Nightfall

After a lengthy briefing and discussion, the group finally began to settle in for the night. Mark, ever the practical leader, wanted everyone to be well-rested for the early start they planned. "We need to be fresh in the morning," he insisted. "We have a long journey ahead, and I don't want anyone sluggish on the road."

But David wasn't ready to rest. "I'll stay up with Marcus for the night shift," he volunteered, his tone firm. He looked at each of his teammates, especially Sarah, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer. "You all should sleep without any concern. I'll make sure everything is secure."

Mark frowned slightly but nodded, understanding the underlying intent behind David's offer. He knew that David's presence would put the others at ease. After all, if Marcus truly wanted to harm them, none of them would be able to stop him—not even David. But having David awake and alert would allow the others to sleep more soundly, knowing he was on watch.

Marcus, observing the interaction, smirked. He could see the unspoken dynamics at play—the subtle power shifts, the careful balancing of trust and responsibility. "Good seedlings," he thought, amused by their cautious but determined attitudes.

As the group settled down, David took his place beside Marcus, the two of them keeping watch over the camp. The night was quiet, the only sounds the distant rustling of leaves and the crackling of the dying fire. David had questions, and Marcus seemed willing to indulge him, though their conversation was more of a one-sided lesson, with Marcus sharing wisdom and David absorbing it.

"You've got potential," Marcus said at one point, his gaze distant as he looked into the dark forest. "But potential is nothing without the will to see it through. This island… it will test you in ways you can't yet imagine."

David nodded, his mind racing with everything they had been through. He was grateful for the chance to learn from someone as experienced as Marcus, but there was a heaviness in his chest—a sense of unease that he couldn't shake.

Meanwhile, in the shadows beyond the camp, Namaah made her move. She had been waiting, biding her time until the moment was right. Now, as the group began to drift into sleep, she sent out a tendril of dark mist, the essence of her power seeping through the trees like a living shadow.

The mist moved with purpose, weaving through the camp until it found its target: Lisa. It slipped into her tent, barely disturbing the air as it coiled around her. Namaah's power infiltrated Lisa's mind, pulling her into a nightmare world where time and space were frozen, and Namaah's will reigned supreme.

"Lisa…" the voice called, and Namaah appeared before her, a vision of dark beauty. "I know your pain. I know what you desire."

Lisa's heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the woman before her. "Who… who are you?"

"I am someone who can help you," Namaah purred, her tone dripping with false sympathy. "I can see....

In the nightmare world, Lisa stood frozen, her heart pounding as Namaah's voice wrapped around her like a vice. The darkness seemed to pulse with the beat of her racing heart, and she couldn't tear her eyes away from the woman before her.

"James," Namaah whispered again, her voice both soft and commanding. "I know how much you loved him, how much you still do. His death… it was so unfair, wasn't it? A life cut short, stolen by the whims of fate."

Tears welled up in Lisa's eyes as Namaah's words struck deep. "Yes… I miss him so much," Lisa choked out. "I would do anything to bring him back."

Normally she would never told someone about her desire, but black evil power loosened her mental power. 

A slow, sinister smile spread across Namaah's face. "Anything, you say? What if I told you that I can help you? That I can teach you the ancient art of necromancy, the power to pull souls back from the abyss? You could see James again, speak with him… bring him back to life."

It was half true....

Lisa's breath caught in her throat. "You… you can do that?"

Namaah nodded, her eyes gleaming with dark promise. "Oh, yes. But such power comes with a price, Lisa. You must become my acolyte, bound to me and my will. Serve me faithfully, and I will give you the power to raise the dead. Resist… and I can crush you like a child's toy."

The air around them seemed to thicken, the weight of Namaah's words pressing down on Lisa. She felt a cold dread seep into her bones, but beneath it, there was a flicker of desperate hope.

 I already have one acolyte, but a second… a second would be usefull too. Or you can refuse, and I'll ensure you never see James again, not even in death."

Lisa trembled, feeling as though the ground beneath her was slipping away. She had never felt so small, so powerless. The darkness around Namaah seemed to grow, towering over her like a looming shadow of doom. It was as if she were a helpless child, facing down a beast far beyond her ability to defeat.

Namaah raised her hand, and a chalice appeared, filled with a thick, black fluid. "Drink this," she commanded, "and seal our pact. It will bind your soul to mine, and in return, I will teach you everything you need to know.

Lisa hesitated, but her longing for James overwhelmed her fear. She reached out with trembling hands and took the chalice, the dark liquid swirling ominously inside. Without another word, she raised it to her lips and drank.

The fluid was cold and thick, sliding down her throat like a serpent. As soon as she swallowed, she felt a wave of darkness crash over her, filling every corner of her being. Her eyes widened in terror as the last remnants of light faded from her vision, replaced by an all-consuming blackness.

In the real world, Lisa's body shuddered, and her eyes snapped open. Where there once was color, now only blackness remained—her eyes as dark as the void she had given herself to.

Namaah smiled triumphantly as she watched Lisa succumb to the darkness. "Good," she purred. "You're mine now, Lisa. Your soul belongs to me."

Lisa, still in the dream world, felt a cold hand close around her heart, but it was too late to turn back. She had sold her soul to Namaah, and there was no escape from the dark path she had chosen.

"Welcome to my world, my dear acolyte," Namaah whispered, her voice echoing in the vast emptiness. "We have much to do, and soon, you will help me tear down everything your friends hold dear. And in the end, James will be yours again."

Lisa's heart ached with both fear and longing as she bowed her head in submission. She was lost to the darkness, and in her mind, the image of James was the only light she had left to cling to.