Tunnel...

"May I have a word with the lady's husband?" the woman asked softly, her voice steady but her eyes betraying concern as she glanced at Luciana's pale, unconscious form.

Erebus rose, the weight in his chest growing heavier with every step as he followed her into the dimly lit hallway. He cast a final glance back at Luciana, her frail figure barely rising and falling with shallow breaths, before the door closed behind him.

"How is my wife?" His voice was taut with anxiety, his fingers clenching and unclenching.

The nurse hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Sir…your wife has lost an alarming amount of blood," she began cautiously. "Her condition is critical."

Erebus stiffened. "And the child?" His voice wavered, rising in desperation.

She hesitated again, her gaze dropping to the floor. "The pregnancy is at severe risk. Her body is far too weak to carry the child to term. If we don't act quickly, she may miscarry."

"Can't you save them both?" His voice cracked with a mix of fear and urgency, his hands trembling at his sides.

The woman shook her head, regret etched across her face. "If we try to save them both, we'll lose them both. It's either the child…or her life." The words cut into him like blades, leaving him hollow.

Erebus stood frozen, the enormity of the decision crushing him. Regret clawed at his heart, sharper with each passing second. He should have listened to her. He should have taken her back to Amanécer while there was still time.

"Please…" His voice was barely above a whisper, a plea heavy with anguish. "Do everything you can to save her. If there's anything she needs, anything at all—tell me."

The nurse nodded solemnly. "I'll do my best. But I must warn you, I'm just a nurse. A midwife or doctor would be more suited for this. You'll need to find someone with more experience—and fast."

"What about my son?" Erebus's voice broke as he thought of Nemesis.

The nurse's face softened with pity. "He's physically stable—just minor injuries that will heal in time. But emotionally…he's suffered severe trauma. It could take years for him to recover, and that depends on how much effort you put into helping him heal."

She returned to Luciana's side, her movements swift and methodical as she began cleaning her fragile body. Erebus remained in the hallway, grappling with a maelstrom of emotions, when the owner of the inn appeared behind him.

"Lad," the old man called, snapping him back to the present. "This ain't the time to be wallowing. You've got to act now. Your boy's too young to fend for himself, and your woman needs your care. Get moving."

Erebus turned to him, his gaze sharper now, resolve hardening in his expression. "Listen to me," he said, his voice steadier than before. The old man studied him carefully, sensing the shift in his demeanor—a man who had finally found his purpose amid the chaos.

After a brief but urgent discussion, Erebus left Luciana and Nemesis under the nurse's care, trusting her to do everything possible while he made arrangements. The nurse worked diligently, cleaning Luciana's body with warm water and dressing her in comfortable clothing. Her abdomen, once swollen with life, now looked alarmingly sunken—a sign that made the nurse's heart sink.

Hours passed, and as twilight descended, Jafar burst into the room, his form flickering like a shadow. Panic laced his every word. "Master, you must evacuate this place immediately!"

Erebus's stomach twisted. "Where's the doctor?" he demanded, noticing Jafar's deteriorating appearance. "What's happening to you?"

"This isn't about me!" Jafar snapped, urgency crackling in his voice. "You need to focus on your family!"

"Answer me!" Erebus roared, his patience snapping like a brittle thread. He grabbed Jafar by the collar, his fist colliding with his face in frustration.

Jafar staggered back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but he didn't flinch. "You already know the truth," he muttered, his voice hollow. "I made a pact with Iblis."

Erebus's chest constricted at the admission. "You sold your soul," he said quietly, the weight of those words sinking in. "What drove you to this?"

Jafar didn't reply, his silence louder than any excuse.

"I don't even know how to explain this to your family," Erebus muttered, his tone heavy with disappointment.

Jafar straightened, defiance flickering in his fading eyes. "That's not your concern. My job is to keep you and your family safe. Don't let my sacrifice go to waste."

Despite his anger, Erebus knew Jafar was right. He nodded to the innkeeper, who had been watching silently from the corner. The old man led Erebus and his family to a hidden passage in the kitchen.

"Take this tunnel," the owner instructed, pulling a lever behind a row of tankards. A grinding sound revealed a spiral staircase descending into darkness. "It'll lead you to the harbor. You should reach it in two days if you move quickly."

Erebus scooped up Luciana, her fragile body lighter than it should have been, while Nemesis clung to his cloak with trembling hands. The boy buried his face against his father's back, seeking solace.

Before they disappeared into the tunnel, the old man turned to Jafar. "Aren't you going with them, lad?"

Jafar's lips twisted into a grim smile. "He doesn't need me anymore."

The old man's eyes narrowed. "Follow them anyway. That man's important to you. Don't let your pride ruin that."

Jafar hesitated, then nodded faintly. "I'll protect them…my way." With that, he vanished into the night.

The old man sighed, watching them leave. "Persistent youth," he muttered before retreating into the shadows.