelum followed her gaze, his eyes narrowing. "It could be a trap."
"Or it could be the way out," Isabella countered. She took a shaky breath, gripping the Heartstone tighter. "We don't have a choice."
As they moved toward the light, the darkness around them grew more aggressive. Tendrils of shadow lashed out, forcing Caelum to loose arrows into the void. Each arrow struck true, dispersing the shadows momentarily, but they re-formed almost instantly.
"We can't keep this up!" he shouted, his voice strained.
"We're almost there!" Isabella called back, her eyes fixed on the light. It grew brighter with each step, illuminating the path ahead. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, jagged rocks jutting out like the bones of some ancient beast.
Finally, they reached the source of the light—a massive crystalline structure that pulsed with a silvery glow. It floated above the ground, its surface etched with intricate runes that seemed to shift and writhe. The light it emitted was soothing, a stark contrast to the darkness pressing in from all sides.
"What is this?" Caelum asked, his voice filled with awe.
"I don't know," Isabella admitted, stepping closer. The Heartstone reacted instantly, its faint glow resonating with the crystal's light. A low hum filled the air, and the darkness recoiled, retreating to the edges of the chamber.
Isabella reached out, her fingers brushing the surface of the crystal. It was cool to the touch, and a wave of energy surged through her, clearing her mind and steadying her heart.
"This might be what we need to fight the Hollow," she said, turning to Caelum.
Before he could respond, the ground beneath them trembled. The light of the crystal flickered, and a deep, guttural growl echoed through the chamber. Isabella's blood ran cold as the shadows coalesced into a towering figure. It was humanoid but grotesque, its body a mass of writhing darkness and jagged bone. Its eyes burned with a malevolent red light, and its presence radiated pure malice.
"Caelum," Isabella whispered, backing away from the creature. "What is that?"
He didn't answer, his bow already drawn. The creature let out a deafening roar, its voice shaking the very air. It lunged, its massive clawed hand swiping toward Isabella.
She raised the Heartstone instinctively, its light flaring to life. The creature recoiled, hissing in pain, but its fury only seemed to grow.
"Run!" Caelum shouted, firing an arrow that struck the creature's shoulder. It barely flinched, its burning eyes locked onto Isabella.
Before she could move, the creature lunged again, faster than she could react. Its claws closed around her, lifting her into the air. The Heartstone's light flared brightly, but the creature didn't release her. Instead, it roared again, and the world around her seemed to shatter.
"Isabella!" Caelum's voice was distant, desperate.
The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was the crystal's light, fading into nothingness as the creature's claws tightened around her.
Isabella awoke to a chilling stillness. She was alone, the oppressive darkness pressing in from all sides. The Heartstone was dim in her hands, its warmth nearly gone. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy, and sluggish.
A voice echoed in the void, low and sinister. "You cannot escape the Hollow, child. Your light will fade, and you will become one with the darkness."
Tears filled her eyes as the weight of the voice crushed her spirit. She clutched the Heartstone tightly, its faint pulse the only thing keeping her grounded.
"Malrik," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Caelum."
The void offered no answer, only the chilling laughter of the darkness as it closed in.