The fire crackled softly in the cave as Tia stared into its flickering flames. Her body was exhausted, her mind restless. Kian had fallen into a light sleep nearby, his sword within reach. The events with Lira replayed in her mind, the shadow creatures, the surge of light from the watch, and Lira's parting words: "The Rift demands its due."
"What does that even mean?" Tia whispered to herself, gripping the watch tightly. It felt heavier now, as if the weight of its secrets pressed down on her soul.
She had no answers, only a growing fear that the Rift was more than just a force of chaos. It was alive, watching her, waiting for something.
Suddenly, the flames in the fire pit flickered unnaturally, shifting into a deep blue hue. A cold wind swept through the cave, extinguishing the light completely.
"Tia…" a faint voice called, almost like a melody carried on the wind.
She froze, her heart pounding. "Who's there?"
The voice came again, closer this time. "You can't run from me."
Tia stood abruptly, clutching the Riftwood Watch. Its surface glowed faintly, casting eerie shadows on the cave walls. The voice was familiar, hauntingly so.
"Mother?" Tia's voice trembled.
Kian stirred awake, his hand immediately going to his sword. "What is it?"
Tia didn't answer. She stepped toward the cave entrance, her feet moving of their own accord. Kian grabbed her arm. "Tia, stop! What are you doing?"
"I hear her," she whispered, her eyes distant. "I hear my mother."
Kian's grip tightened. "Your mother is gone. Whatever this is, it's not real. The Rift is playing tricks on you."
Tia turned to him, tears streaming down her face. "You don't understand, Kian. It feels real. I can feel her."
Before he could stop her, the watch pulsed with light, breaking his hold on her arm. Tia stumbled out of the cave, the glow from the watch illuminating her path.
The forest outside was shrouded in mist, the trees towering like silent sentinels. The voice grew louder, pulling her deeper into the woods.
"Come to me, my child."
Tia's breath hitched as she reached a clearing. There, in the center, stood a figure cloaked in shadows. But the face… the face was unmistakable.
"Mother?" Tia's voice cracked as she stepped closer.
The figure smiled, her features identical to the woman Tia had lost years ago. "You've grown so strong, my little Tia."
Tia's knees buckled, and she fell to the ground. "How are you here? I thought you were gone forever."
The figure knelt before her, cupping her face in cold hands. "I never left. I've always been with you, through the watch, through the Rift. It connects us."
Tia's tears flowed freely. "I've missed you so much."
The figure's expression softened. "And I've missed you. But Tia, you must listen carefully. The Rift isn't what you think it is. It's a prison, and the watch… it's the key."
"The key to what?" Tia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"To setting us free."
Kian burst into the clearing, his sword drawn. "Tia, get away from her!"
Tia turned to him, confusion and anger on her face. "Kian, it's my mother! She's trying to help us."
"That's not your mother!" Kian shouted, his eyes locked on the shadowy figure. "Look at her, Tia. Really look at her."
Tia hesitated, her gaze shifting back to the figure. The warmth in her mother's eyes was gone, replaced by something dark and unrecognizable. The hands on her face grew colder, the grip tighter.
"You're lying," Tia said, her voice trembling.
The figure's smile twisted into a sneer. "Am I? Or is he just afraid of losing you?"
Kian took a step closer. "Tia, listen to me. The Rift preys on your pain, your longing. It's using her image to manipulate you."
Tia's heart wavered, torn between the love she had for her mother and the trust she had in Kian. The watch began to glow brighter, its light searing into the shadowy figure.
"Choose, Tia," the figure hissed, her voice distorting. "Stay with me, or lose me forever."
Tia's hand trembled as she raised the watch. "You're not her," she whispered, her voice breaking.
The figure screamed as the watch's light engulfed her, the shadows dissolving into nothingness. The clearing fell silent, and Tia collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Kian rushed to her side, pulling her into his arms. "It's okay. I've got you."
But Tia didn't feel okay. The Rift had taken her pain, her deepest longing, and twisted it against her. She felt raw, exposed, and utterly broken.
"Kian," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "What if I'm not strong enough to fight this?"
He held her tighter. "You don't have to be strong alone. We'll face it together, Tia. No matter what."
But as she clung to him, the Riftwood Watch pulsed again, its light dim but persistent. Tia knew the Rift wasn't done with her. And deep down, she feared it never would be.