The fall seemed endless. Her body twisted in the air, limbs flailing for something solid, but there was nothing—just the cold, rushing wind and the terror of the unknown. Her breath caught in her chest, the pounding of her heart deafening in her ears.
Finally, her body slammed into something hard, sending a shock of pain through her entire being. She gasped, trying to push herself up, but the weight of the fall had left her disoriented. The ground beneath her was uneven, and she could feel the sharp edges of rocks digging into her skin. She winced, forcing herself to sit up.
"Luc?" She called out, her voice shaking as she scrambled to her feet.
There was no answer.
Her heart raced as she looked around, her eyes struggling to adjust to the dim light. The space around her felt vast—too vast. She couldn't see anything past a few feet, and the air was thick with moisture, cool and heavy.
The sound of movement caught her attention. Élodie spun toward it, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at her side. But there was no enemy—just Luc, groaning as he climbed to his feet a few yards away.
"Élodie… you alright?" Luc's voice was rough, but it carried a note of concern.
"I think so," she replied, her voice a little too shaky for comfort. "Where are we? What happened?"
Luc surveyed their surroundings. "I think we fell into some kind of cave or ravine. But this doesn't look natural."
Élodie stood, brushing dirt and debris from her clothes. "This is a trap, isn't it? They were waiting for us."
Luc nodded grimly. "It's possible. And if they're smart, they've already sealed the way we came in."
Élodie's gaze darted around the cave-like space. The walls were slick with moisture, and the air smelled faintly of decay. There was a strange silence in the space, broken only by the faint drip of water from somewhere above them.
"I don't like this," she muttered, her hand still tight around her dagger. "We need to move. Now."
Luc stepped forward, taking the lead as they cautiously made their way deeper into the cavern. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the stillness, amplifying their every movement. The walls seemed to close in tighter as they walked, the space growing darker and more oppressive with each step.
It wasn't long before they stumbled upon something strange—an odd structure built into the side of the cavern wall. It was ancient, covered in carvings that looked almost like a language neither of them recognized. The stone had an otherworldly glow to it, casting an eerie light in the darkness.
"What is this place?" Élodie asked, her voice a whisper as she approached the stone structure.
Luc studied it for a moment, his brow furrowed. "I don't know… but it looks like something that shouldn't be here."
Élodie reached out, her fingers brushing against the stone. A faint pulse of energy rippled through the air, causing her to pull back suddenly. It wasn't painful, but it was… unsettling.
"This is definitely not natural," Luc said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "We've stumbled onto something much bigger than we thought."
Suddenly, the ground beneath them shifted again, and a low rumble echoed through the cavern. It wasn't an earthquake—it was something else. Something that felt alive.
"What's happening?" Élodie gasped.
Luc didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on something in the distance—a shadow moving toward them through the mist.
And then, the shadow took shape.
A figure stepped into the faint light of the cavern. It was tall, cloaked in tattered robes, its face obscured by a hood. A faint red glow emanated from beneath the hood, the only sign of life.
Élodie's blood ran cold.
"Who are you?" Luc demanded, his voice fierce as he stepped forward, sword raised.
The figure tilted its head, as if considering Luc's words. Then, in a voice that seemed to echo from everywhere and nowhere, it spoke.
"They are not the ones you should fear."