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.

Shade returns with a warning.

Chapter 29 recap

“There’s just one problem, Kaida,” I say, cutting into her overly enthusiastic planning session. “We don’t have any gold. Unless you’re actually planning on letting Veyron gamble away the twelve pieces we have left.”

Kaida pauses mid-step, glancing back at me with a sheepish smile. “Okay, fair point. But… there’s always a way! We’ll figure something out.”

“Uh-huh,” I mutter, crossing my arms. “Because ‘figuring it out’ has worked so well for us before.”

Veyron chimes in with a smirk, flipping one of the gold coins between his fingers. “Hey, you say that like I wouldn’t win. You know, I am pretty good at cards.”

Kaida glares at him, snatching the coin from his hand. “You’re not gambling. Period.”

“Then what’s your plan?” Lorien asks, his tone calm but curious.

Kaida tilts her head, thinking for a moment. “We could do a quick job in the city. Something simple like you guys have said. No life-threatening monsters—just easy gold.”

Kaida turns to me with a wide smile, completely ignoring my obvious skepticism. “We had to do one for supplies anyway, so we can just pick something very slightly harder. You know, something that pays better!”

I stare at her, raising an eyebrow. “Your definition of ‘very slightly harder’ terrifies me.”

“Oh, come on,” she says, nudging me playfully. “We’ve faced monsters, dungeons, and knights. How bad could a simple supply run be?”

“Kaida, every time you say something like that, things get worse,” Lorien says, his voice calm but pointed.

Hrothgar nods in agreement. “We should stick to something small, just enough to get what we need. Nothing more.”

“Fine, fine,” Kaida says, waving her hand dismissively. “We’ll keep it simple. I promise.”

Veyron snorts. “Your promises don’t exactly inspire confidence, you know.”

Kaida glares at him but quickly softens, giving me another hopeful smile. “So, what do you think, Artemis? One little job, and we’ll be all set for the date of your dreams.”

I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. “If this somehow turns into a disaster, I’m blaming you.”

“Blame all you want,” Kaida says cheerfully. “You’re going to thank me when we’re eating something better than cave bread.”

Chapter 30

Eventually, night falls, and we’re forced to set up camp in a small clearing in the woods. The temperature drops quickly, and the chill in the air has everyone moving a little faster.

“We gotta get some sticks and stuff,” Kaida says, glancing around the darkening trees. “No more fire supply kits.”

Hrothgar nods, already scanning the area. “Alright, let’s split up a bit and gather what we can. Nothing too far, and call out if anything seems off.”

Kaida turns to Veyron with a smirk. “Think you can manage not to get lost while picking up sticks?”

He shoots her a deadpan look. “I’ll try not to trip over my own feet, thanks.”

“I’ll help Kaida,” I say quickly, before their bickering can escalate.

Lorien steps closer to me, his tone soft. “You sure?”

“I’m fine,” I say, giving him a small smile. “Besides, the sooner we get the fire going, the better.”

Hrothgar sighs. “Alright, let’s just make this quick. The last thing we need is to draw attention to ourselves.”

We all split off into pairs, the faint sounds of the forest filling the silence as we search for firewood. My eyes keep darting around the shadows, half-expecting something to leap out at us.

“Excited for our date?” Kaida says with a smirk as we start searching for firewood.

I glance over at her, narrowing my eyes. “You’re never going to give up are you.”

“Of course not,” she says, grinning as she picks up a decent-sized branch. “Besides, it’s not just any date—it’s your first date. With Lorien. That’s huge.”

I sigh, crouching to grab a few smaller sticks. “It’s just a date, Kaida.”

“It’s never ‘just a date,’” she teases, tossing her branch into her pile. “I mean, think about it. You’ve got the perfect guy, an epic, life-threatening adventure to bond over, and now you’re actually going to have a romantic night together. It’s practically a fairytale.”

“Fairytale?” I mutter, shaking my head. “We’re gathering firewood in the middle of the woods, starving, and being chased by a murderous knight. Yeah, super romantic.”

Kaida laughs. “Okay, fine, maybe not right now. But still! It’s progress! You were so hesitant at first, and now look at you—happily in love.”

I feel my face heat up as I focus on gathering more wood. “Can we just focus on the firewood?”

“Sure, sure,” she says, her tone far too amused. “But I’m just saying, you deserve to enjoy yourself for once. And don’t worry, Veyron and I will totally behave on your big night.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” I reply sarcastically, rolling my eyes. “That’s what I’m worried about.”

She grins, tossing another branch onto her pile. “Relax, Artemis. It’s going to be great. Trust me.”

“And don’t think I don’t know what you and Veyron were actually doing when you were ‘just talking,’” I say, smirking as I pick up another branch. “If anyone should be getting teased, it’s you.”

Kaida freezes mid-step, her cheeks instantly flushing. “W-we weren’t doing anything!”

“Oh, really?” I say, raising an eyebrow at her. “Because it sure seemed like you two were very busy when I came to get you yesterday morning.”

She glares at me, but her face is still bright red. “Okay, first of all, rude. Second, it’s not what you think. We were just, you know… enjoying each other’s company.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Right, because that’s the most believable excuse.”

“Hey, at least we weren’t caught half-naked,” she shoots back, crossing her arms with a triumphant smirk.

My face burns, and I quickly look away. “That’s—different!”

“Uh-huh,” she says, clearly enjoying turning the tables. “So maybe we should agree to stop teasing each other about our love lives?”

“Maybe,” I mutter, my voice low.

Kaida giggles, nudging me lightly with her elbow. “We’re both happy, and that’s what matters, right?”

“Okay, so could you maybe let us off the hook with this whole double date thing?” I say, glancing over at her. “This is already a lot, and I’ve never even… you know… had a real date before.”

Kaida stops, turning to me with a knowing grin. “Ohhh, never ever?”

“Kaida…” I groan, feeling my face heat up again.

“Alright, alright,” she says, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “I’ll dial it back… a little. But, come on, Artemis, you can’t let something like this stress you out. It’s supposed to be fun.”

I exhale sharply, shifting the small pile of sticks in my arms. “Fun or not, this is all new to me. And I just… I don’t want to mess it up, you know?”

Kaida’s grin softens, and she nudges me with her elbow. “You’re not gonna mess it up. Lorien’s head over heels for you—you could probably trip over your own feet and he’d still think you’re perfect.”

I roll my eyes. “That’s not the point.”

“The point,” she says, cutting me off, “is that you deserve to have a real date, even if I have to push you into it. Besides, it’s not like you’ll be alone—Veyron and I will be there for moral support.”

“Yeah, because that’s not gonna make it any more awkward,” I mutter under my breath.

Kaida laughs, tossing her gathered branches into a pile. “You’ll survive, Artemis. Trust me. It’ll be good for you.”

I groan again, but there’s a small part of me that’s grateful for her enthusiasm—even if it’s a bit much. “Fine, but you better not turn it into some big, embarrassing spectacle.”

“No promises,” she says with a wink.

As we get back to the camp, I catch a glimpse of Veyron, sitting by the unlit fire pit and fidgeting with one of his daggers. His usual smug confidence is noticeably absent, and instead, he looks… nervous.

I smirk to myself, remembering how flustered he got earlier when Kaida mentioned dating. Maybe, just maybe, he’ll be too distracted to mess with me for once.

Kaida walks up ahead, dumping her bundle of sticks by the pit. “Got the goods,” she announces cheerfully.

Veyron glances up at her, his fingers slipping off the hilt of his dagger. “Uh, good. Great.” His voice cracks slightly, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

Kaida raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything, instead kneeling to help Hrothgar arrange the firewood. I toss my pile down next to hers, stealing another glance at Veyron.

Lorien leans over to me, his voice low. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” I whisper back, unable to hide the grin on my face. “Just… Veyron being Veyron.”

He follows my gaze and smirks. “You mean nervous Veyron? That’s a rare sight.”

“Yep,” I say, feeling a little more at ease. At least I’m not the only one who feels out of their depth right now.

Kaida claps her hands together, standing up. “Alright, who’s starting the fire?”

Hrothgar grunts. “I’ve got it. You kids just try not to cause too much trouble while I’m at it.”

Veyron shifts uncomfortably, muttering something under his breath. I exchange a glance with Lorien, and we both stifle a laugh. Maybe this double date won’t be so bad after all.

Before Hrothgar even gets the flint in his hand, Kaida steps forward with a smirk. “Or… I could just do this.” She waves her staff over the fire pit, and the wood crackles to life instantly, bright orange flames licking at the dry branches.

Hrothgar sighs, shaking his head as he sits back. “You’re gonna make me useless with that magic of yours.”

Kaida grins, crossing her arms. “Oh, come on, Hrothgar. I’m just saving us a little time. Besides, I think you’ve proven your worth plenty already.”

“Sure, sure, ‘who’s starting the fire’” he mutters, leaning against a nearby tree.

Veyron shifts where he’s sitting, leaning toward the fire and rubbing his hands together. “Not gonna lie, I’ll take magic over freezing any day.” He glances at Kaida and adds, “Guess you’re good for something after all.”

She raises an eyebrow, pretending to be offended. “Excuse me? I think you mean good for a lot of things. Like keeping your butt alive.”

I smirk, watching their back-and-forth, but my eyes wander to Lorien sitting beside me. His gaze is fixed on the fire, the warm light flickering across his face. He notices me looking and offers a small smile, one that makes my chest feel… lighter, somehow.

Kaida plops down next to Veyron, poking his side with her staff. “Hey, don’t burn yourself. We don’t have any potions.”

“Please,” he says, rolling his eyes. “Like I’d be that reckless.”

I can’t help but snort at that. “You? Not reckless? Since when?”

Lorien chuckles softly beside me. “It’s good to know we all have our roles. Kaida for composing, Veyron for being reckless, and you, Artemis…” He pauses, giving me a teasing smile. “For keeping us all in line.”

I roll my eyes, but I can’t help smiling back. “Uh huh.”

“And your role is…?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at Lorien, fully expecting him to come up with something clever.

He doesn’t hesitate, leaning just slightly closer, his voice low but steady. “Being with you.”

My heart skips a beat, and I can feel my cheeks burning. Of course, Kaida hears it too, and I see her smirking out of the corner of my eye.

“Oh, that’s sweet,” she says, resting her chin on her hand dramatically. “Lorien, you’re setting the bar so high for Veyron over here.”

Veyron groans, leaning back and glaring at her. “Don’t start with me.”

I glance down, trying to hide my flustered smile. “You’re so cheesy.”

He shrugs, grinning slightly. “Maybe. But it’s true.”

Kaida nudges Veyron with her elbow. “See? That’s how it’s done.”

He rolls his eyes, muttering something under his breath.

Lorien chuckles, his hand brushing lightly against mine. Maybe this world is cruel and chaotic, but moments like this… they make it worth fighting for.

The fire crackles softly, the warmth dancing across my skin. It’s not nearly as cold tonight—nothing compared to the biting winds of the mountain—but the lingering chill still finds its way under my tunic.

I glance at Lorien out of the corner of my eye. He’s sitting close, his face lit softly by the firelight, his relaxed posture a stark contrast to the tension of the last few days.

I feel the words sitting on the edge of my tongue, but I don’t know how to say them. I shouldn’t be nervous. After everything we’ve been through, everything we’ve… done, this should be easy.

But I can’t help but hope. Maybe he’ll just… move closer on his own.

I fidget with the edge of my sleeve, trying to focus on the flames instead of the nervous energy running through me.

Kaida stretches, leaning back against a log with a yawn. “Well, if nothing’s chasing us for once, I’d say tonight’s a good night to actually sleep.”

“Agreed,” Hrothgar rumbles, already leaning back against his pack.

“Yeah, yeah, let’s just hope no monsters decide to pop in,” Veyron mutters, tossing a stick into the fire.

I feel Lorien shift beside me, and for a moment, I dare to glance at him. He’s watching me, that calm, steady gaze of his.

“You look tired,” he says softly, just for me.

I nod, biting my lip. “I… am. It’s been a lot.”

He hesitates, then leans in just a bit closer. “Come here,” he murmurs.

I don’t need to be told twice. Before I can overthink it, I let myself lean into him, feeling his arm wrap around me, pulling me close. The fire’s warmth is nice, but this… this is better.

We’ve been here almost a month now, I think to myself. A month since I became… this. Since I became her. Artemis.

It still feels strange when I think about it. The person I was before—Alex—feels like some kind of distant memory, like a life that doesn’t quite fit anymore. I wonder how much of me is still Alex and how much has become Artemis.

The others know. They’ve known from the beginning. I remember how awkward i felt when I told them the truth, expecting them to treat me differently. But they didn’t. Not really. I mean we were a bit distracted I guess but, it still means a lot.

I glance down at myself, at the soft curves of my body, the hands that don’t quite look like the ones I used to have. The voice that comes out when I speak still sometimes catches me off guard.

A month. That’s all it’s taken to turn my entire existence upside down.

Lorien shifts beside me, his arm still wrapped around me, pulling me closer as the fire crackles softly. I lean into him a bit more, letting my head rest against his shoulder.

I glance at Lorien, his face calm as the firelight flickers across his features. I lean into him just a little more, letting his warmth push away the lingering chill of the night.

I think about how different everything would’ve been if I’d shown up here as Alex. If this world hadn’t flipped everything upside down and turned me into Artemis.

Nothing with Lorien would’ve ever happened.

Not like this.

Even if I had shown up as a guy, even if we’d been in the same group, fighting side by side, I know I wouldn’t have felt about him the way I do now. I mean… I never even thought about guys that way before, but now? Now it’s different. He’s different.

And honestly? I can’t imagine my life here without him.

Would he even have looked at me the same way if I were still Alex? If I still had the same voice, the same face, the same everything? No, of course not. This… whatever this is between us, it only exists because I’m Artemis.

The thought stings a little, but at the same time, I feel this warmth bloom in my chest. Because even though none of this would’ve happened if I were still Alex, the fact is… I’m not.

I’m Artemis.

And here, in this moment, it feels okay. It feels right.

“You’re not overthinking again, are you?” Lorien asks, his voice soft but teasing.

I roll my eyes, trying to suppress a smile. “No. Sometimes I’m just thinking, you know. It’s not always overthinking.”

He chuckles, his fingers lightly brushing against my arm. “You’re cute when you’re frustrated like that.”

I huff, turning my head away, but I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks. He’s always saying things like that—calling me cute or beautiful, always finding some way to compliment me.

And the thing is… I never really do it back.

It’s not like I don’t think those things about him—I do. More than I’d like to admit. He’s handsome and strong, always calm under pressure, and his loyalty to all of us, especially to me, is… well, it’s everything. But the words just don’t come as easily for me.

And yet, he doesn’t seem to mind. He’s never complained, never asked why I don’t say it back. But I can’t help but feel bad about it.

“Something wrong?” he asks, tilting his head to look at me, his expression soft and concerned.

I shake my head quickly. “No, just… thinking again,” I say, trying to brush it off.

His smile returns, that gentle, reassuring smile that always makes my heart ache in the best way. “Whatever it is, I’m here, you know. No need to overthink it.”

I nod, leaning into him again, but in the back of my mind, I promise myself I’ll say it back one day. I’ll find the words to tell him how much he means to me.

Maybe not tonight. But soon.

I lean my head against his shoulder, my mind wandering despite the warmth and comfort of his presence.

At least I had the courage to say it, I think to myself. To actually tell him I love him. And then telling him I want to be with him the moment flashes in my mind—the way he smiled at me, the way everything after that just… happened.

My cheeks burn at the memory, the thought of our clothes scattered across the room and what followed after. It’s hard to believe I let it happen. Harder to believe how much I don’t regret it.

Still, even with everything I’ve been through—how much I’ve changed since coming here—I can’t help but feel this little flicker of frustration buried deep down.

I’m trying my best not to deny how I feel. I really am. But there’s still this part of me—small, quiet, but there—that’s mad about… all of it. About being thrown into this world. About being stuck in this body that isn’t mine. About how everything I thought I knew about myself has been turned upside down.

But then I look at him.

Lorien, who’s holding me like I’m the only thing that matters to him.

And that frustration, that anger, it just… fades. Overshadowed completely by him. By what I feel for him.

I don’t think I’ll ever fully stop being mad about everything this world took from me. But right now, I can’t bring myself to care. Because for everything it took, it also gave me him.

I sigh softly, closing my eyes for a moment as I let my thoughts drift.

Being a girl isn’t so bad, I think. Honestly, parts of it feel… really good. My mind flashes back to that morning in the castle, the way everything felt so right in that moment.

And just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I have to start acting all… girly or anything. I don’t have to wear dresses or skirts unless I want to.

I glance down at my outfit—practical, but form-fitting in a way that’s hard to ignore, especially with the stupid boob window. I didn’t choose this, but if I’m being honest, it’s not the worst thing in the world. Though given the chance, I’ll definitely be replacing it the first opportunity I get.

Still… whether I’m Artemis or Alex, it doesn’t seem to matter as much to me anymore. What’s important is that I have Lorien. I have friends. Real friends who have my back no matter what.

What else could I possibly want?

Well… maybe to not be in life-or-death situations 24/7.

I let out a quiet chuckle at that thought, glancing up at Lorien. He looks down at me, raising an eyebrow, and I shake my head quickly, smiling. “Just thinking,” I say softly.

“Not overthinking, right?” he teases, a small grin tugging at his lips.

I roll my eyes but lean closer to him, letting myself relax. For now, that’s enough I think as I close my eyes.

The moment I open my eyes, I know something isn’t right.

I’m back in the meadow—the same one from the dreams and the illusions. The cabin is still there in the distance, the flowers are swaying in the breeze, and the horizon stretches endlessly like before.

But it’s off.

The grass, the flowers, even the trees—everything that should be green is an unnatural shade of purple. The sky above is a strange, deep crimson and purple, with dark clouds swirling lazily. It feels like the same place, but it’s like someone twisted it, drained the life out of it, and replaced it with… whatever this is.

I glance down at myself—still in my usual outfit, bow slung across my back. At least that’s normal.

“What… is this?” I mutter, taking a hesitant step forward. The ground beneath my boots feels wrong, like it’s softer than it should be, almost spongy.

There’s no sign of Lorien, Kaida, or anyone else. Just me, standing in this warped version of a place I’ve already questioned too many times.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “This has to be another illusion, right?” I ask aloud, though no one is there to answer.

But even as I say it, I can feel the air around me shift, almost like it’s alive, watching me. Waiting.

“Is this another dream?” I whisper, my voice barely audible in the strange, heavy air.

The eerie silence stretches around me, broken only by the soft rustle of the purple grass.

“Shade? Are you there?” I call out louder, my voice cracking slightly. “Are you… are you doing this?”

Nothing.

No response. No sarcastic remark. No playful or cryptic comment. Nothing but the unsettling stillness of this twisted meadow.

I turn in a slow circle, searching for any sign of movement, any indication that someone—or something—is here with me. The cabin stands in the distance, the same as it always does in these dreams, but now it looks darker somehow. The windows are black voids, and the door hangs slightly ajar, creaking faintly in the breeze.

I take another step forward, and the ground feels even stranger now—almost as though it’s pulsating beneath my feet.

“Shade,” I say again, my voice sharper this time, bordering on desperation. “If you’re there, say something!”

Still nothing.

The absence of his voice is somehow worse than anything else. It makes me feel… exposed. Vulnerable.

I clench my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. “Okay, fine. I’ll figure this out on my own.”

I glance toward the cabin again. As much as I don’t want to go near it, I know it’s where I’m supposed to go. Every dream, every illusion has led me there.

“Am I really going in there?” I mutter under my breath, staring at the dark, looming cabin in the distance. Every instinct in my body is screaming at me to turn around, to run the other way, to do literally anything else.

As I get closer I can see the door is ajar it’s unnerving. But I stay rooted in place, my eyes fixed on that creaking, half-open door.

“Every movie I’ve ever seen says don’t go in the creepy cabin,” I say, as if saying it out loud will somehow make this less insane.

The meadow’s twisted, unnatural colors and the pulsating ground beneath me are screaming that something weird is going on here.

And yet… what else can I do?

“I guess I don’t have any choice,” I mutter, taking a hesitant step forward. “It’s just a dream, right? Or… whatever it is. It’s not real, so I should be fine.”

I hope.

I take another step, then another, until my feet carry me closer to the cabin. The door creaks slightly with every shift of the wind, like it’s beckoning me in. The windows remain pitch black, like unblinking eyes watching me approach.

I stop just a few steps away from the porch, my hand twitching toward the bow on my back. “Alright,” I whisper to myself, “deep breaths. You’ve handled worse. It’s just a cabin. What’s the worst that could happen?”

The ground beneath me seems to pulse again, almost in response to my words, and I feel a shiver run up my spine.

“Yeah, that’s comforting,” I mutter sarcastically.

With one final breath, I step onto the creaking wooden porch and push the door open.

It swings wide with an unsettling groan, revealing only darkness beyond.

“Here goes nothing,” I say, my voice shaking slightly, as I take my first step inside.

The darkness inside the cabin swallows me whole as soon as I step in, like the door leads into a void rather than a room. The air is thick and suffocating, with a sharp metallic tang that makes my stomach churn.

The door creaks shut behind me with a loud slam.

I whirl around, my heart leaping into my throat, but the door is gone. Just… gone. No frame. No handle. No way back out.

“Okay,” I whisper to myself, forcing my breathing to slow. “This is fine. This is… fine.”

It’s not fine.

The shadows seem to crawl across the walls, moving like living things. Faint whispers drift around me, low and indistinct, like a dozen voices just out of reach. They rise and fall in uneven waves, growing louder, then softer, then louder again.

“Hello?” My voice echoes unnaturally, warping in the emptiness.

The whispers stop.

The silence is deafening, pressing down on me from all sides. I clutch my chest, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.

Then, something shifts in the corner of my vision.

I spin toward it, squinting into the dark. A faint light flickers at the far end of the room, dim and cold, barely illuminating the outline of… something.

It looks like a table, and on top of it, there’s…

I take a cautious step forward, the floorboards creaking beneath me. The whispers start again, louder this time. The shadows along the walls grow thicker, almost like they’re reaching out toward me.

The table comes into clearer view, and I feel my stomach twist.

It’s not a table. It’s an altar.

And lying on top of it is me.

My heart stops as I stare at the figure on the altar, perfectly still, her blonde hair spread around her pale, lifeless face. It’s like looking into a mirror, except… I’m not moving.

The whispers rise to a crescendo, overlapping into a cacophony of hissing voices:

“This is your fate… this is your truth… this is your end…”

The version of me on the altar twitches, her head jerking toward me. Her eyes snap open, but they’re not mine. They’re empty black voids.

Her mouth stretches into a grotesque, crooked smile, and she starts to sit up.

“You can’t escape.”

I stumble back, my breathing ragged, but there’s nowhere to go. The walls seem to close in, the shadows clawing at my arms and legs.

The other me tilts her head, her smile widening unnaturally.

“You can’t run from yourself.”

I can’t move. My body feels frozen, like the air itself is pressing down on me. My voice catches in my throat as the other me swings her legs off the altar, the grotesque smile still twisting her face.

“What… what is this?” I manage to choke out, my voice trembling.

She doesn’t answer. She just stands there, staring at me with those black, endless eyes. Her movements are jerky, like a puppet being controlled by strings. The air around her ripples, the shadows drawn toward her as if she’s pulling them in.

“You know what this is,” she finally says, her voice layered with echoes, deep and unnatural. “This is the truth you don’t want to face.”

“The truth?” My voice cracks as I take a step back, my hand brushing the wall behind me. It’s ice cold. “You’re not real. None of this is real!”

She tilts her head, her neck cracking at an unnatural angle. “You tell yourself that to feel safe. But this? This is real. Give in so it doesn’t end like this.”

The shadows surge forward, wrapping around her body like living tendrils. They twist and writhe, forming jagged shapes that extend outward, like claws.

“This is you.”

“No,” I whisper, shaking my head. “No, I’m nothing like you.”

She lets out a distorted laugh, the sound grating and inhuman. “Aren’t you? How many lies have you told? How many people have you betrayed to protect yourself?”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. “I was trying to protect them!”

“Were you? Or were you protecting yourself?”

The room starts to warp around us, the walls stretching and twisting. The shadows on the floor pool beneath her, spreading out toward me like a living tide. I try to move, but my legs feel like lead.

Her smile drops, replaced by a snarl. “You’re weak. A fraud. You’ll never save them. You’ll fail, just like you always do.”

~Liar. Weak. Fraud.~

“Shut up!” I scream, forcing my legs to move. I lunge forward, my fist swinging wildly toward her face.

But she doesn’t flinch. My fist connects, but it’s like punching smoke. Her body disintegrates into shadows, swirling around me before reforming behind me.

“You can’t fight me,” she hisses, her voice right in my ear. “I am you.”

I whirl around, my chest heaving. “You’re not me. You’re nothing but a nightmare.”

Her smile returns, wide and cruel. “Nightmares come from somewhere, don’t they?”

Before I can respond, the shadows surge forward, swallowing me whole.

The shadows engulf me, suffocating and cold, like ice spreading through my veins. I try to scream, but no sound escapes my lips. It’s like the darkness is alive, coiling around my throat, tightening its grip.

“Stop struggling,” her voice whispers, echoing all around me. It’s everywhere—inside my head, outside, beneath my skin. “You’re only making it worse.”

The shadows twist and contort, pulling me downward. The ground beneath me dissolves, and I feel myself falling—falling into nothingness. It’s endless, the air whipping around me, but there’s no light, no bottom, just the crushing weight of darkness.

Suddenly, I slam into something solid. I cry out, the sound swallowed by the void. I’m back in the meadow—or what’s left of it. The grass is black, the sky a swirling mass of purple and red. The trees are twisted and gnarled, their branches clawing at the air like hands.

And then I see her again. She’s standing at the edge of the meadow, staring at me her eyes are no longer hollow, a purple glow replaced the void now. But, she’s not alone.

Figures begin to rise from the ground around her, their bodies twisted and malformed. Some look human—others are something else entirely. Their faces are featureless, just blank spaces where eyes and mouths should be.

“They know,” she says, her voice dripping with malice. “They know what you’ve done. They’ve seen your lies, your failures.”

The figures start to move toward me, their heads jerking unnaturally with each step. Their movements are erratic, wrong, like broken marionettes.

“Stay back!” I shout, stumbling backward.

“Why run?” she taunts, her voice echoing in my head. “This is what you deserve. You’ve always been running, haven’t you? Running from the truth, running from yourself.”

The figures are getting closer, their blank faces twisting into horrifying shapes—smiling mouths with too many teeth, gaping holes where eyes should be, black ooze dripping from their twisted forms.

I try to move, but my feet are rooted to the ground. The shadows beneath me have come alive, wrapping around my legs, pulling me down.

“Help!” I scream, my voice cracking.

But no one comes.

“No one’s coming for you,” she whispers, appearing suddenly in front of me. Her face is inches from mine, her hollow eyes boring into me. “Because they know the truth. You’re poison. You’re nothing.”

“I’m not,” I whisper, shaking my head, tears streaming down my face. “I’m not—”

“You’re weak,” she snarls, grabbing my face with icy hands. “And when it matters most, you’ll fail them. Just like you failed Lyra. Just like you’ll fail Lorien.”

~Poison. Weak. Failure.~

Her grip tightens, and I feel the cold seeping into my skull. The figures are closing in now, their twisted faces looming over me. One of them reaches out, its hand skeletal and sharp, and brushes my cheek.

“This is what they see when they look at you,” she says, her voice a hiss. “A monster.”

“No!” I scream, thrashing against the shadows, against her. “I’m not a monster! I’m not—”

The figures grab me, their hands clawing at my skin, pulling me down into the earth. The ground opens beneath me, a black, endless pit.

“Say it,” she whispers, her face right next to mine. “Say what you are.”

“I’m—” I choke on the words, the darkness swallowing me whole.

“Say it,” she demands, her voice deafening now, drowning out everything else.

“I’m not a monster!” I scream, my voice echoing into the abyss.

And then, everything goes silent.

I press myself against the tree, my chest heaving as I struggle to quiet my breath. My heart pounds so loudly I’m sure she can hear it, even from a distance.

How did I get here? One moment, I was in that twisted meadow it had me, and now… now I’m in the forest, hiding like prey. My head feels foggy, my thoughts disjointed.

“Artemis, come out,” her voice rings out, sickly sweet and taunting.

I peek around the edge of the tree, my stomach lurching at the sight. She’s there, standing in the distance, her glowing purple eyes scanning the forest as if she can see through everything.

And behind her—they’re there. The creatures from the mountain. The shadowy, monstrous beings with glowing purple eyes and crooked, shark-like smiles. They move unnaturally, their tendrils curling and uncurling, like they’re alive on their own. They slither and crawl after her like obedient pets, their bodies blending into the darkness of the forest.

My hands tremble as I pull back behind the tree, my mind racing. Why are they following her? How is she controlling them?

“You can’t hide forever,” she sings, her voice melodic and chilling. “I’ve been watching you, Artemis. You’re so predictable. So… weak.”

~Weak.~

I grit my teeth, trying to keep the fear from swallowing me whole. My back presses against the tree, and I clutch at the bark, trying to steady myself. I don’t have a weapon. Shade’s still silent. I don’t know if I can fight her—or those creatures.

What do I do?

Suddenly, one of the creatures lets out a low, guttural growl, the sound vibrating through the air. My breath catches as I hear it sniffing, its tendrils dragging against the ground as it moves closer.

“Oh, Artemis,” she calls again, her voice closer now. “Come out and face me. You don’t want to disappoint them again, do you?”

The words cut deep, twisting like a knife in my chest. No. Don’t let her get to you. Focus. Think.

I take a slow, shaky breath and glance around the tree again, just for a split second. She’s still there, her smile stretched impossibly wide, her head tilted unnaturally to the side. The creatures are sniffing the ground, moving closer, their glowing eyes scanning the trees.

I need to move.

But as I step back, my foot snaps a branch. Not again…

The sound echoes in the stillness of the forest.

Her head snaps toward me instantly, and her smile widens.

“Found you,” she whispers, and the creatures surge forward.

I stumble back, my breath catching in my throat as I take in the figure in front of me. Her. The darker version of myself—twisted, elegant, menacing. She looks like something out of a nightmare, but also like a part of me I’ve tried to bury deep, a part I don’t even want to admit exists.

Her long, loose blonde waves shimmer faintly in the strange light of this shadowy, otherworldly place. Her glowing purple eyes burn into mine, full of power and something far more sinister. Her expression is both calm and commanding, exuding an elegance that feels unnatural, inhuman, and terrifying all at once.

A black suit clings to her form, the jagged, glowing purple patterns crawling across it as if alive, as if they’re feeding on the shadows around us.

She moves with impossible grace, raising a hand that crackles with purple energy. As she does, the world around us shifts again. The forest melts into a void of swirling shadows, flashes of purple lightning illuminating spectral shapes that move just out of sight. The ground ripples with tendrils of darkness, stretching toward me like they’re alive.

Her voice cuts through the air, smooth and commanding, echoing in my ears like it’s coming from everywhere at once. “You will be mine, Artemis,” she says, her glowing eyes narrowing as she steps toward me. “Come to me. Come to the Nexus.”

Her words send a chill through my body, and I find myself frozen, unable to move as the shadows around me creep closer. “What… what is this?” I manage to choke out, my voice trembling.

She smiles, a cold, knowing smile that sends a fresh wave of fear through me. “This,” she says, gesturing to herself and the swirling chaos around us, “is the truth. Your truth. The power you’ve been too afraid to embrace. Stop running, Artemis. Stop pretending you’re anything but this.”

“You’re lying!” I shout, finding my voice again. My fists clench at my sides as I try to stand my ground, even though every instinct is screaming at me to run. “This isn’t me. I don’t want this. I’ll never be like you!”

She laughs softly, a sound that cuts through the chaos like a blade. “Oh, but you already are,” she says, taking another step closer. Her movements are slow, deliberate, like a predator toying with its prey. “You feel it, don’t you? The connection to the darkness. The power coursing through your veins. The part of you that wants more. I can give it to you. All of it.”

I shake my head, taking a step back, but the shadows wrap tighter around me, holding me in place. “I don’t want it,” I say, though my voice wavers. “I’m not you. I’ll never be you.”

Her smile widens, her glowing eyes burning brighter. “You will,” she says, her voice dripping with certainty. “You can’t fight what you are, Artemis. You can’t fight me. Come to the Nexus. Embrace the truth. Embrace me.”

The shadows surge forward, wrapping around me as the purple energy flares, and my world explodes into blinding light.

I wake with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. My breaths come fast and shallow, my body slick with cold sweat. I press a hand to my chest, trying to calm myself, but the image of her—of that twisted, shadowy version of me—burns itself into my mind.

“What the hell was that?” I whisper, my voice trembling.

I glance around the campsite. The others are still asleep, their breaths even and steady. The fire has died down to glowing embers, casting faint light across their sleeping forms. Everything looks so normal, so peaceful, compared to the nightmare I just escaped from.

But the memory of her voice—smooth, commanding, and filled with that terrible certainty—echoes in my head.

“You will be mine, Artemis. Come to me. Come to the Nexus.”

I wrap my arms around myself, shaking slightly. Was that real? The way the shadows wrapped around me, the way her glowing purple eyes burned into mine, it all felt so vivid, so tangible.

Something… someone wants me to go to the Nexus. Is it waiting for me there? Is it waiting for me to try and find Lyra?

I glance at Lorien sleeping nearby, his face calm, peaceful. The sight of him makes my chest tighten. If something is waiting for me at the Nexus, something dark, something connected to her, then what does that mean for us? For Lyra?

My hands tremble slightly as I pull my knees to my chest, resting my forehead on them. I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t just a dream. That whatever that was, whatever she was, is waiting.

I let out a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. I can’t let this scare me. I have to stay strong. For them. For Lyra. For Lorien.

But no matter how hard I try to calm myself, one thought keeps repeating in my mind: What if I can’t fight her?

I close my eyes. My voice is barely above a whisper. “Is that who I’ll be if we go?” The question feels heavier than I expect, weighing down my chest as the words leave my lips.

There’s no answer.

“Shade?” I try again, this time more firmly, focusing on the quiet space in my mind where his voice always lingers. “Shade, I could really use some input right now.”

Still nothing.

The silence stretches on, and it’s suffocating. He’s always been there, always had something to say, even if it was sarcastic or cryptic. But now? Nothing. Just emptiness.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying not to panic. “Why won’t you answer me? Is it because of what I saw? Or is it because you already know that’s what’s going to happen to me?”

The memory of her—of that twisted version of myself—makes my stomach churn. Her eyes, that glowing purple energy, the way she moved like she owned everything around her. Like she was me, but… darker, something worse.

Is that who I’ll become if we go to the Nexus? Is that what this world is shaping me into?

I glance at the others again. I can’t let them see me like this, can’t let them know how scared I am. But the fear won’t go away. I take a shaky breath and look up at the sky, the faint traces of dawn creeping into the horizon.

“Shade, please,” I think one last time, almost desperately. “I need to know—what am I walking into? And… what am I becoming?”

The silence in my head is deafening.

“Shade… please,” I think, my mind racing with everything I’ve just seen.

Finally, his voice comes through, faint but unmistakable. “He’s trying to contact you,” Shade says, his tone unusually serious. “Lure you to him. To free him.”

I feel a chill run down my spine. “What do you mean? Who?”

“A creature like me, but much more powerful. Infinitely so,” Shade answers, his voice dark and weighted with caution. “He was imprisoned long, long ago. He wants you to free him so he can return to his rule… and his destruction.”

My breath catches, and I sit up straighter. “And you knew about this? You knew and didn’t tell me?!”

Shade is quiet for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words. “It wasn’t necessary information. Not until now,” he says at last. “We’ll need to avoid the part of the Nexus where he’s imprisoned.”

My heart is pounding. “Avoid it? You act like that’s so easy! You should’ve told me sooner—this is exactly the kind of thing I need to know!”

Another pause. This time, Shade’s tone softens slightly. “Controlling the beasts drained me,” he says. “I had to recover.”

I shake my head, frustration and fear swirling inside me. “So while I was running for my life, falling off cliffs, and freezing to death, you were just… recovering?!”

“I did what I had to,” he says firmly. “And I’m here now.”

“Great,” I think back bitterly. “Now that I’m already neck-deep in this mess.”

Shade doesn’t respond immediately, and the silence feels heavy. I look out at the horizon, the faint light of dawn doing little to chase away the dread settling in my chest.

“If we’re headed to the Nexus… how do we avoid him?” I finally ask.

“It’s located at the deepest part of the Nexus,” Shade explains, his tone steady but grave. “As long as we don’t go too far, we’ll be safe.”

“Safe,” I repeat bitterly, rolling my eyes. “Sure, because that’s been our experience in this world so far. Just avoid the deepest part of the Nexus while also trying to find Lyra in a place that seems designed to mess with us. Totally fine.”

Shade doesn’t respond to my sarcasm. Instead, I press on, the memory of that twisted version of me burning in my mind. “Why did it look like me, Shade?”

There’s a pause before he answers. “It’s trying to mess with you,” he says simply. “To lure you. It uses what’s in your mind—your fears, your doubts. That’s how it gets its hold on people.”

I grip my knees tightly, trying to suppress the shiver running through me. “So… it knows me? It can see inside my head?”

“No,” Shade says firmly. “Not fully. It can only grasp what you project outward. It twists it, distorts it, but it doesn’t truly know you. That’s why you have to stay strong. Don’t let it use your doubts against you.”

I swallow hard, closing my eyes as I let his words sink in. It’s hard not to feel exposed, like my own mind is betraying me. That… thing had felt so real, so personal.

“I’m strong,” I think back, as much to reassure myself as to tell Shade. “I won’t let it get to me.”

“Good,” Shade says, his voice softer now. “Because if we’re going into the Nexus, you’ll need every ounce of that strength.”

I glance around the camp. The others are still sound asleep, their soft breathing the only sound in the quiet of the night. The fire crackles gently, casting faint shadows on their faces. It’s comforting in a way, but it doesn’t ease the tension coiling in my chest.

I rub my arms, trying to shake off the lingering chill. “It’s just a dream,” I tell myself. “It’s not real. It’s not real…”

But the image of that twisted version of me, those glowing purple eyes, and the way it spoke—you will be mine—won’t leave my head. My stomach churns at the thought of closing my eyes and seeing it again.

“Shade?” I think, my voice almost trembling in my mind. “If I fall asleep again… will it come back?”

“It might,” Shade answers, his tone cautious. “Dreams are the easiest place for it to reach you. Your mind is more vulnerable when you’re not fully awake. But avoiding sleep will only weaken you further. You’ll need your strength for what’s ahead.”

I sigh, running a hand down my face. He’s right—of course he’s right—but that doesn’t make it any easier. My body aches with exhaustion, but the fear of slipping back into that nightmare keeps me frozen.

“What if it gets worse?” I ask.

“Then I’ll be here,” Shade says, his voice firmer now. “I’m recovering, but I’ll protect you as best I can. You’ve faced worse, Artemis. You’ll face this too.”

I let out a shaky breath and glance at Lorien, sleeping just a few feet away. The sight of him is calming, but not enough to quiet the storm in my head.

Reluctantly, I lay back down. “I have to sleep,” I think to myself. “Just one more night. I can make it through this.”

As I close my eyes, I cling to Shade’s words and the faint warmth of the fire, praying that the nightmares won’t come for me again.

End of chapter 30.