Lena's pulse thundered in her ears as the Hollow Ones slowly circled her, their hollow eyes fixed on her every movement. The creatures had begun to shuffle, their movements jerky and disjointed, but there was a sinister purpose in their step—a quiet, undeniable hunger.
The stranger stood by, unmoving, his expression unreadable. In the oppressive stillness of the chamber, his silence was deafening.
Lena's thoughts swirled in a vortex of confusion and fear. She had never believed in magic, in curses or ancient rituals. The Hollow Ones—these grotesque, half-dead beings—seemed like the stuff of nightmare, a twisted myth. Yet here they were, real and terrifying, waiting for her to make her move. She had to act. She had no choice.
"You said I can stop this," Lena said, her voice shaking, though she fought to keep it steady. "How?"
The stranger's gaze flickered toward the Hollow Ones, who were now drawing closer, their steps slow but deliberate. "There is a ritual," he said softly, his words hanging in the air like a promise and a threat all at once. "The Ritual of Returning. It can close the gate, reverse the awakening. But it requires sacrifice."
Lena's breath caught in her throat. "Sacrifice?" She felt her heart rate spike. "What kind of sacrifice?"
The stranger's lips tightened, his face hardening. "A life must be offered to the Hollow Sky. A soul, willingly given, to sever the connection between the world and the darkness that seeks to devour it."
Lena recoiled, her mind spinning. "No." Her voice trembled. "I won't give up someone else's life to stop this. There must be another way."
The stranger's eyes darkened, his expression filled with something cold and unreadable. "There is no other way. The Hollow Sky demands a price. If you refuse, the Hollow Ones will grow in strength. They will tear this world apart, and when the sky falls, all will be consumed."
The Hollow Ones had stopped their movement, surrounding Lena like a circle of shadows. They stood perfectly still, their empty eyes gleaming in the dim light, and for a moment, Lena wondered if they could sense her indecision, if they were waiting for her to make the choice. She had heard the stories—how the Hollow Sky could take everything, how it consumed those who stood against it without mercy. But to offer a life, a soul? That was a price Lena wasn't sure she could bear.
"I will not do it," she said firmly, shaking her head. "There must be another way."
The stranger's gaze softened for a moment, and for a fleeting second, Lena saw something akin to sympathy flicker in his dark eyes. But it quickly faded, replaced by a cold, resigned expression.
"You do not understand," he said softly. "You are the key, Lena. You were meant to open the gate. But to close it, to stop the Hollow Sky, you must pay the price. You must sacrifice a soul to bind the Hollow Sky once more."
Lena's pulse raced as she turned her eyes back to the Hollow Ones. They had begun to shift, their hollow eyes watching her with an unnerving intensity. She could feel the weight of their gaze, as if their very existence was tied to her decision. She swallowed hard. She had no choice. The stranger was right—time was running out. The Hollow Ones would grow stronger with each passing moment, and when the Hollow Sky fully awakened, there would be no escaping it.
"Tell me what I need to do," Lena said through gritted teeth.
The stranger nodded, his expression grim. "The Ritual of Returning requires a willing participant. Someone who can offer their soul to the Hollow Sky, to sever the connection between the world and the dark forces rising." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You must stand at the heart of the Hollow Ones, in the pool of the ancient water. There, you must speak the incantation. And then, you must make the sacrifice."
Lena's throat tightened at the thought of making such an irrevocable choice. But the weight of the Hollow Ones surrounding her—their empty eyes staring into her very soul—pressed her forward. There was no turning back. If she didn't act, everything she knew, everything she loved, would be lost.
She swallowed, trying to push down the surge of fear that threatened to choke her. "Who can I ask to help me?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Who will offer their soul?"
The stranger's eyes glinted with something unreadable, and for a moment, Lena thought she saw a flicker of amusement. "You cannot ask anyone," he said, his voice cold. "The sacrifice must be given willingly. But you must remember—it must be a soul that is bound to you, someone who shares your essence. Someone you love."
Lena's breath caught in her throat. Her mind spun with the implications. A life bound to hers? There was only one person who came to mind. Her father. But the thought of losing him, of offering him up to the Hollow Sky, was more than she could bear. He had already been consumed by the darkness in so many ways. She couldn't—no, she wouldn't—sacrifice him.
Her thoughts turned to her mother, who had disappeared years ago. But her mother was a mystery, a shadow in Lena's past. Was she tied to the Hollow Sky in some way? Was there a way to contact her, to call upon her soul?
Before Lena could make sense of it, the first Hollow One moved toward her.
Its presence was suffocating, its hollow gaze pulling her in like a magnet. She could hear it whispering, the same haunting words that had echoed in the chamber before.
"The stars will fall."
Lena took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. The Hollow One's outstretched hand twitched as it reached for her. Its bony fingers hovered just inches from her skin, the cold air thick with the weight of the unknown.
Suddenly, the stranger's voice broke through her panic. "You must make your decision. The ritual cannot be delayed."
Lena's thoughts raced. The Hollow Ones were upon her. The ritual was her only option. But there had to be a way to make the sacrifice without condemning her father, without losing someone close to her. There had to be a way to make things right without paying such a terrible price.
The air in the cavern grew heavier, and Lena could feel the weight of the Hollow Ones' gaze closing in. The time for hesitation was gone. There was only one choice left.
She stepped forward, the cool water of the pool surrounding her ankles. The Hollow Ones moved with her, closing in around her like a tightening noose.
"I will do it," Lena said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I will make the sacrifice. But I will not give up someone I love. I will find another way."
The stranger's face darkened. "You cannot undo the ritual once it is begun."
Lena's eyes hardened with determination. "Then I will make sure it is not begun."
Her words hung in the air, her resolve unyielding. But as she stood in the center of the Hollow Ones, surrounded by the echoes of the past, she knew that the battle was far from over. The ritual of returning could not be avoided forever.
And the Hollow Sky would demand its price.