The air in the narrow corridor was thick with dust and the oppressive weight of the Hollow. Isabella struggled to free herself from the rubble pinning her legs, her fingers trembling as she pushed against the jagged rocks. Every movement sent a sharp pain shooting through her side where the earlier wound still throbbed.
"Malrik! Caelum!" she called again, her voice hoarse. The echoes bounced back at her, hollow and empty.
The growls drew closer, low and guttural. The glowing red eyes multiplied, emerging from the darkness like embers stoked into a fire. The creatures moved in unison, their forms slithering and shifting as if made from the shadows themselves.
The Heartstone flickered weakly in her hand, its once-powerful glow now no more than a faint glimmer. Isabella bit her lip, trying to ignore the panic rising in her chest. She focused on the warmth of the stone, willing it to shine brighter.
"You're not giving up now," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. "You've come too far."
With a desperate heave, she shifted her weight and managed to free one leg. The sharp edge of a rock tore at her trousers, but she didn't care. She yanked her other leg free, wincing as pain shot through her ankle. She tried to stand, but her body protested, forcing her to lean heavily against the wall.
The creatures were close enough now that she could make out their forms—twisted, skeletal things with elongated limbs and clawed hands. Their mouths opened impossibly wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth. One let out a guttural snarl, and the rest surged forward.
Isabella gripped the Heartstone tightly and raised it, the faint light casting a weak barrier around her. The creatures recoiled slightly but didn't retreat. The stone's power was waning, and they knew it.
"Come on," she muttered, her voice shaking. "Come on!"
The Heartstone pulsed weakly, and a sudden surge of light pushed the nearest creature back. It hissed, its shadowy form flickering, but the others pressed on, undeterred.
In the distance, Isabella heard the sound of crumbling stone and heavy footsteps. Her heart leapt with hope.
"Malrik? Caelum?" she shouted, her voice cracking.
A figure emerged from the shadows, but it wasn't one she recognized. Tall and cloaked, its face hidden beneath a hood, the figure moved with an unnatural grace. The creatures hesitated, their growls turning into low whines as they backed away from the newcomer.
The hooded figure raised a hand, and the air around them grew colder. With a single gesture, the creatures dissolved into the darkness, their glowing eyes extinguished. Silence fell over the corridor, broken only by Isabella's labored breathing.
"Who—who are you?" Isabella managed, clutching the Heartstone protectively.
The figure didn't answer immediately. It stepped closer, and Isabella instinctively stepped back, her body pressing against the cold stone wall. The figure lowered its hood, revealing a face that was both unfamiliar and unsettlingly familiar.
It was her own.
Isabella's breath caught in her throat. She stared at the figure, her mind racing to comprehend what she was seeing. The other Isabella smiled, but it was a cold, cruel expression.
"You look surprised," the doppelgänger said, its voice a perfect echo of her own. "Did you think you were the only one who could wield the Heartstone's power?"
"This isn't real," Isabella whispered, shaking her head. "You're not real."
"Oh, I'm very real," the doppelgänger replied, stepping closer. "I am everything you fear, everything you doubt. And I've been waiting for this moment."
The Heartstone flared weakly in Isabella's hand, as if responding to the threat. The other Isabella laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the corridor.
"You can't stop what's coming," the doppelgänger said. "The Hollow has chosen its champion, and it isn't you."
The ground beneath them trembled, and cracks began to form in the walls. Isabella's grip tightened on the Heartstone as she tried to summon its power, but the light flickered and dimmed further.
The doppelgänger's smile widened. "You're not strong enough. Not alone."
As the corridor began to collapse, the other Isabella faded into the shadows, her voice lingering in the air. "We'll meet again, soon enough."
The ground gave way beneath Isabella, and she fell, the Heartstone's light barely illuminating the depths below. She landed hard, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Dazed, she lay still for a moment, her mind spinning.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a vast cavern, its walls glowing faintly with an eerie blue light. The air was thick with an oppressive energy, and she could hear the faint sound of whispers all around her.
At the center of the cavern stood a massive, ornate door, its surface covered in intricate runes that pulsed with dark energy. The sight of it sent a chill down her spine.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—this time, unmistakably Malrik. But something was wrong. His eyes glowed brighter than before, and his movements were stiff, unnatural.
"Isabella," he said, his voice hollow and distant. "You shouldn't be here."
"Malrik?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What's happening to you?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he raised his blade, the dark energy around it crackling ominously.
"You need to leave," he said, his voice breaking. "Before I can't stop myself."
The cavern trembled again, and the whispers grew louder, drowning out her thoughts. Isabella took a step back, her heart pounding as Malrik advanced on her, his blade raised.
To be continued...