A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

The group begins their journey to the Nexus and faces a new terrifying threat.

Story is finished and I’m currently working on a sequel while cleaning up the last chapters should be about 8ish more.

Chapter 24 recap

Steeling myself, I approach the door and knock firmly. “Kaida? Veyron? Breakfast is ready,” I call out, trying to keep my voice steady and neutral.

There’s a pause, followed by the unmistakable sound of hurried shuffling. Shade, of course, takes the opportunity to chime in. “This should be good.”

There’s a pause, followed by what sounds like someone tripping over something, and then a muffled, “One second!”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, exhaling sharply. This is going to be worse than I thought.

Shade’s voice is practically vibrating with amusement. “I told you, this is retribution. Just savor the moment.”

“You’re the worst,” I think back, glaring at the door.

Finally, the door creaks open, and Kaida peeks out, her hair a little messier than usual, her cheeks flushed. “Oh, hey, Artemis!” she says, a little too cheerfully. “Breakfast, huh?”

Behind her, Veyron is sitting on the bed, adjusting his shirt and doing his best to look completely unbothered. “Hi,” he says casually, though there’s a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

I cross my arms, giving them both a pointed look. “You know, you could’ve just said you weren’t coming instead of making me hunt you down.”

Kaida opens the door a little wider, stepping into the hallway with a nervous laugh. “Right, sorry about that. We were, uh… talking.”

“Talking,” I repeat, raising an eyebrow.

Veyron stands and strolls toward the door, his smirk now fully formed. “What can I say? We’re very… passionate conversationalists.”

I groan, turning on my heel. “Just hurry up and get to the dining hall. I’m not saving you any food if you take too long.”

As I walk away, I hear Kaida mutter something to Veyron, followed by more muffled laughter. Shade, of course, can’t resist one last jab. “You handled that well.”

Chapter 25

“I don’t think I can eat anymore,” I say, leaning back in my chair and pushing my plate slightly away.

Lorien raises an eyebrow. “Not because of them, right?” he asks, his tone light but tinged with concern.

I shake my head quickly. “No, it’s not that. It’s just… I’ve already eaten so much. This is more than I’ve had in days, maybe even more than the inn a few days ago. And that was a lot—even though it wasn’t nearly this good.”

Hrothgar laughs, tearing into a piece of bread. “Well, we’ve been pushing ourselves nonstop since we got here. Can’t blame you for building up an appetite.”

Lorien chuckles softly, nodding. “True, but you don’t have to force yourself to eat more if you’re full.”

I smile faintly, glancing down at my plate and the leftover food still sitting there. The meal was incredible, but my stomach feels heavy, and I know if I try to eat any more, I’ll regret it.

“You’re right,” I say softly. “I think I just need to… rest for a bit. Not just from eating, but from… everything.”

Lorien places a hand on mine, squeezing it gently. “We’ll take it slow today. No need to rush into anything until we’re ready.”

“There are two issues with taking it easy,” I say, glancing around the room as I fidget with my hands. “One, the knight is still somewhere around here and probably waiting for us. And two, I don’t even have my bow anymore—I lost it yesterday during the fight.”

Eryndor, who’s been sitting quietly for most of the meal, suddenly speaks up. “I might be able to help with that,” he says, his tone calm but carrying a hint of intrigue.

I look at him, surprised. “What do you mean?”

“This morning,” he continues, “I found something outside my room. A weapon—clearly not mine—waiting as though it had been placed there intentionally.”

My eyes widen, my heart skipping a beat. “A weapon? What kind of weapon?”

Eryndor tilts his head slightly, a small, knowing smile on his face. “A bow,” he says simply.

I push back from the table, standing up so fast I nearly knock over my chair. “You’re serious? Where is it?”

He nods, motioning toward the hallway. “I left it in my room.”

I exchange a glance with Lorien and Hrothgar, who both look as surprised as I feel. “Let’s see it,” I say quickly, my pulse racing.

Eryndor stands and leads the way. I follow close behind, hope and curiosity warring in my chest.

As we follow Eryndor toward his room, my thoughts race. How did my bow end up here? The knight can’t get to this floor—Eryndor said it was protected—and no one else is here besides us.

“Something wrong?” Lorien asks, noticing my furrowed brow.

I shake my head. “It’s just… if it’s really my bow, how did it get here? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Hrothgar speaks up, his tone cautious. “You’re right. No one’s supposed to be able to reach this floor except us and Eryndor.”

“Unless someone—or something—found a way around those rules,” Lorien adds, his voice quieter.

I swallow hard, the unease twisting in my gut. Could the castle itself have done this? Or… something else?

“You’ll find that this castle works in mysterious ways,” Eryndor says from ahead, his tone calm but with an edge of thoughtfulness. “Not everything here follows logic as you might expect. Sometimes, it seems to act… with purpose.”

I frown. “Purpose? You mean, like, it wanted to return my bow to me?”

Eryndor nods slightly. “Perhaps. Or perhaps it saw the need and answered it in its own way. The orb’s magic touches everything here, as you’ve seen.”

The idea that the castle itself is somehow… watching us sends a shiver down my spine. But if it is my bow…

We stop just outside Eryndor’s room, and he gestures for us to enter. “It’s just inside, resting against the wall near the window,” he says calmly, stepping aside to let us pass.

I hesitate for a moment before stepping in, my heart pounding. Sure enough, there it is—a bow leaning neatly against the wall, its familiar curve unmistakable.

I run my fingers along the bow’s smooth wood, unable to suppress the small smile spreading across my face. I’m just happy to have it back, I think, the familiar weight of it soothing my nerves, even if the way it got here is… odd.

Maybe the castle really is being nice, I muse as we leave Eryndor’s room. We already passed its test, didn’t we? Maybe this is its way of helping for some reason.

By the time we return to the dining room, the warm smell of breakfast greets us again, and I see Kaida and Veyron sitting at the table, finally eating.

“Well, look who decided to join us,” Hrothgar says with a grin, his tone teasing.

Kaida glares at him mid-bite, clearly still embarrassed from earlier. “We’re here, aren’t we?” she mutters, not looking up.

Veyron, however, seems completely unfazed, leaning back in his chair with his usual smirk. “And just in time, too. You didn’t eat all the bacon, did you?”

“Maybe we should’ve,” Lorien says with a slight chuckle, sitting down beside me. “Would’ve been fair after making Artemis hunt you two down.”

I shake my head, sliding into my chair and setting my bow carefully against the table’s edge. “Let’s just eat and focus on the map,” I say, trying to steer the conversation away from anything awkward. “We’ve got a lot to figure out before we head to the Nexus.”

Kaida glances at the map still sitting on the table, then at me, her expression softening. “Fair enough,” she says quietly. “But… you found your bow?”

I nod, feeling a small spark of pride as I gesture toward it. “Yeah. It just… showed up. Eryndor said the castle might’ve returned it to me.”

Kaida’s eyes widen, and even Veyron looks curious, leaning forward slightly. “Huh. Convenient,” he says, his tone unreadable.

“Convenient or not,” I say, my voice firm, “it’s mine, and I’m glad to have it back.”

I hadn’t really thought about how much the bow meant to me until now, but it’s been with me since the moment I got here. It’s more than just a weapon—it feels like a part of me. The thought of using anything else now feels… wrong.

After finishing breakfast, we gather our things and prepare to leave. The map is tucked safely away, and Eryndor lingers nearby as we ready ourselves.

As we approach the hall, the thought of retracing all the floors we climbed yesterday hits me, and I can’t stop myself from asking, “Is there an easier, faster way down? I mean, do we really have to go through all the floors again?”

Eryndor gives a faint smile, his expression unreadable. “There is a way, yes,” he says calmly.

I perk up. “Really?”

He nods, gesturing for us to follow him down the hall. “This castle holds many secrets. Few know of its hidden paths, but as it’s caretaker, I am privy to them.”

We exchange quick glances before following him. As we move deeper into the hall, he leads us to a narrow, unassuming door tucked behind a faded tapestry.

“This passage,” he explains, pulling the door open, “was once used by the royal family in times of emergency. It will take you directly to the base of the castle.”

Hrothgar leans in, peering down the dark, spiraling staircase that lies beyond the door. “Convenient… again,” he says, glancing back at us. “How come you didn’t mention this before?”

Eryndor’s faint smile grows. “Because you hadn’t asked.”

Lorien shakes his head, a quiet chuckle escaping him. “Of course.”

I glance down the staircase, the air inside cool and slightly damp. It’s not exactly inviting, but it’s better than going through all those floors again. “Alright,” I say, gripping my bow tightly. “Let’s do this.”

Eryndor inclines his head. “May the path ahead guide you safely. And remember, the castle does not forget those who tread its halls.”

That’s… totally comforting, I think as we begin our descent.

“Time to go to the Nexus and find Lyra,” I say, stepping into the narrow passage. My voice echoes faintly against the stone walls, and the cool air rushes past me as if welcoming us—or warning us.

The others follow close behind, their footsteps blending with mine on the spiraling stairs. The flickering light from Kaida’s staff casts long, wavering shadows across the stone, making the descent feel even more ominous.

“Let’s just hope this shortcut doesn’t have any surprises,” Hrothgar mutters.

Veyron snorts softly. “With our luck? I’m already expecting traps or, I don’t know, skeletons dropping from the ceiling.”

Kaida rolls her eyes. “Can you not jinx it, Veyron? Just once?”

I clutch my bow tightly, my steps careful as the spiral seems to go on forever. My mind drifts to Lyra—what state she’s in, if she’s even remotely the same person she was when she vanished. She’s down there somewhere, in the Nexus.

The staircase finally levels out, opening into a dark, wide corridor. We’re getting closer, I think, my heart pounding in anticipation—and dread.

I glance at the map as we step into the corridor. It’s changed since the day before and it’s strangely—different from how maps usually are in this world. Instead of showing details or landmarks, it’s just a single glowing arrow, pointing ahead.

“That’s… not normal,” I mutter, tilting the map in my hands. The arrow doesn’t move or change no matter how I hold it, staying fixed and steady, urging us forward.

Kaida leans over my shoulder, frowning. “That’s it? Just an arrow? Not exactly helpful.”

“It’s almost like it doesn’t want us to get lost,” Lorien says, his tone thoughtful. “But it also doesn’t give us any clue how far we have to go.”

I nod, gripping the map tighter. How far is this place? I wonder, my thoughts racing. And why is it keeping the path so vague?

Hrothgar rubs the back of his neck, scanning the shadowy corridor ahead. “Guess there’s no way to know unless we follow it. Let’s just hope it’s not leading us into another trial.”

“It’s always a trial,” Veyron says with a smirk, but his tone lacks its usual playfulness.

“Let’s keep moving,” I say, tucking the map away. The glowing arrow lingers in my mind, simple but unsettling.

As we step out of the tunnel, the glowing panel flickers into existence for just a moment:

Quest Complete: Find a Way Home. Reward: Escape.

I stare at the words, my stomach twisting. Yeah… escape. If we hadn’t decided to stay and find Lyra first, we could already be gone. Back to the real world, back to normal lives. Now, not only do we have to survive whatever’s waiting for us, but we’ll also have to find a way back here—if the escape option is still even available by the time we do.

“Did that say ‘a’ way home?” Lorien asks, his voice breaking the silence. There’s a careful curiosity in his tone, like he’s turning the words over in his head. “As in… there’s others?”

Kaida’s eyes narrow, her arms crossing as she considers this. “You mean there could be another way out of here?”

“Maybe,” Lorien says, glancing at me. “If this is ‘a’ way home, then there might be alternatives—ones that don’t involve… sacrificing something.”

Kaida perks up slightly, the thought sparking a glimmer of hope in her voice. “You mean we might not have to give up a part of ourselves—whatever that even means?”

Hrothgar frowns, his expression skeptical. “If that’s true, then why would this path require a sacrifice and not others? What makes them different?”

Veyron chimes in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Probably because this world just loves throwing moral dilemmas at us for kicks. Can’t make anything simple, can it?”

Hrothgar speaks up, his voice measured but thoughtful. “If the knight said his way out was by getting rid of other players, maybe that’s all it means. Maybe ‘a way home’ is different for everyone.”

I stop for a moment, letting his words sink in. If that’s true… then what does that say about us? About the choices we’re going to have to make?

Kaida frowns, looking between us. “So, what? His way out is… killing people? And ours is sacrificing part of ourselves? That doesn’t make it any better.”

“No,” Hrothgar agrees. “But it means we’re playing by different rules. Maybe this ‘sacrifice’ isn’t as bad as we’re imagining. Or maybe it’s just the price we’re given.”

“Or,” Veyron says, his tone sharp, “it means we don’t actually have a choice. It’s not like this world’s been fair to us so far. Why would it start now?”

I take a deep breath, the voice’s words from before replaying in my mind:

“For some, it may be the bonds you share. For others, a memory you cherish. A part of your soul, your essence, your identity. To leave this world is to leave a piece of yourself behind.”

I glance at the others as we walk, their faces shadowed with the same mix of worry and resolve that’s twisting in my chest. “The voice said it’s different for each of us,” I say quietly, breaking the silence. “We won’t even know what we’re giving up. It’s all… a gamble.”

Kaida shivers slightly, hugging herself. “The bonds we share? A memory we cherish? That’s not just a piece of ourselves—that’s everything that makes us who we are.”

“And it could be something even worse,” Lorien adds, his tone grim. “A part of our soul… or our identity.”

Hrothgar lets out a heavy sigh. “But that’s the point, isn’t it? We don’t know what it’ll take. We won’t until we make the choice. And by then…” He trails off, shaking his head.

Veyron huffs, his expression a mix of frustration and unease. “So, we’re just supposed to roll the dice and hope we don’t lose something we can’t live without? That’s the plan?”

“What other choice do we have?” I say, gripping my bow tightly. “We either take that gamble, or we stay here forever. And if we stay… who knows what we’ll lose anyway?”

The group falls silent for a moment, the weight of the conversation settling over us like a suffocating blanket.

Kaida speaks up softly, her voice trembling. “What if… what if it takes something we don’t even realize we need? Something that changes us completely?”

I swallow hard, my mind racing. The bonds we share. Our memories. Our essence. Our identity. The possibilities churn in my stomach, and I can’t help but wonder—what if the price is more than we can handle?

“I don’t want to forget any of you,” Kaida says softly, her voice trembling. “We’ve been through so much together, and… I don’t want to forget it. I don’t want to forget us.”

Her words hit hard, the fear in her voice reflecting the same unease that’s been swirling in my chest. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to push those thoughts aside—for now.

“No matter what, it’ll be okay,” I say, keeping my tone as steady as I can. “We’ll figure this out, together. But for now, let’s just focus on following the map—on getting down this stupid mountain.”

Hrothgar nods, stepping ahead of us to lead the way. “One thing at a time. We can’t make decisions about what’s coming until we actually get there.”

“Exactly,” Lorien adds, his voice calm but firm. “Let’s not waste energy worrying about something we can’t control yet.”

Kaida hesitates, but then she nods, drawing herself up a little straighter. “Right. You’re right. Let’s just get through this.”

As we follow the map’s glowing arrow, the snow crunches beneath our boots, and the icy wind whips around us. The descent is steep and treacherous, and every step feels heavier than the last, but the weight isn’t just physical.

We’ll figure it out, I tell myself again, gripping my bow tightly. No matter what, we’ll get through this.

But as we make our way down the mountain, the voice’s words echo in my mind, impossible to ignore. What if it takes something we can’t get back?

“Anyone spot Mr. Murder Knight?” Kaida asks, glancing around nervously as the wind picks up, her voice cutting through the tension.

“No,” Hrothgar says, his tone cautious but carrying a hint of humor. “Hopefully, he’s still trying to pry himself off that spike back in the castle.”

“Let’s not stick around and wait to find out,” I say quickly, adjusting my grip on my bow as I glance behind us. “The farther we get from that castle, the better.”

Kaida shivers, pulling her cloak tighter. “Agreed. The last thing we need is him sneaking up on us again.”

Lorien steps closer to me, his eyes scanning the snowy terrain ahead. “We’re still following the map, right? The arrow’s keeping us on track?”

I nod, pulling out the map again and glancing at the glowing arrow. “It hasn’t changed direction, so I guess we’re heading the right way. Let’s just keep moving.”

The group picks up the pace, the crunch of snow underfoot the only sound as we descend the steep mountainside. I can’t shake the feeling of being watched, though, and every gust of wind carries the phantom echo of heavy footsteps.

He’s not here, I tell myself. We left him behind. But even as I think it, my grip tightens on my bow, my nerves refusing to settle.

“For now, the map’s leading us back the way we came up the mountain,” I say, glancing at the glowing arrow and then at the path ahead. The steep, icy slope looks as treacherous as ever. “Does anyone know if it’s actually easier going down?”

Hrothgar lets out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Depends on what you mean by easier. It’s faster, sure, but one wrong step and you’re tumbling all the way down.”

Kaida groans, rubbing her arms as the cold wind whips past. “Great. So, either we take our time and freeze, or we rush and risk breaking a leg.”

“Optimistic as always,” Veyron mutters, smirking.

“Let’s just stay careful,” Lorien says, his tone firm. “We’ve already made it up once. Going down should be manageable if we stick together.”

The others murmur in agreement, and we keep moving. The cold bites at my skin, the wind stinging my face, but I push through, keeping my focus on the path ahead—and the map’s arrow pointing us forward.

“If we have to,” Kaida says, her voice carrying over the wind, “we can stop at the cave since we know where it is now.” She pulls her cloak tighter, shivering slightly.

“That’s true,” I reply, glancing back at her. “It’s not exactly luxurious, but it’s better than being out in the open if the weather gets worse.”

Hrothgar nods, his eyes scanning the trail ahead. “That cave saved us before. Good to know we have a fallback if we need it again.”

“Yeah, as long as it’s still empty,” Veyron mutters, kicking a bit of snow off the path. “With our luck, it’ll probably be occupied by something worse than the knight.”

“Stop trying to jinx stuff,” Lorien says, shooting him a sharp look.

I shake my head, gripping my bow tightly. “Let’s just hope we don’t need to stop at all. The faster we get down this mountain, the better.”

Kaida sighs, her breath visible in the cold air. “Agreed. But knowing we have the cave is… kinda comforting, I guess.”

We continue down the mountain, the icy wind cutting through our cloaks and stinging our faces. Each step feels precarious, the uneven, snow-covered ground threatening to give way at any moment.

The cold bites deep, and I pull Kaida’s sash tighter around me, wishing for something—anything—warmer. My bow feels steady in my hands, but every so often, I glance around, half expecting the knight to appear out of nowhere.

The silence among us is heavy, broken only by the crunch of snow underfoot and the occasional huff of breath.

“Careful,” Hrothgar says, gesturing to a steep patch of ice ahead. “Stick to the rocks. It’s slick here.”

We follow his advice, each of us taking our time navigating the icy terrain. Despite the cold, I can feel sweat building at the base of my neck, the tension from trying not to slip wearing me down.

“I wonder where the entrance to this Nexus even is,” Veyron says, his voice breaking the quiet as we continue down the mountain. “For all we know, it could be on the opposite side of the city from this mountain, and we’ll have to walk for a week to get there.”

I groan internally, shooting him a look. “Thanks for the optimism, Veyron. Really needed that.”

He shrugs, smirking slightly. “I’m just saying. The map’s not exactly helpful when it comes to distance, is it? What if we’re wandering halfway across the world for this thing?”

Kaida sighs, rolling her eyes. “Then I guess we’ll deal with it when we get there, like everything else.”

“I mean, he’s not wrong,” Hrothgar says thoughtfully, keeping his eyes on the trail ahead. “This place doesn’t exactly play fair. Could make us walk days just to test our patience.”

“Great,” I mutter under my breath. “Just what we need.”

Lorien steps closer to me, his voice calm. “We’ll figure it out. The map’s led us this far—it’ll lead us the rest of the way.”

“At least we know she’s safe for now,” Hrothgar says, his voice steady and reassuring as we continue down the mountain. “If it takes a week or a month, it doesn’t matter. As long as we get there.”

“Key word: as long as we get there,” Veyron mutters, his tone dry. “The farther it is, the more likely we run out of food. And let’s not forget—we still don’t have any potions.”

Lorien sighs, nodding in agreement. “We could stop at the city to resupply, but we don’t exactly have the funds to get what we’d need.”

“We could take on a quick mission,” I suggest, though my voice wavers slightly. “But I don’t know if we want to risk it on something that’s not absolutely necessary.”

“If we don’t,” Hrothgar says, “it might be a bigger risk in the long run. Running out of supplies out here in the wild? That’s just asking for trouble.”

Kaida pulls her cloak tighter, her expression uncertain. “But if we take a mission and something goes wrong, it’ll only delay us more. What if the Nexus isn’t as far as we think? What if we’re closer than it seems?”

“Big ‘what if,’” Veyron says, raising an eyebrow. “The map doesn’t exactly scream ‘close by.’”

I glance at the glowing arrow on the map again, frustration bubbling under the surface. We can’t make any real decisions until we have more answers, I think, my grip tightening on the edge of the map.

“We’ll figure it out later if we end up needing to go past the city or another random direction,” I say finally, forcing confidence into my voice. “If it looks like we need to take on a mission to resupply, then we will. If not, we push on.”

“Fair,” Kaida says, though her tone is still uncertain. “I just hope we don’t get stuck picking between bad options again.”

Veyron smirks slightly. “That’s kind of been the theme of this whole adventure, hasn’t it? Welcome to Eidolon Nexus.”

We walk down the mountain for what feels like an eternity, the snow crunching beneath our boots as the sun slowly sinks lower in the sky. The cold bites at my skin, and my legs ache from the uneven terrain, but we push on, the glowing arrow on the map our only guide.

By the time we spot the cave, the light is already fading, casting long shadows across the icy slopes. The sight of it—familiar and oddly comforting—feels like a small victory.

“There it is,” Hrothgar says, pointing ahead. “Just in time, too. We don’t want to be out here after dark.”

“Agreed,” Kaida says, shivering as she pulls her cloak tighter. “It’s cold enough already, and I’m not about to sleep in the open if I don’t have to.”

As we approach the cave, I glance around warily, half-expecting the knight—or something worse—to be waiting for us. But the area seems quiet, almost eerily so.

Veyron smirks, stepping into the cave first. “Looks like our old shelter’s still here. Lucky us.”

“Let’s just hope it stays quiet,” I say, following him inside. The air is still cold, but it’s a relief to be out of the biting wind.

Lorien sets his pack down, glancing at me. “We should get a fire going. Kaida, do we still have that last kit?”

She nods, pulling it out of her bag.

I let out a small sigh as we settle in, the weariness of the day catching up to me. While the others focus on setting up the fire and unpacking what little supplies we have, I glance around the cave, letting my eyes wander deeper into the shadows.

The flickering light from Kaida’s staff barely reaches the edges of the cavern. The further in I look, the darker it gets, the faint shapes of jagged rocks and uneven walls barely visible.

Something about it feels… different from the last time we were here.

I step closer, narrowing my eyes as I try to see deeper into the shadows. “Do you guys remember if this cave went any further last time?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

Hrothgar glances up from the fire he’s tending. “We didn’t exactly explore it much,” he says, his tone cautious. “We were too focused on staying warm.”

Kaida looks over, her face lit faintly by the growing firelight. “Why? Do you see something?”

“Not really,” I admit, my fingers brushing the edge of my bow. “It just… feels different. I don’t remember it being this big.”

“Maybe we were too distracted to notice,” Lorien says, stepping up beside me. His hand brushes mine briefly, a small gesture of reassurance. “Want to take a look?”

I hesitate for a moment before nodding. “Yeah. Just to be sure.”

As we step deeper into the cave, the shadows seem to stretch and shift around us, the air growing colder the further we go. Maybe it’s just my imagination… but something about this place feels off.

“I feel it too,” Shade murmurs, his voice faint but steady in my mind. “Or rather, you’re feeling what I feel.”

“What does that even mean?” I think back, trying to suppress the shiver that runs down my spine.

“This cave… it’s not just stone and shadows. There’s something lingering here,” he says, his tone uncharacteristically serious. “It’s faint, but it’s there.”

I tighten my grip on my bow, my steps slowing as the shadows grow thicker. “Great. So, what? We’ve stumbled into another trap, or is this just some creepy cave?”

Shade chuckles softly, though there’s no humor in it. “Hard to say. But I’d tread carefully, Artemis. You’re not alone in here… and I don’t mean me.”

I swallow hard, glancing back at Lorien, who’s following close behind. His spear is ready, his gaze sharp as he scans the darkness. “Do you see anything?” he asks, his voice low.

“Not yet,” I whisper, though Shade’s words linger in my mind. Not alone.

The air feels heavier now, the chill seeping into my skin as we step further into the cave. Whatever’s here, it’s watching us. I can feel it.

“Artemis, run. Now. We need to leave,” Shade says, his voice sharper and more urgent than I’ve ever heard before.

“What?” I think back, my heart skipping a beat.

“Just go,” he snaps, the intensity in his tone making my chest tighten. “Get out of this cave now.”

I glance at Lorien, who’s watching me with concern. “What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice low but steady.

What am I supposed to say to them? My mind races as I try to come up with an excuse, anything that doesn’t make me sound insane.

“There’s something—” I start, my voice trembling. “I don’t know, something’s wrong. We need to get out of here. Now.”

Hrothgar looks up from the fire, his brow furrowing. “What do you mean? Did you see something?”

“No, but I can feel it,” I say, gripping my bow tightly. “Something’s not right. We’re not alone in here.”

Veyron snorts. “We’re in a dark, creepy cave. Of course it feels off.”

Kaida frowns, glancing toward the deeper shadows. “She might be right. This place does feel… weird.”

“Please,” I say, my voice more desperate now. “I don’t know what it is, but we need to leave. Trust me.”

Lorien doesn’t hesitate, stepping forward and nodding. “If Artemis says we need to go, then we go.”

Hrothgar looks conflicted but finally nods. “Alright, pack up quickly. No use taking chances.”

“They’re waking up, Artemis,” Shade says, his voice sharp and urgent.

“What is?” I think back, my mind spinning.

I feel it—a presence, or rather, multiple presences—something cold and consuming. But I can’t tell what it is or why I can feel it at all.

Suddenly, a piercing screech rips through the cave, echoing off the walls, just as the others finish grabbing their supplies.

“They’re like me,” Shade says grimly. “But mindless. Feral. Unconnectedfor too long.”

“Unconnected?” I think, trying to process his words, but there’s no time to dwell on it.

I see it—the shadow tendrils slithering across the walls like living, breathing creatures. They writhe and twist, moving with purpose, a sick, predatory hunger radiating from them.

“Run!” I yell, turning on my heel and sprinting toward the cave entrance.

The others don’t hesitate, the urgency in my voice enough to spur them into action. “What the hell is that?!” Kaida screams as she runs beside me, her staff flickering faintly in her grip.

“No time for questions!” Hrothgar bellows, his heavy footsteps pounding against the ground.

Lorien is right behind me, his spear ready, his gaze darting toward the tendrils racing along the walls. “Faster!” he shouts, his voice tight with tension.

As we run, another screech fills the air, louder this time, closer. My chest tightens, and my legs burn, but I push harder, refusing to look back.

“They’re coming!” Shade says, his tone like a knife in my mind. “Don’t stop, Artemis. Not for anything.”

I’m not planning to.

I glance back again, the chaos behind us pulling my attention despite myself. That’s when I finally get a full view of a few of them.

They’re massive—around the size of a horse, but that’s where any comparison ends. Their bodies are writhing, shadowy masses with long, twisting tendril-like arms, each one reaching and grasping like they have a mind of their own.

Their glowing purple eyes lock onto us, unblinking and full of hunger. One of them opens its mouth, and I hear that piercing screech again, my stomach twisting as I see its crooked, unnervingly wide grin. Rows of jagged, shark-like teeth line its maw, gleaming faintly in the dim light. The grin stretches farther than it should, splitting its shadowy face in two, making it look even more monstrous.

I force myself to whip my head forward, my heart pounding painfully in my chest. Focus. Focus on running. Don’t let them catch you.

“They’re gaining!” Veyron shouts from behind me, panic lacing his voice.

“Don’t look back!” I yell, pushing myself harder even as my legs scream in protest. The steep slope of the mountain only makes every step more dangerous, the snow and ice threatening to trip me up.

“We’re not going to outrun them like this!” Hrothgar shouts, his voice strained as he glances back. “We need a plan!”

“I’m open to ideas!” I shout back, even as I grip my bow tighter, the cold air burning my lungs.

Shade’s voice echoes sharply in my mind. “There’s no fighting them, Artemis. You can’t fight them. You run, or you die. That’s all.”

I bite back a curse, forcing myself to focus. We just have to make it farther. Somehow.

“I’ve got an idea,” Lorien shouts, his voice cutting through the chaos as we stumble down the mountain. “And it’s a really bad one.”

“It’s better than nothing! What is it?” I yell back, desperate for anything that might work.

He points ahead to a row of dead trees, specifically at a large piece of bark hanging loosely from one of the trunks.

I stare at it for a second, realizing what he’s suggesting. “Oh.”

“Exactly,” he says, his expression tense but determined.

“We’re gonna die,” I mutter, my heart racing even faster.

“It’s either this or we get torn apart!” he snaps, already veering toward the trees. “Help me!”

Without another word, Lorien rushes toward the largest piece of bark, yanking it free with a grunt. The others look just as confused as I feel, but there’s no time to argue.

“What’s the plan?!” Kaida shouts, skidding to a stop beside us.

“Improvised sled,” Lorien says quickly, dropping the bark onto the ground and gesturing for us to climb on. “We’ll slide down the rest of the slope and put some distance between us and them.”

Veyron stares at him like he’s lost his mind. “Are you insane?! We’ll break something—or worse!”

“Not if we balance it right!” Lorien snaps, motioning us toward the makeshift sled. “It’s either this or stay and get eaten. Your choice!”

I glance back at the shadowy creatures gaining on us, their glowing eyes and jagged grins seared into my mind. “He’s right. We don’t have time to argue!”

“Fine!” Hrothgar growls, grabbing the bark to help steady it. “Let’s do this.”

We pile onto the bark as quickly as we can, my heart hammering in my chest as the ground starts to slope even steeper below us.

“This is a terrible idea,” I mutter, gripping the edges of the bark as tightly as I can.

“Hold on!” Lorien shouts, pushing us off the edge.

The sled lurches forward, and suddenly we’re hurtling down the mountainside, the wind screaming in my ears as the world blurs around us.

Somehow, this feels more dangerous than anything we’ve done so far. My entire body is screaming at me to stop, to throw myself off this makeshift sled and cling to the mountainside, but I know there’s no other option.

“We can’t fight them,” Shade says in my mind, his voice calm yet urgent. “And you know I’m right.”

I grit my teeth, clutching the edges of the bark until my knuckles turn white. “Yeah, I’m inclined to believe you,” I mutter under my breath, my voice nearly lost to the deafening rush of wind.

The sled bucks and jolts against the uneven ground, every bump and rock sending sharp vibrations through my legs. I can feel the cold air slicing across my face, making it almost impossible to keep my eyes open.

Behind us, the screeches of the creatures echo through the air, growing louder with every second. I risk a glance back and immediately regret it—the shadowy masses are still pursuing, their tendrils whipping against the ground as they slither after us like some twisted nightmare.

“They’re still gaining!” Kaida yells, her voice panicked.

“Lean!” Lorien shouts, his voice barely audible over the chaos. “Shift your weight, or we’re gonna flip!”

We all lean to one side as the sled skids dangerously close to a sharp rock jutting out of the ground. It narrowly misses, but the sudden movement causes the bark to shudder violently, and I feel my stomach drop.

“This was a terrible idea!” Veyron shouts, clinging to the edge of the sled like his life depends on it—which, to be fair, it does.

“Less complaining, more holding on!” Hrothgar growls, using his weight to help steady the sled as it careens downhill.

My breath catches as the sled lurches forward even faster, the incline becoming steeper and more treacherous. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, every instinct screaming at me to do something—anything—but all I can do is hold on and hope we make it to the bottom in one piece.

“How are they still catching up?!” Kaida yells, her voice full of panic as she grips the edge of the sled tightly.

I glance back, my stomach twisting at what I see. The creatures are relentless, their tendrils clawing at the ground, pulling them forward with impossible speed. Their glowing purple eyes lock onto us like predators who know their prey has nowhere to hide.

“They’re getting closer!” Veyron yells, his usually cocky tone replaced with real fear.

“We’re already going as fast as we can!” Hrothgar growls, his broad shoulders tensing as he helps keep the sled balanced. “They’re not stopping!”

I can feel Shade stirring in the back of my mind, his presence more urgent now. “They’re bound to the darkness. It fuels them—it pushes them. You won’t outrun them unless something changes.”

“Something changes?” I think back, gripping the sled tighter. “What does that even mean?”

“You need to leave their domain. Get to the light—or something they can’t touch.”

I grit my teeth. “We’re on a freaking mountain, Shade! There is no light!”

“Figure it out,” Shade snaps, his voice sharper than usual. “Or they’ll drag you all into the dark, and I won’t be able to stop them.”

The sled jolts violently as we hit a patch of ice, and I snap back to reality, my mind racing. “We have to lose them somehow!” I shout to the others.

“Any bright ideas?!” Kaida yells, glancing back at the creatures, her face pale with fear.

Lorien glances at me, his expression tense but determined. “If you’ve got any ideas, now’s the time, Artemis!”

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. We need something—anything—to tip the odds in our favor. But what?

Suddenly, a tendril shoots out faster than I can react, wrapping around my waist and yanking me off the sled. The ground slams into me hard, knocking the wind out of my lungs as the world spins violently.

“Artemis!” I hear Lorien yell, his voice full of panic.

“Artemis!” Kaida’s voice follows, but it’s growing fainter.

I force myself to look up, seeing the sled skidding further downhill, the others unable to stop or turn back without flipping. My heart pounds as I struggle against the tendril, my hands clawing at the shadowy mass holding me.

“Let me go!” I shout, twisting and kicking with all my strength.

But then I freeze, realizing something horrifying—the creatures aren’t chasing the sled anymore. The shadowy masses, with their glowing eyes and crooked smiles, are all focused on me.

“They want you,” Shade says in my head, his voice unusually quiet, almost… depressed.

“What?” I think back, my breath coming in sharp gasps as I continue to fight.

“They don’t care about the others,” Shade continues, his tone heavy. “You’re their target. You’ve always been their target.”

End of chapter 25.